RCI vs. SFX ?

[Amanda Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Amanda]

I am relatively new to timesharing; my fiance and I recently bought our first timeshare in Cabo in August of last year. I traded one half of our week (we bought a 2 BR) with SFX and was given 3 weeks for the 1 week that we traded in. We were able to get our requests within 6 months of the trade (I had very restrictive dates due to our honeymoon and I only wanted certain resorts with a lot of amenities, i.e., near restaurants, nice pool, etc.)

I was very happy with SFX, however, I know that a lot of people prefer to use RCI. I looked at the resort directory on RCI and I see that they do have a lot more resorts available. We want to travel to the South Pacific, Europe (Italy, France, Switzerland, Spain), Caribbean, Bali/Bangkok, etc. in the next couple of years. Do I have better chances of getting the trades that I want through RCI? Also, would I get a similar 3 for 1 or even 2 for 1 deal?

It is important to me that I get to approve the resort that I am being offered before it is given to me as certain amenities are important to me (prefer gold crowns or similar). Does RCI have this function? How is their customer service? (I think SFX's is great).

Any pros/cons and advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks

[Mark @SFX Industry Representative Find all posts View Profile Close Mark @SFX]

I am relatively new to timesharing; my fiance and I recently bought our first timeshare in Cabo in August of last year. I traded one half of our week (we bought a 2 BR) with SFX and was given 3 weeks for the 1 week that we traded in. We were able to get our requests within 6 months of the trade (I had very restrictive dates due to our honeymoon and I only wanted certain resorts with a lot of amenities, i.e., near restaurants, nice pool, etc.)

I was very happy with SFX, however, I know that a lot of people prefer to use RCI. I looked at the resort directory on RCI and I see that they do have a lot more resorts available. We want to travel to the South Pacific, Europe (Italy, France, Switzerland, Spain), Caribbean, Bali/Bangkok, etc. in the next couple of years. Do I have better chances of getting the trades that I want through RCI? Also, would I get a similar 3 for 1 or even 2 for 1 deal?

It is important to me that I get to approve the resort that I am being offered before it is given to me as certain amenities are important to me (prefer gold crowns or similar). Does RCI have this function? How is their customer service? (I think SFX's is great).

Any pros/cons and advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks

Hi Amanda - being very new to timeshare, I would like to take this opportunity to add these comments.

SFX is a different business model to both RCI and I.I. SFX is a "Boutique Exchange Service" that only specializes in Crown rated and 5 Star rated resorts, whereas the other companies have a "broader" spectrum of quality.

Perhaps 80% of the timeshare world requests 20% of the best timeshare space... the 20% is the quality level we focus on.

Subject to availability we can access any resort you see in any other companies resort directory, and not just be restricted to what you see in RCI.

I guess my point is, when you look through their directories, you will see many more resorts listed, for example in places like Europe than you see in ours. If those resorts were of high-quality, you would also see them listed in our directory... but the fact of the matter is, most of them are not Crown or 5 Star, and that's why they do not qualify for our network. We could access them if we wanted to, but that is not what we represent, nor is it our business model.

Once again, (subject to availability) because we are networked, we can access any of those resorts you see in other directories, as the exchange companies do not own the properties. The question is, when you look through the directory of those resorts, how many do you see that represent the quality that will meet your expectations?

If you want a level of quality that is high, and you want to go to Europe and certain other places, for most other countries staying at a nice hotel, and touring the different regions taking in the whole cultural experience in many instances is a better way to go rather than being anchored down in one place for a week staying at a timeshare resort, and use your timeshare week for another trip where you can be assured a certain level of quality, and experience in a place where one week in one destination is a good match, and good value for your money invested into your timeshare purchase.

Just trying to keep things in perspective and help you understand the different dynamics and nuances within the industry.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Amanda,

If you have to choose between RCI and SFX, SFX wins, hands down, imho.

Forget about 3 for 1 with RCI, they will put useless 'one plus one' weeks in your account for prime deposits, they are good if you want to go to Orlando (or maybe even Williamsburg) offseason, that's about it.. (I know there are exceptions, I am being general, I have about 7 of them in my account that I can't use).

I do belong to both, they each have their benefits to me; but I would never choose RCI over any other exchange company, if I had to make a choice.

[Amanda Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Amanda]

Thanks Mark and Glitter.

One observation/question - on RCI's directory they show quite a few gold crown timeshares in Bali, Indonesia. Does SFX receive inventory from these resorts regularly? (I didn't see any on the SFX directory). What would my chances of getting a week in one of these resorts be with SFX (generally)?

How about other areas of the South Pacific (Tahiti, Bora Bora)?

Additionally, I would be interested to know about the availability/liklihood of trading in for a resort in the Caribbean and the French Riveria.


Thank you. All advice is greatly appreciated.

