What is SFX?

[shoeie]

Another newbie question-sorry I am bombarding the boards the last few days, but being a new TUG'er I am just amazed at the wealth of info.

What is SFX? I have gone to their website, and I am completely confused. I thought as a Marriott owner I am restricted to the II network?

 

[DaveNV]

SFX is San Francisco Exchange, an independent exchange company. Not sure how it works for Marriott owners. But for those with deeded timeshares, a reserved week can be deposited with SFX (or one of the other independent timeshare exchange companies - there are several), instead of RCI or II. It provides an alternate choice for exchanging into other timeshare locations.

One example: I own a timeshare in Waikiki on Oahu. I deposited my 2013 week with SFX, and exchanged it for a beachfront timeshare on Maui in 2014. Because I deposited the week far enough in advance, I also got a Bonus Week from SFX, which I exchanged for a week on the beach in San Diego next year. So I got two weeks of prime beach vacation for one deposit. Not bad!

Dave

 

[eal]

You can deposit a Marriott week with numerous independent exchange companies - Platinum Interchange, Trading Places International, DAE, Hawaii Timeshare Exchange are some others besides SFX. SFX specializes in higher-end timeshares and would be a good choice for you. They often have bonus week specials for early deposits.

 

[TravelAmore]

But what about fees for exchanges?

I was looking for info on SFX, as the OP, and just found this thread. I've seen a few posts on TUG from individuals mentioning exorbitant fees - $699 for a trade?
Can someone share the logistics, including fees, please? I am a Marriott week owner at two different Marriott resorts. Thanks in advance for the info....

 

[heathpack]

Most exchanges with SFX are normal prices. They have been devising all kinds of new charges in recent years for luxury exchange, exchanges into residence clubs, etc. You have to know the fees and what you value to know if it's worth it to you to use SFX.

Pros of SFX:
1. Generally you get one or more bonus weeks. Pricing varies- if you want to book well in advance, want a 2BR unit, want to travel during holidays, want to travel to certain destinations (Hawaii, SF, NYC, London), the bonus week will cost way more than an exchange. If you want a last minute studio, this can be a real bargain.
2. Access to some inventory that's either rare or impossible in II- Hilton's, rare Disneys, regular Manhattan and San Francisco, some London.
3. Great access to Grand Mayan resorts in Mexico

Cons of SFX:
1. Only take 1 BR or larger. Might take a really prime or rare studio deposit. So you can't lock off and deposit both sides with SFX.
2. Less access to the big developer deposits- Starwood, Marriott, Hyatt, etc.
3. Sometimes I feel like they are talking to me as if I am stupid.

Overall, SFX has its place in my overall trading plan, but only for my Hyatt as things currently stand. I can see no logic behind depositing my Starwood, Disney or Marriott with them. Not that it won't ever happen, just that there would have to be a real paradigm shift- probably a more affordable bonus week that I could book well in advance to someplace I want to go.

H

 

[presley]

I was looking for info on SFX, as the OP, and just found this thread. I've seen a few posts on TUG from individuals mentioning exorbitant fees - $699 for a trade?
Can someone share the logistics, including fees, please? I am a Marriott week owner at two different Marriott resorts. Thanks in advance for the info....

$699. is for a bonus week and not for an exchange. For example, I just booked a one bedroom in San fran through them via an exchange for $169. If I didn't have an exchange, I could have rented it as a bonus week for $699. It's the same unit.

If you want to trade Marriott for Marriott, you will have better luck in II. If you want something else, SFX would be good.

 

[heathpack]

$699. is for a bonus week and not for an exchange. For example, I just booked a one bedroom in San fran through them via an exchange for $169. If I didn't have an exchange, I could have rented it as a bonus week for $699. It's the same unit.

If you want to trade Marriott for Marriott, you will have better luck in II. If you want something else, SFX would be good.

Exchange fees into Tradewinds Cruise Club:
$799.00 for the Flagship Class Yacht Charter
$699.00 for the Luxury Class Yacht Charter
$599.00 for the Cruising Class Yacht Charter

Those fees are PLUS your deposit and the mandatory AI and any SFX membership fee you paid. SFX describes the exchange fee as their "luxury exchange fee".

