Suggestions for Diamond...

resilamram · « **Reply #40 on:** July 01, 2009, 10:43:53 »

On the subject of "secondhand points" which I and many others who are in the fortunate position to be able to obtain and increase our points holding, I am disgusted by the decision to devalue them after the transactions have been made. Why?....because we are are still charged the full mangement fees on them!
If they are going to continue with this de-valuing policy then surely it is right and fair that a reduced fee should be paid on them?
The way they are obtained should have no bearing on the future fees paid on them, the original owner paid the full price for them and a transfer fee was paid to DRI, so what is the reasoning behind it? This is yet another DRI policy that is devisive and unnecessary just as the different levels of membership are, we all apy the same rate of fees but some are treated better than others!
No doubt somebody will defend DRI's stance on this , but if SC or anyone reads this I would like to hear their reasoning behind this unfair decision.

tonyc · « **Reply #41 on:** July 01, 2009, 12:35:10 »

Basically, I am very much a "DRI-happy" but that isn't to say that I agree with everything they do! Generally speaking, on the whole, DRI acquisition of The Former Company's resorts has been excellent for a membership that was clearly being "taken to the cleaners" by certain unscrupulous individuals within The Former Company. About 75% of what Diamond has done since it took over has been beneficial to the membership and about 20% (eg the increase in management fees) has been unwelcome but, in my opinion, necessary. That leaves a balance of 5% that I am prepared to agree is unwelcome, unnecessary and unacceptable.

I don't own any "secondhand points" YET and, therefore, have tended to stay out of the arguments for or against DRI's stance. However, I have to say that resilamram's comments above are entirely correct and I would never be seen as "endorsing" DRI's stance on the devaluation of these points. Stephen Cloobeck should be congratulated on almost everything he has done since he took "over the reins". I say "almost" because personally I think he is totally out of order over his stance on "secondhand points". I would love to see this challenged in a court of law in this country because I don't believe that he would have a "hope in hell" of winning any case. It is, in my opinion, a disgraceful act on his part to charge the full ampount in management fees for these points but refuse to allow "unfettered access" to the full membership benefits that these points should allow. If restrictions are placed on what you can do with "secondhand points" this should be reflected in the amount that you pay in management fees.

Mavo · « **Reply #42 on:** July 01, 2009, 13:26:03 »

I have to agree that it does seem unfair and penalises those who have bought second hand points lately.
I can however see the reasoning behind it which is to encourage people to buy new points direct from Diamond.
I do know that Steve Cloobeck was amazed that we could not sell our points to whoever we wished to sell to and did say 18 months ago that he would review this. I think last years AGM came too early for all things to be looked at and what with the general turmoil of the recession, the Special Levy etc. it went on the back burner. Steve Simon CW and Marty Kandel spoke with me openly and frankly on many things on which I have kept my confidence and allowed the company to make their changes in their time without "spinning" it out on these forums.
We will never be totally happy with all decisions but on the balance I think we are getting a better deal than in the past and I have confidence that things will improve further.

resilamram · « **Reply #43 on:** July 01, 2009, 13:44:20 »

Yes, but why should we buy new points when there are secondhand ones available.....you don't get brand new currency notes every time you go into a bank, do you.....they just re-issue old ones that hold exactly the same value.....I'm sorry if that is not the best comparison, but hopefully you see the reasoning behind it?
In a nutshell those points have been bought and paid for and the money went into the company's coffers, so why should they be of less value just because their ownership has been transferred?
I would also like to see the legality of DRI's actions challenged in court on this one it is a disgraceful action for a company to take SC should be ashamed of himself and reverse the decision quickly or as suggested charge a lower mangement fee on those points.

Mavo · « **Reply #44 on:** July 01, 2009, 14:09:48 »

quote:
Originally posted by resilamram

Yes, but why should we buy new points when there are secondhand ones available.....you don't get brand new currency notes every time you go into a bank, do you.....they just re-issue old ones that hold exactly the same value.....I'm sorry if that is not the best comparison, but hopefully you see the reasoning behind it?
In a nutshell those points have been bought and paid for and the money went into the company's coffers, so why should they be of less value just because their ownership has been transferred?
I would also like to see the legality of DRI's actions challenged in court on this one it is a disgraceful action for a company to take SC should be ashamed of himself and reverse the decision quickly or as suggested charge a lower mangement fee on those points.

