Current deposit Promo-feedback

[hurnik Member Find all posts View Profile Close hurnik]

Hello Mark,

Okay, after reviewing the current deposit promo, I must say it's a tad disappointing. Not so much with the new pricing of the bonus/lifestyle weeks, but here goes:

(2) bonus weeks, and then SFX vacation store cash. That's it. I THOUGHT I'd seen a promo where you got $100 voucher off one of the weeks, but I guess not. And it's only 10% off with vacation cash (my $699 2 bedroom week was only like $50 off that I Just booked, but since I don't anything in writing for what vacation cash can be used for .....--I just booked this a few days ago too.).

The SFX vacation store cash isn't very good and here's why:

I just spent the better part of this weekend trying to price out a 7-day alaska cruise. First, I'm a Diamond Lifetime member, so I've got like SFX bonus points as well.

Get this:

On EVERY cruise I checked, even WITH "$400 off" with SFX Vacation cash, the pricing for the cruise (before the $20 processing fee that ovs charges) was STILL HIGHER than what I can book directly with any cruise website (Princess, Celebrity, Norweigen, Royal Carribbean, Carnival, etc.) And not just like $1.00 higher, but in some cases several hundred more.

So the cash for the SFX travel store is, IMO, a joke. I'm going to use "extra cash" to pay MORE?

Personally I'd rather SFX just re-did the promos for like 3 bonus weeks and maybe $100 vacation cash or something ($50/$100 off a week) or something rather than the travel store gimmick.

I'll hold my weeks/deposits until I see something better.

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

Hello Mark,

Okay, after reviewing the current deposit promo, I must say it's a tad disappointing. Not so much with the new pricing of the bonus/lifestyle weeks, but here goes:

(2) bonus weeks, and then SFX vacation store cash. That's it. I THOUGHT I'd seen a promo where you got $100 voucher off one of the weeks, but I guess not. And it's only 10% off with vacation cash (my $699 2 bedroom week was only like $50 off that I Just booked, but since I don't anything in writing for what vacation cash can be used for .....--I just booked this a few days ago too.).

The SFX vacation store cash isn't very good and here's why:

I just spent the better part of this weekend trying to price out a 7-day alaska cruise. First, I'm a Diamond Lifetime member, so I've got like SFX bonus points as well.

Get this:

On EVERY cruise I checked, even WITH "$400 off" with SFX Vacation cash, the pricing for the cruise (before the $20 processing fee that ovs charges) was STILL HIGHER than what I can book directly with any cruise website (Princess, Celebrity, Norweigen, Royal Carribbean, Carnival, etc.) And not just like $1.00 higher, but in some cases several hundred more.

So the cash for the SFX travel store is, IMO, a joke. I'm going to use "extra cash" to pay MORE?

Personally I'd rather SFX just re-did the promos for like 3 bonus weeks and maybe $100 vacation cash or something ($50/$100 off a week) or something rather than the travel store gimmick.

I'll hold my weeks/deposits until I see something better.

Hi Hurnik - Thank you for your post. If you would be kind enough to send me details of the exact cruises you checked for pricing it will be very appreciated. We need to make sure it's apples for apples. In other words, the exact same itinerary, dates and cabin category. After we have verified the accuracy of the information, we can then give an appropriate response to your post.

Thanks,
Mark @SFX
Member Communications

[Andy25g Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Andy25g]

I agree with Hurnick I'm holding my deposit(s) until I hopefully see something better. I liked the bonus weeks and vacation cash card........Really simple and straight forward. I've tried to make sense of those 10,000 SFX Rewards and and I really don't see a benefit for me. Who knows might be great for others.

Thanks

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

I agree with Hurnick I'm holding my deposit(s) until I hopefully see something better. I liked the bonus weeks and vacation cash card........Really simple and straight forward. I've tried to make sense of those 10,000 SFX Rewards and and I really don't see a benefit for me. Who knows might be great for others.

Thanks

Andy - Thanks for the feedback. We would like to hear from others as to whether they prefer the previous promo (Bonus Weeks and Cash-card), or the current promo, (Bonus weeks & 10,000 reward points towards hotels, resorts, cruises and car rentals. Value up to $1,200).

