Quarter House - SFX change season grid TODAY so my week 15 is no longer prime demand?

[camachinist Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close camachinist]

I'll pose a what-if situation, as it will help me to clarify policy....

What if the OP, rather than inquiring to confirm the existence of prime season status for her prospective deposit, had actually made the deposit, just prior to the grid change, based on her readings of the prime season grid in existence at the time she deposited?

When SFX makes a grid change, evidence of the prior grid is no longer there, so only those who made screen captures or print-outs would have some evidence of the change. As confirming deposits can take a number of business days (about 6, with our most recent Marriott deposit), a depositor would have no cogent evidence of whether all is going per agreed policy until the deposit posts to their account, duing which time the grid could change.

As I recently had such a conversation with Marriott (the hotel end of their business), I am curious as to how SFX handles such nuances.

IIUC, the OP did not make a deposit, so would have a different conversation to resolve her issue. However, her situation does raise this question, at least in my mind.

Pat

[jillchang Member Find all posts View Profile Close jillchang]

I think we all clearly understand the sequence of events, but did you ever stop to think that the change in the grid was not done as a malicious act against you?

Did you ever think that as soon as you brought up the discrepency with the grid, that Mark, in an attempt to provide the best customer service to all SFX customers, asked for the grid to be immediately updated. It's also possible that the change has been in process for a while, but, given all of the other issues with rolling out a new web page, it was overlooked or delayed.

Either way, I have no doubt that Mark and SFX had planned to honor the 3-for-1 for your deposit as soon as the discrepency was pointed out. Given SFX's customer service track record, it seems a given. Had you given him a reasonable turn-around time for response, you may have heard this directly from him.

JMHO.

I will say it again, I did not demand a 3 for 1 from Mark. When he said it did not qualify, I accepted that. I enquire about the discrepencies in what he said and what was posted just so I understand where the discrepencies come from. And I have heard from Mark after I ask him regarding this discrepency, but he did not talk about QH but other issue. But when I try to pm him the next day, the grid has already been changed. It is now my word agains his word, and I don't like how SFX handle it. If they have time to change the grid, they have time to send me a heads up, especially if this issue is brought to their attention by Mark through my request, it is even more important to let a client know as soon as possible. I would say the priority of explaining it to client first takes over the need to erase the evidence.

I will also say it again, I would have accpeted any explanation from SFX as to why they have to suddenly change the grid. Maybe I am being suspicisous, but under the circumstance, it is hard not to believe they did not do this just to prevent me to have a claim when no explanation is given.

I think also I have apologize enough. I apologized openly to Mark, I explained I am not after 3 for 1, I am not even going to deposit QH. I will let it go waste before I deposit it with SFX. Isn't it clear enough?

[jillchang Member Find all posts View Profile Close jillchang]

I'll pose a what-if situation, as it will help me to clarify policy....

What if the OP, rather than inquiring to confirm the existence of prime season status for her prospective deposit, had actually made the deposit, just prior to the grid change, based on her readings of the prime season grid in existence at the time she deposited?

When SFX makes a grid change, evidence of the prior grid is no longer there, so only those who made screen captures or print-outs would have some evidence of the change. As confirming deposits can take a number of business days (about 6, with our most recent Marriott deposit), a depositor would have no cogent evidence of whether all is going per agreed policy until the deposit posts to their account, duing which time the grid could change.

As I recently had such a conversation with Marriott (the hotel end of their business), I am curious as to how SFX handles such nuances.

IIUC, the OP did not make a deposit, so would have a different conversation to resolve her issue. However, her situation does raise this question, at least in my mind.

Pat

Pat,

Even if I have gone ahead and deposit without confirming first with Mark thinking I am getting 3 for 1, I would still accept the fact I will not get the bonus weeks because NOLA is not as in demand now and that SFX is changing their grid. AS LONG AS THEY EXPLAIN IT TO ME AND GIVE ME A CHOICE OF TAKING MY DEPOSIT BACK BEFORE THEY CHANGE THE GRID.

You are right, the whole issue here is about the timing of the change in season grid and the fact that no prior history of grid exist so a person can not prove that his week is qualified once a deposit is made.

Doesn't SFX, who claim to be reputable, have any accountability to their published season grid that they told everyone to follow? my link to their grid was published very recently through a post I made here so mine was not out of date.

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

It's impractical to lock this thread as that would prevent Mark from responding, if he so wishes. All I can do is request that all members refrain from posting any more into the thread for the time being.

At the moment there is far more heat than light being generated

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

It's impractical to lock this thread as that would prevent Mark from responding, if he so wishes. All I can do is request that all members refrain from posting any more into the thread for the time being.

At the moment there is far more heat than light being generated

Keith - thank you for your comments above. Now that we have completed the necessary changes to the Season-Grid, we can now respond accordingly...

Last week SFX modified it's season grid to reflect a more accurate constantly changing supply vs. demand factor for certain times of the year. Seasonal demands are not set by an exchange company, they are set by the public, in this case Timeshare Owners. Our grid simply reflects customers travel habits and trends.

The month of April was adjusted to reflect a more accurate ending of prime time as the Easter week, and not the rest of the month beyond Easter week. Historically after the Easter Holiday week is finished, demand drops dramatically. As you know, Easter week changes almost every year. Some years it is the first week of April, week 14... others it is the second week, week 15.

