Diamond Caverns - RCI 3898

[lawren2]

Originally Posted by jpaviles

Let me put a little more context around my comments...

Yes this is my very first exchange. I knew the resort wasn't going to be that great so that I was expecting.

I would like to go to Kentucky so that's just where I'm searching right now. Based on the fact that it's Kentucky and after 2 months of reading these boards and listening to all the popular places everyone is exchanging into I figured getting into AT LEAST Kentucky should be doable.

So my thinking maybe I should get out is not because I only want to go to Kentucky .. II doesn't have any resorts in Kentucky and DAE doesn't see it much either. I'm just concerned that because I don't have a good trader that I'm only going to end up frustrated. Not really what I was expecting for my first exchanging experience.

I'm very surprised though.. everyone bashes RCI all day long and you almost sounded like you were sticking up for them and giving it back to me! ... boy if your not a local around here you could get a complex pretty quick!

Am I the only that feels that ?

With the new "enhancement" RCI has just implemented we are still feeling our way on what has changed and how we must work the system. I'm seeing a whole lot of stagnation and no availability for primetime lately with a great week that sees 24 months.

Yes we bash RCI but it is the only game in town for a lot of areas.

You my friend are asking for the near impossible from this or any exchange company. You are looking for an area that does not have a lot of availability to begin with and I'm seeing next to nothing in summer09 & 10 & 11 in overbuilt Williamsburg.

My feeling is you have a moderate to low-moderate trader in both your weeks. You need to broaden your search area and not lock into a given check-in day. Anything in summer is going to be competitive. As a general rule of thumb my best exchanges have been done 15 to 18 months out which means I'm looking at summer 2011.

You need to be less sensitive. This is the second time in as many days that you have wrongfully accused us of cliquishness.

[Glitter Brunello]

Originally Posted by lawren2

With the new "enhancement" RCI has just implemented we are still feeling our way on what has changed and how we must work the system. I'm seeing a whole lot of stagnation and no availability for primetime lately with a great week that sees 24 months.

Yes we bash RCI but it is the only game in town for a lot of areas.

You my friend are asking for the near impossible from this or any exchange company. You are looking for an area that does not have a lot of availability to begin with and I'm seeing next to nothing in summer09 & 10 & 11 in overbuilt Williamsburg.

My feeling is you have a moderate to low-moderate trader in both your weeks. You need to broaden your search area and not lock into a given check-in day. Anything in summer is going to be competitive. As a general rule of thumb my best exchanges have been done 15 to 18 months out which means I'm looking at summer 2011.

You need to be less sensitive. This is the second time in as many days that you have wrongfully accused us of cliquishness.

I haven't seen the first, but I don't even see anything on this thread to warrant it. The OP asked a fair question, and was given a number of helpful responses. Whether or not they were what the OP wants to hear is another story.

Sometimes our advice can be disappointing.

One of the most important things we do here is to help people enjoy and maximize their timeshare ownership. Often that involves a realistic assessment of the weeks owned, so expectations can be adjusted accordingly, and the system "worked" to its maximum potential based on the trading power involved and our knowledge of the various exchange options.

This doesn't make me an RCI lover, believe me.

[jpaviles]

Let me see if I can articulate a little better what I'm feeling I'm experiencing out here..

I'm reading all the awesome postings and experience... I reading everyone having trouble seeing weeks.. losing trading power .. wide range of issues with RCI.

All of you are experienced in the whole realm of exchanging etc.. when one person isn't seeing something .. you are encouraging the other person .. you guys are seeing units in @150,000 range.. Everyone is saying 'I'm leaving RCI this is crazy etc.. etc. etc' and everyone else is 'yeah me too'..

This is the very very first time I am ever trying to do this. Granted I've only even been at it for a few days. So I'm discouraged! You guys are use to being discouraged.. You've played the game for a long time and complain but still love it and take it with a grain of salt. I'm just trying to swallow it all.

When I complained.. Here's what I got:
'' be satisfied with @99000 or else timesharing might not be for you''
(I don't know how to do the quote thing)

I just feel that if one of you experienced folks had asked the same questions I asked the response would have been on a different tone.

