SFX info please

[stan43]

I just came across an older posting here that mentions SFX timeshare exchange company. I have searched a few forums here for more information, and have come up empty. Are there threads I have been unable to find? I have a few questions: Does anyone have actual membership experience? How do the fees compare to RCI? And is it a viable alternative RCI/II? How much inventory do they have? What are "Travel Savings Credits".
Thanks,
Stan Heer

 

[DeniseM]

SFX is a small independent exchange company. Some people really love them, and regular customers seem to get good service.

They are located in San Francisco, and seem to be strongest in California and Mexico.

Their fees are more expensive.

The Hotel affiliated resorts systems like Marriott, Westin, Hilton, Hyatt, and Disney do not bulk space bank with them, because they are affiliated with II and RCI.

They have specific requirements for what deposits they will accept.

So it really depends on what you are looking for.

 

[presley]

I used them as my primary exchange company for a while. I liked the program a lot at the time. Their programs and fees change and now it isn't the best fit for me because the exchange fees are higher and I now have access to II, which has more of the type of exchanges that I like.

I still think SFX is better than RCI, but I've had zero success with RCI at this point with ongoing searches and a high rate of success with SFX. Since they are such a small company, the help over the phone is usually really good compared to the bigger exchange companies (much better). However, when looking at online inventory, their overall inventory is much less than RCI.

You can get an idea of what they carry by looking at their resort escapes. http://www.sfxresorts.com/resort-rental-escapes/ The prices there are rental prices. If you exchange, the exchange fee is $209. or $149. if you buy a membership with them.

 

[falmouth3]

You can join SFX for free and a deposit is not required to become a member. There are higher membership levels for a fee and those levels require a membership fee.

They have a much smaller base of resorts that are available for exchange because they are a smaller exchange company. Their representatives are great and they will help you to answer your questions and address any issues.

They have great inventory for Mexico, San Francisco, and Hawaii, less so for the East coast and Caribbean. However, I have gone to to international locations with them, including Scotland, London, and Aruba.

In order to be successful with them, you need to be flexible with your travel dates and select multiple locations where you'd like to travel.

Once I needed a 2 BR in Las Vegas to celebrate my mother's 80th birthday. They didn't have anything in inventory but they have some resources to get units. They asked me if I would accept a particular resort and within an hour, they found me a unit.

They are the only company I've used for exchanges for the last several years. I'm happy with them, but I usually request a large variety of locations, I never request a specific resort, and I'm quite flexible on dates. If that works for you, then SFX may be an exchange company you'd be happy with.

They have a deposit special going on right now for 2016 weeks.

 

[rickandcindy23]

They always have a special going for deposits. Now they are offering a $99 exchange for a deposit. I like that offer a lot. But honestly, they would have to come up with an exchange for me to be able to use it. I haven't had many with SFX and have belonged for about 7 years total. Yes, that seems crazy to me too.

I haven't had as much success with SFX as others have. My exchanges are mostly with II. Nonetheless, I have deposited many weeks with SFX and have very few requests set right now. Every time I set a request, II has come through for me first.

I have another request I should add, and this thread reminded me of something for next August. I can always reserve the same thing I need through WorldMark directly, and I will maybe do that, rather than take a chance and lose my ability through WorldMark.

BTW, RCI is doing NOTHING for me at all with my WorldMark points. I may cancel RCI and join II with WorldMark. Shell is going to RCI now too, which has me looking to give away my Shell points. I have been depositing a few into SFX, especially Peacock Suites, because the point values are low for the seasons SFX considers red. If only Disney was still depositing 2 bedrooms into RCI, I would be thrilled because I need multiple two bedrooms or four 1 bedrooms for our next Disney trip with the kids and grandkids.

The one major advantage to using SFX is their offer to extend weeks another year with a new deposit. That is something I needed to use recently because I had weeks expiring next year and I doubted SFX will find anything for me.

I am going to enter some requests now. I have about 8 weeks on deposit with no searches set.

 

[taterhed]

SFX tends to work more 'personally' with you as well.
When I called to inquire on membership, the agent discussed what I planned to deposit and requested that I call and speak with them when making the ressie because they potentially had some requests.

