Please list your SFX exchanges

[camachinist]

I guess my biggest worry is depositing a Starwood or Hyatt and getting less value in return

That's a legitimate concern and one I'd extend to Marriott's as well.

Pat

 

[Ann-Marie]

There is a rather inflammatory thread on tineshareforums regarding availability of resorts with SFX. Be really careful when banking a week with SFX. Consider first where you want to go. Example: I wanted a week on Hilton Head for Feb. 2008. Sfx has yet to come through with anything after months of searching. RCI was able to offer me a choice of 7 or so resorts immediately upon placing the request. I left the SFX request going to see if anything came up, and not after several months. I did however get a nice trade on Kona, HI. It really depends on where you want to go because their inventory on the east coast is limited.
Edited to add: I much prefer the ability to search my own, and to be able to modify my search myself. I have gone on exchanges through RCI that I would never have done if I did not see them as available right in front of me. I will probably not deposit any more weeks with SFX unless I want to go to the West coast.

 

[esk444]

That inflammatory thread you are referring to in timeshare forums definitely left a bad taste in my mouth for SFX and their professionalism. I was thinking of making a deposit with them, but I'm not so sure anymore. I have 5 days left to qualify for a Mexican bonus week.

 

[Ann-Marie]

That inflammatory thread you are referring to in timeshare forums definitely left a bad taste in my mouth for SFX and their professionalism. .

Me too, however, I just let it go. He (Mark) had some facts wrong, but I will not elaborate.

 

[Kola]

Sorry, but have a dumb basic question. Can anybody join SFX? I own at Marriott Shadow Ridge and have always traded through II but have been a little discouraged with them lately.

Assuming you own a good, desirable week at Marriott's Shadow Ridge chances are very high you will be even more discouraged with SFX

K

 

[OnMedic]

Very interesting data! We have been with sfx since its inception. Lately our exchanges have been 'not too remarkable'. We have a July timeshare which is oceanfront in Maui. Originally it got the BEST exchanges, but lately just average. I see some of you got much better Kauai/Big Island exchanges than us with another timeshare we own (Calif oceanview). I am sad to feel that being one of their original traders that they would basically 'shun' us in getting the better Hawaii timeshares instead of Mauna Loa (non-Shell) two times (!!!!!!!). I hope we get a personal response from the owner, Mel Grant, what has changed in his company. I really want to be a loud spokesperson for SFX like I used to be --- Mel?????

Please correct me if I am wrong, but I beleive it is luck of the draw and timing. I do not think SFX has a hierarchy for the actual timeshares themselves and simply opperates on a first request-first offered basis.

I have place two weeks with them:
2BR Eagles Nest per SFX request - October week
2BR Hilton Hawaiian Village - Memorial Week

I have received in return:
1BR Hilton Las Vegas Flamingo - Summer (Bonus)
2BR Hilton Las Vegas Flamingo - Febraury
2BR Spinnaker French Quarter - July 4 Week (Bonus)
2BR Wyndham Kona Hawaiian Resort - October
Unused - 2 Mexican Weeks

I have been satisfied with our exchanges but not overly excited. We have had great family time and vacations, at that is the most important thing!

That being said, I am more likely to maintane a Gold Membership and pursue direct owner exchanges in the future to ensure I am getting exactly what we are seeking.

 

[John Cummings]

Very interesting data! We have been with sfx since its inception. Lately our exchanges have been 'not too remarkable'. We have a July timeshare which is oceanfront in Maui. Originally it got the BEST exchanges, but lately just average. I see some of you got much better Kauai/Big Island exchanges than us with another timeshare we own (Calif oceanview). I am sad to feel that being one of their original traders that they would basically 'shun' us in getting the better Hawaii timeshares instead of Mauna Loa (non-Shell) two times (!!!!!!!). I hope we get a personal response from the owner, Mel Grant, what has changed in his company. I really want to be a loud spokesperson for SFX like I used to be --- Mel?????

You will not get a response from SFX on TUG. They do not pay any attention to TUG. I suggest you post this on "Ask SFX" on the timeshareforums.

 

[OnMedic]

Also...

We all complain about RCI, and too a lesser extend II. Why not all put our higher end weeks into a boutique exchange company like SFX, where they only except higher quality resorts, in demand locations and season... then we all (theoretically) SHOULD be a bit happier? GOLD Membership is free!

 

[barndweller]

SFX, like all exchange companies, advises everyone to be flexable with the requests. If you give a choice of dates with no specific resort or even a specific area for a narrow choice of dates, you will more than likely get an exchange. I have had all my requests filled so far because I do not demand only one specific resort. My dates are specific but I have done my research and feel pretty confident that any resort offered by SFX for my request will be very comfortable. I just confirmed an exchange for any 2 bedroom in Palm Springs area for a very specific holiday week. I did not care about getting only a Marriott or Westin since the date & location & size were the most important requirements for me, not the specific resort. I accepted Desert Breezes because I prefer the small, personal feel of that resort over the bigger impersonal name brands and I got the upgrade to a 2 bedroom free as a platinum member. Gold crown & 5 star mean different things to different people. If you limit your reguests to only specific resorts you are setting yourself up to be disappointed with all exchange companies.