I have agreed that it does seem unfair and tried to put in the company reasoning on it.
I do think it deserves another look at by the company and a possible compromise reached.
We have to bear in mind what restrictions this decision really puts in place. We can use all our points bought before Sept 30th 2008 (I think it is) to book wherever we wish so for instance if you had 11000 points at that date and then afterwards bought a further 4000 points you would still have 11000 points to book with outside Europe and the 4000 to book within Europe. There is also Interval International where all points can be used.

resilamram · « **Reply #45 on:** July 01, 2009, 16:01:12 »

Point taken,Mavo, but yes it is still unfair and desrves another look at by DRI

Rorytiger · « **Reply #46 on:** July 01, 2009, 18:36:09 »

I agree 100% with the debate on second hand points one set of points certificates - all the same access rights and same fees.

I also disagree with the currency used for DRI selections (only 4p per point) - This in my opinion makes most of the products exchanged for points too expensive (take a look at the cost of the newly released hotels in London) you can book 7 nights through any reputable booking agency on the web for the price of 3 nights charged by DRI; when I challenged this it was explained away because of this devalued members exchange charge of 4p per point.

Why should DRI devalue our fees and bank the surplus 2p per point for themselves? This is true when points are redeemed for travel services or trade in for fees. how can the 2p charge per point 33% be justified. On top of that they want a sliding scale £50 admin cost for each DRI selection option taken.

resilamram · « **Reply #47 on:** July 01, 2009, 20:30:36 »

I entirely agree with you on that one. There are far better deals available on the web, it makes you wonder why DRI are continuing with this as surely they must realise they have got it wrong?

Doggy50k · « **Reply #48 on:** July 01, 2009, 21:58:54 »

I am sure I had an email from he who should not be mentioned that if you have bought points from another member since the 1st of September 2008 and you subsequently go on to buy a few more from Diamond themselves they can "at your request" then validate all of your points so they are all good points with no restrictions.

I could be wrong though - perhaps Patrick could confirm this?

Mavo · « **Reply #49 on:** July 01, 2009, 22:40:13 »

Hey up Doggy.
Have you been sat there all this time giggling? [

][

]
Get thi`sen up to None Go By for a spot of fishing[

]

Doggy50k · « **Reply #50 on:** July 01, 2009, 22:56:28 »

quote:
Originally posted by Mavo

Hey up Doggy.
Have you been sat there all this time giggling? [][]
Get thi`sen up to None Go By for a spot of fishing[]

** off topic **

Hi Tom

I think it's great to see some active debate [

]

As for fishing - been doing some practicing up at Fewston resevoir, and this weekend I'm off up to Scotland to Loch Ken - will chance my arm there [

]

We must arrange something soon - Tight lines!

Graham

Mavo · « **Reply #51 on:** July 01, 2009, 23:31:16 »

quote:
Originally posted by Doggy50k

quote:
Originally posted by Mavo

Hey up Doggy.
Have you been sat there all this time giggling? [][]
Get thi`sen up to None Go By for a spot of fishing[]

** off topic **

Hi Tom

I think it's great to see some active debate []

As for fishing - been doing some practicing up at Fewston resevoir, and this weekend I'm off up to Scotland to Loch Ken - will chance my arm there []

We must arrange something soon - Tight lines!

Graham

OK ** BACK ON TOPIC**

Escorted tours.

Fly fishing for beginners and the experienced based from Kenmore. The experienced helping the beginners.
(You know all the waters)

Carp fishing for beginners and the experienced based from Woodford Bridge.
The experienced helping the beginners.
(I know all the waters)
Angling is after all the most popular participation sport in the UK.

resilamram · « **Reply #52 on:** July 02, 2009, 09:43:32 »

quote:
Originally posted by Doggy50k

I am sure I had an email from he who should not be mentioned that if you have bought points from another member since the 1st of September 2008 and you subsequently go on to buy a few more from Diamond themselves they can "at your request" then validate all of your points so they are all good points with no restrictions.

I could be wrong though - perhaps Patrick could confirm this?

That is probably the case Doggy, but why should anyone have to fork out an excessive amount for extra points they don't want? Unless of course you can buy 1 or 2 single points at 4p each just to validate your points!!!

Rorytiger · « **Reply #53 on:** July 02, 2009, 14:45:41 »

Doggy

This sounds a bit like catch 22 to me,

Sorry to sound cynical (what me I hear you cry);

You get your cheap "Dirty" second hand points only validated for EU resorts, DRI then get you to buy more points - probably a matched amount to the "Dirty" points and because the boot is on the salesmans foot he probably will charge you full notch for them (What is it currently £200/£250 a point - that is old GVC point, however if you decided to purchase say 5000 (50) points without mention of a trade in of old "dirty points for conversion to new points you could negotiate a price of around £70 a point. Well this is the price I was quoted to buy around 5000 in April 2009 in Tenerife and the same at Thurnham in December 2008.

An interesting concept though, I know everything is negotiable with sales persons, I would be interested to hear from anyone who has succeeded in converting their dirty points when buying some new points and to understand what the parameters/prices agreed where.

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