Exchanges with SFX - Deposits, Bonus weeks, Sell off List

[Bourne Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bourne]

Mark,

Here is my understanding of how exchanges work with SFX.

1. A deposited week can be used at any location subject to availability by paying the exchange fees.
2. All bonus weeks are for 1Br units only. They can be upgraded to a 2Br for an upgrade fee.($100).
3. A Mexico bonus week can only be used for Mayan Palace resorts. The cost can range from $299-$499 depending on promotion. Can I upgrade to Grand Mayan by paying an upgrade fee?
4. A Regular bonus week can be used at all locations except for home resort and Manhattan Club.

Incase of Sell off list, if I see a sell off price quoted as $199-$699..

a. Can I pay $199 - $699 and rent the week outright without using my banked weeks?
b. If I use a banked bonus week, do I have to pay extra for the $699 week if my initial cost of the bonus week was $299?
c. If I use a deposited week, can I can request an exchange for any of the sell off weeks irrespective of the price quoted by paying the exchange fees.

Jason

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

Mark,

Here is my understanding of how exchanges work with SFX.

1. A deposited week can be used at any location subject to availability by paying the exchange fees.
2. All bonus weeks are for 1Br units only. They can be upgraded to a 2Br for an upgrade fee.($100).
3. A Mexico bonus week can only be used for Mayan Palace resorts. The cost can range from $299-$499 depending on promotion. Can I upgrade to Grand Mayan by paying an upgrade fee?
4. A Regular bonus week can be used at all locations except for home resort and Manhattan Club.

Incase of Sell off list, if I see a sell off price quoted as $199-$699..

a. Can I pay $199 - $699 and rent the week outright without using my banked weeks?
b. If I use a banked bonus week, do I have to pay extra for the $699 week if my initial cost of the bonus week was $299?
c. If I use a deposited week, can I can request an exchange for any of the sell off weeks irrespective of the price quoted by paying the exchange fees.

Jason

Jason - thank you for your post.

1. A deposited week can be used at any location subject to availability by paying the exchange fees.

SFX: Subject to availability, that is correct.

2. All bonus weeks are for 1Br units only. They can be upgraded to a 2Br for an upgrade fee.($100).

SFX: Correct. Except the upgrade fee is $149.

3. A Mexico bonus week can only be used for Mayan Palace resorts. The cost can range from $299-$499 depending on promotion. Can I upgrade to Grand Mayan by paying an upgrade fee?

SFX: A Mexico Bonus week can be used for any available weeks at resorts in Mexico, not just Mayan Palace. Price varies with promotional offers and may be less or more than $299-$499. Grand Mayan is not available for bonus weeks.

4. A Regular bonus week can be used at all locations except for home resort and Manhattan Club.

SFX: Home resort and any property in New York.

Incase of Sell off list, if I see a sell off price quoted as $199-$699..

a. Can I pay $199 - $699 and rent the week outright without using my banked weeks?

SFX: Yes.

b. If I use a banked bonus week, do I have to pay extra for the $699 week if my initial cost of the bonus week was $299?

SFX: Any weeks you see advertised on the Sell off list...

you can use for an exchange against one of your current deposited weeks.

Or... as a Bonus Week if you have one in credit.

Or... neither above and just as an additional deeply discounted rental as per the sell-off list pricing.

c. If I use a deposited week, can I can request an exchange for any of the sell off weeks irrespective of the price quoted by paying the exchange fees?

SFX: Yes.

Hope this helps...

[Bourne Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bourne]

Wow. That was quick...

Thanks for the replies.

[katie Member Find all posts View Profile Close katie]

Love this thread

This is a great summary for newbies.

Please confirm my understanding of Platinum vs Gold Membership

Gold

• Free Membership
• Deposit First only
• $149 exchange fee
• $149 one bedroom to two bedroom upgrade fee (if available)
• Access to Sell-off list several days after Platinum members

Platinum

• Paid Membership ($199 for 3 yrs or $299 for 5 yrs)
• Request First and Deposit First (Request First has lower priority)
• $129 exchange fee
• Free one size upgrade (if available)
• Preferred Access to Sell-off list (several days before Gold members)
• $20 discount on Bonus Week

Both

• Free Guest Certificates (at booking; $39 to change later)
• Bonus Week offer (only for a qualified prime week from a Deposit First)
• $299 - $499 Bonus Week offer fee (depending on date of deposit - reward those who deposit earlier)
  Note: For new members, the Bonus week offer fee for your first deposit is $299 regardless of the date of deposit
• $200 fee for Bonus week exceptions (for holiday weeks)

Are there Bonus week exception fees for Grand Mayan, NY or home resort? If so, what are they?

