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You're wealthy, otherwise you wouldn't be taking your vacation in Jamaica. As for spending more than necessary, it's 30 Jamaican, or 30 cents US. How much you spend on your hotel and flights. These are poor people you are talking about. You are what is called a tourist and not a traveller!Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryS
Last time I flew into Sangster that damn Jet Blue charged me 7 dollars for a martini.
From now on I'm driving and will never use an airline again.
Just a FYI...Xtabi does post their prices...they have menus placed along the bar as soon as you arrive.
And, just another thought not a judgement...but maybe the bartender at Xtabi simply made a bad judgement call when he was really busy. We've watched so many tourists say to a bartender "keep the change" after he's taken the time to calculate it all out, that he may have assumed this was going to be the same scenario on such a small amount.
To each his own reaction if you feel screwed over...but maybe this is simply a bad judgement call not anything more!
I'm not wealthy by American standards, I am middle class and work my ass off to save so I can travel. I make choices like not driving a nice car so I can save more money to travel. I do not in any way "have it all".Quote:
Originally Posted by spottycatz
I didn't have this issue at Xtabi, was backing up another poster who was being ridiculed over the change, and don't appreciate the negative connotations you are attaching to me, re: tourist vs. traveller. Why can't people on this forum have a discussion without resorting to name calling? Why do we bash anyone who says something that is not 100% positive? Why do people continue to respond without actually basing their response on what was actually said? (The complaint was that it was an extra 20 cents more than everyone else was charging, AND the bartender took it upon himself to keep the change, an additional 80 cents).
Yes, it's not a lot of money. But where is the line drawn? When does it become enough to warrant discussion? Why can't discussion happen without people taking it so personally?
You started with the presumptions sir, I just took your words are threw them back at you. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by HarryS
Let the buyer beware..........you cant be overcharged if your not a customer...and let them know why............they will catch on...you will maybe start a "Gas War" with Red Stripe.........
and by the way.... my Father-in-Law drives the team bus for a Grade School Team, and where ever they stop for
food and or drinks HE GETS FREEBIES............terrible aint it??????
have a great today-better tomorrow
http://replygif.net/i/1127Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryS
Exactly.
You people can't have a discussion without it being personal. Nice gif, very original. Since you didn't have something constructive to say or have anything to add to the discussion, you posted that to ridicule.
I love Negril, and count the days between visits. I've spent more time there than some of you who act as if you're locals, not travellers. I don't see the need to hide some of the not so perfect things about Jamaica, nor do I see the need to make excuses for people because they have less than I do. Sharing information about the great and not so great only helps people who have never been there have an idea of what to expect. If people go there thinking everything is WONDERFUL and PERFECT, and then are shocked by how pushy some of the hustlers are, or go along with the bartender who says, "you will buy me a beer" because they think they have to, they won't go back. Tourism is down all over, but from what I can tell Jamaica is being hit particularly hard. Any ideas why?
It's because not enough people like you have taken up the crusade!
http://replygif.net/i/1130
More immaturity. Thanks for showing where you come from.Quote:
Originally Posted by Flipadelphia26
The reason others don't say this stuff is as soon as they do, people come down on them, hard. Their comments are attacked and picked apart and twisted around, Just like you're doing with me. Then those people stop posting and go away, and the mission is accomplished. As if talking about some of the imperfections of Negril will suddenly ruin your personal vacation paradise.
Sounds like it's your vacation in paradise being ruined. You have 70 posts. Over half I would wager are you complaining. As if someone here is going to fix the culture.
I have 70 posts, but have been lurking here for years, mostly reading and gathering information, I have asked some questions, as well as posted many positive things about the places and people I have met in Negril. Post count is something that is thrown around forums, as if post count = intelligence or knowledge of a subject. It does not.
I have learned that there is a bit of a disconnect between some of the advice given here and the realities of travelling to Negril. I enjoy a spirited discussion, and like to debate. However, it always seems to devolve quickly into an "us vs them" sort of thing. Instead of actually responding to my (and others) statements and questions, people are told that they just don't get it, they are tourists not travellers, that Negril is not for them and maybe they should go somewhere else, to picking apart what is said and then twisted to suit the persons agenda, to at some points insults and name calling. Why is that?
Why does it seem like some people would rather keep some of these things a secret? Why isn't it OK to talk about how you should pay attention to things like exchange rates, to know it's OK to ask for your change, to be aware of being ripped off and being taken advantage of? Where is the line drawn, between cents and dollars? Where is the line between understanding the Jamaican culture and being ripped off? Are some of the business practices such as keeping change or overcharging part of the culture? They treat each other that way? Or just the tourists?
Would we tolerate this in our own backyards? I run a business and in many cases my customers are much better off than myself and even more so my part time employees. Should my employees feel it's OK to take a little bit extra from the wealthy ones? They can afford it, right?
Everything you just reposted has been addressed. Both by other posters. As well as rob and Lisa. Not sure what else you want to have happen?
The police to crack down on vendors for not giving a fair exchange on currency they have no legal responsibility to accept or give a certain rate?
Or arrest the bartender that "stole" 20 cents?
Have fun banging your head against the wall about these things. I'm going to enjoy people's stories and pictures. As well as share my own.
Why are you taking it so personally? If you don't like the discussion you didn't have to participate in the first place. Why get involved?
No one is saying anyone should be arrested, or police should get involved. The discussion was about events that happened, to be aware of what's going on, and how to keep it from happening to you. What's wrong with that? I didn't start this thread. I wasn't asking for anything to be addressed, as if there's a cut and dried answer to any of this.
