Bonus, yeah right

[vandesa Member Find all posts View Profile Close vandesa]

I put in a request using a bonus week.

I got a match but was not at all expecting all these additional charges.

Can you please point out where these charges are explained as I can't find anything that explains why all the additional charges.

Bonus Week $299.00 (OK I was expecting this ONLY)
Upgrade - Grand Mayan Bonus Week $299.00 (but NOT this )
Upgrade - Holiday Bonus Week $199.00 (NOR this)

Kind of defeats the purpose of a bonus week. I had never read of or heard of these upgrade fees before. Please tell me where they reference on your website.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I put in a request using a bonus week.

I got a match but was not at all expecting all these additional charges.

Can you please point out where these charges are explained as I can't find anything that explains why all the additional charges.

Bonus Week $299.00 (OK I was expecting this ONLY)
Upgrade - Grand Mayan Bonus Week $299.00 (but NOT this )
Upgrade - Holiday Bonus Week $199.00 (NOR this)

Kind of defeats the purpose of a bonus week. I had never read of or heard of these upgrade fees before. Please tell me where they reference on your website.

I think I can answer this one. I hate to say this but as far as I know a Bonus week is an extra week that is given to you and you do not use your own week. Most other exchange company's put a ton of restrictions like you can only travel with in the next 60 days, no holidays, Area's that are not wanted in the time of year you are going Like Cape Cod in Jan. As far as the Grand Mayan goes well that has been a 1 and 4 and you would be lucky just to get into the standard Mayan.
IMO if you are given an option to go travel on a bonus week which is not a week owned and can pay to upgrade during a Holiday to a place like the Grand Mayan for a total of $800 which is about $115 a day well IMO that is a gift since the Grand Mayan depending on which charges as much as $450 to$650 a night for a holiday week end.

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

I agree with Frank.. That is a very reasonable cost for that resort! Chances are there are cheaper choices for you, at lesser resorts. Contact SFX to ask for other choices that don't have the upgrade fee (although the holiday upgrade will still be charged).

[vandesa Member Find all posts View Profile Close vandesa]

I just want to know where on SFXs website that is states what the surcharges are. I can't find them anywhere.

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

Is this one of their "Mexican" bonus weeks? Those exclude the "Grands" I think you can still get a "regular" Mayan though.

If this is a regular bonus week then here are the recent t/c's

Terms & Conditions:
This offer is subject to the current Terms & Conditions of The San Francisco Exchange Company. Units offered for Bonus Weeks are one-bedroom suites (maximum occupancy is 4 people), except for San Francisco, New York, and London where the unit may be a studio or hotel unit. Bonus Weeks requested and confirmed for Hawaii, London, and New York City will be subjected to additional fees ($299.00 plus the original Bonus Week rate). Larger units and holidays may be requested for an additional upgrade fee and all space is subject to availability. Based on supply and demand factors, certain locations and/or resorts may only qualify for a maximum of one Bonus Week.
All travel must be completed by stated expiration date, and will not be extended. Values of a Bonus Weeks are approximate and may be higher or lower depending on the location and/or season traveled. SFX reserves the right to decline unqualified deposits at any time. You are responsible for any and all other related costs. To qualify for any of the above, you cannot request an exchange or Bonus Week back to your home resort. Void where prohibited. NOT ALL EXCHANGE INVENTORY IS AVAILABLE FOR BONUSWEEKS.

*******

The Holiday upgrade charge would be applicable but they don't mention any upcharge for the Grands. All of this goes away if you use an exchange week...but I do realize the frustration.

RCI has apparently suspended their 1-4..or is 5 for Grupo Mayan and there are rentals galore out there for cheap. Mexico is a hard sell right now-I'm a little surprised SFX hasn't relaxed a bit. JMHO.

[vandesa Member Find all posts View Profile Close vandesa]

I don't read where there is a surcharge for Grand either, nor does it explicitly state the holiday surcharge.

To be honest I not sure I would lump this in with holidays, sure it is Labor Day, but how many people really want to be in Cancun in early September at the height of Hurricane season. I could understand Christmas, Easter etc, but Hurriance season NO.

I think I will look else where.

I never get to us these Bonus weeks, now I know why.

[vandesa Member Find all posts View Profile Close vandesa]

I found the exact same unit via RCI for a 28K Wyndham Deposit, plus the exchange fee. Thanks for suggesting I look at RCI.

SFX Bonus weeks are useless to me if that is how they work. I have not had much luck with bonus week over the last 3 - 4 years and all of them have gone unused.

I have 2 for 2010 and 2 for 2011. Anyone want them?

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

I put in a request using a bonus week.

I got a match but was not at all expecting all these additional charges.

Can you please point out where these charges are explained as I can't find anything that explains why all the additional charges.

