Positives and negatives-SFX

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

Right, Mark, I see that you cannot understand how that is vague.

If I want to use a bonus week to book a 2BR holiday week in NYC, how much will that be? Cannot be answered by your T&C, which says $300 upgrade fee for NYC and then at least$200 for 2BR or holiday. So $200, something more than $200, or possibly more, $200 per parameter? Who the heck knows? I am not an idiot. I can read. Your T&C are unclear.

By the way, you don't need to specifically answer my question, I contacted SFX and got the answer.

H

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

Right, Mark, I see that you cannot understand how that is vague.

If I want to use a bonus week to book a 2BR holiday week in NYC, how much will that be? Cannot be answered by your T&C, which says $300 upgrade fee for NYC and then at least$200 for 2BR or holiday. So $200, something more than $200, or possibly more, $200 per parameter? Who the heck knows? I am not an idiot. I can read. Your T&C are unclear.

By the way, you don't need to specifically answer my question, I contacted SFX and got the answer.

H

Heathpack - thank you for your response. For the sake of other viewers, here is the cost for a 2BR Holiday Bonus Week in NYC. (This only applies to the current promotion that expires on 8/22/11).

If the base price of the Bonus Week is only $399 for the unit, there is a $299 upgrade fee if you want a larger size unit, then another $199 fee if it's a major Holiday week (Xmas, New Year etc.). That's a total $897 for 2br Suite in New York for the Holiday week. (The location upgrade fee only applies to NY, Hawaii and London).

If you have a "Vacation Cash-Card"....

You then get a $100 Discount off the upgrade fee, and another $50 off the price of the $399 Bonus Week.

In this specific example, your net cost is only:$747 (an average of only $106 per day).

If you simply just book a 1BR suite sleep 4 with no upgrades, then you only pay special offer base price. Grand Luxxe is an exception.

Where I think the issue is, are the words "at least". I will have the IT department reword that more clearly tomorrow.

Thanks for the feedback...

Mark @sfx
Member Communications

[hurnik Member Find all posts View Profile Close hurnik]

Hurnik - Thank you for your post. The Special Offer states there is a nominal upgrade fee for Bonus Weeks in Hawaii, London and New York. These are premium demand locations, and even with the upgrade fee are way below market rates. All other locations are at the low promotional price of $399/$499 for 7 nights/8 days.

Hope this helps...

Thanks,
Mark @sfx
Member Communications

Thanks Mark!

Just to add a comparison for others (this basically shows the value of SFX--at least as I see it).

My timeshare is with HGVC, although I can exchange into RCI with Hilton.
Let's assume I have a 4,800 point package with HGVC (basically that would get you a 2 bedroom, 1 week unit at most Hiltons, but it depends on where and what season). Let's say the average MF/taxes are $850/year for the above (I've seen some less and some more)

Given the above, I could get a 1 bedroom, 1 week in "most" locations for about $600 in MF/Taxes (again, I'm not including the initial purchase price, etc.) Plus the $50 fee to book via HGVC.

But let's say I wanted something in Hawaii or NYC (or Valdoro in Colorado) during "high" season. Well then I'm looking at anywhere between 4800 and 7000 points (you can "borrow" from next year in HGVC). Let's assume somewhere around 5400 points to be "in the middle".

That turns out to be about $950 + $50 to book (via HGVC).
Now, I could exchange into RCI via HGVC and get a 2 bedroom in Hawaii for 4800 points. Okay, so that's now $850, but then I have to pay about $160-190 in booking fees for Hilton (depends on if you have to call for an ongoing search or if you book online). Let's just say it's $160

$850 + 160 = $1010

But let's say I want to use SFX.
Okay, I can deposit a 1 bedroom, 1 week from HGVC for say, 3400 points (costing me let's say $700 from HGVC perspective)
BUT if I do it right, I'll get:
1 week exchange into SFX
1 bonus week for say, $500
another bonus week for say, $600
"free" upgrade to 2 bedroom (some resorts are additional fees).
Plus vacation card.