They do also charge higher exchange fees into residence clubs like Grand Luxxe- I believe the exchange fee for these types of resorts is $299 or $399, plus your deposit of course.

I believe somebody also reported here on TUG some sort of extra exchange fee for a last minute DVC trade for Christmas. Higher fees for their best inventory seems to be a new trend with SFX.
H

 

[jdunn1]

Definately call SFX and try to get an idea as to how much it will cost to use them for whatever trade you expect in return.

It's my oppinion that SFX takes care of Hilton Vacation Club owners first, and then everyone else. Things may have changed or are changing but HGVC owners post a lot of success stories with SFX, much more so than other timeshare brand owners.

Also, SFX is becoming more and more expensive to own. Their fee membership comes with a lot of restrictions and trade fees that are more than II and just slightly less than RCI.

When I tried to use SFX, I found it impossible to get a summer Marriott or Wyndham beach week anywhere in the Carolinas. Best SFX could offer was an inland Marriott week at Hilton Head. I could have easily gotten that trade via II for less in exchange fees.

Whenever I asked SFX about a ski week, they would tell me how difficult it would be to get one -- for a Hyatt, Marriott, Starwood or Grand Lodge resort.

My experience is that SFX advertises that they only accept and give high end resorts but this is mostly true of Mexico resorts and non hotel branded timeshare resorts. I'm picky and like to trade only into hotel branded timeshares and hotel branded timeshares is not something SFX has much inventory for.

 

[Carolinian]

SFX has been good for exchanges into places like NYC and London. They seem to have better London inventory than the big exchange companies. I tried for London for many years with RCI with no luck, but SFX got me a London exchange a few months after I put in the request, and for a 2BR. They even offered me a second London week! For Manhattan Club, SFX exchangers are not hit with the ripoff ''hospitality fee'' that RCI exchangers have to pay.

 

[TravelAmore]

Very Helpful SFX information - Many Thanks!

Thank you everyone who responded to my post requesting additional information/fees/logistics for using SFX as an exchange company. I forgot to mention in addition to the two Marriott weeks, we own at HGVC in Florida. Given the comments re: HGVC exchanges, it may be worth it for me to investigate further. Because I am so accustomed to using II, I struggle with the use of RCI (just seems less organized than II), although, using RCI through the HGVC link has improved things somewhat. Overall, I learned a lot from your posts so thanks again!

 

[JuliGee]

Another newbie question-sorry I am bombarding the boards the last few days, but being a new TUG'er I am just amazed at the wealth of info.

What is SFX? I have gone to their website, and I am completely confused. I thought as a Marriott owner I am restricted to the II network?

We own at Club Donatello and Marriott Newport Coast. We used to use RCI and I.I. for a number of years, but for the last several years have used SFX with better results and pricing.

You are not restricted to using I.I. You can deposit your week with any independent exchange company. SFX is not the only one, there are a number of others.

Some of the posts here are somewhat misleading with the SFX exchange fees quoted. The exchange fee is I believe between around $159 to $199 depending on what level of membership you have. Their bonus weeks are anywhere between $99 to $699 for the week depending on the unit size you want and how far in advance you book it. We just requested a bonus week for next October in Cabo. They are not the leftover junk weeks on short notice like RCI and I.I.

We recently inquired about their new luxury yacht exchanges. Our friends love to sail and we are considering a group of 6 for this. The fees for this are much higher than standard exchanges, but comparing it to a regular exchange is comparing apples to oranges. If you divide the exchange fee amongst the number of people traveling, its next to nothing, considering it comes with a crew and gourmet chef, so you would obviously expect to pay more.

