Current deposit Promo-feedback

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

Sally – Thank you very much for your feedback and well thought information.

One correction regarding our Bonus Weeks…. They range in price from $69 to $999 depending how far in advance and what size unit you book. (The market retail can vary between around $700 to $2,500 depending on season, unit size and location). Another benefit members like, is with SFX you are not "restricted" to the resorts of just one major system, as we give members access to resorts in "both" major systems.

I absolutely see it from your point of view, and agree with you, that someone with several weeks of ownership really doesn't benefit from Bonus Weeks, as your first priority is to get exchanges that you want from your ownership, and getting your monies worth.

I have to disagree about the fees not being competitive. When you compare to RCI fees…. I believe we are less, with I.I., just a few dollars more. It's not just about the fees, it more about what you get back in value. Although our fees may be just a few dollars more than the other company, in the bigger picture most people regard a few dollars difference in the fees insignificant, as they really get much more value from SFX if they can use Bonus Weeks almost like an exchange week without having to spend thousands of dollars more by having to buy those weeks of ownership to get additional weeks of exchange. (Our Bonus Weeks can be requested like an exchange week).

However, for folks like yourself who have multiple weeks, and seem to be very happy frequently exchanging internally in your home resort group, and paying slightly less exchange fees… then saving some money here and there is nice, and you are getting good internal exchanges.

Which brings the question many owners ask, "Why am I even paying any kind of an exchange fee for doing an internal trade with the brand I own with? !! After all, my developer is simply giving bulk bank weeks to an external exchange company to simply manage the inventory! Why can't my resort group simply book that week in the resort's internal reservation system instead of making us pay exchange fees?

We hear those questions quite often from members.

I like your point about having benefits for people who own several weeks and don't need Bonus Weeks…. Don't need their deposits extended, or expired weeks reinstated etc. So Sally, we are all ears, what kind of benefits would you suggest for folks in your situation?

Again, thank you so much for taking the time to respond with a well thought response.

Regards,
Mark @SFX
Member Communications

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

Sorry. Didn't have the quotes in the right place in my previous post.



I'm not a fan of the points, the complexity of applying them for some third party application (cruise) I have no use for and trying to tie to something I do use, ie. timeshare




I believe my comment is pretty self explanatory as others got it. SFX is an exchange company, wanting owners to deposit their timeshare weeks to meet exchange request obligations. I, like the others here have said, like the bonus weeks, etc (which are also timeshare / accommodations related) in return. The members that frequent this timeshare website generally enjoying timesharing and use exchange companies to further that aspect of vacationing. Offering points for cruising is a disconnect to an unrelated desire for this group.

I can understand SFX wanting to target a broader audience of timeshare owners that aren't as savvy in their use of the timeshare they own or no longer see value in what they own so offering them more timeshare related stuff has no appeal. Cruising is gaining popularity with the older generation and that segment happens to currently own a lot of timeshare weeks so your promo is targeting that segment. I get it.

You wanted feedback. I don't dispute your promotion may be popular with some folks but don't try and convince me that your promo is good for me. Create two promos: one for folks interested in using timeshares for other timeshare related vacations (ie. bonus weeks) and something else for those that use their timeshare for some non-timeshare related promo.

Thank you for your feedback and points of view.

Totally understand there is a small group that simply just want an exchange, and a Bonus Week once in a while, and perhaps do not care for any other types of additional travel (Hotels, getaways, Cruises, Tours etc.). I really am not trying to convince you that its good for you, as clearly it doesn't meet your personal needs. Is it really necessary to create two menu's? 99% of the promo is our core program for timeshare exchange, Bonus Weeks etc. There is only "one" feature that is optional for those (which is most people) who also take additional trips and would like to get a good discount rate at a hotel or a resort, perhaps take a cruise, car rental etc. It's simply one option out of several, in addition to our core model, an exchange company.

It's nice to give people options for additional value ....isn't it? (Just like every other exchange company does). Not every benefit offered by an exchange company is for everybody. You simply select what benefits work for you. It's all about giving people more choices.

Thanks again for your input

Mark @SFX
Member Communications

[Ellen Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ellen]

My two cents..................we deposited our first week with SFX a couple of years ago due to the appeal of the Bonus Weeks and Bonus Cash. We stayed in London in August 2012 on a bonus week using bonus cash......needless to say we were thrilled! We are looking at options on our 2014 week and I am disappointed that SFX is no longer offering the Bonus Weeks with the Bonus Cash. I personally am not excited about the Rewards Points, I don't see that we would have a need to use them. Without the Bonus Cash the price of the Bonus Weeks aren't that appealing. We like to request in advance and based on my initial review it seems like if we wanted a last minute vacation we could just wait for the sell off list without the need of a Bonus Week. Although I understand the theory of the sliding scale on the bonus weeks I really prefer to have a set specific Bonus Offer. Based on my initial review the prior Reward seemed simpler and more beneficial, at least for our uses.

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

My two cents..................we deposited our first week with SFX a couple of years ago due to the appeal of the Bonus Weeks and Bonus Cash. We stayed in London in August 2012 on a bonus week using bonus cash......needless to say we were thrilled! We are looking at options on our 2014 week and I am disappointed that SFX is no longer offering the Bonus Weeks with the Bonus Cash. I personally am not excited about the Rewards Points, I don't see that we would have a need to use them. Without the Bonus Cash the price of the Bonus Weeks aren't that appealing. We like to request in advance and based on my initial review it seems like if we wanted a last minute vacation we could just wait for the sell off list without the need of a Bonus Week. Although I understand the theory of the sliding scale on the bonus weeks I really prefer to have a set specific Bonus Offer. Based on my initial review the prior Reward seemed simpler and more beneficial, at least for our uses.

Ellen - Thank you for your post and feedback, it is very appreciated.

Thanks,
Mark @SFX
Member Communications

[Picker57 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Picker57]

My two cents..................we deposited our first week with SFX a couple of years ago due to the appeal of the Bonus Weeks and Bonus Cash. We stayed in London in August 2012 on a bonus week using bonus cash......needless to say we were thrilled! We are looking at options on our 2014 week and I am disappointed that SFX is no longer offering the Bonus Weeks with the Bonus Cash. I personally am not excited about the Rewards Points, I don't see that we would have a need to use them. Without the Bonus Cash the price of the Bonus Weeks aren't that appealing. We like to request in advance and based on my initial review it seems like if we wanted a last minute vacation we could just wait for the sell off list without the need of a Bonus Week. Although I understand the theory of the sliding scale on the bonus weeks I really prefer to have a set specific Bonus Offer. Based on my initial review the prior Reward seemed simpler and more beneficial, at least for our uses.

Hi Mark - These are my feelings exactly. The former system was straightforward. This 'points' thing is full of smoke and mirrors in the form of artificially high "retail" values. Plus, we don't do cruises, so the whole Diamond Level idea is irrelevant to us. Please keep with the cash cards and, perhaps, an extra bonus week.

QUESTION: We would like to book multiple weeks on Maui - sometime at the end of next year or start of 2015. I know Maui is difficult to get into, but what are the chances of finding multiple weeks this far ahead? There are several Maui resorts listed in the SFX Directory, but I realize that they don't all get frequent deposits. Which ones are the most "plentiful" in the sense of finding multiple weeks? Thanks for any observations / counsel you can provide.

Happy trails,
---------------Zach