NEW 2012 SFX Deposit Promotion

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

We are pleased announce our new 2012 Deposit Promotion.

To review, please click Special Offer.

If you are an existing SFX Member, you will need to login and it will take you to the SFX Widget. You will be required to select your resort in the drop down box, and then click a date in the calendar of the week you wish to deposit. The benefits will vary depending on what dates you select, as well as the resort you will be depositing.

If you are not currently an SFX Member, please click the "New to SFX' button at the top right. It will then give a "sample" of what you may received. Actual benefits will depend on what you are depositing, and an SFX agent at 800.739.9969 can give you specifics.

There are great incentives and benefits at every level, however you are offered more incentive benefits based on:

How far in advance you deposit your week. For example, a Member depositing a week that starts 12 months in advance, received more benefits than a member deposit 3 months in advance.

A Prime-Time deposit. For example, a Prime-Time deposit will receive more incentive benefits than a lesser season.

Resort rating: For example, we have many members who own multiple weeks. Higher demanded resorts, will receive more incentive benefits.

Trading-Power: An additional reason for depositing a Prime-Time deposit is, you will have higher Trading-Power for your exchange, and will be able to see more availability in our online search feature.

Thanks,
Mark @sfx
Member Communications

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

WOWZA!! That was worth the wait. As soon as WM verifies my week, I am going to get 5 bonus weeks at a really crazy low price.

We almost never take a full week vacation at a time. These bonus weeks will be so inexpensive that we won't mind paying for a week and only staying 3 nights. The full week looks less expensive than one night.

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

Mark,

This definitely an innovative promotion and the most creative you guys have come up with so far. Hats off to you for that.

What is the most number of weeks can a single deposit get in the lifestyles bonus program. I have deposits that would get me anywhere from 3 to 5 weeks. Are there deposits that will give a person more than 5 bonus weeks for a single deposit?

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

I like the calendar very much. No more guessing and or asking...as long as SFX has all your units listed then you can easily see what is prime/high, etc.

Questions though. Are the lifestyle weeks going to replace sell-off weeks or will those be available in addition to the lifestyle weeks?

The way I'm reading the t/c's..the Tier 1 and 2 weeks seem like sell off weeks and Tier 3 and 4 more like bonus weeks. It says you must have a deposit for Tier 3 and 4 but not so at 1 and 2?

Can I request at all tier levels?


Also, this statement is confusing me. Can you please clarify?


*Tiers 3 and 4: To take advantage of this premium level of advanced booking at these low prices, a deposit of a future week is required.
Terms and Conditions of Lifestyle Weeks

What does that mean? I couldn't have earned the ability to book one of these weeks with a deposit during the promotional period BUT if I want to book a tier 3 or 4 out of my 5 earned bookings...then I have to give you ANOTHER week?

Help me understand please

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

More questions

Mark,

Upon further review, I have more questions:

1. How will the cash card use structure be modified? For example the $500 cash card from the previous offer had to be used for specific things - e.g. $100 for bonus size upgrade. Since the new lifestyle program doesn't have size upgrades, what happens to that amount in my cash card?

2. Similar things apply to the discount off a bonus week - old cash card says $100 can be applied to bonus weeks > $399 which the current promotion says 10% discount. Which takes precedence?

3. In the promotion, it says that for take advantage of tier 3 or 4, you have to deposit a week. At the time that I do a tier 3 or 4 booking? If I make a deposit during this promotional period, doesn't that satisfy the deposit requirement? That statement is either redundant or confusing.

4. Just to clarify, lifestyle weeks are really bonus week pricing on all inventory you have available (ie. what I see online and not online)? I continue to have the choice of using a deposited week or pay the lifestyle weeks pricing? or is it specific special inventory

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

Are the Vida/Lifestyle weeks the same as sell off weeks or regular inventory or are they different inventory altogether.