Thanks,

Katie

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

This is a great summary for newbies.

Please confirm my understanding of Platinum vs Gold Membership

Gold

• Free Membership
• Deposit First only
• $149 exchange fee
• $149 one bedroom to two bedroom upgrade fee (if available)
• Access to Sell-off list several days after Platinum members

Platinum

• Paid Membership ($199 for 3 yrs or $299 for 5 yrs)
• Request First and Deposit First (Request First has lower priority)
• $129 exchange fee
• Free one size upgrade (if available)
• Preferred Access to Sell-off list (several days before Gold members)
• $20 discount on Bonus Week

Both

• Free Guest Certificates (at booking; $39 to change later)
• Bonus Week offer (only for a qualified prime week from a Deposit First)
• $299 - $499 Bonus Week offer fee (depending on date of deposit - reward those who deposit earlier)
  Note: For new members, the Bonus week offer fee for your first deposit is $299 regardless of the date of deposit
• $200 fee for Bonus week exceptions (for holiday weeks)

Are there Bonus week exception fees for Grand Mayan, NY or home resort? If so, what are they?

Thanks,

Katie

Katie - great summary !! Thank you. However, a couple of corrections to the last items.

=
Note: For new members, the Bonus week offer fee for your first deposit is $299 regardless of the date of deposit.

$200 fee for Bonus week exceptions (for holiday weeks)
=

For new Members depositing a prime time week within the current year, the Bonus Week would be at the previous price point offered to existing Members. For example, for current Members who have not yet deposited their 2006 week, the price of the Bonus Week is only $499. Still a great price considering the value of approx. $1,400.

As with all businesses... over time costs increase and so do prices. Bonus weeks will over time increase in price, but so will the value received by you.

For new Members, the price is only $399, which was the price for existing Members had they deposited prior to Dec.28, 2005. The earlier you deposit, the lower the price and the higher your trading power.

Bonus Week exceptions for Holiday weeks are only a $149 upgrade fee not $200.

Hope this helps...

[katie Member Find all posts View Profile Close katie]

Free upgrade on Bonus Weeks for Platinum Members??

Thanks for update Mark.

LOL, I was actually referring to your discussion with Bourne as a great summary for newbies. It was very helpful.

[katie Member Find all posts View Profile Close katie]

Free upgrade on Bonus weeks for Platinum members?

Mark,

I forgot to ask whether the free one size upgrade for Platinum members applies to the bonus week as well.

Should it state under Platinum members

• Free one size upgrade on deposited weeks (if available)
  Or
• Free one size upgrade on deposited weeks and bonus weeks (if available)

Thanks,

Katie

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

Mark,

I forgot to ask whether the free one size upgrade for Platinum members applies to the bonus week as well.

Should it state under Platinum members

• Free one size upgrade on deposited weeks (if available)
  Or
• Free one size upgrade on deposited weeks and bonus weeks (if available)

Thanks,

Katie

Hi Katie -

The free one-size upgrade only applies to the exchange week. You can upgrade from a one bedroom to a two bedroom on your bonus week for only an additional $149.

Hope this helps...

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

I didn't know that guest certs are only free at time of booking..
I guess I better read through the site a little better.

This is a good thread for newbies and oldies alike

[katie Member Find all posts View Profile Close katie]

Exchange Week vs Bonus Week Offers

Hi Mark,

Please confirm my understanding of Exchange Weeks vs Bonus Week Offers. Also, please let me know if I've missed anything.

Thanks,

Katie

Exchange Week

• 1 deposit week = 1 exchange week
• Requires deposit of prime or high demand week from either Deposit First or Request First
• Expiration – exchange week is good from the day SFX receives your deposit to two years past the check in date of the week you deposited week
  Note: In the past, one year extension have been offered for any unused and/or expired exchange weeks on deposits made during the promotional period (rewarding those who deposit earlier)
• Locations - any SFX location**
• Fee $149 or $129 (depending on Gold vs. Platinum membership)
• Trading Power – based on a combination of demand, supply, location & time of deposit (not dependent on Gold or Platinum membership)
  Note: Deposit First has a higher trading power than Request First
• Unit Size – One, Two or Three Bedroom (studios only accepted in City Share locations)
  Note:Exchange week unit size depends on unit size of deposited week and SFX membership level (larger unit sizes may be available for an additional fee regardless of SFX membership level)
• Sell-Off List - Can be used for resorts on the Sell-off list regardless of the sell-off list pricing)