 

[Judy]

I'm bumping this thread because I'm debating about whether or not to join SFX. I'm interested in hearing about exchanges since May 2006, especially the Caribbean, Australia, and Hawaii.

Wynham Waikiki Beach Walk - one bedroom bonus week August 31, 2007.

Wyndham Kona Hawaiian Resort - 2 bedroom exchange week Sept 9, 2007

 

[GrayFal]

Sorry, but have a dumb basic question. Can anybody join SFX? I own at Marriott Shadow Ridge and have always traded through II but have been a little discouraged with them lately.

Your resort has the quality that SFX looks for but I am not sure the season you own (not Platinum) would qualify for a deposit.

 

[mari311]

What is SFX....???

 

[John Cummings]

SFX called me 2 says ago to offer me a mid-July 2008 week for the Manhattan Club in NYC which I had requested. This is great news as I can now plan our 6 week east coast trip now that I have a firm date for New York city.

 

[PigsDad]

We just confirmed a 2BR unit at Mayan Palace Riviera Maya for Thanksgiving week, 2008. This was with a "Mexico" bonus week. We had requested only that specific week, and SFX came through within a week of making the request.

We have only been members of SFX for a month and so far we have been impressed.

Kurt

 

[arfie]

Sfx...never Again!

I have tried them three times. All with very good weeks at very good resorts and at least a year of lead time. 1) Maui Lea 2 bedroom, 2) Embassy Lake Tahoe 2 bedroom, 3) Royal Kuhio Waikiki, 1 bedroom.

Results:

1) Nothing. They continued to get the request wrong every time we called to check. Months go by. Nothing. Got a "bonus" week at Riverpointe trailers Napa and it ended up costing more than I thought it was worth. Then for the real exchange, it nearly just ran out with no notice from them, no calls, nothing. I called them and told them I want something, I don't care what, for this week. They offered a one bedroom in Orlando in hurricane season...useless. Time became very short. Only one month left for the exchange. I called them EVERY DAY and asked what they had locally for me, starting over EVERY DAY to explain that I just wanted to use the weekend since that's all I could use it for at that point. They finally came up with a one bedroom at the Pollo Towers in Vegas of which we were onlly able to use the weekend.

I read more raves about them here on TUG. I thought maybe I'm not working with them right. so,

2) Started by asking what was available RIGHT NOW and told Orlando again (We HATE Orlando!). We had hoped for Hawaii, especially the Embassy Kauai. After a few months it was pretty clear that that wasn't happening. I truly felt they could care less. Again, the daily calls "what DO you have?". Finally they came up with a week in San Francisco in February in a room so small we couldn't get out suitcases in it. Inn at the Opera...not exactly like for like exchange I'd say/. It rained the whole week and was very cold. We left early and spent the rest of the time at home. Never could use the bonus week and nothing of any use to us was ever offered for it. And I wasn't paying $300 to use a "bonus" week for what amounted to a crap week.

So, being a believer that people really want to get you what you want and reading even more raves on TUG, I gave them our Waikiki week (3). August week. Not my favorite time in Hawaii, but a lot of people like these weeks (at least they trade pretty well on RCI). The experience was very similar to the first two, except I felt even less concern about my satisfaction. I reminded them about the first two times and asked that they try to do better this time. What I got was even less help and more mistakes with my request. I finally ended up with a 1 bd. at the Hilton Flamingo! Sounds great...it was in September and even the people who lived there wanted to leave. Again, the bonus week was of no use because nothing was ever found with it (we we're always trying for a nice place somewhere in Europe, hopefully a major city, but we would have taken just about anything and have the freedom to travel off season, and not one single thing was ever offered there).

I will NEVER EVER make an effort to exchange with SFX again. I think I've given them more than a fair chance. I have no idea how the people on TUG get what they do. They forget your requests, they lose your week, they offer things far below in standard to what you gave them and act like you MUST take this. The bonus weeks were totally useless to us. The agents were many times rude to me to the point where I felt like I had to apologize, wonder what I said and I hadn't said anything other than "hello?, what's avaialble today?". Their attitude is that whatever I gave them was worthless. The fees, if you do end up using the bonus week, are not much cheaper than anywhere else. I don't have time to call the daily to get the to get off their A-- and help me make a trade. I have no idea what they really have in inventory. I could go on and on...

Bottom line: When you are speaking with someone who has a vested interest in getting you to take the scum they have leftover, and they are willing to play the waiting game until you are desperate enough to get what you can, then you have a a pretty biased system, IMHO, where the cards are stacked against you. I have had much better experiences with II, RCI and Trading Places, although I think TP has the potential to be like SFX. But TP seems to have some people who really DO care that you come back to them.

