About SFX online availability ...

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

Understanding Online Availability

This service is currently available to SFX Platinum and SFX Diamond Rewards Members.

Online availability represents a small percentage of space deposited with SFX Preferred Resorts. Typically this is space with no pending requests from our Member base. As with the other Exchange Companies, most weeks deposited are not viewable online, because highly demanded premium weeks are immediately booked for Members who have previously placed a Search Request for Exchanges.

As with other exchange companies... the online tool, is nothing more than an enhancement and "not a replacement" for the core exchange fulfillment process which is the placement of a Request and Search.

Weeks are constantly being deposited, and are offered first to SFX Members who have a pending Search Request. Similar to other Exchange Companies, most exchanges are fulfilled by placing a request and searching for space.

If you do not see instant availability for your desired vacation, we invite you to submit a Search Request for your vacation exchanges and/or Bonus Weeks. An SFX Exchange Coordinator will then contact you with possible matches.


Trading-Power...

What is Trading Power? When you deposit a week, it is given a value known as "Trading-Power". Higher Trading-Power gives you greater possibilities for your vacation exchange.


You will only be able to view availability up to the value assigned to your deposited week.

Trading-Power may be determined by the following:
1. The size of your deposited unit (Larger units have higher Trading Power)
2. The Demand and Quality of your resort
3. The Demand for the location/region of your resort
4. The Demand for the season of your deposited week (Prime Time & Holidays offer higher Trading Power)
5. How far in advance of the arrival date did you deposit your week
(Those who deposit 12 months in advance, have higher trading power than those who deposit 3 months in advance, etc.)

Trading-Power will not affect any exchanges 60 days or less to arrival, however, certain upgrade fees may apply.

[VacationPro Member Find all posts View Profile Close VacationPro]

Thanks Mark,

I played around a bit with the online inventory. I'm pleased. Thanks for the continuing efforts.

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

I played around a bit with the online inventory. I'm pleased. Thanks for the continuing efforts.

VacationPro - Thanks !!

This is really just a begining. There will be ongoing enhancments /improvements etc. We are already mapping out a version 2.

Thanks,
Mark @sfx
Member Communications

[mlsmn Member Find all posts View Profile Close mlsmn]

It would be nice to see the inventory without having a deposit like the other exchange companies (II, RCI, TPI) do.

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

Mark, it would also be nice to search beyond a 14 day window. How about no time restriction? Just let us see what is available as that may influence where we decide to vacation. Thanks. Tim

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

Mark, it would also be nice to search beyond a 14 day window. How about no time restriction? Just let us see what is available as that may influence where we decide to vacation. Thanks. Tim

Tim - Thank you for your post and feedback. Customer feedback is always important.

Your point is well taken. In the "Exchange-World", there are times when a Member does not instantly see a place and dates they had in mind. However, in searching around for alternative possibilities, many times they come accross other great places they never thought of and will book that unit for an exchange.

At this time, you can currently search within a 30 day window. What ever date you set, it can look 14 days prior and 14 day after. (I believe RCI has this same 30 day look at a time parameter).

There are reasons which I cannot discuss why an unrestricted window of time for a search isn't instituted. However, this window may be expanded in the near future. There are a number of enhancements already on a blueprint for version 1.1.

We appreciate your feedback...

Mark @sfx
Member Communications

[PortableTech Member Find all posts View Profile Close PortableTech]

I like the new system Mark, one suggestion, being a Florida local, we do like to take local vacations at times. With a place like Florida I have to search many different sub florida locations, would it be possible to get a All Florida listing as a location?

P.S. While it is not my main browser, just so you know, your page is completely broken in Internet Explorer 7. The CSS seems to just go all wacky.

Doug

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

I like the new system Mark, one suggestion, being a Florida local, we do like to take local vacations at times. With a place like Florida I have to search many different sub florida locations, would it be possible to get a All Florida listing as a location?

P.S. While it is not my main browser, just so you know, your page is completely broken in Internet Explorer 7. The CSS seems to just go all wacky.

Doug

Hi Doug-Thank you for your post and feedback.

Searching a whole region, instead of just subsets of a region may be in Version 1.1.

With regards to IE7... if you are in compatibilty mode, it will come out skewed. Are you in that mode?

Thanks,
Mark @sfx
Member Communications

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

Tim - Thank you for your post and feedback. Customer feedback is always important.

Your point is well taken. In the "Exchange-World", there are times when a Member does not instantly see a place and dates they had in mind. However, in searching around for alternative possibilities, many times they come accross other great places they never thought of and will book that unit for an exchange.