Bonus Week Offers

• Previous Bonus promotions
  - 3 weeks for 1 deposit week promotion = Exchange Week + Bonus Week + Mexico Bonus week
  - 2 weeks for 1 deposit week promotion = Exchange Week + Bonus Week
• Requires deposit of prime week from a Deposit First during the promotional period
• Expiration – bonus week is good from the day SFX receives your deposit until either one year or December 31 of the check in year of your deposited week (whichever is greater)
  Note: In the past, bonus weeks have never been given extensions
  Note: Use Bonus Weeks first since they expire before Exchange Weeks
• Locations - Any SFX location** except your home resort, New York City and Grand Mayan Resorts
• Fee - $299 to $499 (depending on date of deposit – early deposits rewarded with lower bonus week fee)
• Trading Power – same as exchange week except holiday weeks are not included (holiday weeks may be available for an additional fee)
• Unit Size – One Bedroom (larger unit sizes may be available for an additional fee)
• Sell-Off List - Can be used for resorts on the Sell-off list (regardless of the sell-off list pricing)

**SFX Locations (based on SFX Season Grid http://www.sfx-resorts.com/SeasonGrid2.htm)
Arizona - Scottsdale
Arizona - Phoenix
Arizona - Sedona
California - San Francisco
California - Napa Valley
California - Lake Tahoe
California - Central Coast
California - Southern Coast
California - Palm Springs
Colorado
Florida
Hawaiian Islands
Idaho
Louisiana - New Orleans
Missouri - Branson
Nevada - Las Vegas
New England States
New York City
Oregon
South Carolina
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Canada
Caribbean
Europe
Mexico

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

This thread should be renamed "SFX - 101"

Thanks.....

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

Hi Mark,

Please confirm my understanding of Exchange Weeks vs Bonus Week Offers. Also, please let me know if I've missed anything.

Thanks,

Katie

Exchange Week

• 1 deposit week = 1 exchange week
• Requires deposit of prime or high demand week from either Deposit First or Request First
• Expiration – exchange week is good from the day SFX receives your deposit to two years past the check in date of the week you deposited week
  Note: In the past, one year extension have been offered for any unused and/or expired exchange weeks on deposits made during the promotional period (rewarding those who deposit earlier)
• Locations - any SFX location**
• Fee $149 or $129 (depending on Gold vs. Platinum membership)
• Trading Power – based on a combination of demand, supply, location & time of deposit (not dependent on Gold or Platinum membership)
  Note: Deposit First has a higher trading power than Request First
• Unit Size – One, Two or Three Bedroom (studios only accepted in City Share locations)
  Note:Exchange week unit size depends on unit size of deposited week and SFX membership level (larger unit sizes may be available for an additional fee regardless of SFX membership level)
• Sell-Off List - Can be used for resorts on the Sell-off list regardless of the sell-off list pricing)

Bonus Week Offers

• Previous Bonus promotions
  - 3 weeks for 1 deposit week promotion = Exchange Week + Bonus Week + Mexico Bonus week
  - 2 weeks for 1 deposit week promotion = Exchange Week + Bonus Week
• Requires deposit of prime week from a Deposit First during the promotional period
• Expiration – bonus week is good from the day SFX receives your deposit until either one year or December 31 of the check in year of your deposited week (whichever is greater)
  Note: In the past, bonus weeks have never been given extensions
  Note: Use Bonus Weeks first since they expire before Exchange Weeks
• Locations - Any SFX location** except your home resort, New York City and Grand Mayan Resorts
• Fee - $299 to $499 (depending on date of deposit – early deposits rewarded with lower bonus week fee)
• Trading Power – same as exchange week except holiday weeks are not included (holiday weeks may be available for an additional fee)
• Unit Size – One Bedroom (larger unit sizes may be available for an additional fee)
• Sell-Off List - Can be used for resorts on the Sell-off list (regardless of the sell-off list pricing)

**SFX Locations (based on SFX Season Grid http://www.sfx-resorts.com/SeasonGrid2.htm)
Arizona - Scottsdale
Arizona - Phoenix
Arizona - Sedona
California - San Francisco
California - Napa Valley
California - Lake Tahoe
California - Central Coast
California - Southern Coast
California - Palm Springs
Colorado
Florida
Hawaiian Islands
Idaho
Louisiana - New Orleans
Missouri - Branson
Nevada - Las Vegas
New England States
New York City
Oregon
South Carolina
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Canada
Caribbean
Europe
Mexico

Katie - just one mistake... a typo in the spelling of Virginia !!! LOL (Just kidding).
If you need a job... let me know !!!