[Mark @SFX Industry Representative Find all posts View Profile Close Mark @SFX]

Thanks Mark and Glitter.

One observation/question - on RCI's directory they show quite a few gold crown timeshares in Bali, Indonesia. Does SFX receive inventory from these resorts regularly? (I didn't see any on the SFX directory). What would my chances of getting a week in one of these resorts be with SFX (generally)?

How about other areas of the South Pacific (Tahiti, Bora Bora)?

Additionally, I would be interested to know about the availability/liklihood of trading in for a resort in the Caribbean and the French Riveria.


Thank you. All advice is greatly appreciated.

Hi Amanda - Re Bali, Indonesia, Thailand etc. We don't get member deposits from those areas. We are a network of strategic alliances, with direct access to preferred resorts. Member deposits is only one of several methods of acquiring space.

Areas such as Bali, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan are not areas commonly requested by Americans for one week timeshare exchanges. These are exotic areas of the world, and typically doesn't make sense for the seasoned traveler to go there on a timeshare exchange, especially when it takes you about 3 days of traveling to get there and back. However, if that is where you wanted to take your exchange, subject to availability we can access these properties through our network.

These are the kind of destinations from this part of the world, the traveler will go for around 2-4 weeks, stay in hotels and tour the different regions taking in the whole experience of the country, and use their timeshare in a place that allows them to gain the most value out of their purchase.

Far-East and the South Pacific regions for exchanges make much more sense as "regional-exchange". In other words if you live in those general regions, with reasonable access, then it makes sense for you to fly for example from Australia to Thailand etc.

Regarding the French Riviera... a great place, but how many 5 star timeshare resorts do you see listed in those directories? I think you will find the timeshares in France are nowhere near the quality of your resort or your expectations.

The Caribbean... I believe we have virtually all the top resorts already listed in our directory. Tahiti and Bora Bora? Again, how many 5 star resorts do you see listed there?

The reality is, a timeshare exchange doesn't make sense for every single trip in your life. An exchange is only one of several ways of taking your vacation. Depending on time, distance and what kind of quality may be available, should help you determine whether or not to use an exchange or stay in a hotel for any given trip.

As explained in my previous post, subject to availability we can access any resort in any system. The resorts in our directory are recommended. If you want to stay at a resort not listed in our directory but is in another companies directory, if space is available we can access it.

We haven't added many other places in our directory because they don't have high quality resorts, and/or they are so far away, our members don't request them, as it makes more sense to stay at a hotel and tour around.

Last week we were approached by a developer from India that wanted to affiliate his resorts with SFX, with properties that look like beautiful palaces. We painfully declined his offer. Yes it would have "looked good" in our directory, but the fact is, people from the Western Hemishphere for the most part will not request to go there for a timeshare exchange. It doesn't make any sense.

..........."What would my chances of getting a week in one of these resorts be with SFX (generally)?"............

Just like with hotel or airline availability, there is no constant. Odds of availability are different every time and constantly changing. The best advice is, if you want prime time... place your request 10-12months in advance and be "Flexible" on travel dates. That gives you the best odds.

Hope this helps and makes sense...

[Amanda Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Amanda]

Thanks Mark, that makes a lot of sense to me. As mentioned, I did have a great experience with SFX for my first trade, and so far, no one has chimed in with any favorable reasons to choose RCI.

You are right about the South Pacific and the lack of gold crown quality resorts in that area. For my next trade I will probably go with the Caribbean, and possible advance request for Europe as you mentioned.

One question about your explanation that I have though, how else does SFX or any exchange company get inventory besides from trade-ins?

Mark, thanks again, your advice is appreciated.

Happy Easter to everyone!

[acesneights Member Find all posts View Profile Close acesneights]

From developers and resorts that want wider exposure.

Stan

[Mark @SFX Industry Representative Find all posts View Profile Close Mark @SFX]

Thanks Mark, that makes a lot of sense to me. As mentioned, I did have a great experience with SFX for my first trade, and so far, no one has chimed in with any favorable reasons to choose RCI.

You are right about the South Pacific and the lack of gold crown quality resorts in that area. For my next trade I will probably go with the Caribbean, and possible advance request for Europe as you mentioned.

One question about your explanation that I have though, how else does SFX or any exchange company get inventory besides from trade-ins?

Mark, thanks again, your advice is appreciated.

Happy Easter to everyone!

Hi Amanda - Deposits of space into our vacation bank come from Member deposits; Developer bulk-bank space; Management companies and resorts that are part of our network of strategic alliances.

[I-DE-HO Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close I-DE-HO]

Hi Amanda - Deposits of space into our vacation bank come from Member deposits; Developer bulk-bank space; Management companies and resorts that are part of our network of strategic alliances.

You forgot "other exchange companies". Do you get inventory from the major exchange companies too?