Perhaps you have forgotten how frustrating and overwhelming it can be when you first started.. and encouragement and support helped you stick with it!

[Beaglemom3]

When people take the time to respond, search and input, a "thank you for your help" goes a long way here and everywhere.
Common courtesy.

[Beaglemom3]

Did I miss this or was it taken out of context ?:


When I complained.. Here's what I got:
'' be satisfied with @99000 or else timesharing might not be for you''
()

Honestly, who posted that ?

I think that may be a bit skewed.

[Laurie]

Not everyone is having trouble seeing weeks: some of the low, low-moderate, and moderate traders actually gained trade power with RCI's latest enhancement.

Had you come to the boards before your purchase to ask about projected trade power, with your specific trading goal in mind, you probably would have been advised to wait. Many of us (including myself) made our first purchases without any trading advice, so we have adjusted our expectations according to experience, over a long period. Some of us sold our first weeks and bought others; some have been able to maximize use and trading to our satisfaction; and others have gotten out of owning timeshares to trade altogether.

Every once in a while, there is a huge shift - now is one of those times, so we are comparing notes and anecdotes.

You have to tailor your owned exchange weeks to your own goals. You mentioned wanting to see all 50 states. That's a goal that could work really well for timesharing, if you're not attached to the sequence. But a really a narrow travel goal is like saying "I want pot roast, and I want it on Tuesday." Maybe no restaurant is serving it that night, and your best option is to cook it yourself (ie rent yourself a week in KY.) On the other hand, if you like to eat out and like a variety of dishes, you can enjoy a variety of meals and restaurants, on a variety of days, as long as there are some choices that meet your expectations.

[BoardGirl]

I have not detected anyone bashing you, just gently nudging that one resort in one time period is not a realistic goal. We could tell you to keep trying, it'll show up! but that's not realistic and no one wants to tell you that it is.

I'm not a fan of RCI but I use them because of those 99,999 options. if I had my heart set on WooHoo, IA for Labor Day 09 and just now decided that's what I want, odds are stacked against me. Had I decided 2 years ago, I might have had a shot. But if WooHoo has only 1 resort, even 2 years out might not get the trade I want. Remember, someone has to have deposited what you are looking to trade into. Maybe they did and others confirmed those weeks a year ago.

My point is, respondents are trying to help you. If you'd prefer not to get discouraging news, well, we could quit responding. But I would think you are looking for info on how it really works, and that's exactly the kind of info being provided to you.

So you can stick around and try to learn or feel picked on and go elsewhere. That choice is yours. But please don't lash out at those trying to help you.

[jpaviles]

Thanks for all you help!

I guess I'm not expressing correctly what I'm feeling!..

I really didn't feel that anyone was bashing me.

Let's just forget this post and I'll start over again!

Thanks everyone.. I really really love these forums so don't
want to be seen as the bad child right now.

[lawren2]

Originally Posted by BoardGirl

I have not detected anyone bashing you, just gently nudging that one resort in one time period is not a realistic goal. We could tell you to keep trying, it'll show up! but that's not realistic and no one wants to tell you that it is.

I'm not a fan of RCI but I use them because of those 99,999 options. if I had my heart set on WooHoo, IA for Labor Day 09 and just now decided that's what I want, odds are stacked against me. Had I decided 2 years ago, I might have had a shot. But if WooHoo has only 1 resort, even 2 years out might not get the trade I want. Remember, someone has to have deposited what you are looking to trade into. Maybe they did and others confirmed those weeks a year ago.

My point is, respondents are trying to help you. If you'd prefer not to get discouraging news, well, we could quit responding. But I would think you are looking for info on how it really works, and that's exactly the kind of info being provided to you.

So you can stick around and try to learn or feel picked on and go elsewhere. That choice is yours. But please don't lash out at those trying to help you.

WooHoo, IA?

[BILL_B]

One of the difficulties you may be facing in trying for this trade is that Diamond Caverns only has 2BR units and you're using a 1BR to search. While RCI doesn't have a strict rule requiring the same size it is factored into the comparative trade value. Perhaps when your week 50 is verified you will find more available.

Bill