Not all exchange inventory is available for Vida Weeks

Any hint on how much more limited is the Lifestyle inventory vs regular exchange inventory?

2 confusing things from the terms:

A Vida Week entitles an SFX member to request additional weeks for travel at the stated promotional prices in Tier 1-4. No additional deposit of a week is required to access Tier 1-2. However, a deposit of your week for an exchange is required to book Tier 3-4 for using a Vida Week.

and

Vida Weeks are currently unlimited

Different resort weeks that I own come up with 3-5 bookings in the Lifestyle weeks program. Does that mean I can book unlimited Lifestyle weeks Tier 1-2 (0-90 days in advance) at the quoted rates without depositing anything and then can request additional ones up to my limeit for each deposit or does it mean that I have to make a deposit and then an additional deposit to book Tier 3-4?

Thanks for the clarifications.

Sorry for the duplicate questions. Was typing while others were posting.

[gandalf252002 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gandalf252002]

I noticed that this new calendar does not appear to show holiday weeks? For example the Carriage Hills week that I deposited previously during the Easter week was previously considered prime season? The new calendar shows it as being a regular high week.

Additionally for points based owners with access to mutiple properties, the listing of resorts in the profiles would be innacurate. For example mine has Carriage Hills and Vino Bello? I have never despoted Vino Bello, but it is in the SVC network. Does this mean I have to ask to have every SVC property and BlueGreen property to my profile?

Overall, I like it though. I would get more for the Vino Bello then I would Carriage Hills, but that is fine with me if I can take advantage of the LifeStyles stuff.

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

I like the calendar very much. No more guessing and or asking...as long as SFX has all your units listed then you can easily see what is prime/high, etc.

Questions though. Are the lifestyle weeks going to replace sell-off weeks or will those be available in addition to the lifestyle weeks?

The way I'm reading the t/c's..the Tier 1 and 2 weeks seem like sell off weeks and Tier 3 and 4 more like bonus weeks. It says you must have a deposit for Tier 3 and 4 but not so at 1 and 2?

Can I request at all tier levels?

Also, this statement is confusing me. Can you please clarify?


*Tiers 3 and 4: To take advantage of this premium level of advanced booking at these low prices, a deposit of a future week is required.
Terms and Conditions of Lifestyle Weeks

What does that mean? I couldn't have earned the ability to book one of these weeks with a deposit during the promotional period BUT if I want to book a tier 3 or 4 out of my 5 earned bookings...then I have to give you ANOTHER week?

Help me understand please

StressCadet - Thank you for your post. Apologies for any confusion in the promotion. And we appreciate your feedback, as it will allow us to modify the offer with clearer explanations.

Questions though. Are the lifestyle weeks going to replace sell-off weeks or will those be available in addition to the lifestyle weeks?

SFX: LifeStyle Weeks are not replacing the Sell-Off weeks. The main difference beteween LifeStyle and Sell-Off weeks... Lifestyle weeks are less money, however a week must be deposited for an exchange.

Sell-Off weeks do not require you have a deposited week, are more expensive (But still a Great Value). They are available in addition to LifeStyle Weeks.

The way I'm reading the t/c's..the Tier 1 and 2 weeks seem like sell off weeks and Tier 3 and 4 more like bonus weeks. It says you must have a deposit for Tier 3 and 4 but not so at 1 and 2?

Can I request at all tier levels?

SFX: Apologies... this page was linked to incorrect Terms & Conditions, and has now been rectified. To access LifeStyle Weeks, a 2012 or 2013 qualifed deposit for an exchange is required. This will give access to All Tiers for LifeStyle Week bookings.

In addition, with or without a deposit of your week, there is still access to the Sell-off list.

Also, this statement is confusing me. Can you please clarify?

*Tiers 3 and 4: To take advantage of this premium level of advanced booking at these low prices, a deposit of a future week is required.
Terms and Conditions of Lifestyle Weeks

What does that mean? I couldn't have earned the ability to book one of these weeks with a deposit during the promotional period BUT if I want to book a tier 3 or 4 out of my 5 earned bookings...then I have to give you ANOTHER week?

