Good news!!

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

Ah...now I get it; the Widget determines the perks but the property determines the Trade Value. I know the Trade Value is by some internal process, but is the lead time on the deposit one of the factors? ie. is deposit 12 months in advance of the desired date stronger than 8 months?
Thanks,
----Zach

Hi Zach - Yes, the further in advance of the desired date receives higher trading-power.

For the most part, space is not created by exchange companies, it is created by Members depositing their weeks. (The caveat to that is, developers deposit their unsold units with exchange companies, until such time the resort is sold out of its inventory of weeks. So that extra influx of space is very temporary).

My point is... because members are the source of space, exchange companies do their best to encourage members to deposit early and as far ahead as possible, therefore one of the rewards is higher "trading-power" that gives you an advantage of getting space as it becomes available.

Thanks,
Mark @SFX
Member Communications

[hurnik Member Find all posts View Profile Close hurnik]

As a result of Member demand... and staff support at SFX, we are pleased to announce that SFX LifeStyle weeks is being re-introduced very soon for our 2013 deposit promotion.

This allows you to book additional vacations at quality resorts for a fraction for their market value, giving you great savings and more vacations than other exchange companies. Details will be forthcoming shortly.

If you have any questions regarding SFX LifeStyle Weeks, please do not hesitate to ask.

Thanks,
Mark @SFX
Member Communications

If I may make a few suggestions:

1) Re-tool the website so that the lifestyle weeks show up as "deposited" weeks just like the old bonus weeks did. Makes it easier for me to see how many I have AND when they expire.

2) See #1, as it ALSO allows me to do on line searches with a deposited week. Otherwise I have to call and go through a lot of time (IMO) for trying to find various weeks/dates/etc. and it wastes everyone's time.

Thanks!

--Kevin

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

If I may make a few suggestions:

1) Re-tool the website so that the lifestyle weeks show up as "deposited" weeks just like the old bonus weeks did. Makes it easier for me to see how many I have AND when they expire.

2) See #1, as it ALSO allows me to do on line searches with a deposited week. Otherwise I have to call and go through a lot of time (IMO) for trying to find various weeks/dates/etc. and it wastes everyone's time.

Thanks!

--Kevin

Hi Kevin and thank you for your post. This has been discussed a few weeks ago, but here is brief review. The previous Bonus Weeks where you can currently view and place a request or book a week against, were weeks with a fixed cost. In other words you may have been given a Bonus Week for $499. The coding in the system is very simple. You have a credit for a week and when it's booked, it knows to charge you $499 (or whatever the price was).

With the new system, Bonus Weeks (LifeStyle weeks) have "Variable pricing" based on your unit size you select and how far in advance you want to travel. So... if you are entitled to one of these weeks, the whole coding process is different, as we do not know what unit size you will select, or how far in advance you wish to book, and therefore you cannot hard code a single price like with the earlier system.

You cannot have both systems in place at the same time. We have been waiting until such time most members with previous credits on the earlier system have used their bonus weeks before we switch over to the new system which should be within 2-4 weeks. At that time, LifeStyle weeks will be viewable and bookable when you login. Any Members who have credits for the earlier single priced Bonus weeks will have to call in to place a request or book a unit.

Hope this helps....

Thanks,

Mark @SFX
Member Communications

[vandesa Member Find all posts View Profile Close vandesa]

Any ideas when we might see the existing Lifestyle bonus weeks online. I have 5 or 8 of them. I have no idea. But there is also no way to tell online.

I need to know how many I have and when they expire.

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

Any ideas when we might see the existing Lifestyle bonus weeks online. I have 5 or 8 of them. I have no idea. But there is also no way to tell online.

I need to know how many I have and when they expire.

Hi Vandesa - Thank you for your post. As per my post above, I have been advised between the next 2-4 weeks this will happen.

Thanks,
Mark @SFX
Member Communications

[Picker57 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Picker57]

A very effective way, in the meantime, is to simply call the service desk # on the SFX Website (sorry, don't have it in front of me). It took a day or so, but Marcie gave us a complete update on our weeks balances - expiration dates, everything.

