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Just returned for about my 50 th trip so here are my thoughts. I noticed more than usual that the drivers were willing to negotiate. Even of the driver said 10 dollars from idle awhile to around chicken
Lavish I could say 3 and they would say that's fine. I would end up giving 5 or so as I do not like to waste money but realize they need to make a living . It helps of course to have exact money .
Interesting. Lets see how Blake feels about this......
I hate counting penny's especially on vacation....I try to make things simple...what I pay at home i pay away...is saving a dollar here and there that important after spending thousands in airfare?
Really? Let it rest people!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by SandT CHI
We have always found the transportation rates in Negril to be inexpensive compared to any other place we have traveled to. Some places by a long shot. So we have never haggled on the price of the ride. We have the front desk get us a ride and the ride is ready for our return. The convenience is more than worth a couple of bucks. Then again, we pretty much spend our days on the beach, head farther afield along the beach or to the cliffs for dinner. Last time we stayed all inclusive at Charela, so we only got in a car one time for some time on the cliffs. So, we generally don't begrudge whatever the "going" rate is. We also find the cost for lodging, food and drink to be inexpensive in Jamaica as well, hence why we travel there more often then anywhere else, because it makes it more do-able. We save thousands of dollars by choosing Jamaica as our destination over most other islands. We love the beach.
It was a joke. The same topic under new thread.
Treehouse to Xtabi. He said "12" I said "10" he said "yah mon, 10 and a 2 dollar tip" I said "ya mon" I am so much smarter than Jamaicans!!!
Yup you smartly paid double the rate...let's count pennys
I'll do my penny counting at home, not in Negril :p
Cause a penny is not accepted as a form of currency in Negril?Quote:
Originally Posted by Patricia
On the contrary the Jamaican penny is alive and we...at least on paperQuote:
Originally Posted by Eco
Attachment 33918
I am reminded of a day I spent with a clothes higgler it the Montego Bay Market. I was just browsing and asked a price and he gave me a fair price but I really didn't want to buy anything just then. I guess you would call it "window shopping"Quote:
Originally Posted by original spanky
Anyways, we struck up a conversation and he invited me to sit in the shade of his booth as it was brutally hot that day. This day was a day when a large cruise ship came into port and some tourists started to file in and check out the souvenirs. One particular guy was from Texas and his mouth, attitude and hat were as big as all outdoors... if you get my drift.
Lanie (I will call him) showed the Texan some very nice shirts and the Texan seemed to like one in particular very much. He ask Lanie "How much" and Lanie told him $15 the Texan said "That's too much" and offered $5 which Lanie countered with $10 but the Texan would have none of that and said "$5 take it or leave it".
Lanie took the $5 reluctantly and as the Texan walked away with the shirt he shouted over to his significant other. "See what this boy sold me for $5?" proud of the way he was able to get a steal of a price.
After the guy was out of earshot, I asked Lanie "Why did you accept that offer?". He told me about his wife and two kids and how whatever he made that day would be needed to feed his family. Even if he had to take a loss (which he did) from his purchase price.
I just couldn't be proud to know that I got one over on someone the way the Texan did. If a driver told me $10 then I couldn't in good conscious offer $3 for a trip that I know usually costs $5 even if I planned to give the $5 anyways. Maybe it is just me and the way I look at life but living in Jamaica has taught me to be more humble and more understanding of another's plight.
And Lanie? I took a shirt that did not even fit me and gave him $15 because it was the right thing to do. I will never get the image of that tear in the corner of his eye when he shook my hand so vigorously out of my mind.
Just the way I look at things.
Peace and Guidance
"I took a shirt that did not even fit me and gave him $15 because it was the right thing to do."
Dam straight it was...(*&%#in' Texans'!) :p
Accompong - I love reading your posts. I find them very thoughtful and insightful. Thank you!
Accompong I too like your posts generally but not happy about the generalization of Texans. If I'm reading into this then I'm sorry, but so used to this being the stereotype of Texans that many people continue to perpetrate.
There's arseholes everwhere,I live in il,......oh wait. ;)
You're right Tan; the guy was really from Arizona but Bill thought Texas would be more believable. (ducking).
Save your pennies and buy a sense of humourQuote:
Originally Posted by jar77
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big_frank
LoL!
I like to give back to Jamaicans by paying for a service/ product. Accompang, why not just buy a shirt that fit?
Before my last reach a local restaurant owner hit me up to help pay the current bill. Really? No way, but I did eat there more than usual as I love the food anyway. Not enough to pay the current I'm certain, however they were closer than they were before.
Accompong, you are a very kind hearted man.
