Problems with SFX

[Vacationsarefun]

FYI - They have given me the opportunity to check airfare before confirming a match. I think that there is some flexibility there if you ask (of course that requires a response from them).

I believe that one of their deposit benefits is to reinstate an expired deposit so if one of the easier exchanges through them ever appeals to you in the future, you can get this deposit back. In my mind (i.e. not scientific, lol) the most likely trades through SFX are Mexico, San Francisco, and Hawaii.

Yes, that is something to keep in mind but I am rather hesitant to give them another week. Originally, I thought we'd go to San Francisco this summer and was hoping to get an exchange there but then the kids didn't want to fly that far...

 

[Vacationsarefun]

For several years I have used SFX to get into Grand Luxxe, Riviera Maya in January at least a year in advance. Not for 2020. Not too unhappy as we are undecided if we want visit again. I was offered Hacienda del Mar in Cabo.
We will probably not make any more deposits to SFX. I guess I need to change my TUG photo!

Yes, I am wondering whether they changed the way they work. It worked fine for me at first but now it seems they don't even want to bother. They never make any suggestions of possible requests that work or offer anything a bit different.

 

[Vacationsarefun]

I have never had luck with SFX. But I'm a teacher with restricted travel dates. That being said, I have always gotten great trades with RCI and II. I get emails every so often from SFX, but I will not ever use them again...

Our travel dates are restricted as well as kids are still in school. Our summer vacation goes until early September though which should help but unfortunately my deposit expires before then. I haven't tried II yet but was quite happy with RCI last year. I got exactly what I wanted. I think I could probably get most weeks for next year and even if I don't plan ahead I could find something that sounds good online.

 

[Vacationsarefun]

The fact is that they have inventory you cannot see and so if you knew it was there, you would be more likely to open your mind a bit to something new. I know that II will have places that I don't think about going, and then suddenly I see something and book it.

That is exactly how I feel. I am pretty open as far as destinations go (just really restricted due to holidays). I would prefer to stay in Europe this year but would consider something on the East Coast that can be combined with a cruise. But for that I would need to see what is there as not everything will work with flight/cruise schedules. I asked for New York City or Alexandria but there are other places that might work (e.g. Boston, maybe some other places in New England, maybe even Miami though we went to Florida last year, or Puerto Rico if I could get a good flight and cruise or…). But I can't request all of that with SFX as depending on the specifics it might NOT work.

 

[klpca]

I posted a nice Kingsland sighting in SFX on the Sightings board. I know that some of you are sitting on deposits - maybe someone can use this week. It says that it is available for exchange or cash.

 

[easyrider]

Eric you are correct, there is no exchange fee with resort escapes. They are last minute rentals, not an exchange, and you don't have to be upgraded to diamond membership either. If I recall correctly, you should be able to use an escapes week for an exchange. Seems like Bill has it confused?

Juli

Not confused.

I saw a resort escape that I thought I could use my deposit for. My deposit is a one bedroom prime week that expires in about 9 months.

The escape is a two bed unit so I have to pay an upgrade fee for unit size difference and the exchange fee which together cost about $408.00.

My other option was to become a diamond member for $399.00 and then the cost of the escape dropped to about $400.00 which means this week would cost almost $800.00.

The only reason I thought about taking this unit was to use up my deposit.

Then I asked to do an ongoing search but found that there were only two bed units in the area I wanted to go and the timing of my deposit came into play. However, if I upgraded to diamond the unit size, dates and exchange fee drop.

So my call to SFX became a sales pitch to upgrade to diamond. Eventually I might have to if I don't want to loose my deposit, lol.

Bill