Thanks,
Mark @SFX
Member Communications

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

I am not planning on depositing anything in the near future, but would prefer the old system myself. Having experience with ICE and not necessarly Diamond Rewards membership, the points system is giving you discounts on inflated prices so there there is no real value. They quote a before price, and an after price but the price with discount is always more. I have done numerous comparisons on cruises and resorts and their prices after taking off the points value, still leave them more expensive then retail. Anytime where there would be actual value say on prime time weeks you cannot use them.

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

We would like to hear from others as to whether they prefer the previous promo (Bonus Weeks and Cash-card), or the current promo, (Bonus weeks & 10,000 reward points towards hotels, resorts, cruises and car rentals. Value up to $1,200).

Thanks,
Mark @SFX
Member Communications

I also prefer the cash card over the 10K reward points.

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

I also prefer the bonus weeks/cash card.

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

Hmmm.
This is not good to hear.
I hope that my experience with the program is going to be better.
I signed up for the Diamond Rewards program for 20 years.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I also prefer the bonus weeks/cash card.

I prefer reasonably priced ($299-499) bonus weeks/cash card - I am a Platinum Member.

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

Hmmm.
This is not good to hear.
I hope that my experience with the program is going to be better.
I signed up for the Diamond Rewards program for 20 years.

Hi Chriskre - We have thousands of members who have upgraded to Diamond Rewards in the last couple of years. We are waiting to get specific information from Hurnik so that we can verify the accuracy of the information posted.The Diamond Reward program has thousands of savings on Cruises, Hotels, Resort, Car rentals and other benefits. With thousands of different money saving offers, it is possible from time to time, to find something for less elsewhere, but then again we have a Price Guarantee Option, so you would not be over paying.

With a program this large, and with prices changing on a daily basis in the travel business, if you can save money 90% of the time, and the other 10% is matched with a Price Guarantee.... you are way ahead of the game. You have to look at the program in it's entirety, not just a couple of instances.

Here is an instance of an NCL Cruise...

· NCL Cruise for 6/29/13 (7 night Hawaiian Islands/ 2 adults & 1 child)
· Suite – SE Category
· NCL Site = $10,214.19
· AAA = Not contracted with NCL
· Cruises.com = $10,214.19
· CruiseDeals.com = $10,214.19

· SFX Travel Store / Diamond Rewards =$9,150.81 w/o points or $7,650.81 using 10,000 rewards

In this instance the SFX Travel Store would save you $2,563.38. In just the first year, you saved more than what the membership cost you for a 20 years of benefits and savings!!

Again, lets get his information first and check the facts before we respond.

Thanks,
Mark @SFX
Member Communications

[hurnik Member Find all posts View Profile Close hurnik]

Hi Mark, I'll see if I can get some screenshots and email them to you regarding the cruises.

Is there an expiration date on the SFX Travel Store vacation cash (for lack of a better word) with the current Promo?

Thanks!

--Kevin

[hurnik Member Find all posts View Profile Close hurnik]

Hmmm.
This is not good to hear.
I hope that my experience with the program is going to be better.
I signed up for the Diamond Rewards program for 20 years.

I will say though that the Diamond Rewards has some really good "last minute" deals (3 months out or less usually) for popular spots. My travel plans aren't usually that flexible though (resort last minute deals).

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

I do not like the new program and have / will not be depositing my week with this program.

I understand the desire that SFX has to diversify but it's first and foremost a timeshare exchange company. Stick with that as the key focus and keep the two separate.

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

Hi Mark, I'll see if I can get some screenshots and email them to you regarding the cruises.

Is there an expiration date on the SFX Travel Store vacation cash (for lack of a better word) with the current Promo?

Thanks!

--Kevin

Kevin - I believe its one year from the date of issuance. You may want to double-check the terms.

Thanks,
Mark @SFX
Member Communications

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

I do not like the new program and have / will not be depositing my week with this program.

I understand the desire that SFX has to diversify but it's first and foremost a timeshare exchange company. Stick with that as the key focus and keep the two separate.

djyamyam - Thank you for your post. You didn't say what exactly is it you don't like about the new promo?

Also... could you clarify what you mean about "Stick with the key focus, and keep the two separate"?

Thanks,
Mark @SFX
Member Communications