Mark's Post on Ignorance in the SFX Forum

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

SFX - Telephone solicitation - Timeshare Users Group Online Community Forums

Is SFX going still in business? - Timeshare Users Group Online Community Forums

I reread the posts on these links and found nothing objectionable. SOme people have good experiences with a company; others have bad. I can just image the type of service some companies would provide if no one was allowed to express a negatve comment.

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

I agree with you 100%. I am sure we all know what the other site is. There are definitely some moderators there that fit what you and Mark have described.

For the sake of absolute clarity - I was not referring to TUG in my previous post.

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

Just to be clear, I didn't say that people were behaving well or that Mark shouldn't be frustrated. I'm sure he is. I just said that I that I think in the end he would come off looking much more professional if he stuck to the facts and not the people behind them. (By asserting the facts, you say something about those people anyway without having to explicitly say it.) I would give the same advice to anyone who has to represent a company on a public forum.

I think the fair thing to do is to post Mark's entire post rather than take part of it out of context. Below is the entire post.

Several of our Members have have expressed their concerns about certain posts in another website that is known for some very good advice, and unfortunately a degree of misleading and false information.

Please note, this post is not objecting to anyone posting a complaint. Every company has complaints, and each company has the responsibility to address them. This is about false "Factual" information that has been posted.

It is unfortunate that certain people cower behind their anonymity feeling they have an entitlement to post false factual information knowingly, and sometimes out of simple lack of knowledge, simply not knowing the facts. It is even more disconcerting when some of this information comes from “moderators”, who should research their information before taking “wild-guesses” and posting it. They are placed in a position of responsibility to both the website and it’s viewing public. They do a disservice to the public, and damage the credibility of their website when false or misleading factual information is published.

It also makes you wonder about their intentions, when they know if they have a question and need answers, they can post in our Forum on this website where they will get a response, but unfortunately choose to post elsewhere on other websites not using their real identity.

So… to clear the air about some of the Myths and Rumors etc. Here are some “Facts” and not Fiction….

1. There is post making a claim that SFX has a phone solicitation stating you have won a $2,600 Holiday ! etc. They claim they recognized a voice on the recording from SFX after pressing “1” and that they spoke with an agent who could hardly speak English, and the agent hung up the phone on her etc… (This is paraphrased).

Well… We would like to point out there is absolutely “No Truth” to these outrageous claims. SFX has not, and does not have any marketing program like this, and is not the way we operate. The only out-reach program we have is our Membership department calls Members to see if there is an interest in upgrading their memberships. This is no surprise as “every company” does this.

Also, pressing “1” in our phone system does not transfer you to an agent in the call center. It is for dialing a known direct extension. Secondly… all our agents speak fluent American English. The claim in the post is false and misleading.

2. In a different posting, we noted more misleading and false information.

Just like “all” exchange companies, we have an online business model, as do most businesses. It’s a way of creating greater efficiencies for both the company and its valued customers. Customers can login 24/7 and this also keeps costs down for all parties. However, we invite our Members to call us at any time at 1.800.739.9969. Contrary to misleading statements, our phone system is not set-up so the caller has to leave a message.

You do not spend $120,000 on a phone system designed to make customers leave a message and not speak with an agent.

Another incorrect statement is that 4 or 5 years ago we promised to launch an online exchange system right away. There was never such promise made or implied. We did initiate exactly what we said we would, and that was greater online capabilities in the Member Login area.

Some people may wonder about our company’s growth and is it “blossoming”… (Economy aside).

• SFX has been in business for 18 years.
• We are the only exchange company specializing in Crown and Star rated resorts.
• Two years ago we purchased and purpose built our own state-of-the-art office building.
• We have around 150,000 members adding more each month.
• In 2009, during the worst economy, we achieved record revenues and growth.
• We are currently hiring more staff for further expansion.

Lastly….. Another falsely stated myth… “is that our core inventory is Orlando and Mexico…” Far from it!

