Update - SFX New Web

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

Next week SFX will be launching it's new website in phases. The first phase will just be the new graphical look. You will not see any difference in functionality in the Member login area or the directory. You will only see a new graphics interface.

Phase 2 will include an "extreme make-over" in the Member login area and the Directory, and some more improvements in graphics. Beta testing for phase 2 will begin by April 22, 2006.

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

Sounds good.

[Bill4728 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Bill4728]

Looking forward to seeing it.

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

Can't wait!

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

Beta testing for phase 2 will begin by April 22, 2006.

Great news..

I thought you knew better than to give specific dates

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

Great news Mark. Looking forward to it.

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

Great news..

I thought you knew better than to give specific dates

Dave - I do know better, but couldn't resist doing it again

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

bets in Vegas...

There is a big rush in Vegas to place bets on when the new SFX website will actually be available and usable to members, did you know that Mark?

[Anne1125 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Anne1125]

Mark, when will actual available exchanges be listed?


Thanks,
Anne

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

Mark, when will actual available exchanges be listed?


Thanks,
Anne

Sharon - thank you for your post. An excellent question we often discuss at SFX. Let me attempt to explain our model and perspective.

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.

If SFX accepted all qualities of resorts from a 1 to a 5 star property and low season.... we too would have thousands of weeks every year with no requests for from our Members, and in a heart-beat, we like other exchange companies would give you instant access online. It's the most efficient way to move the least demanded inventory.

But that is not the SFX business model...

Let me put it another way. Hypothetically... 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.

If the top 20% is what you dont see with the other exchange companies, that is all we deal with and that is why you do not see it online for the same reason you don't with others. 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 our upcoming new web... Platinum Members will be able to see and book in real time our sell-off list space that is about 30-45 days out in advance.

Hope this gives a better understanding, and we do appreciate your input and thoughts.

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

Beta testing for phase 2 will begin by April 22, 2006.

Darn! We'll be on vacation then. Looking forward to help in beta testing when we get back.

Mercedes

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

In our upcoming new web... Platinum Members will be able to see and book in real time our sell-off list space that is about 30-45 days out in advance.

Hi Mark,

Does that mean that in addition or instead of the sell off list that comes out every 30-60 days, Platinum members will continuously able to book sell-off space 30-45 days out ? If so

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

Hi Mark,

Does that mean that in addition or instead of the sell off list that comes out every 30-60 days, Platinum members will continuously able to book sell-off space 30-45 days out ? If so

Hi Mary - essentially yes. However, we probably won't be doing any email blasts. It will be up to the Member to login and check. As a result, we may be increasing the Platinum Member first priority from 2 days to 5 days. Gold Members will not be able to view the sell off list availability until the 6th day. Many details still in the works...

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

Hi Mary - essentially yes. However, we probably won't be doing any email blasts. It will be up to the Member to login and check. As a result, we may be increasing the Platinum Member first priority from 2 days to 5 days. Gold Members will not be able to view the sell off list availability until the 6th day. Many details still in the works...

That would be a nice perk.....5 day window...now that along with a 2 hour hold feature...REALLY nice

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

That would be a nice perk.....5 day window...now that along with a 2 hour hold feature...REALLY nice

I think you meant 24 hour hold period