SFX: I agree, this does sound confusing, but no, it doesn't mean that. Once we recieve your deposit week for an exchange, you will have anywhere between 12-18 months in which to use your LifeStyle weeks. (Similar to the previous Bonus Week program).

To find out how many LifeStyle Weeks you will be awarded, and to whether you get 12 or 18 months in which to use them, you will need to login to the SFX Promo Widget, select your resort, click on the dates/season of the week you will deposit, and then view the offer.

Hope this helps...

Thanks,
Mark @sfx
Member Communications

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

Mark,

This definitely an innovative promotion and the most creative you guys have come up with so far. Hats off to you for that.

What is the most number of weeks can a single deposit get in the lifestyles bonus program. I have deposits that would get me anywhere from 3 to 5 weeks. Are there deposits that will give a person more than 5 bonus weeks for a single deposit?

Djyamyam - Thank you for your post.

Based upon what week you deposit for your exchange, you can have as many as 5 LifeStyle Weeks per deposit. There are no resort week deposits that qualify for more than 5 LifeStyle Weeks. To find out what you will receive for the whole offer ... Please go to the SFX Promo Widget, login and view your offer.

Hope this helps...
Thanks,
Mark @sfx
Member Communications

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

Mark,

Upon further review, I have more questions:

1. How will the cash card use structure be modified? For example the $500 cash card from the previous offer had to be used for specific things - e.g. $100 for bonus size upgrade. Since the new lifestyle program doesn't have size upgrades, what happens to that amount in my cash card?

2. Similar things apply to the discount off a bonus week - old cash card says $100 can be applied to bonus weeks > $399 which the current promotion says 10% discount. Which takes precedence?

3. In the promotion, it says that for take advantage of tier 3 or 4, you have to deposit a week. At the time that I do a tier 3 or 4 booking? If I make a deposit during this promotional period, doesn't that satisfy the deposit requirement? That statement is either redundant or confusing.


4. Just to clarify, lifestyle weeks are really bonus week pricing on all inventory you have available (ie. what I see online and not online)? I continue to have the choice of using a deposited week or pay the lifestyle weeks pricing? or is it specific special inventory

Djyamyam - Thank you for your post.

1. How will the cash card use structure be modified? For example the $500 cash card from the previous offer had to be used for specific things - e.g. $100 for bonus size upgrade. Since the new lifestyle program doesn't have size upgrades, what happens to that amount in my cash card?

SFX: Everything from our previous promotions with regards to what the Vacation Cash-Card could be used for still applies. If for example you still have any unused regular Bonus Weeks in your account, all previous discount rates apply. ($50 or $100 off).

Moving forward.... for LifeStyle weeks, you get a 10% Discount of the price of the week. In most instances you are ahead of the game as opposed to previous Bonus Week offers.

2. Similar things apply to the discount off a bonus week - old cash card says $100 can be applied to bonus weeks > $399 which the current promotion says 10% discount. Which takes precedence?

SFX: My response to #1 covers this.

3. In the promotion, it says that for take advantage of tier 3 or 4, you have to deposit a week. At the time that I do a tier 3 or 4 booking? If I make a deposit during this promotional period, doesn't that satisfy the deposit requirement? That statement is either redundant or confusing.

SFX: Apologies, the link was pointing towards the wrong terms, and is now corrected. To have access to the LifeStyle Weeks program, a qualified week must be deposit. (Similar to our previous Bonus Weeks program, a week needs to be deposited).

If your 2012 or 2013 qualified exchange week is deposited between now and January 18, 2012... then you will qualify for an Exchange, LifeStyle Weeks, Vacation Cash-Card and any other benefits you see at the SFX Promo Widget.

You will have 2 years past the arrival dates of your deposited week for your vacation exchange.