We specialize all over the USA, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Western Europe and Thailand. These are the main areas our member’s requests and where there is a certain level of “quality” Crown and Star rated resorts. Perhaps this person’s week didn’t have enough trading power for what they were requesting?

Hopefully this clarifies some of the Myths & Rumors...

Thanks,
Mark @sfx
Member Communications

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

To change the tone, after reading Mark's full post, what can you offer in SW FL in January?

[3kids4me Super Moderator and Super Mom Find all posts View Profile Close 3kids4me]

I see that Mark has changed his post since the time that I posted. You can tell this by comparing the excerpt I posted initially with his new words. (For one, he took out the word "ignorance" in his modified post (something I referred to specifically), and also added some other words to soften things. This is all fine, but John...you cannot then claim that I took Mark's words out of context since *those* were not the original words. (As you can also see in Mark's original post, it was edited yesterday at 8:52 p.m., two hours after I posted my comment.) I have no qualm with Mark softening his post...it's an appropriate response to my words. But John...let's not rewrite the past, okay?

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

...But John...let's not rewrite the past, okay?

I didn't rewrite the past. I just copied his complete post . In any event, you did not include the whole post.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I see that Mark has changed his post since the time that I posted. You can tell this by comparing the excerpt I posted initially with his new words. (For one, he took out the word "ignorance" in his modified post (something I referred to specifically), and also added some other words to soften things. This is all fine, but John...you cannot then claim that I took Mark's words out of context since *those* were not the original words. (As you can also see in Mark's original post, it was edited yesterday at 8:52 p.m., two hours after I posted my comment.) I have no qualm with Mark softening his post...it's an appropriate response to my words. But John...let's not rewrite the past, okay?

OHMYGOD Editing a Post!!!!!

Take him out and hang him.

[3kids4me Super Moderator and Super Mom Find all posts View Profile Close 3kids4me]

Again, I didn't say there was anything wrong with editing a post. Just in accusing me of taking it out of context, and then going on to include an entirely different post.

Mark made changes to his post based on my point. Yes, he probably should have owned up to doing that, but whatever. My mistake was in not copying the original post. But when I have to say the same thing three times, it starts to feel like preschool, so I'm done here.

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

To change the tone, after reading Mark's full post, what can you offer in SW FL in January?

Jim,
You are so funny.
You never give up on SW FL in the winter.
Just buy a week there already.

Of course you could always come down in the summer.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Jim,
You are so funny.
You never give up on SW FL in the winter.
Just buy a week there already.

In the name of truth, justice, and the American way, I continue to search for them.

Heard that advice often the last five or six years. We've tried to buy a couple times.

After 20-plus years of TSing, SW FL in January is all that's in it for us any more.

Shouldn't 20 years, 111 deposits, and all my help over the years count for something?

Who would take the six weeks we own to trade with?

But, then, just because that's where we want to go now, that does not mean forever, and that is the shortcoming of owning where you want to go, and dropping all exchange companies.

(We used to wanna go to Apple Valley the same week every year, and Estes Park the same week every year, and Fairham Nashville the same week every year . . . but nothing is forever.)

All we want is the business model we were promised when they originally wanted our money, an exclusive, closed resort system, where owners help other owners.

I don't recall anyone asking if we wanted it changed, or compensating us when they devalued it.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Again, I didn't say there was anything wrong with editing a post. Just in accusing me of taking it out of context, and then going on to include an entirely different post.

Mark made changes to his post based on my point. Yes, he probably should have owned up to doing that, but whatever. My mistake was in not copying the original post. But when I have to say the same thing three times, it starts to feel like preschool, so I'm done here.

If your reply pointed out things Mark could improve, he should.

Some times folks say things the wrong way, or realize they should not have at all, later, and even if you are a little late, it is better to make the change than let it fester and do more damage.

Some times words hurt, and any time you stop the hurt is better than never.

And, yeah, in my 10-plus years on these forums, I have learned it is some times necessary to say the same thing over and over, and even then some don't get what you say, or don't want to.

JMHO