About SFX Preferred Resorts

[talkamotta]

I have already had a completed transaction for my 2 bedroom Hawaii week for a one bedroom week (I was too nervous to wait any longer so I took what was offered me).
I now have a week that I deposited last year. I have certain weeks of vacation scheduled but I am fairly flexible in where I am willing to visit. Its kind of a juggling act, you see what is available when you have time off and then you do a quick search for flights and car. For example, if there is availability to a destination and flights for that time of the year are too high, then it wont work.

When I am searching on line for vacations, it is nice to be able to see what is available on a certain week(s), then I can choose if I would like one of those destinations. With SFX that is impossible. This week I called SFX and finally after being disconnected in error, left a message that wasnt returned, after 24 hours I called and waited for an agent. She was very pleasant to me, even after I made her look at 5 different requests, each time asking if I wanted to put a request in. I explained that I wished I could do these searches on line and that would eliminate having to waste her time and I could do it when it is convenient for me. She said that wasnt how SFX works and she said I had a choice of which exchange company I use. "Yes, I do". I asked her if she had heard of TUG's before and she said she hadnt. I explained that it was a large group of timeshare owners, thier positive comments about SFX is why I joined. The one negative that had been mentioned a number of times about SFX, was thier internet site and how hard it was to use.

Im sure this isnt the first time that people have requested to be able to searches on line,etc. Being able to search for availability is one of II's most favorable assets, for me at least. I joined SFX and have paid the membership for a couple of years, so I will continue to use SFX.

[Mark @SFX]

Originally Posted by talkamotta

I have already had a completed transaction for my 2 bedroom Hawaii week for a one bedroom week (I was too nervous to wait any longer so I took what was offered me).
I now have a week that I deposited last year. I have certain weeks of vacation scheduled but I am fairly flexible in where I am willing to visit. Its kind of a juggling act, you see what is available when you have time off and then you do a quick search for flights and car. For example, if there is availability to a destination and flights for that time of the year are too high, then it wont work.

When I am searching on line for vacations, it is nice to be able to see what is available on a certain week(s), then I can choose if I would like one of those destinations. With SFX that is impossible. This week I called SFX and finally after being disconnected in error, left a message that wasnt returned, after 24 hours I called and waited for an agent. She was very pleasant to me, even after I made her look at 5 different requests, each time asking if I wanted to put a request in. I explained that I wished I could do these searches on line and that would eliminate having to waste her time and I could do it when it is convenient for me. She said that wasnt how SFX works and she said I had a choice of which exchange company I use. "Yes, I do". I asked her if she had heard of TUG's before and she said she hadnt. I explained that it was a large group of timeshare owners, thier positive comments about SFX is why I joined. The one negative that had been mentioned a number of times about SFX, was thier internet site and how hard it was to use.

Im sure this isnt the first time that people have requested to be able to searches on line,etc. Being able to search for availability is one of II's most favorable assets, for me at least. I joined SFX and have paid the membership for a couple of years, so I will continue to use SFX.

Talkamotta - thank you for your post.

I think there needs to be a better understanding of our business model. I will try to briefly clarify for you and others.

You can place a search online in your SFX account without speaking with an agent. Although I think what you are referring to is actually booking a unit in real time.

Basically you have 80% of the timeshare world requesting 20% of the best timeshare space. SFX only works with the 20%.

Why don't you see our inventory online??? It's very simple, for the same reason you don't see it online with the other exchange companies !!

What you do see online with them, is inventory in their system they have "no requests" for from their Members, which may be the 80%. Does that make it bad? not necessarily. Is it the most desirable? probably not as there is always a higher demand than supply for the most desirable and a queue. The top layer of 20% as soon as it comes in, it gets booked to the Members in queue. "You don't get to see it"...... and that is why you don't see ours, it's all the top 20%.

Our website for quite a while was somewhat cumbersome. Our recently launched web is very much improved and user friendly, even though it's far from complete.

In conclusion.... SFX is specialized in the top layer only. That is where demand is greater than supply. If it were that easy to get that space from other exchange companies, SFX wouldn't have been in business for 15 years, almost totaling 100,000 Members. We must be doing something right.

We hope this gives a better understanding of some of the basics of our business model. (Remember the 80/20 rule).

[kvp]

Originally Posted by Mark @SFX

Hi Jeff - We are not allowed to quote chances for availability. If we thought there was no chance and you would be wasting your time, we would tell you so. That is not the case here.

New York has very high demand, and of course a small supply of space. There are only two properties with limited inventory. You would need a minimum of a one bedroom unit sleep 4 in Ski Season Jan - March, for high trading power which is favorable for a NY exchange. If you are planning on going this year to NY, this late the odds are not great. If you are planning for next year, there is a greater possibility.