At this time, you can currently search within a 30 day window. What ever date you set, it can look 14 days prior and 14 day after. (I believe RCI has this same 30 day look at a time parameter).

There are reasons which I cannot discuss why an unrestricted window of time for a search isn't instituted. However, this window may be expanded in the near future. There are a number of enhancements already on a blueprint for version 1.1.

We appreciate your feedback...

Mark @sfx
Member Communications

Yes, please expand...I can not tell you the number of times I have been just messing around on an exchange site and "seen" something and said, oh, I can make that work.
Thanks

[PortableTech Member Find all posts View Profile Close PortableTech]

Hi Doug-Thank you for your post and feedback.

Searching a whole region, instead of just subsets of a region may be in Version 1.1.

With regards to IE7... if you are in compatibilty mode, it will come out skewed. Are you in that mode?

Thanks,
Mark @sfx
Member Communications

I did some research on the IE7 Compability Mode. Most of what I have learned is that while you can force IE8 into Compability Mode, it would seem, at least from what I can find, there is no way to force IE7 into Compability Mode. There are technical documents to Quirks Mode in IE7, but the only way I can see to turn it on is that the site you are visiting has to specify it's use via the !DOCTYPE tage in their web page.

It is possible that I just have an over taxed brain this Friday, but if you could help point me in the right direction on this it would be appreciated.

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

I did some research on the IE7 Compability Mode. Most of what I have learned is that while you can force IE8 into Compability Mode, it would seem, at least from what I can find, there is no way to force IE7 into Compability Mode. There are technical documents to Quirks Mode in IE7, but the only way I can see to turn it on is that the site you are visiting has to specify it's use via the !DOCTYPE tage in their web page.

It is possible that I just have an over taxed brain this Friday, but if you could help point me in the right direction on this it would be appreciated.

Hi PortablTech - Our IT deparment has tested it in IE7, no problems. I can have them put "fresh-eyes" on this next Tuesday. Is anyone else experiencing any problems in IE7?

Thanks,
Mark @sfx
Member Communications

[morevacations Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close morevacations]

If you do not see instant availability for your desired vacation, we invite you to submit a Search Request for your vacation exchanges and/or Bonus Weeks. An SFX Exchange Coordinator will then contact you with possible matches.


Its my understanding that of I do this ---and a match is found...I am responsible for an exchange fee whether I take it or not. This is a big deterrent to me using SFX.

Aside from being so specific that I may Knock out acceptable exchanges is there any way around this?

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

If you do not see instant availability for your desired vacation, we invite you to submit a Search Request for your vacation exchanges and/or Bonus Weeks. An SFX Exchange Coordinator will then contact you with possible matches.


Its my understanding that of I do this ---and a match is found...I am responsible for an exchange fee whether I take it or not. This is a big deterrent to me using SFX.

Aside from being so specific that I may Knock out acceptable exchanges is there any way around this?

Morevacations - Thank you for your post. If it is an "exact" match... meaning dates, location and an equivalent rated resort Gold Crown or Star rated... then we have performed the service asked of us.

However... when you place your request, you may specify specific resorts you will only accept. This means even if you are offered a quality resort for the location and dates you requested, unless it's one of the resorts you specified, you do not pay an exchange fee.

Footnote: If you are too restrictive with specific resorts, for example Hyatt's only... you are less likely to receive an exchange. Those who are open to all high quality resorts in the area they want to travel, are the most satisfied when it comes to results. The timeshare exchange business model's core, is based on member's ability to be flexible.

Hope this helps...

Thanks,
Mark @sfx
Member Communications

[morevacations Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close morevacations]

Thanks Mark

One more question though.... if i do put in specific request is it likely I will be called and offerred something outside my request?

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

Thanks Mark

One more question though.... if i do put in specific request is it likely I will be called and offerred something outside my request?

It is very possible for close matches to become available. They usually do, as this is how the industry works.

If they do, it is the appropriate and standard course of action to offer them to you. Of course... you may decline them and there is no charge.

Offering close matches is the industry standard. It gives the customer a good alternative option, just in case a specific restricted request may not become available.

Keep in mind, in the timeshare exchange world, it is not engineered to have the luxury of picking and choosing as you do with a hotel. Sometimes an alternative quality resort in the right location and dates will provide you with a good vacation versus the possibility of nothing.

Hope this helps...

Thanks,
Mark @sfx
Member Communications