It was a pleasant experience...I have not made any deposits yet...maybe later in the year.

cheers.

 

[ronandjoan]

Regular exchange rate of $209 is same as RCI but you get only high class .. Good crown level)resorts ( unlike RCI exchanges ... Sometimes you don't know what you ll get) and friendly personal staff ( also unlike most , although not all, RCI staff) and you can get the same person again if you want with their ext. Number.

We are going 4 weeks with them this year, 2 weeks in Kona and 2 weeks at the Mayan Palace in PV.... ... Advantage.. No 4 in 1 restriction.

If you are a Diamond member, fee required, exchange fee is only $149 and your deposit is good for 3 years.

 

[GrayFal]

I have not had good luck with SFX.
I used to use them for exchanges into Manhattan and they now have a one in 3 year restriction in place for all NYC.
They also have one in 3/4? For the Mayan Palace Group ( although this did not matter to me)

My travel tends to be to the Caribbean and Europe and as a Diamond Member I could request 18 months out. I was almost never able to get anything before I had to book FF tickets at 11 months.
I also trade with II & RCI with success, each has its purposes.

I generally put in request to match up with home resort reservations or other exchanges already in place. This is not a request that works well with their business model.

When I was permitted to request NYC (drive to location for me) I would give them a range of 10 weeks that would work for me and they were always able to fulfill that request. I have also done last minute units as well.

I had two deposits that expired this July and September and at this point I am not giving them another deposit. In the past I have deposited Marriott, Morritts, SBP, etc. not sure about the future.

YMMV

 

[sun starved Gayle]

So they take Worldmark points ? How does this work ?

 

[presley]

So they take Worldmark points ? How does this work ?

You book a full week at any WM location that is listed as a prime location on the SFX website. Then, you just call SFX and tell them you are depositing it. They will contact worldmark and take ownership of the week.

 

[ailin]

So they take Worldmark points ? How does this work ?

You would need to make a reservation for a particular week. You should call them and ask which locations would give you the best trading power. Get a bunch of options so you can figure out which would cost you the least points.

 

[sun starved Gayle]

Thank you for the prompt replies. Has anyone snagged Hawaii through SFX with a Worldmark Deposit ?

 

[presley]

Thank you for the prompt replies. Has anyone snagged Hawaii through SFX with a Worldmark Deposit ?

Hawaii has matched for me, but I can't remember what I deposited. I have deposited several WM weeks before. If you want something high demand, book San Francisco - any week. It gives the highest trading power. They also want Vancouver, but that may be specific weeks. If you book a studio, it trades to a one bedroom. If you book a one bedroom, it can trade to a 2 bedroom somewhere else.

 

[SmithOp]

Thank you for the prompt replies. Has anyone snagged Hawaii through SFX with a Worldmark Deposit ?

I've deposited HGVC Hawaii both times I've made an SFX deposit, cant really tell what was given to get them.

I've always had the feeling everything that SFX accepts is fair trade for anything they have.

My beef with them is the recent changes to their web site, I prefer to look online myself and do frequent searches inside 60 days. They tend to put the leftovers online inside 60 days, and I've booked with bonus weeks. Now the web site is extremely slow to where I dont care to use it. Their business model for reservations beyond 60 days is to call in and have their employees search for you. If you prefer that, its great, but it does not fit my preference now so I intend to let my membership expire.


Sent from my iPad using the strange new version of Tapatalk

 

[oceanvps]

I like to give them vacation internationale clock tower.......... uses up those points.

 

[presley]

Their business model for reservations beyond 60 days is to call in and have their employees search for you. If you prefer that, its great, but it does not fit my preference now so I intend to let my membership expire.

I'm in the same boat as SmithOP. I like to do things online and prefer not to make phone calls. SFX is great for those who want a "hand holding" experience. You can call them and they will help you and talk to you as long as you need them to. If you get a match, they call you, no email, no mark in online account. It has to be dealt with over the phone. I know lots of people appreciate the personal level of service and being able to easily talk to a smart person over the phone.