What I want to happen is for people to be allowed to discuss things that aren't always completely positive without being attacked, put down, run off or dismissed. Just because someone had a different experience than you did doesn't make their experience invalid. People can have fun and enjoy their vacation and go back, yet still discuss things like this without it ruining anything.
I think what this forum is about is sharing the realities of travel to Negril and then sharing strategies for dealing with that reality.Quote:
Why isn't it OK to talk about how you should pay attention to things like exchange rates, to know it's OK to ask for your change, to be aware of being ripped off and being taken advantage of? Where is the line drawn, between cents and dollars? Where is the line between understanding the Jamaican culture and being ripped off? Are some of the business practices such as keeping change or overcharging part of the culture? They treat each other that way? Or just the tourists?
For example, one reality is that different places charge different prices for the same item (like a red stripe). Sometimes the same place will charge a different price at a different time (like when a large group arrives). Acknowledging this truth is step one. Sharing a strategy for dealing with it is step two. Strategies mentioned so far have included 1. Do not buy at places that charge more than you feel the item is worth, or 2. ask the price before ordering. Both will get the consumer what s/he wants and both will send a message to the establishment that prices matter.
Another reality is that if you use US$ to pay for things, the exchange rate you get will vary from place to place, and you may not get US$ change back. Strategy for dealing with this reality is to use JA$, or accept that the convenience of not changing at a cambio will cost you something. Use the JA$ change for the next drink, or save it for tipping elsewhere, or whatever.
Another is that some people will not bring you small change. Strategy? Ask for the change, and wait for it if it is important to you. If you frequent the place, make it clear that you expect change every time. If you don't like the assumption that your change is a tip, by all means take your business elsewhere and feel free to tell that bartender why.
These strategies have all been shared in this and the other threads about beer prices and coffee prices and exchange rates. We all learn as we go and this board can be a sort of shortcut for new folks to learn lessons learned by others who have gone before.
I'm not the one taking it personally.Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryS
That's not a very nice thing to say about someone.
I appreciate the support, but I'm not looking to point fingers or gang up on anyone. I just want to be able to talk about these things in a civilized manner. And if we keep re-hashing the same things that were discussed six months ago, and six months before that, and so on, so what? If it's not on the first (or maybe second?) page, most people who casually stroll through will never see it. Are we going to start telling people who ask questions that were already answered to "use the search", or will we help them out?
I was on the Bus Crawl on March 29th and one of the stops was Xtabi, really nice location and also a nice place to visit.
Ordered 2 red stripes at the bar and beers were delivered but with no change. I handed one to my wife and remained at the bar. Bartender was very busy but as I kept standing there we made eye contact twice with no results. On third eye contact, I said you forgot to give me my change and at that point he handed me 300J no questions asked. I gave him a 100J tip just to let him know I would have tipped to start with if he brought the change. I probably would have given him 200J if he had brought the change without me needing to ask.
Will I go back to Xtabi? Sure I will it is a very nice place! But I will keep my eyes open and ask for change if necessary :-)
BTW, I stood at the bar for a fair amount of time (maybe 10 minutes or a little more). I saw this neglect or over site to provide change repeated more than once but sometimes I would see him automatically provide change. It was interesting to observe.
My goodness HarryS ... go have a beer! Just make sure you don't over pay!
If whoever got the bottled water had gotten a GLASS of water, they wouldn't have paid a freaking dime for it! Geez!!!
Gosh forbid we help out the people who live in shacks and can barely feed & clothe themselves WHILE WE ARE ON VACATION STAYING IN PLACES WITH AIR CONDITION & RUNNING WATER by giving them .20 extra
And as for skipping Bella Donna's ... come on ... she's a hoot & worth the $5 to me ... and that is totally my opinion! BTW, I am FAR from wealthy!!!!
Why the need for the personal comment to me before having your say? Why not just say what you have to say without making it personal?
I didn't say anything at all about ever having personally overpaid for a beer, nor complained about beer prices myself. I only got involved in the discussion and shared my opinion and now it seems I must pay the price.
Maybe b/c you were jiving so badly on my friend Flip ... He's a good person & doesn't deserve the name calling. His GIFs are his way of making us all laugh. If you read the board all the time, like you claim you do, you would know that.
Flip,Garysteph,Booger, I really want to buy you guys a few overpriced rounds at Xtabi and tip the bartender a ridiculous amount of money. Or we could buy too much beer from the Chinaman and drink it with our toes in the surf on the beach. Either way your attitude wins out
Why..are we being charged 3 times more then a local...for a cool beer...when the bus pulls up the price goes up..
The people do not understand about business they just want to take as much as they can.
It appears that some are more than happy to pay the premium.Quote:
Originally Posted by lathomas
Harry:
thank you for your input ...do not understand why they are upset with you for telling the truth...people on other forums report the same thing and no one is upset...good information...I noted the same thing..I bet if everyone got back on the bus when they find out the price is 5 dollars next week the price would be 2 dollars...
For the same reason every restaurant & bar in Augusta, GA goes up on their prices when The Master's golf tourny comes to town ... bc people will pay it! If you don't want to pay their prices, hit up the local grocery store & buy a case of WATA & beer and carry your own little soft cooler! That's exactly what Gary & I do! If we like the place, we buy from it ... if we don't we drink our own stuff.
Dash that sounds like a nice plan! :)
Sounds like the bus crawl has hit rock bottom....
I guess this debate really comes down to perceptions from living & being raised in a first world country and carrying it over to the reality of surviving & being raised in a third world country/developing country.
This thread is closed for obvious reasons......