Big Frank hope you aren't taking a shot at me with that comment, seeing as though I'm from Arizona! LOLQuote:
Originally Posted by Big_frank
Sorry to disappoint you Big_frank but he was from Texas and the point of the story is the story. When you just relay an occurrence little thought was put into any "Political Correctness".Quote:
Originally Posted by Big_frank
And Booger.... by the way didn't you say awhile back that you were leaving here and not coming back? :confused: I guess that's snot (sp) true either, right? :cool:
I am a big man (wear a 3XL well, actually now down to a 2XL) but at that time I wore a 3XL and that size was very rare. I gave the shirt to a best friend so I get to see it and enjoy it all the time as he still wears it regularly.
I really don't care if anyone likes or believes the story. I am way past that type of caring about what people think. It was just that what originalspanky said about offering $3 for a ride and thinking that paying that amount but giving a "tip" of $2 somehow made it right. Personally, I would have offered $7 and then gave him the whole $10 if I was pleased with the service.
I guess that is why I have a lot of Jamaican friends out on the island but only a few in Negril and why I just spent 5 months in Jamaica and never set foot in Negril.
I feel better for reliving that moment, nothing more. Nothing expected but a whole lot gained.
Peace and Guidance mi frens.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Accompong
I did? Please show me where I said that? Reflecting back I might have when my balls were placed in the vise and squeezed till they almost popped just for sharing my opinion.
That was really specialQuote:
Originally Posted by Accompong
When your roots go deep into the Jamaican soil you see things differently.
I hope no one took offence at my attempt at humour with our friend Tanfastic. If so, apologies.
YOU were not offensive, just funny......
those POS Texans on the other hand.....somebody really needs to do something about them lol :rolleyes:
Big Frank just giving you a hard time, no offense taken at all. I've been poked fun at so many times it's impossible to offend me!Quote:
Originally Posted by Big_frank
:oQuote:
Originally Posted by TizzyATX
Just read the post that accompang entered implying that he does not bargain a price for a cab ride. If he does not than either he has more money than needed ( which I hope is the case) or is foolish. The point I was trying to make is why fool with a route taxi when a private driver is happy to take a bit more . I have always negotiated the ride and paid what I believe to be a fair amount plus a bit extra . The driver can refuse this if he chooses. My opinion is the driver. Starts off high knowing the price would be negotiated. Am I wrong with that assumption?
First time in Negril, I paid $30 to go to Ricks cafe. Newbie.
Well, "original spanky" and not another "spanky" I guess.Quote:
Originally Posted by original spanky
I did not "imply" that I do not bargain. What I was saying is that I know what things cost and what a fair price should be. If I am quoted a "fair price" then I will usually pay it. I don't try to squeeze an ounce of flesh out of a driver by offering a ridiculously low fare even if I intend to give him a 'tip' to make it a little more.
Well, you certainly only offered "a bit more" and that was the point I was making.Quote:
The point I was trying to make is why fool with a route taxi when a private driver is happy to take a bit more.
I am retired and I don't have more money than what I need but I live in the same town as my Route Taxi Drivers and my Private Drivers and we treat each other fairly and honestly.
If that makes me foolish then foolish I am and will continue to be.
I guess that my driver friends wouldn't quote me a ridiculous price and do not expect me to counter with an equally ridiculous price so I guess in my case, you are "wrong with that assumption". Just keep doing whatever you are doing if it works for you. I was just saying that it doesn't work for me.
Peace and Guidance
Accompong thanks for reply. Agreed
While I'm not a regular to Jamaica like many of you, I have traveled (and lived) in the Caribbean/Mexico extensively in my lifetime. A point that should be made on this is once you have lived/made friends/traveled routinely in an area taxi drivers or vendors don't take you as a "mark" and start out high, they offer you a fair price eliminating the need for heavy negotiation or ridiculous low ball offers. Accompong it sounds like you have earned that respect with your time in paradise but most of us haven't so please excuse us if we do play the game, BUT with respect!
Well said tanfastic.
Hey Bill; just an observation. 3X which I also take is getting more common in the Negril Shops these days.
My observation in January was this: Wow, lots of heavy gray haired over 50-60's travellers, outnumbering by far the younger folk.
Went to Bourbon Beach the other night till late. No idea what time it was but the music has stopped..lol....went to get a cab and the driver wanted $10 to go to The Rondel. I admit I burst out laughing and said $5. I think that's plenty for that short distance but the driver was mumbling as we got in the car. I don't mind paying a fair price and over pay sometimes but that's ok. I also don't go on vacation to save money and I don't care if someone gets a better deal. I took a taxi in Winnipeg last night and it cost us $30 and I didn't get to negotiate. Just saying