Original Message:
RCI, II, GPX etc will be replaced by a free or low-cost APP (by Lance C.):
markl18 wrote:There's just no reason at all, today, and going forward, to have to pay RCI $209 ($219 if you talk to a live person) to make an exchange.
There are other smaller independent exchange companies such as Dial-an-Exchange, San Francisco Exchange, Platinum Interchange, and Hawaii Timeshare Exchange to name a few. They charge a lot less than RCI. II charges slightly less than RCI.
You also mentioned TUG. It has a free direct exchange board for members. The challenge there of course is to find another member who has what you want and you have what he or she wants. That brings us to the other aforementioned independent exchange companies. I know it's an ongoing argument among many veteran timeshare owners and users but some feel that the extra cost for the "Big Two" (RCI & II) are worth it considering they have much more inventory and are more likely to find a match for you than the smaller, independent ones.
That being said, even though there might be low-cost app in the works, I highly doubt it's going to replace the "Big Two". The Big Two aren't going anywhere.