My paid membership expires in December and I can't search beyond that with my deposit. It is very disappointing and I don't feel like paying out a member fee to be able to search against my deposit. I have an ongoing request that I placed several months ago. Hopefully, that will hit since I can't do online searches without a paid membership.

 

[JuliGee]

We have been using SFX for a number of years with great success in about 95% of all exchange requests. We have had memberships with both rci and ii, and overall SFX has been much more advantageous for us.

When you add up all the fees it costs to use rci or ii, SFX is not more expensive, they are in fact less money. Also, they do have affiliations with certain major brands. We have had exchanges in Hawaii, NY, Florida, Colorado, California, Canada, England, Spain, Austria, Thailand. We have found, they have much more to offer than Mexico and California. Another feature they have that beat the others hands down are their bonus weeks.

In fact, it was management at both Club Donatello and Marriott Newport Coast that strongly suggested we try SFX, and for us it has worked very well. Everyone has their favorites. SFX is ours.

Juli

 

[John Cummings]

We have been using SFX exclusively for 18 years. Prior to that we belonged to both RCI and II.

Our experience is very similar to Juli. We have always been able to get every request we have made. We usually request specific resorts. It is true that they don't have as much inventory but they also don't have nearly as many people requesting it. We have traded into Marriott, Westin, Hilton, etc in Hawaii, New York City, Las Vegas, Mexico, and several other locations. Unlike RCI and II, SFX will proactively look for the resort or location you request rather than rely on their inventory. I have had exchanges where SFX got them by trading with RCI.

Their fees have always been less. Many resorts charge a resort fee to RCI exchangers that SFX exchangers don't have to pay.

 

[regatta333]

Regular exchange rate of $209 is same as RCI but you get only high class .. Good crown level)resorts ( unlike RCI exchanges ... Sometimes you don't know what you ll get) and friendly personal staff ( also unlike most , although not all, RCI staff) and you can get the same person again if you want with their ext. Number.

We are going 4 weeks with them this year, 2 weeks in Kona and 2 weeks at the Mayan Palace in PV.... ... Advantage.. No 4 in 1 restriction.

If you are a Diamond member, fee required, exchange fee is only $149 and your deposit is good for 3 years.

What is the fee for Diamond membership and how long does it last?

 

[taterhed]

$199 on special for 5 years

Sent from my cell...

 

[klpca]

$199 on special for 5 years

Sent from my cell...

How did you get this offer? My account shows $399 for 5 years.

 

[epcmart]

There was an offer from Seth Nock of SellingTimeshares.net back in June 2015. I joined also and gave them my 1BR of the 2BR L/O at The Ridge Tahoe for wk7 2016 (very desirable Ski week) after they searched and found me 2BR Wyndham Kona Resort for Spring break 2016 that I had an ongoing search for. The exchange fee was only $99 due to a special in Sep.
This is the only exchange I belong to at the moment though I can join II due to ownership at the Ridge. I currently have an ongoing search for a Thanksgiving week for Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. I hope they come back with something soon.

Here is the link from the offer, not sure if still valid but you can try.

http://www.sellingtimeshares.net/ex...il&utm_term=0_9929d3b78d-868b5368b2-103651297

I hope its allowed to post a link here.

 

[patty5ia]

anyone exchanged for Cabo with SFX

Has anyone gotten an exchange in Cabo San Lucas with SFX?

 

[falmouth3]

I haven't because I haven't tried. But there is a Cabo week right now on their sell-off list. Check in next week for $799 for a 2 BR with the free Gold Membership. No exchange needed. They also have an early Dec. check in, Jr. Suite for $799 with gold and no exchange.

I'm not seeing anything for exchange in Feb - July. but there are two check in dates in Jan for exchange. I'm sure there will be more available as time goes on and with ongoing requests. SFX is strong in Mexico.

 

[qb_bc]

Has anyone gotten an exchange in Cabo San Lucas with SFX?

Yes. In the Hacienda del Mar in March. Also traded to Hawaii with them. They try hard to get you what you are looking for. It is the only exchange company I have now.