Conrad Sutton Car Rental

don6934 · Post by **don6934** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 11:18 am

Has anyone rented from this agency. Are they reliable. From what I can see this agency allows you to pick a soft top or a hard top jeep wrangler. Other agencies don't provide that option (you get whatever is available).

On the soft top, they let you remove the plastic side panels and open the back of the jeep.

I can't find anyone on Saint John that let's you remove the top.

Thank you.

RickG · Post by **RickG** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 11:22 am

We've rented from Conrad Sutton 10+ times. They are great. Just remember to be polite, or you are likely to get a lesson! "Good Afternoon" and a smile is all it takes.

No one on St. John lets you take the top off the Jeep. Some of the STT agencies do allow this. Just remember that it's going to rain!

Cheers, RickG

don6934 · Post by **don6934** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 11:55 am

Thank you. That's all I needed to hear. Just booked it.

Thanks very much.

cypressgirl · Post by **cypressgirl** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 12:18 pm

"get a lesson" is not the half of it. I did everything but wash his feet with my tears and hair and he was still grumpy. The car was fine, but it took twice as long as it does from STJ Car Rental to get checked out and get on my way. I was worried the entire week that something would put some little scratch on it that I had no control over, and I'd be arrested or something worse. I washed my car with a hose and beach towel and wiped it til it shined, before I took it back. It was perfect. Not hardly a speck of sand anywhere. They acted like they were pissed they couldn't find anything wrong with it.

I know EVERYONE on this forum loves Conrad and his family and I guess it's just my bad luck he was having a foul day (OK....week), but feel I have a right to express my experience. Believe me when I say..........I am a very nice, friendly person to everyone I meet, all the time.......you don't have to tell me to say "goodmorning" I might say, "Hi there, how are you today" to put it in my own words that I am used to using, but I always do it with a smile that is genuine and not some kind of fake attitude that I was told in a guide book to say.

With that being said, I called STJ Car Rental yesterday because after a week, I still had not had the 100. deposit on my credit card show up on line. I just wanted to make sure I had a reservation and it didn't get lost someplace between Texas and STJ. I was told by a rude woman she was too busy to take my call and I could hold or call back. Since I'm calling on my nickel I decided to call back an hour later. She was still busy and asked me to hold a few minutes. 15 min. later she comes back to the phone and asks me my name, dates, etc. and gives me some goofy answer I still don't understand, but evediently I do have a reservation. So I guess no place is perfect. But what I do like about STJ Car Rental is that they don't check the car over very thoroughly at all upon return. In fact, I've been told on more than one occasion to not worry about scratches and dings.........its' just part of driving on STJ. A broken headlight or missing mirror would be a little different story. So my point is, I can drive the car without too much worry, and leave it reasonalbly clean, and not get scolded like a naughty child. I also like being able to park close to the BB. If I'm on the othr side of Cruz Bay, I park at Mongoose.

I guess I'll get flamed for not liking Conrad, but that's just my experience, I'm sure he's had better weeks and is a nice man, most of the time, and I just had a bad experience.

Greenskeeper · Post by **Greenskeeper** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 12:32 pm

We had a great experience. We parked in his lot each evening without problem and Conrad even pulled it up to the curb and made the jeep ready for us on 2 evenings. We left our camera in the Jeep and they were kind enough to help us arrange for it's return. Our rental had squeaky brakes and we were concerned. Our jeep was switched out midweek- at our convenience- just to be on the safe side.

cptnkirk · Post by **cptnkirk** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 12:36 pm

All the comments about Conrad being so picky has scared me away from using him. We love Denzels as they aren't very picky. Last time we had a brand new jeep kinda made me nervous. Pulled in one night to park and had been to Lamsure and had some good mud on the sides asked if I needed to clean it off. The rasta man says no problem Mon we don't worry about that. I like that kind of attitude when renting. He was a little concerned when we returned it about the sand though, we swept it out but must not had been to his satifaction that day. Maybe it was because it was so new, the beat up Grand Viatras were returned no different and they always seemed cool when we returned them.