Bonus Week $299.00 (OK I was expecting this ONLY)
Upgrade - Grand Mayan Bonus Week $299.00 (but NOT this )
Upgrade - Holiday Bonus Week $199.00 (NOR this)

Kind of defeats the purpose of a bonus week. I had never read of or heard of these upgrade fees before. Please tell me where they reference on your website.

Vandesa - Thank you for your post.

As per the Terms & Conditions, it is clearly stated there is an additional charge for a major Holiday week. However, accidentally omitted from the terms was an upgrade fee for a Grand unit. And because of this, we can waive the fee for the Grand upgrade.... and just charge the major Holiday week upgrade.

There may be many other units available either side of the Holiday week for only $299. When checking pricing for rentals with the other major companies, I see pricing between approximately $500-$1,000.... making the pricing of ours a far greater value.

You could have also booked this unit for just an exchange fee against one of your existing deposits for only $159 instead of paying the other company an exchange fee of $199... saving you $40.

I noticed there were matches and offers against requests you made for previous Bonus Weeks (Wyndham Hawaii, Hilton Las Vegas), but unfortunately you declined them.

Hope this helps...

Thanks,
Mark @sfx
Member Communications

[Bourne Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bourne]

I found the exact same unit via RCI for a 28K Wyndham Deposit, plus the exchange fee. Thanks for suggesting I look at RCI.

SFX Bonus weeks are useless to me if that is how they work. I have not had much luck with bonus week over the last 3 - 4 years and all of them have gone unused.

I have 2 for 2010 and 2 for 2011. Anyone want them?

Nothing against SFX. I'v used them for years for some cool trades.

Especially with the bulk inventory sitting in RCI, you cannot beat the above deal. The cost is 28K = 140 + 179 = 319 with no size/season limitations. Picked a few myself.

[barndweller Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close barndweller]

I've used the bonus weeks often. Upgrading to a 2 bedroom unit incurs an extra fee. The agent at SFX always advised me that I could use a standard deposit instead of a bonus week for a lesser exchange fee.

SFX bonus weeks are a great value since they can be used for requests and have almost no restrictions. And a bonus week is, after all,an extra exchange in addition to your deposit. Average the fees over the total exchanges from a single deposit and they are a great deal.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Nothing against SFX. I'v used them for years for some cool trades.

Especially with the bulk inventory sitting in RCI, you cannot beat the above deal. The cost is 28K = 140 + 179 = 319 with no size/season limitations. Picked a few myself.

This works and only works for a lot of people because the 1-in-5 was waived for 2011.

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

Nothing against SFX. I'v used them for years for some cool trades.

Especially with the bulk inventory sitting in RCI, you cannot beat the above deal. The cost is 28K = 140 + 179 = 319 with no size/season limitations. Picked a few myself.

Hi Bourne - no question about it, there are some great deals sitting around in RCI for rentals. I am guessing for the most part they are in greater quantity outside of the prime season, and you can only pick what is sitting there.

One of the primary differences is, with SFX you can "request" what you want similar to requesting an exchange week, rather than only being able to take what is sitting around.

We have found in our experience that most of our Member's typically request Prime Time Bonus Weeks from us, in Crown /Star rated resorts... the kind of space that in most instances is not just sitting around with the other companies.

I have noticed with the other companies, their better quality weeks and seasons have been priced around $500-$1500 for a week. A much higher price point than our Bonus Weeks. Of course there are exceptions perhaps in areas with massive oversupply of space.

Thanks,
Mark @sfx
Member Communications

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

I've used the bonus weeks often. Upgrading to a 2 bedroom unit incurs an extra fee. The agent at SFX always advised me that I could use a standard deposit instead of a bonus week for a lesser exchange fee.

SFX bonus weeks are a great value since they can be used for requests and have almost no restrictions. And a bonus week is, after all,an extra exchange in addition to your deposit. Average the fees over the total exchanges from a single deposit and they are a great deal.

I agree. I've taken some great vacations with a couple of bonus weeks and gifted some as well. I've even paid an upcharge for a 2bd. It's all in the t/c's-I love to read fine print-the answers are always there. When I did my "Grand" exchange it was over T-giving and a 2bd-so I used a standard exchange week. No fuss. No muss.

[vandesa Member Find all posts View Profile Close vandesa]

I have tried unsuccessfully to obtain an exchange on a bonus week. Just because my schedule did not permit it.

My method is find something, hold it, and then see if it works. Expecially around bonus weeks, I have tried to be opportunistic.

But it just have not worked out, and thus it has been some time since I have actually used a bonus week. 2006 was the last year I was able to use a bonus week.

I am looking for some specific areas that unfortunately have very very low supply.

I have so many weeks on deposit and so few trades obtained I guess I should just try to book something, and use them up. Right now I have 5 weeks on deposit and 4 bonus weeks, but 2 of the bonuses will expire at the end of the year.