Exchange fees into Tradewinds Cruise (Yacht) Club:
$799.00 for the Flagship Class Yacht Charter
$699.00 for the Luxury Class Yacht Charter
$599.00 for the Cruising Class Yacht Charter

Their overall fees are not necessarily more expensive than RCI and I.I. We started out with a gold membership which is free and only paid the exchange fee. When compared to RCI and II that is cheaper. After we retired and had more time to travel, we upgraded to platinum, and that gave us better deals with them as we travel several weeks a year. With this level one of the benefits are free unit size upgrades.

Everyone has their favorite exchange company, SFX is ours. We had no clue they existed until they were recommended by a Marriott owner services manager a few years ago. A couple of months later we learnt from the Club Donatello HOA board about SFX. You should check out the different alternative exchange companies.

Juli

 

[heathpack]

We own at Club Donatello and Marriott Newport Coast. We used to use RCI and I.I. for a number of years, but for the last several years have used SFX with better results and pricing.

You are not restricted to using I.I. You can deposit your week with any independent exchange company. SFX is not the only one, there are a number of others.

Some of the posts here are somewhat misleading with the SFX exchange fees quoted. The exchange fee is I believe between around $159 to $199 depending on what level of membership you have. Their bonus weeks are anywhere between $99 to $699 for the week depending on the unit size you want and how far in advance you book it. We just requested a bonus week for next October in Cabo. They are not the leftover junk weeks on short notice like RCI and I.I.

We recently inquired about their new luxury yacht exchanges. Our friends love to sail and we are considering a group of 6 for this. The fees for this are much higher than standard exchanges, but comparing it to a regular exchange is comparing apples to oranges. If you divide the exchange fee amongst the number of people traveling, its next to nothing, considering it comes with a crew and gourmet chef, so you would obviously expect to pay more.

Exchange fees into Tradewinds Cruise (Yacht) Club:
$799.00 for the Flagship Class Yacht Charter
$699.00 for the Luxury Class Yacht Charter
$599.00 for the Cruising Class Yacht Charter

Their overall fees are not necessarily more expensive than RCI and I.I. We started out with a gold membership which is free and only paid the exchange fee. When compared to RCI and II that is cheaper. After we retired and had more time to travel, we upgraded to platinum, and that gave us better deals with them as we travel several weeks a year. With this level one of the benefits are free unit size upgrades.

Everyone has their favorite exchange company, SFX is ours. We had no clue they existed until they were recommended by a Marriott owner services manager a few years ago. A couple of months later we learnt from the Club Donatello HOA board about SFX. You should check out the different alternative exchange companies.

Juli

Juli, it was my impression that the luxury exchange fee is per cabin on the Tradewinds boats. Did you inquire and find out it is per boat, thus allowing you to divide the exchange fee amongst more that 2 people? I assumed if you want an entire boat, you'd pay 4 exchange fees and give up 4 deposits.

H

 

[tschwa2]

I am pretty sure those fees also don't cover the AI per person fee. For the whole boat (6 persons) for the week not including gratuities, I think you will be looking at $7500-$9500 plus at least one deposit from your resort. The lower end being for summer and fall and the higher end for winter/spring. That would be on the lowest class of boat.

When you find out the full cost, please post.

 

[JuliGee]

I am pretty sure those fees also don't cover the AI per person fee. For the whole boat (6 persons) for the week not including gratuities, I think you will be looking at $7500-$9500 plus at least one deposit from your resort. The lower end being for summer and fall and the higher end for winter/spring. That would be on the lowest class of boat.

When you find out the full cost, please post.

I am still doing research on this but will definitely post the bottom line details when I get all the facts from SFX. Right now they are closed for the Holiday. I do know it doesn't cover the all-inclusive food and beverage fees, that is extra, no different to when you take a regular trip, you pay extra for food and beverage.

A good friend of our took this yacht exchange via SFX, and raved about it. I remember her saying it was significantly less money than taking the same exchange with RCI's registry collection. She is on vacation right now, so I can't get hold of her for more details.

Now that I think about it, the exchange fee is more than likely per cabin. Will find that out too. Even if it is, it's still less than what RCI charges, and we can justify it because it is a completely unique and different vacation experience from just another regular timeshare exchange.

Will post when I confirm more details.

Juli