Is it just me?

Travel discussion for St. John
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DCphoto
Posts: 403
Joined: Mon Jan 29, 2007 12:43 pm
Location: Washington DC

Is it just me?

Post by DCphoto »

I chimed in on trip advisor and got blasted for saying I like to use Conrad Sutton Car rental. Is it just me that likes to use them. I've always had great jeeps from him, brand new and great service. One thing I like about this board is you can say if you like something or not like something and not get critized for it. People are just friendly on this board and don't attack for having an oppinion. I hope some of them just stay on that board and don't come over here!
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flip-flop
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Location: Northern VA

Post by flip-flop »

1 - its not just you. I am a Conrad devotee. Love Carmen especially and have always found responsiveness, service & the cars top notch.

2 - I avoid all the other boards. None of them have the sense of community that this one does! Here we all realize that people have different perspectives and experiences and that's OK!
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Bandit

Conrad Cars

Post by Bandit »

Just stay on this board.

You can't beat the offerings of Conrad Sutton in my opinion. However, if everyone used them, we wouldn't always get the cars we want and parking in his lot might not always be available and lord knows we need a place to park sometimes. Speak highly of Mr. Sutton as needed but don't come across as "working" for him. That's Carmen's and Mrs. Sutton's job.
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Heather
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Joined: Tue Aug 15, 2006 1:20 pm

Post by Heather »

I agree with Flip Flop. We are always very happy wth the vehicles and the service. And we really look forward to seeing Carmen and family. They're part of what makes St. John so special for us. I can never understand it when I see rude comments about them. I would guess these people have a bad attitude to begin with. Boo to the negativity on the other forums. Everyone here is supportive and helpful with lots of personality.
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DCphoto
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Joined: Mon Jan 29, 2007 12:43 pm
Location: Washington DC

Post by DCphoto »

Very true, should just keep in a secret! I just hate to see his business suffer from all the bad remarks about him. I guess I like the underdogs in this world.
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waterguy
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Location: Green Bay ,WI

Post by waterguy »

I think the other forums that you don't have to be a registared user breed that because people don't have own up who they are.
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RickG
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Location: Coral Bay, St. John

Post by RickG »

I have a secret: If you say "good day" and smile when you go to their lot they treat you great!!!

I've seen Carmen and Mr. Sutton react quite negatively to rudeness and then turn around and give me awesome service.

I looked at renting from Dependable at STT airport for this month's trip. It was a lot more back and forth. One thing that Conrad does is include insurance ($1500 decuctible) in the price of the rental. This makes things much simpler.

Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes - Coral Bay - St. John, VI
mia
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Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 8:01 pm
Location: Western NY

Post by mia »

Fellow Forum Members,

DCphoto did not get blasted, attacked or criticized on "the other" forum. Folks merely had their own opinions and voiced them. I don't understand why she feels that she has the freedom to give her opinion, while others do not.
I consider this forum right here to be "my forum"....sorry DCphoto, I'm here and I'm not leaving :roll:
I even apologized to you on the other forum for having a different opinion:

DCphotog,
I was not saying that you are wrong because you disagree with my opinion....I was merely stating my own. I apologize if it was taken that way; I certainly had no intention of offending or upsetting you. I guess I mistakenly assumed that we are free to voice whatever it is we believe regarding posts on this forum. Rather than going back and forth, I think at this point, it is best if we respectfully agree to disagree....mia :)

I have no personal gripe with Mr. Sutton, but have read much negative feedback from those who do. I simply believe that these folks have the perogative to post their bad experiences if they wish to do so. Similar to discussions here relating to Caribbean Villas and the 5% service fee.

Just my 2 cents.....for what it's worth :)
It takes both the sun and the rain to make a beautiful rainbow. --Unknown
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Bandit

Well....

Post by Bandit »

Well Mia...I suppose one needs to define the word "much" as at least on this particular forum I don't recall one negative post regarding Mr. Suttons business. Surely he isn't tha bomb on one board and the pits on another. I would think that if it is that way, then bias, for whatever reason, is an issue. And for oranges and apples sake, having an (opinion) about who is the best Rental Company is not exactly the same as (fact)5% being tacked on to your lodging expense, but I understand your point.