Depending on the Value-Demand for the week you deposit, you will have either 12 or 18 months in which to use your LifeStyle weeks. This is viewable in the SFX Widget when you click the Calendar.

4. Just to clarify, lifestyle weeks are really bonus week pricing on all inventory you have available (ie. what I see online and not online)? I continue to have the choice of using a deposited week or pay the lifestyle weeks pricing? or is it specific special inventory

SFX: That is incorrect. LifeStyle Weeks is not pricing on all our inventory, on or off-line. There are certain inventories for various reasons that will not be available on certain occassions for LifeStyle Weeks, just as it is with Bonus Weeks. However, just like a Bonus Week... a LifeStyle week may be requested in advance (6-12 months in advance). You will also have the choice of using your booking as an exchange or a LifeStyle week (Same as the Bonus Week program unless otherwise stated).

Great questions... hope this helps.

Thanks,
Mark @sfx
Member Communications

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

Are the Vida/Lifestyle weeks the same as sell off weeks or regular inventory or are they different inventory altogether. Any hint on how much more limited is the Lifestyle inventory vs regular exchange inventory?

2 confusing things from the terms:
and

Different resort weeks that I own come up with 3-5 bookings in the Lifestyle weeks program. Does that mean I can book unlimited Lifestyle weeks Tier 1-2 (0-90 days in advance) at the quoted rates without depositing anything and then can request additional ones up to my limeit for each deposit or does it mean that I have to make a deposit and then an additional deposit to book Tier 3-4?

Thanks for the clarifications.

Sorry for the duplicate questions. Was typing while others were posting.

Sally - Thank you for your post and feedback. I agree, some items are confusing, and we appreciate this feedback so we can do a better job of explaining the Value-Proposition of our current offer.

Are the Vida/Lifestyle weeks the same as sell off weeks or regular inventory or are they different inventory altogether. Any hint on how much more limited is the Lifestyle inventory vs regular exchange inventory?

SFX: It is a combination of SFX inventory and other members of our strategic alliance of resorts and various resources. For example, some of the inventory is from our Sell-off list. The difference being, the prices are less than the Sell-off list. However, the Sell-off list is still an incredible Value!

It's not really less limited, and very very shortly we will be adding many more weeks from various resources. Also... You will still have the choice of using your exchange week or your LifeStyle Week for your exchange, just as with the earlier Bonus Week program.

confusing things from the terms: and Different resort weeks that I own come up with 3-5 bookings in the Lifestyle weeks program. Does that mean I can book unlimited Lifestyle weeks Tier 1-2 (0-90 days in advance) at the quoted rates without depositing anything and then can request additional ones up to my limeit for each deposit or does it mean that I have to make a deposit and then an additional deposit to book Tier 3-4?

SFX: The number of LifeStyle Weeks you are awarded, depends on the Demand-Value of the week you are depositing. The higher the demand for your week, the more benefits you will receive.

For access to all tiers in LifeStyle weeks, you are required to deposit a qualified week. If for example, the week you deposit is awarded 5 LS weeks, then you will have a total of 5 LS weeks to use for you or your guests during a 12-18 month period (Similar to the Bonus Week program). This is in addition to your exchange week.

If your deposit qualifies for 3 LS weeks, the same applies.

If your deposit is received during the promotion period between now and January 18, 2012... you will have a couple of years in which to use your exchange week, and 12-18 months to use your LS Weeks. Just like our previous programs, you will be able to login to transact for your exchange, and will be able to either book an existing online LS week, or place a request for one. Same process as our previous programs.

Hope this helps...

Thanks,
Mark @sfx
Member Communications

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

I noticed that this new calendar does not appear to show holiday weeks? For example the Carriage Hills week that I deposited previously during the Easter week was previously considered prime season? The new calendar shows it as being a regular high week.