Even if I tack on the extra what, $200 for upgrade to a 2 bedroom unit at the GM plus the $150 exchange fee, that's $350 plus my $700, is about the same as HGVC. ($1050). Maybe a little less with vacation card cash.

But then I now have my two extra bonus weeks to use AND I still have 1,400 points leftover with Hilton.

And, compared to my exchange with RCI, I don't have the 1/4 or 1/5 rule restrictions.

So, from *my* perspective, even with the extra fees for the certain high demand resorts, etc. I still "win" in the long run.

Sorry for the long post, but I figured it may help put some things into perspective. Obviously others situations may be diff. (I don't "own" RCI so I'm not familiar with all the ins and outs of that system natively).

Although I would second or third the others requests for maybe a nice chart with the fees and for which resorts/holidays, etc.

--Kevin

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

Thanks Mark!

Just to add a comparison for others (this basically shows the value of SFX--at least as I see it).

My timeshare is with HGVC, although I can exchange into RCI with Hilton.
Let's assume I have a 4,800 point package with HGVC (basically that would get you a 2 bedroom, 1 week unit at most Hiltons, but it depends on where and what season). Let's say the average MF/taxes are $850/year for the above (I've seen some less and some more)

Given the above, I could get a 1 bedroom, 1 week in "most" locations for about $600 in MF/Taxes (again, I'm not including the initial purchase price, etc.) Plus the $50 fee to book via HGVC.

But let's say I wanted something in Hawaii or NYC (or Valdoro in Colorado) during "high" season. Well then I'm looking at anywhere between 4800 and 7000 points (you can "borrow" from next year in HGVC). Let's assume somewhere around 5400 points to be "in the middle".

That turns out to be about $950 + $50 to book (via HGVC).
Now, I could exchange into RCI via HGVC and get a 2 bedroom in Hawaii for 4800 points. Okay, so that's now $850, but then I have to pay about $160-190 in booking fees for Hilton (depends on if you have to call for an ongoing search or if you book online). Let's just say it's $160

$850 + 160 = $1010

===

But let's say I want to use SFX.

Okay, I can deposit a 1 bedroom, 1 week from HGVC for say, 3400 points (costing me let's say $700 from HGVC perspective)
BUT if I do it right, I'll get:
1 week exchange into SFX
1 bonus week for say, $500
another bonus week for say, $600
"free" upgrade to 2 bedroom (some resorts are additional fees).
Plus vacation card.

Even if I tack on the extra what, $200 for upgrade to a 2 bedroom unit at the GM plus the $150 exchange fee, that's $350 plus my $700, is about the same as HGVC. ($1050). Maybe a little less with vacation card cash.

But then I now have my two extra bonus weeks to use AND I still have 1,400 points leftover with Hilton.

And, compared to my exchange with RCI, I don't have the 1/4 or 1/5 rule restrictions.

So, from *my* perspective, even with the extra fees for the certain high demand resorts, etc. I still "win" in the long run.

Sorry for the long post, but I figured it may help put some things into perspective. Obviously others situations may be diff. (I don't "own" RCI so I'm not familiar with all the ins and outs of that system natively).

Although I would second or third the others requests for maybe a nice chart with the fees and for which resorts/holidays, etc.

--Kevin

Kevin - Thank you for your post. You have done your homework and have given a great example of Value in the SFX program.


That is a great example, however, I feel the value is even greater.

For example... The base rate for the bonus weeks are $100 less than stated. $399 /$499 This saves another $200 off the estimated cost, plus there are other savings of:

$1050 your original estimate
$-200 over pricing of bonus weeks
===
$ 850
$-100 off bonus week
$-100 off upgrade fee of bonus week
$- 20 off exchange fee
===


* This does not take into account the total of $500 the Vacation Cash-Card gives you.

Estimated results:
In the above example, $630 would be your net cost with SFX vs. $1,010 with the other exchange company. This is a huge difference in savings and benefits. In today's economy, you have to make every penny count!

Many thanks !!

Mark @sfx
Member Communications