Have been an RCI member owner since 1979.
Deeded fixed weeks. Hence own. [not points, not floating weeks]
At one point we had 12 weeks of timeshare. Now down to 3 weeks.
TO offer some background and help clarify - given my understanding -
Resort condominiums international (RCI) is simply the "third party/middle man" we use to trade/exchange our weeks.
They did not sell us the property nor do they manage the properties we own. They are not part of the home owners association, they do not have a say on our board.
We as the HOA/Board decide if we want to allow RCI as one of the many companies to engage with trades on our property.
That being said, I do not know the structure (anymore eg parent, sub, and of the one being mentioned in the original post) of "RCI vacations".
Not sure if this is one of the public facing subsidiaries that offers last minute deals via things like groupon etc.
RCI used to stand alone, then was bought my cendant who also owned Avis car rental, now RCI is part of Wyndham. Not sure who owns wyndham.
My review:
The company has changed both bad and GOOD over the decades. They have indeed modified their fees and personality like all the other businesses - banks, airlines, credit cards, cable tv - have done in order to survive. Overall my experience and rating has to include the entire experience.
I am happier that they have an online booking system. Back in the day we had to pick up the corded telephone, dial long distance, and wait on hold... for hours. In the snow, without shoes, up hill, BOTH WAYS!
Seriously though...
RCI in circles is talked about at the 'nickle and dime" company. A fee for everything. Sound like SPIRIT airline? RYAN airlines in the UK? Well those two are the most PROFITABLE airlines out there. Maybe they all share the same playbook?
The "CURRENCY" of RCI has changed too: And not just the weeks owners now having this currency called "trading powers" AKA if you will allow me to call them what they are... POINTS!! RCI is trying to get weeks folks to switch to points and using trading powers to help the philosophical transition. DO NOT GIVE UP YOUR WEEKS.
I used to exchange for $39-$59 back in the day. Now it's $209. WTF?!? Gas was .79 cent a gal, now its avg $3 and has hit $5 - WTF?!?
As with software providers in the 2000's and the SaaS providers of 2010's - there used to be "levels" of service gold, silver, platinum or with SaaS there is 'freemium" and then the paid-for version has more features. RCI is doing this with their premium memberships. a new "level" of services you get if you pay for them. THE SAME AS airline seats - refundable with no charge (seat $1000) versus the "sale" fare of $200 but you have no latitude if you need to change or cancel, you lose $75-$150 of your fare. Fair????
It's the way things are. You have to know what you are buying. SAME AS CELL PHONE DATA SERVICE plans - how many GBs do you pay for each month? 2gb, 4gb? What happens when you go over the limit? I hate that crap too.. caveat is to UNDERSTAND and not get all emotionally involved and buy the chocolate or magazines or gum or etc at the impulse point of check-out at the grocery store.
But this is not a psychology review... its of RCI... or is it? It's more about you taking some responsibility. But TRUE you cannot control the customer service folks at RCI. Were you a member of RCI when they OUTSOURCED overseas. OMG!!! The number of times I would call and after waiting on hold get someone in India, Mexico, or heck even the northern territories of canada... I'd hang up, call back, and do this for like 3-4 times until I could understand the agent. So NOW they are all US based when I call and it is therefore better!!! Attitudes are a crap shoot, any CS department, even amazon, google, etc too, right?
Problem is, my being old school RCI I've weathered the changes as noted above but I also now talk to customer service folks who've been there under 3 years or shorter so they only know what they know. They can't possibly understand what depth of knowledge I ahve about RCI systems and inner workings. I used to educate the reps even 5-10 years ago and they would then educate their supervisors who seemed to really appreciate the insight. Now, the system is entirely revamped. Not likely in my favor or your favor, but in business continuity.
That is not good for you or me... though again, you can't appreciate the BAD becuase you are new only know it as it is, and you see it as bad.
Depending upon what you actually "bought" - points, vacation club, etc - the rules maybe all slightly different on each case by case basis. See if you can exchange via the competition Vacation resorts international who also now own Interval international, or Geo vacation / geo premier, or find a timeshare owners group on facebook and avoid the middleman - if your "package" allows it - and trade from person to person - directly.
lmk if I can help... read more