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RCI --- Yesterday isn't Today... (by KC):

Personally, I think that BOTH of the preceding two recent posts of 11/03/08 fail completely to understand and / or acknowledge the simple fact that RCI (right down to its' actual ownership) has simply changed --- radically, dramatically and relatively recently. Just to cite a few relevant facts as very specific examples:

RCI is now thoroughly owned by Wyndham (not Cendant, as previously, nor by the original RCI founders, before Cendant).

RCI has openly described itself IN WRITING in recent press releases as a "rental and exchange company" (note that rental is listed FIRST). Previously, RCI was ONLY an exchange company. That constitutes a major sea change, folks...

Within just the past year (or 14 months, to be exact) RCI has bought controlling interests in SnapTravel and Leisure Link, both of which businesses are for RENTALS! Guess where much of the inventory for those rentals originates.

In summary, with all due respect, talk of "great advance planning" simply ignores the fact that the RCI business model has changed a whole lot since "yesteryear". The "advance planning" practices and successful results of yesterday are simply no longer applicable, relevant, or remotely the same for TODAY --- the game has changed. Currently, RCI would rather rent out prime deposits directly to the general public for big bucks, rather than make those prime deposits available as "exchanges" to RCI members for a paltry $170 exchange fee (I may be off by a very few dollars on the current exchange fee). Do the math! $1700 in collected rent is TEN TIMES the amount of a $170 collected exchange fee. From the RCI standpoint, that's just plain good business. The unfortunate but fundamental fact is that the "advance planning" practices of yesteryear simply won't yield the same results with the RCI of TODAY! Don't take my word for it --- try it for yourself TODAY and compare it for yourself to the old news, obsolete results of "yesteryear"...