---------------Zach

[Picker57 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Picker57]

Hi Mark, I have a couple of quick (?) questions from the Lifestyle Week chart & regs.

1. It states 'no size upgrade fees'. Does that refer to an upgrade from our banked week or the one we initially request?
2. 'Cannot request Exchange or Lifestyle Week back into home resort'. For those of us on points, does that refer to the week/resort that we've banked?
3. 'No limit on number of weeks if booked less than 90 days out'. What would you suggest as a good strategy if we want to book more than one week - an example being in a location that requires long travel?

As always, thanks for any insights and suggestions.

-------------Zach

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

Hi MArk,
An additional question that may have been answered elsewhere, but I did not see it on the website

How long are bonus weeks good for? For example, it says I can get 3 bonus weeks at $69 and up (depending upon when they are) but how much time will we have to use them before they expire? (It used to be a year which is too short a time for us.)
Thanks for all your help
JOAN

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

Hi Mark, I have a couple of quick (?) questions from the Lifestyle Week chart & regs.

1. It states 'no size upgrade fees'. Does that refer to an upgrade from our banked week or the one we initially request?
2. 'Cannot request Exchange or Lifestyle Week back into home resort'. For those of us on points, does that refer to the week/resort that we've banked?
3. 'No limit on number of weeks if booked less than 90 days out'. What would you suggest as a good strategy if we want to book more than one week - an example being in a location that requires long travel?

As always, thanks for any insights and suggestions.

-------------Zach

Hi Zach -

LifeStyle Weeks Pricing Grid: http://www.sfx-resorts.com/lifestyles/

1. It refers to the LifeStyle weeks (Bonus Weeks). With regards to Exchanges... If you are a Platinum or Diamond Member, there are no upgrade fees for larger units for your exchange.

2. Yes. If you own at a points based resort, and have deposited a weeks worth of points... you cannot exchange or use a LifeStyle week back at your home resort. This rule also applies to those who own at a weeks based resort.

3. For our promotion to deposit your next year's week, there are different numbers of long-term LifeStyle weeks offered to Members depending on what they own, and the season they deposit it in (as outlined in the Promo Widget). For example, if you were awarded one LifeStyle week which can be booked a year in advance, then that one week is your limit (plus unlimited 90 days or less weeks). To get more than one week for a year advance booking, it is dependent on what you deposited and how many weeks were awarded.

Hope this helps...

Thanks,
Mark @SFX
Member Communications

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

Hi MArk,
An additional question that may have been answered elsewhere, but I did not see it on the website

How long are bonus weeks good for? For example, it says I can get 3 bonus weeks at $69 and up (depending upon when they are) but how much time will we have to use them before they expire? (It used to be a year which is too short a time for us.)
Thanks for all your help
JOAN

Hi Ron & Joan - Thank you for your post. For depositing a 2013 qualified week this year, you will have from the day we receive your deposit and up to the end of 2013 in which to use it. For example..... If we received your 2013 deposit today, you will have about 16 months in which to use your Bonus Weeks.

If you delay, and don't deposit your 2013 week until some time in 2013... then for deposits received in 2013, you will only have one year in which to use your Bonus Week. The one year clock starts as of the day we receive your deposit.

The whole idea is to incentivize members to deposit next years weeks now, as early deposits create more space in a timely manner for members to book their vacations. So those who deposit early are rewarded with more time to use their Bonus Weeks.

Hope this helps...

Thanks,
Mark @SFX
Member Communications

[Picker57 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Picker57]

Thanks Mark. Sorry for my mental density, but I'm still not clear on #1. I understand about the Exchanges, but what if I want to use one of my bonus Weeks? Say I need a 2BR. Would I book a 1BR (for the lesser $ amount) and then request an upgrade? I know this isn't as complicated as I'm making it.....sorry.

