Juta Tour Drivers Scam

[Accompong]

Accompong....Clives (charter price) is $30 US one way per person....is extremely reasonable with or without the comped Red Strip & a non-stop ride to Negril. I say just get there & get to the bar of your choice ASAP & enjoy..it's a long enough ride as it is without stopping.

Thanks rooster.

I thought that was Clive's price but, again, thanks for the confirmation.
I only used Clives as it was referenced a few times in the thread. Clive's provides a very good service but, as I said, I rarely ever go to Negril especially from the Airport. Usually from the Cockpits when I visit.

If I were going to Negril from the Airport, I would use Linston, Clive, Patrick, etc. (as I know countless drivers). The last time I went to Negril from the Airport, I had Seastar pick me up. Again, very reasonable and extremely friendly service.

I would not us JUTA to save a buck or two compared to the good drivers I know as an alternative. I guess I just don't get the fuss over the $5.00 beer. Well, maybe it is because I don't drink beer!

Peace and Guidance

[captaind]

You should have used Linston's Taxi.

I think 88 people in a Nissan Sylfy would be cool.

Kinda like the 70s and stuffing a Volkswagen Beetle

[MissBlue]

Not a scam, just standard business dealings the world over - 'you bring me business, you get a percentage'. This is SOP especially in the tourism business, where business is still done on a handshake and deals can always be made. When i worked as a tour guide, if i brought X number of customers to a certain restaurant for dinner, my meal was comped. When my agency booked above a certain number of rooms at a hotel, my stay was comped. If I brought a group of X number of people to a certain club, I'd get a commission on those sales I brought in. An agent who books X number of trip packages, receives their own plane ticket free. A commission or 'finder's fee' is SOP; it's how business is done everywhere.

that being said, yes, this does sometimes result in ridiculous prices at some establishments who still think in a "penny wise, pound foolish" manner. And even if not 'completely outrageous' markups, these kinds of places will still typically charge higher prices than normal, no matter what.

but in any case, this is just the nature of the beast in tourism. Anytime you're taken to a 'convenience' shopping spot on the bus route, it's gonna be high prices - of COURSE shop owners know that nuff ppl fresh off the plane will pay that convenience price to have that Red Stripe right now! Those not willing to pay the prices they charge - well... then don't buy anything. It's not like that's the ONLY choice; a few more minutes and you have your choice of regular roadside shops in Negril to choose from. So i dunno, it's just not that big of a deal imho. When we make our pitstop, i just don't buy at the bus-route shops.

and yes, this is standard for Juta; this is not "one driver" who is perpetrating some kind of "illegal" or scammish operation, all the drivers do it, and no doubt they each have their favorite shops with whom they make deals. Over the past 20 years, every Juta bus i have ever taken, does indeed stop along the way at a regularly designated spot. (just like in Mexico, the potty pitstops on the bus route were always at those crappy, overpriced 'souvenir' outlets ... that's how it's done everywhere.)

And yes, of course it's always high prices at those shops; the law of any kind of business deal is 'what the customer will bear', and they know there will always be customers who will bear it. :shrug: this is just SOP.

[kimbbeck]

Don't mind the concept have been stopping various place all the while but don't take me somewhere on top of price gouging they have a rude behavior and poor quality items. I don't but unless I feel the vibe.

[Big Ship Tours]

Next time book with Dudley's Big Ship Tours. Free Redstripe Beer all the way to negril.

[Big Ship Tours]

Dudley's Big Ship Tours and Transportation.
We handle many large wedding groups up 120 people. Such large group on one bus wow every one would get free red stripe beer, rum punch, bottled water Checks all reviews on TripAdvisor also my web site. I practice what i preach Yah Mon. Only stop with us is if you want pit stop.
www.bigshiptours.com

[Melody]

Seems to me they charge $10 a beer outside the airport, in which case, you got a better deal.

[DConkle]

Seriously, $10 a beer!? Wow!

[Face Down]

Not a scam...$5 is cheaper than you would have paid at the airport where in March it was $5.50 and I have read recently it has gone up to $6.25. A bar can charge whatever they want for a beer...it is up to the customer to decide if he wants to pay for it or not. In a roadside bar stop there is generally no competition, so they can charge whatever they want, if you want a beer you pay for it, if you don't...don't. This is one reason we now always hire a private service to Negril, where your driver can take you to a store if you want and your Red Stripes are a fraction of the cost in a bar, just like here in the states. Sorry you thought your were scammed...but you weren't.

[Irie John]

Not a scam...$5 is cheaper than you would have paid at the airport where in March it was $5.50 and I have read recently it has gone up to $6.25. A bar can charge whatever they want for a beer...it is up to the customer to decide if he wants to pay for it or not. In a roadside bar stop there is generally no competition, so they can charge whatever they want, if you want a beer you pay for it, if you don't...don't. This is one reason we now always hire a private service to Negril, where your driver can take you to a store if you want and your Red Stripes are a fraction of the cost in a bar, just like here in the states. Sorry you thought your were scammed...but you weren't.

I purchased 2 beers at the airport that day for $4 each. The going rate at a bar along the old road is Not $5. Most definitely was a scam as the price for the beer was grossly inflated. I've spent over two years in Jamaica and do know the price of a beer at a local bar ( yes, it can vary a little). $5 for a lukewarm Red Stripe is a blatant gouge and should not be tolerated by visitors to the island.