We appreciate you taking all time to put this together. Just one clarification... * Any SFX resort, then it refers to our out-dated and incomplete list.

Subject to availability we can access any resort in any system as the time is owned by the Owner and not the resort or affiliated exchange company. The new upcoming web will have a more complete directory. Point being, Members can request space at many more resorts than what you see listed. You can use any directories you may have access to for reference.

Hope this helps...

[katie Member Find all posts View Profile Close katie]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the feedback.

Wow, I didn't realize that the Season Grid location list was incomplete too. I was using this information as a guide to determine travel destinations SFX currently offers.

Can't wait until the new website becomes available.

Thanks again

Katie

[katie Member Find all posts View Profile Close katie]

Improving your chances of getting your requested exchange

Hi Mark,

No questions here. Just sharing some of your quotes that I captured while reviewing the other threads under Ask SFX. Thought other newbies might find this helpful as well.

Exchange Availability

“Exchange companies never know when or if timeshare owners are going to bank their weeks. Keep in mind, for the most part, Owner bankings are the source of space... not exchange companies. We are just the distribution channel of that space.”

“Deposits and supply vs. demand factors change from year to year for space.”

” With certain other exchange companies you get to see online availability. Please understand what you are seeing are weeks the exchange company has no requests for from their members. That doesn't make the weeks bad at all. However for high season and high quality resorts, the demand is typically greater than the supply of space. That means the real "best" weeks you basically never see as there is always a waitlist, and as soon as those weeks come in, they get booked and you don't see those online.”

” Keep in mind, SFX is specialized only in that top 20% layer, a layer where demand can be greater than supply in many instances. This is where we are different to mainstream conventional exchange systems.”

“In most cases Owners cannot reserve their time to either use or deposit more than one year in advance. So in most cases Summer of 2007 space will not start to become available until Summer of 2006. And even then, many Owners do not deposit their time one year in advance they tend to leave it till 6-9 months in advance.
This is the case with deposits in general. One of the biggest challenges exchange companies have is getting their Members to deposit their weeks in a timely efficient manner.”

From the SFX website - “Due to high excessive demand for Major Holiday weeks (Christmas, New Years, President's Week, Easter, Memorial Week, July 4th, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving), requests for these periods for high quality resorts have a low fulfillment rate. Although we will gladly search for these requests, we strongly recommend you also submit alternative travel dates”

Deposit Early

“You may have 80% of the timeshare world requesting 20% of the premium timeshare space. SFX is the 20%. This is inventory that is always in premium demand and always has a queue, so we don't have any overage that is the 80% just sitting around waiting for someone to book it.”

Flexibility

“At the risk of sounding like a broken record, we cannot make it any clearer... for the best possible results, be Flexible on travel dates and locations... and allow us to find the best available resort either Crown or 5 Star rated, for the area and dates you requested. Every restriction you place outside of those parameters may set the odds and probabilities against you.”

Understand your Trading Power

“There is no difference in trading power between a Platinum or Gold Member. The only difference are the stated benefits.”

“All resorts are treated equally in accordance with their Trading Power. There are mutliple factors that create trading power..... including Supply vs. demand for your resort and season, how far in advance of the check in date did you deposit, size of unit, season, amenities, and several other items.
The most important factors are the supply vs. demand for your resort, unit size, location and how far in advance of check in did you deposit. Depositing early is very important for high scores.”

“One of several attributes to trading power is the demand and supply factors of an area. Both Hawaii and Orlando are very popular and have high demand. There is a much greater supply of space in Orlando than there is in Hawaii. For Hawaii you have huge demand and small supply which may add to your trading power. Location can make a difference in trading power, but other factors play an important part too”

“If a premium Holiday week starts more than 90 days prior to arrival and there are no requests for that unit with equal or greater trading power... it will then go into a holding pattern up to the 90 day window for those with equal or greater trading power to request and book.
If a premium Holiday week is deposited, and there are no outstanding requests for that Holiday week from Members with equal or greater trading power... if that deposit is 90 days or less prior to the check-in day, it will go to the next person in queue with the highest trading power requesting that location.”

“Request first is not desirable if you are requesting prime time for a prime location, and a prime quality resort. Reason being... no matter which exchange company you use, the Demand is much greater than the Supply in this situation, and priority is given to those who deposit first, as there is an obligation to their deposited week.
In competing for premium space like this, a request first may get you booked, but when demand is greater than supply you need all the trading power in your favor, and a deposit first is more desireous.
If you are requesting a premium resort in a lesser demanded season of the year, perhaps Spring or Fall... then a Request First basis makes more sense.”