can't deposit HGVC reservations in sfx?

[PClapham]

I tried to deposit a week reservation last week; sfx said I needed a guest cert, HGVC said I could not do it at all! anyone with experience with this? Apparently only rci is open to HGVC deposits.

anita

 

[jdunn1]

I do not own HGVC points but I have dealt with SFX, before and I think I remember reading that HGVC ownes must deposit whatever week they own or whatever resort/season they own at. So, if you own a 7k point Seaworld week, that is what you need to deposit with SFX. You cannot deposit a 5k point week or a different resort. I am almost certain there is no guest certificate fee -- something about HGVC or SFX covering that.

As an outsider looking in when it comes to SFX and HGVC, I think HGVC owners get special priority in SFX. It has been my experience that all good things in SFX (i.e. the best trades) happen for HGVC owners, and then everyone else.

Perhaps SFX and Hilton were giving you a problem because you were not depositing your home week? Just my thoughts.

Good luck with SFX. If you are giving them a HGVC week, I think you will have good success.

-Jim

I tried to deposit a week reservation last week; sfx said I needed a guest cert, HGVC said I could not do it at all! anyone with experience with this? Apparently only rci is open to HGVC deposits.

anita

 

[Sandy VDH]

You can deposit your home week. Other deposits are not allowed. I'n not positive but I think home weeks do not require a guest certificate fee. They are free.

 

[GTLINZ]

You can deposit your home week. Other deposits are not allowed. I'n not positive but I think home weeks do not require a guest certificate fee. They are free.

In 2009 I made a full week 1br reservation in spring of 2010 at a club resort where I do not own. I then deposited it with SFX to trade in Maui. AT THAT TIME, GUEST CERTIFICATES DID NOT EXIST.

I guess the guest certificates are now used to stop direct trades (where you book the week). If you book thru RCI, HGVC decides what to deposit and has more control over the inventory.

 

[travelguy]

I've exchanged HGVC weeks through SFX a number of times thru the years and NEVER with my HGVC "home" week.

I've exchanged with HGVC points from true HGVC resorts and HGVC affiliate weeks. I have always booked a week with HGVC first (usually during weeks with lower HGVC points requirements) and then traded it to SFX with no problems.

Last year was the first time SFX asked me for a guest certificate from HGVC. I traded the week to SFX, signed a form stating I would purchase a guest certificate for the user of that week and then purchased the guest certificate for the named guest several months later at the request of SFX.

The process was smooth albeit not as easy as the old days when there was a direct SFX liaison in the HGVC offices.

 

[DeniseM]

When you are exchanging with an independent exchange company - you don't want to ask permission from your resort, because they are affiliated with II or RCI, and they are going to tell you that you can't do it.

The work around is that you make a reservation as if it is for yourself, don't mention that you are exchanging it, deposit it with the independent exchange company, and let the exchange company handle it from there. If the resort tries to tell the exchange company that you can't deposit it with them, the exchange company is going to throw some lawyer talk on them and tell them that it's illegal for the resort to try to block you from the legal use of your ownership.

 

[levatino]

Suck it up and pay the guest cert fee. Keep mouth shut. Enjoy sfx.

 

[Sandy VDH]

I suspect something changed in SFX in regard to HGVC. They have been insisting that the HGVC deposits are the week you own, I assume this is HGVC insisting with SFX. As I also own and deposit Wyndham in SFX and they don't care at all.

Pay for the guest certificate if SFX will allow the deposit.

 

[travelguy]

I suspect something changed in SFX in regard to HGVC. They have been insisting that the HGVC deposits are the week you own, I assume this is HGVC insisting with SFX.

Agreed that this is probably HGVC making it more difficult for SFX to get HGVC exchanges. I'm sure that HGVC, like all other developers, would like to keep as many exchanges within their own system as possible.

IMHO, SFX has been extremely creative in assisting their members with difficult HGVC exchanges.
Example: One time I was greeted at the HGVC LV Strip check-in with "Hello Mr. San Francisco"

 

[SmithOp]

Agreed that this is probably HGVC making it more difficult for SFX to get HGVC exchanges. I'm sure that HGVC, like all other developers, would like to keep as many exchanges within their own system as possible.

IMHO, SFX has been extremely creative in assisting their members with difficult HGVC exchanges.
Example: One time I was greeted at the HGVC LV Strip check-in with "Hello Mr. San Francisco"

What is the best time to deposit? I'm thinking of trading my 2014 week at HHV, will book in June for Memorial week. Deposit right away or wait until they have incentives? I saw a few emails for bonus weeks if depositing 2013 dates early jan this year. We would like a week in London and a bonus week in the countryside or EU.

 

[jehb2]

I had a very difficult time depositing my Bay Club week with Sfx and they were the ones that initially contacted me! The Bay Club is an affiliate. Hilton does not own my week. The whole thing was a mess. Bay Club customer service was great. I had a hard time finding someone at Hgvc who had heard of or understood Sfx. SFX sucks. In the end I just didn't trust them any more and I stopped the process. And they had the nerve to contact me a couple of months later asking for my Bay Club week again.

 

[travelguy]

What is the best time to deposit? I'm thinking of trading my 2014 week at HHV, will book in June for Memorial week. Deposit right away or wait until they have incentives? I saw a few emails for bonus weeks if depositing 2013 dates early jan this year. We would like a week in London and a bonus week in the countryside or EU.

I'd wait till they have the MAX incentives. This is usually around the beginning of the year if memory serves.

I've never tried a London trade but my observation is that SFX is stronger with London inventory than the other exchange companies BUT London exchange opportunities are really difficult with any exchange company. Your best bet may be to get an ongoing exchange started with all the exchange companies and have a VRBO cancelable rental as a backup. Quality EU countryside is an even bigger challenge!

I wouldn't worry about entering an ongoing trade until the 12 month window as the vast majority of my SFX trades come within one year. (Note that my advice with RCI & II would be to enter an ongoing exchange at two years out). If fact, a number of my great SFX exchanges have come in the 6 month window. This makes me nervous as I usually plan WAY ahead but the quality of the trades have been worth it.

I suspect that SFX gets great inventory closer to the travel dates because they obtain some of their inventory outside of their deposit inventory (direct deposits from developers, other exchange companies, resort promotions, fractionals, privately owned condos - my favorite). I've actually had SFX contact me two years ago to ask if I would be interested in a fractional property in Telluride in PRIME ski season ... BEFORE THEY HAD THE DEPOSIT! They contacted the property owner to see if he wanted to deposit his fractional townhouse. NICE!