We have also adjusted the definition of Summer Prime-Time. That has expanded from June 15 through September 7, to June 1 through September 30. This is a result of a fast growing "Baby-Boomer" home of empty-nesters. The kids have grown and moved on with their lives. The result, more couples than at any other time wanting to vacation in early June and September while the weather is typically good and the kids and crowds of peak-Summer are not around, and airfares may be a little lower.

The Season-grid adjustment reflects these trends and in the big picture actually opens up a larger window of time for Members to qualify for promotional offerings for prime-time deposits, as 2 weeks was added to June and 3 weeks added to September.

With regards to any areas where Members have deposited a week that used to be rated as Prime-Time during the period between Easter Week up to April 30th, that have deposited their week prior to the change... their week will be honored with prime time trading power for the deposit.

In the case of New Orleans, although we will treat the deposit with the same previous trading power for this year, with regret we cannot award any Bonus Weeks as the demand for that region is extremely low due the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. We all hope in the near future the great city of New Orleans will recreate itself, and the demand will resume to where we can again award any promotional benefits.

[camachinist Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close camachinist]

With regards to any areas where Members have deposited a week that used to be rated as Prime-Time during the period between Easter Week up to April 30th, that have deposited their week prior to the change... their week will be honored with prime time trading power for the deposit.

Just so we're clear, deposits made prior to the change, but in process (IOW not posted to member accounts yet pending resort approval), which were offered prime time trading power and bonus weeks, will receive what was originally offered. The reason I ask for the clarification is that the quoted text above refers to trading power and makes no mention of bonus weeks attendant to any ongoing promotion.

BTW, looking at the new grid, it appears the prime demand seasons have expanded substantially for a number of areas. In SoCal, where we own, you added 2/1 to Easter, which was not there before, along with the previously mentioned expansion of the summer season. Good show Too bad I already made our gold season reservations at NCV

Pat

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

Just so we're clear, deposits made prior to the change, but in process (IOW not posted to member accounts yet pending resort approval), which were offered prime time trading power and bonus weeks, will receive what was originally offered. The reason I ask for the clarification is that the quoted text above refers to trading power and makes no mention of bonus weeks attendant to any ongoing promotion.

BTW, looking at the new grid, it appears the prime demand seasons have expanded substantially for a number of areas. In SoCal, where we own, you added 2/1 to Easter, which was not there before, along with the previously mentioned expansion of the summer season. Good show Too bad I already made our gold season reservations at NCV

Pat

Pat - thanks for your post.

............"Just so we're clear, deposits made prior to the change, but in process (IOW not posted to member accounts yet pending resort approval), which were offered prime time trading power and bonus weeks, will receive what was originally offered"..........

Providing their resort qualified for a Bonus Week, affirmative...

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

To the OP

SFX is an exchange company not an insurance company. Meybe you should complain ro FEMA.

[jillchang Member Find all posts View Profile Close jillchang]

With regards to any areas where Members have deposited a week that used to be rated as Prime-Time during the period between Easter Week up to April 30th, that have deposited their week prior to the change... their week will be honored with prime time trading power for the deposit.

In the case of New Orleans, although we will treat the deposit with the same previous trading power for this year, with regret we cannot award any Bonus Weeks as the demand for that region is extremely low due the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. We all hope in the near future the great city of New Orleans will recreate itself, and the demand will resume to where we can again award any promotional benefits.

Mark,

I understand now that the change is not just done to New Orleans but is a change in your grid overall. Again, I apologize and should have ask you prior to make my very unreasonable post.

I am not looking to deposit QH, but I like to point out that your paragraphs above are contradictory. If I had deposit the QH just the day before SFX change the grid, according to your first paragraph, shouldn't QH still be qualified for bonus week? I know I did not actually deposit online, but did pm you to deposit it, would SFX then treat this as an official deposit in this case?

And as a suggestion for the future, it might eliminate a lot of headache from your customers if you will inform your members of upcoming season grid change, even if it is a short notice. Like I said, If I had been told, I will consider it a SFX policy change. But the way SFX did it, I perceived it as a way for SFX to get out of giving away bonus week for a single client. Not that I am giving myself credit as a client worth your effort in doing so, I just find it too much of a coincidence.

As a result, even though I understand it is SFX's policy change, I am a little disillusioned regarding the entire timeshare exchange process. Although I did not buy them to trade, I find I still need to do so for at least two of my six timeshares every year. I am a little uncomfortable with the idea of uncertain future trading ability in addition to paying a membership fee and increasing exchange fee. I am not sure it is a good way to go.

I have decided that I will change my entire portfolio of timeshares to include only fixed resort that I know I will use every year and the rest only in very flexible point or mini systems. I took the first step towards that tonight by buying a Starwood timeshare with staroptions so that I can trade into any of their resorts without external exchange company. I will supplement that with HGVC and Fairfield. With these three plus my Royal Holiday Club membership, I will have enough flexibility and choices that I will only need to trade hopefully only very rarely and only as a last resort after all other options have failed.

I will PM you to discuss how we can resolve my remaining exchange request since I sense that I am not really welcome any more as a client for SFX because you have not direct your answers to my questions. Again, I am not upset, I understand. I just want to get a fair trade to what I have on deposit with you so I am done with this whole mess.

And to everyone else, I welcome your discussion and comment, but please stop attacking me, you are not helping the issue, and I believe my concern is a valid one although badly and rudely presented.

Jill

[mshatty Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close mshatty]

Jill,

You've made your point. It's time to let it go. Mark should not respond to you.

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

Mark and Jill have both clarified their positions and I don't feel that further comment is necessary or helpful. I am therefore locking this thread.