Please go by your own experiences and perhaps you might be one of SFX's lucky ones. But however that happens, I can't determine it and I can't afford to waste my weeks with them ever in the future. I have a summer week at the Suites of San Francisco to deposit right now and the options there are either II or SFX. But the decision is easy for me.

Sorry to get a bit emotional with this, but my initial try with SFX and returns were entirely due to posts on TUG. I feel I was mislead...a least a little. And that is very atypical for TUG, in my experience. Usually people give honest reviews and tell it like it is, so if they say something is worthwhile I believe them and try. But in this case, three times was enough.

 

[falmouth3]

Wow, Arfie. Your experiences have been completely the opposite of mine. If you haven't contacted Mark at SFX, I'd suggest that you send him a PM over at timeshareforums or give him a call.

Sue

 

[camachinist]

I'm going to be working a very good SFX deposit (Marriott MGC 2BR) over the next 12 months and will journal my experiences. Request is wide open Hawaii for the week after Thanksgiving 2008. The requests went in yesterday.

Trust me, folks will get the straight shot, just like I give on everything else, good or bad.

Pat

 

[Judy]

Sorry to get a bit emotional with this, but my initial try with SFX and returns were entirely due to posts on TUG. I feel I was mislead...a least a little. And that is very atypical for TUG, in my experience. Usually people give honest reviews and tell it like it is, so if they say something is worthwhile I believe them and try. But in this case, three times was enough.

I'm sorry that you feel you were mislead by posts on TUG. I find that people (including me) tend to post their experiences honestly. Misunderstandings arise when we try to generalize from those to our own situations.

 

[Polly Metallic]

Exhanged one bedroom 2 bath Thanksgiving week at Westgate Vacation Villas for one bedroom one bath unit at Hacienda del Mar, Cabo San Lucas Oct. 29 - Nov 5 2007.

 

[arfie]

Wow, Arfie. Your experiences have been completely the opposite of mine. If you haven't contacted Mark at SFX, I'd suggest that you send him a PM over at timeshareforums or give him a call.

Sue

I have spoken with Mark and many other people there. This was all over a year ago and I haven't considered dealing with them since, nor will I, so there isn't any point in calling him now.

And I do believe people post their experiences honestly. But sometimes I think there are people who post on TUG who have gotten special treatment in exchange for their comments and the don't mention it. Just as the exchange companies monitor this board and get information they can use from it.

 

[falmouth3]

Well, I can absolutely say that if I'm receiving special treatment, I don't know about it. I've just had great luck with them and so I post good things about them. Most recently I asked for a bonus week in San Fran on Thanksgiving week and it came through. All I did was post a request on their website. And I only gave about 3 weeks notice.

Sue

 

[arfie]

Well, I can absolutely say that if I'm receiving special treatment, I don't know about it. I've just had great luck with them and so I post good things about them. Most recently I asked for a bonus week in San Fran on Thanksgiving week and it came through. All I did was post a request on their website. And I only gave about 3 weeks notice.

Sue

I glad you have had good experiences with them. I hope you continue to. Maybe my weeks weren't good enough or whatever, but they just aren't for me and I tried to explain why. Reading the board lately it seems they are really, really good for you or they are really, really bad. So I guess everyone has to make up their own mind. I just felt my experiences might help some one else who has those kinds of problems with SFX and perhaps they can help them if they choose to go with them.

I guess I also wanted to add my negative vote for SFX, as some others have, so people on TUG might weigh both sides of the issue.

PS - Beautiful K9 Sue! My daughter has one just like it!

 

[falmouth3]

Thanks on the doggie compliments. That's Sam. He passed away 3 years ago, but I like that picture of him.

S

 

[Judy]

So I guess everyone has to make up their own mind. I just felt my experiences might help some one else who has those kinds of problems with SFX and perhaps they can help them if they choose to go with them.

I agree, and thanks for posting your experiences. In reading posts on the bb and reviews, I find the most useful ones to be those that have details, such as "SFX got me two back to back weeks in Hawaii - one at Waikiki Beach Walk and one at Kona Coast Resort in September. I placed my request 12 months in advance and received my confirmations 10 months in advance."
On the other hand, when someone posts that SFX (or anything) else is "great" or "terrible", we have to keep in mind that "great" and "terrible" mean different things to different people. For example, SFX seems to be "great" to those who want to vacation at top-rated resorts in areas where SFX has a lot of availability, but it is not "great" for me because I usually want to exchange into areas of the world where there are no top-rated resorts or where SFX doesn't seem to have much inventory. I have a deposit with SFX right now that I'm having trouble using before it expires.

 

[pharmgirl]

some of the posts seem to get one bonus week for each deposit? what is the policy for depositing a 2 BR Hawaii week? Marriott, Westin One bonus week? two?

thanks