Now I am sure their are some negative feelings, as no business is perfect, especially one that deals with the general public, and specifically people who have traveled from places like Boston or New York :lol: , who have had to leave in the wee hours of the morning, without their Starbucks, in cramped airplanes, with crying babies and dirty diapers, wearing clogs and black socks, etc. Those guys are difficult to deal with anywhere/anytime. I've seen it...I want it now, it has to be red, it's what I ordered!!!

My dealings with Mr. Sutton and with two other rental companies on St. John, have led me to continue to use his services when needed. I'm sure others are somewhat equal or they wouldn't last in the business.

2matoe...twomotto

We agree 2 disagree.
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2catlimit
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Location: Richmond, VA

Post by 2catlimit »

I hope that this continues to be a place where you don't get blasted for simply having an opinion or sharing what your personal experience has been.
This is a forum, not a fan club. Okay, it's a fan club, too. But still a forum first.
I'm also a continuing Sutton's customer. Always professional. Sometimes friendlier than others, but always good. Nice vehicles. Convenient lot.
Got fussed at by Mrs. Sutton for not using 4WD trying to get out of their lot one evening. (We had just totally forgotten about the 4WD :roll: ) She scolded us and asked if we wanted to buy her some new tires. We apologized and she was really nice after that.

Carmen has been great. We booked our trip for this April with much less notice than we usually do and closer to the end of high season. When we checked with Sutton's, they were booked. I checked around and was having no luck getting any kind of vehicle and we needed two. I checked back with Carmen and told her how much we had enjoyed doing business with them in the past, and asked for her recommendation as to whom else we could try. She sent me to Brenda at Denzil Clyne who got us 2 Jeep Liberties right away (when I told her Carmen sent us). :wink:

When someone has a cool attitude or looks a bit impatient or disapproving, it makes me nervous and self-conscious. My instinctive response is to get to the point, just tell them what I need or am looking for quickly, so as not to bother them or hold them up, take up their time. A bit like the Seinfeld "Soup Nazi" procedure. State your order, step to the side, present your payment. Always extremely politely, though. (Southern girl to a fault.)
I didn't understand why I was still getting the cool reception.
Who would have thought that by making it brief and trying to not be annoying, I was actually seeming rude?

There is also a huge difference between "Good morning", afternoon or evening, and "Hi", "Hello" or "How are you". They are not the same. When you start out with what you think is a friendly "Hi, how are you" you can already be off on the wrong foot.
A smiling "Good afternoon (etc.). How are you today?" is always a good start.
This also sometimes works with the ticket people at the ferry. :)
Sometimes not. :shock:
Kathy Henion
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RickG
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Location: Coral Bay, St. John

Post by RickG »

wishwewerethere wrote:As for Conrad Sutton, our own experience has been EXTREMELY BAD. Thank goodness for AmEx lawyers...
Hard core. It's situations like this that drive me to use credit cards for the big purchases. I hoped it worked okay for you.

Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes - Coral Bay - St. John, VI
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STJ_gal
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Post by STJ_gal »

Generally speaking, I find the posters on Trip Advisor (all of TA - not just the STJ boards) are kind of self-important jerks. I find a lot of their posts begin with "I'm a world traveler..." or "I am used to five star accommodations.." They seem to genrally go nuts about some minute detail, such as giving a hotel a bad reveiw because they requested six extra towels and only got five.

I have used the recs on TA a few times and have been less than thrilled. This board is much better for insider info on St John, and it's friendlier to boot.
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CariBert
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Post by CariBert »

As long as we are discussing car rentals, I have a question. I have no experience renting cars on St. John, so for those who have done it often, are the prices pretty much the same at all rental places? In other words, is Conrad Sutton about the same price as, say, St. John Car Rental for the same type of car?

Is the main reason you choose one over another the service, or the price? We are going to be there in June, and are looking for two cars (for 3 couples). I don’t want to find a dirt cheap place and have the cars fall apart, but I don’t want to pay PREMIUM prices either.

Any opinions on this? I realize that opinions are just what they are. One of the problems with a chat board, or any conversation on a computer is the lack of inflection for stress and/or humor. Lord knows I have gotten in trouble because what I typed was taken the wrong way……however, having said that, I am open to all of your opinions about this subject.

Thanks,

-Bert
The liver is evil, it must be punished!



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