Hope this helps.

Would like to go to Manhattan Club next March (2008). I have a 2 BD in Carlsbad, California to trade (Grand Pacific Palisades). What are the good trading months for the Carlsbad resort to get into New York in March 2008?

Thanks,

Kathy

[Mark @SFX]

Originally Posted by kvp

Would like to go to Manhattan Club next March (2008). I have a 2 BD in Carlsbad, California to trade (Grand Pacific Palisades). What are the good trading months for the Carlsbad resort to get into New York in March 2008?

Thanks,

Kathy

Hi Kathy - Thank you for your post. Any week from June 15 through Sept 7... or major Holiday weeks.

[CarolF]

I am looking to buy into a timeshare points system in Australia which is only affiliated with II. Do you accept Australian resorts? Also do point owners need to book a specific week at a specific resort, then submit that information to SFX to conduct an exchange?

[Mark @SFX]

Originally Posted by CarolF

I am looking to buy into a timeshare points system in Australia which is only affiliated with II. Do you accept Australian resorts? Also do point owners need to book a specific week at a specific resort, then submit that information to SFX to conduct an exchange?

Hi Carol - Thank you for your post. In most instances, we do accept Australian timeshare resorts that are either Crown or 5 Star rated. Do you have the name of the resort?

As a Points Owner, you would reserve a "weeks-worth" of points in at least a one-bedroom unit in prime time. You would then login to your SFX account and deposit the week accordingly.

Curious... Why are you wanting to buy a week in Australia? Do you live in the US or Canada?

[CarolF]

Originally Posted by Mark @SFX

Do you have the name of the resort?


Curios... Why are you wanting to buy a week in Australia? Do you live in the US or Canada?

Thanks for the reply Mark. The points system is with Accor Hotels (APVC) (french origin I think). They have started a timeshare points business in Australia and are planning to expland into Asia. The points do not apply to a specific resort but can be used with any of their timeshare resorts in Australia/New Zealand.

I am an Australian, living in Australia and would prefer to buy here only because I know more about Australia than other countries. There are a number of timeshare developers here but it is not as big as in the US. I am trying to gather as much info as I can before I buy - one of my concerns is that APVC are only affiliated with II (although I heard a rumour that they can now use DAE). Despite doing lots of reading I couldn't work out how to use the other exchange companies and you have explained it well for me.

I am taking my time to research it all thoroughly because the points are very expensive (even resale) but I feel a bit dubious about buying a "week" (with another developer) because the new way to go seems to be "points".

[Mark @SFX]

Originally Posted by CarolF

Thanks for the reply Mark. The points system is with Accor Hotels (APVC) (french origin I think). They have started a timeshare points business in Australia and are planning to expland into Asia. The points do not apply to a specific resort but can be used with any of their timeshare resorts in Australia/New Zealand.

I am an Australian, living in Australia and would prefer to buy here only because I know more about Australia than other countries. There are a number of timeshare developers here but it is not as big as in the US. I am trying to gather as much info as I can before I buy - one of my concerns is that APVC are only affiliated with II (although I heard a rumour that they can now use DAE). Despite doing lots of reading I couldn't work out how to use the other exchange companies and you have explained it well for me.

I am taking my time to research it all thoroughly because the points are very expensive (even resale) but I feel a bit dubious about buying a "week" (with another developer) because the new way to go seems to be "points".

Hi Carol - and that certainly makes sense owning in Australia, as you live there. You can actually request the service of any exchange company you want. All the best to you with your purchase and years of vacationing.

[ChiefEngineer]

Mark;

I have been very impressed with your member recommedations for SFX, on this site as well as TUG. We (my better half included) signed up as 5 year Platinum members last night (expect to receive membership info today).

We own 2 weeks (in the process of buying a third) of the 2 bedroom lockout Royal Tahitian at Tahiti Village in Las Vegas. This is a 51 floating week timeshare. Normally, I split the unit into it's 2 components for 1 week each. What we need to know is the trading and bonus difference between the following (as Platinum members):

2 Bedroom Royal Tahitian (combines the Moorea and Bora Bora units).

1 Bedroom Moorea (lockoff unit) 580 square feet, sleeps 4 trades for 4

1 Bedroom Bora Bora (delux unit) 971 square feet seeps 4 and trades for 4

I can provide further details if needed or you can check out the resort at the
consolidatedresorts website.

We are looking forward to doing our first excahnge with your company.

Respectfully;
Jim and Sandy

[3blessings]

Originally Posted by Mark @SFX

Hi Kathy - Thank you for your post. Any week from June 15 through Sept 7... or major Holiday weeks.

Do you accept 1 bd Thanksgiving week?