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.
Sorry to hear this. In many ways, people like me are to blame. I doubt that anyone here deliberately misled you. Just like with the RCI Points arguments, rental of weeks, RCI v. the world, etc...people do get both tired and fed up. However, please do not mistake silence with acquiesce. Also, SFX has a reported history of having threatened legal action against posters here on TUG who have posted what SFX perceives as negative or unfair comments about their company. In their defense, it has been a few years since I have heard about this happening.
Frankly, IMHO SFX has ALWAYS had issues. We have had many, many arguments here on TUG about SFX over the years. Anyone remember the Ciboney/SFX debacle? LOL Oh...those were fun times
As many people here know, and I will not rehash the details here, I have had many, many issues with the policies and practices of SFX over the years. I used to comment all of the time about my experience with them and call them out here on TUG when they engaged in what I believed to be boorish behavior.
Over the years I have stopped commenting for many reasons. One...it had been a few years since I had any personal dealings with SFX and I thought that it was unfair to comment on an experience I had with them many years before. People and companies can and do change. I also took this stance in light of the fact that several people here reported that they were getting great exchanges with SFX and were very happy with their services.
What IMHO has happened here on TUG and elsewhere is that due to an overwhelming anti-RCI and at times anti-II sentiment that has taken over, many are advocating that our members turn to the independent exchange companies like SFX. IMHO, this has been done at times to the detriment of our members. The recommendation to use an independent is often made without regard to which exchange company will actually get the poster their desired exchange. Don't get me wrong, there are many, many circumstances when the best choice will be an independent exchange company...but in many cases...it is not.
Bottom line, at the end of the day, the question that needs to be asked is which exchange company, RCI, II or independent...yes...even SFX....can get the desired exchange at the least expense. Always, always keep this in mind and you will do well.