Additionally for points based owners with access to mutiple properties, the listing of resorts in the profiles would be innacurate. For example mine has Carriage Hills and Vino Bello? I have never despoted Vino Bello, but it is in the SVC network. Does this mean I have to ask to have every SVC property and BlueGreen property to my profile?

Overall, I like it though. I would get more for the Vino Bello then I would Carriage Hills, but that is fine with me if I can take advantage of the LifeStyles stuff.

Gandalf - Thank you for your post. The Holiday week coding is embedded in the site and is included in factoring what you are offered. The offer may well be the same as the week before or after, but where you come out ahead is in the Higher Trading-Power for your exchange, where the coding is specific to a Holiday-Week.

Additionally for points based owners with access to mutiple properties, the listing of resorts in the profiles would be innacurate. For example mine has Carriage Hills and Vino Bello? I have never despoted Vino Bello, but it is in the SVC network. Does this mean I have to ask to have every SVC property and BlueGreen property to my profile?

When you submitted your membership application, you entered Shell Vacations Club instead of a specific resort. Being points based, that is understandable. However, your profile in our system has to recognize a specific resort rather than a blanket name of a club. In this instance, the agent allocated Vino Bello into your profile. A great property in a great location with great trading - power!

You don't have to enter every resort from SVC or BG into your profile. I recommend simply adding maybe just 2 or 3 resorts from each with good demand (Trading-Power). So when you go to call your resort to book a week you can deposit with SFX, if there is no availability at one location, you can request another. Just trying to make life simple

Hope this helps...

Thanks,
Mark @sfx
Member Communications

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

Hi Mark,

Thank you for clarifying our questions. I have a couple more

1. This is on the Lifestyle weeks pricing page:


SFX Lifestyle Week prices vary based on room size and how far in advance the booking is confirmed. With SFX Lifestyle weeks, there are no size upgrade fees* and no limits on the number of weeks you want to book, less than 90 days in advance.

Is SFX saying that regardless of the amount of Lifestyle weeks awarded to that particular client..let's say I get 5 weeks..that you can actually book unlimited Lifestyle weeks as long as it's 90 days before check in?

Also, I can see the Lifestyle pricing when I view the sell off list-is this how I will find my potential Lifestyle weeks?

..or can I request?

If so-will I see them in my exchange choices/credits and make my request that way?

One more, if I place a request against a Lifestyle week say 7 months out and it isn't confirmed until 2 1/2 months out-which tier pricing do I pay?

***************

Gandalf,

I own a vacation club too (Worldmark) . Just edit your profile and add in properties..so you can see the various offers for each property. Some will undoubtedly be better than others...and maybe cost you less (points, credits, etc) to book but achieve more power/a better offer than what you thought. Win-win.

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

SFX Deposit Promotion Correction.

We are pleased announce our new 2012 Deposit Promotion.

To review, please click Special Offer.

I had stated earlier, this was for 2012 deposits. This is incorrect.

This promotion is for 2012 and 2013 deposits.

Thanks,
Mark @sfx
Member Communications

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

Mark, Any response on these questions?

Mark,

Upon further review, I have more questions:

1. How will the cash card use structure be modified? For example the $500 cash card from the previous offer had to be used for specific things - e.g. $100 for bonus size upgrade. Since the new lifestyle program doesn't have size upgrades, what happens to that amount in my cash card?

2. Similar things apply to the discount off a bonus week - old cash card says $100 can be applied to bonus weeks > $399 which the current promotion says 10% discount. Which takes precedence?

3. In the promotion, it says that for take advantage of tier 3 or 4, you have to deposit a week. At the time that I do a tier 3 or 4 booking? If I make a deposit during this promotional period, doesn't that satisfy the deposit requirement? That statement is either redundant or confusing.

4. Just to clarify, lifestyle weeks are really bonus week pricing on all inventory you have available (ie. what I see online and not online)? I continue to have the choice of using a deposited week or pay the lifestyle weeks pricing? or is it specific special inventory