-------------Zach

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

Thanks Mark. Sorry for my mental density, but I'm still not clear on #1. I understand about the Exchanges, but what if I want to use one of my bonus Weeks? Say I need a 2BR. Would I book a 1BR (for the lesser $ amount) and then request an upgrade? I know this isn't as complicated as I'm making it.....sorry.

-------------Zach

Hi Zach - no problem. You have access to all pricing and units within the pricing grid. So, for example if you wanted a 2BR unit, and you wanted to book it up to 30 days in advance, the price is only $199. Up to 3 months in advance, only $499. Up to 6 months in advance, only $599. Up to 12 months in advance, only $799.

Your price is based on the size of the unit you want, and how far in advance you want to book it. The beauty of SFX LifeStyle (Bonus Weeks) is that you can request them in a similar way to requesting your exchange week. You can request what you want, versus the major exchange companies you can only book what is sitting around in their system, and usually on short notice or in the lower seasons.

Link to: LifeStyle Weeks

Hope this helps...

Thanks,
Mark @SFX
Member Communications

[Picker57 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Picker57]

Changes in early deposit benefits...?

Hi Zach - no problem. You have access to all pricing and units within the pricing grid. So, for example if you wanted a 2BR unit, and you wanted to book it up to 30 days in advance, the price is only $199. Up to 3 months in advance, only $499. Up to 6 months in advance, only $599. Up to 12 months in advance, only $799.

Your price is based on the size of the unit you want, and how far in advance you want to book it. The beauty of SFX LifeStyle (Bonus Weeks) is that you can request them in a similar way to requesting your exchange week. You can request what you want, versus the major exchange companies you can only book what is sitting around in their system, and usually on short notice or in the lower seasons.

Link to: LifeStyle Weeks

Hope this helps...

Thanks,
Mark @SFX
Member Communications

Hi Mark - I was just updating on the benefits for early deposits, and it appears to me that they've shrunk.....is this correct? For prime time, we're now getting 2 bonus weeks instead of 3 (used to be 4), and 1 $100 voucher insteadof 2. But what is the "10,000 SFX Rewards" part? What does this refer to? Can you give us more detail on the current benefits for prime week deposits?

Thanks,
-----------Zach

[Picker57 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Picker57]

Hi Mark - I was just updating on the benefits for early deposits, and it appears to me that they've shrunk.....is this correct? For prime time, we're now getting 2 bonus weeks instead of 3 (used to be 4), and 1 $100 voucher insteadof 2. But what is the "10,000 SFX Rewards" part? What does this refer to? Can you give us more detail on the current benefits for prime week deposits?

Thanks,
-----------Zach

Mark - It's been a couple of weeks....could you comment on my question? Thanks.

----Zach

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

Mark - It's been a couple of weeks....could you comment on my question? Thanks.

----Zach

Hi Zach - sorry for the delay. There are so many posts/pages with exchange opportunities, messages can get buried on the site, and unfortunately sometimes get missed, as was the case here.

I wouldn't say the early deposit offer has shrunk, it's just different. You have two Bonus Weeks. Prices start as low as $69 for the week, and go up accordingly based on unit size and how far in advance you want to book the unit. Not so long ago, whether you booked 15 days in advance or one year, the price was the same around $499/$599. I believe no other exchange company allows you to request Bonus Weeks like an exchange (you essentially have to take what is "left-over"). The approximate retail value of these weeks are around $700 to $1,600 each.

You also receive a $100 voucher to use towards your Bonus Weeks.

If you have unused deposited weeks, we give you a one year extension on them.

If you have a deposit that has expired from non-use, it gets reinstated for one year so you can enjoy another vacation that would otherwise be lost.

You receive 10,000 SFX Reward Points that will give you up to $1,200 off on certain travel including Cruises, Hotels and Car rentals (this is additional travel above and beyond exchange or Bonus Weeks). Access to this benefit is when you login to your SFX account, then peruse the SFX Travel Store.

Hope this helps... and please keep in mind, No other exchange company offers all these benefits.

Many thanks,
Mark @SFX
Member Communications