Enhanced and extended search features

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

Hi Mark,

Knowing ability to search online is relatively knew, and only a fraction of the inventory you get what are the chances of viewing more then a 14 day window in any given area?

The two requests I have are for pretty specific resorts located in my area (however I have given a pretty big window). Since this limits my chances, I would like to start searching online availability. However, selecting the "Canada / Ontario" option and then having to select a 14 day window is VERY tedious. I will have to do this 24 times (give or take a few) to search the entire year. Add even just ONE other area, and you can see how much work this is.

On another note, if the resorts I am requesting are likely going to never match (i.e., you have NEVER gotten inventory from that resort, or they have some form of contractual agreement with another company) will one of customer service reps advise of such?

Don't get me wrong, I am optimistic that something will match my requests just a little re-assurance is all.

Thanks again for your contributions and I am looking forward to my first successful exchange.

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

Hi Mark,

Knowing ability to search online is relatively knew, and only a fraction of the inventory you get what are the chances of viewing more then a 14 day window in any given area?

The two requests I have are for pretty specific resorts located in my area (however I have given a pretty big window). Since this limits my chances, I would like to start searching online availability. However, selecting the "Canada / Ontario" option and then having to select a 14 day window is VERY tedious. I will have to do this 24 times (give or take a few) to search the entire year. Add even just ONE other area, and you can see how much work this is.

On another note, if the resorts I am requesting are likely going to never match (i.e., you have NEVER gotten inventory from that resort, or they have some form of contractual agreement with another company) will one of customer service reps advise of such?

Don't get me wrong, I am optimistic that something will match my requests just a little re-assurance is all.

Thanks again for your contributions and I am looking forward to my first successful exchange.

Hi Gandalf - Thank you for your post.

You can actually search more than a 14 day window. You can search a up to one month (28 days) at a time. When you select the 14 day option, it searches 14 days before, and 14 days after the date you select in the calendar. To do a 12 month online search would then be 12 times, not 24.

I totally see your point of view, especially if you want to add multiple locations with a 12 month search window. Even at 12 x per... yes it becomes tedious.

The reason it has been designed this way (a one month search window at a time), is because if we open it up to a one year search parameter, in many instances, the page load factor can take too long, because of all the inventory. In our focus groups with members, they told us they would rather have the one month at a time search option and have faster page loading speed, than the one year search window option, with much slower loading web pages.

The Solution....

In the event you want to search with perhaps 6-12 month options in multiple locations, to avoid the tediousness you can...

1. Simply place the multiple request online in your account. Which is much quicker.

2. Call one of our agents, and they will enter it for you, or they can do the 12 month instant searches with you, while you are on the phone.

In the event an agent feels that based on historical data, what you are requesting has a very low chance of fulfillment, they will advise you. Actually all timeshare resorts have a contractual relationship with the other 2 exchange companies. However, that does not stop us from receiving inventory from those resorts. The typical situation in this case would be extremely high owner-occupancy, thus creating very low supply in a high demand area = Low odds for fulfillment.

We do appreciate your feedback, and look forward to further comments on how we can improve your online experience.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays,

Mark @sfx
Member Communications

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

Thanks for the response Mark. Using the logic that online availability is somewhat predictive of what I might be able to get is at least a start in the right direction. Of searching manually for Ontario nets zero results it must mean that deposits are being snatched up before they get to that point. Therefore the likelyhood that of getting one as a bonus week is slim.

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

Thanks for the response Mark. Using the logic that online availability is somewhat predictive of what I might be able to get is at least a start in the right direction. Of searching manually for Ontario nets zero results it must mean that deposits are being snatched up before they get to that point. Therefore the likelyhood that of getting one as a bonus week is slim.

No, not at all. There are only about 7 Gold Crown quality resorts in Ontario. The real demand for that region is between June-September (only 4 months out of 12). There is high Owner Occupancy during that period. Higher Owner occupancy means lesser week that go into the exchange pool for others to use. If we were to accept deposits for the rest of the year from this region, you would see weeks sitting there online because very few people want to go, outside of the Summer. Another factor... most people are only just begining to pay their maintenance fees for 2012. They cannot reserve a week to use or deposit until their maintenance is paid. It's one of those bills generally people don't pay until they have to.

The Supply vs the Demand for this region with these factors, means you will generally see very little online availability, because (as stated on our site), the only units you see online are weeks we have no current requests for from our Members. Members with requests are matched with weeks first before going online. (This is the same with the other exchange companies).

As with all exchange companies, most requests are matched by placing a request and starting a Search, not online booking, especially for the higher demanded resorts and seasons.

We strongly recommend for this request to go online and place a request and start a Search for a match. Your timing is reasonably good.

Hope this helps...

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays,

Mark @sfx
Member Communications