Pete (Mr. Marcia) · Post by **Pete (Mr. Marcia)** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 12:41 pm

We have had nothing but great experiences with Conrad.

One trip, I backed into a chicken wire fence and it scratched the back of the montero we were renting. I didn't try to "get away with it" when we returned the car. I was honest with Conrad and pointed out the scratches. He liked that and told me not to worry about it.

They are good, honest people who run a good business.

cypressgirl · Post by **cypressgirl** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 1:12 pm

I have always had this feeling in the back of my mind that Conrad is sort of an old fashioned guy and maybe he didn't like the idea of renting to women only. You know, the whole "guys are better drivers" thing. I could be totally off base with that idea, but it has crossed my mind more than once for the reason we were treated like we were not the "type" he trusted his cars to. Heck, maybe we weren't.

But it sure wasn't for lack of being kind and courteous. I wasn't even drinking.........yet.

Agent99 · Post by **Agent99** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 1:28 pm

I mentioned it before but we too have had our best experiences with Conrad Sutton. He hasn't ever been harsh with us either. In fact once while visiting Honeymoon Beach DH forgot that he put the keys in his surf trunks pocket then jumped in the water. Sure enough when we returned to the car the automatic door unlock button wouldn't work and we were locked out of the car. We knew it was not going to be an inexpensive mistake because those gizmos are not cheap to replace. We had to call and fess up and offered to pay for the replacement. Conrad drove out to Caneel with a replacement set and told us not to worry about it.

Whenever we have had to go elsewhere because we didn't book early enough, it seems that Murphy's law kicked in.

Twice with two different companies that I won't mention we've had flat tires only to find the spare was flat and neither time was someone readily available to come rescue us. On the same trip a few days earlier we used their in town lot to do a little shopping and have lunch. When we returned to the lot our car was gone because someone associated with the place "borrowed" it to run an errand. We were told that they'd be back soon so not to worry. I swear I was looking for the Candid Camera. They had no other cars for us to take in the meantime. We laugh now....in fact we probably laughed then ....I think we walked over to Margarita Phil's for a bucket of margaritas...but when you are paying the prices these places charge you ought to be given a safe vehicle and have exclusive use of it. They make for fun stories though!

flip-flop · Post by **flip-flop** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 7:44 pm

Love love love the Suttons. Gladys can be a little slow to warm but Carmen is sweet and very pleasant and efficient and I actually love Conrad. I am always the primary driver for us on STJ unless I imbibe too much and always handle all reservations, pickups, etc and have never gotten any anti-chick vibe from him at all.

Most importantly for me, the cars are always well maintained with good tires. Plus, he's always had or made space for me in my lot anytime I've needed it.

Jo Ann - VA · Post by **Jo Ann - VA** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 8:04 pm

We've always been pleased with Conrad. They can be a little intimidating until you get to know them though.

Pete (Mr. Marcia) · Post by **Pete (Mr. Marcia)** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 10:03 pm

Greeting Mr. Sutton is as much a part of our welcome back to the island as giving Ruth a hug. I can't imagine a trip without either.

He's a warm man, once you get to know him.

don6934 · Post by **don6934** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 9:19 am

Thanks everyone for the input. As a new person to this forum, I just wanted to know if it was a real business.

I emailed them to explain I was going to deline the insurance and they wanted a letter from my insurance company that stated I was insured. I'm faxing that to him now. I'll let you know what he says. Never had to do this before.

jimg20 · Post by **jimg20** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 12:38 pm

Although I've never rented from Sutton, I might this time.

On insurance, I called State Farm before last year's trip to ask about coverage. Our policy does not cover us in the USVI.

When you get that letter, be sure you tell them where you are going.

JIM

don6934 · Post by **don6934** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 12:56 pm

Thanks JIMG20. We're covered, the letter spells it out. I sent you a PM.

usvi-on-line