By WILL BEGIN (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 3:41 pm: |
HELLO TRAVELERS
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By gregg brewer (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #485) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 4:29 pm: |
Will,
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By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3214) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 4:32 pm: |
Will, had you accessed this board prior to your trip to Bonaire? Carole
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By Tom Cousino (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #407) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 5:07 pm: |
Will,
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By Bun Bun (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 5:23 pm: |
I will be in Bonaire in a few months and will definitely do the same thing as everybody said on this board. Leave doors unlocked, windows down and no valuables in the vehicle. I'm wondering if I have to do the same thing everytime/everywhere I park my vehicle or just by the dive sites? Is it safe to park in the hotel parking lot and along the street? I also want to make a solar water and leave it in the back of the truck while I'm diving. Will the thief steal it? Do they also steal foods and drinks that leave in the car?
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By joe brannan (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #310) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 5:39 pm: |
Bun Bun....(intriguing name by the way), the sights that seem to be most often hit are in areas where thieves (i'm thinking kids) can kind of fade in and out of the brush. I've left my car downtown with dive gear locked inside (during the day while eating or shopping) and have never had a problem. I would unload your car at night at your hotel and leave it unlocked, just in case. I doubt that you'd need to worry a great deal about ur solar shower (a two liter bottle full of tapwater left in the sun works great) or food and drink (though a cooler might be taken.....just might). I guess if you're looking for a couple of good rules to follow....don't leave anything in your car you don't want to loose (especially in areas lightly traveled), be aware that there is minor thievery, and don't let this worries ruin your vacation..
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By Marc @ CrystalVisions (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1260) on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 9:15 am: |
Hi Will,
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By Jeff (BonaireTalker - Post #12) on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 11:31 am: |
Marc, your excuse is lame a best,bad advertising ?
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By Marc @ CrystalVisions (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1262) on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 12:17 pm: |
Well Jeff, I fail to see how a sticker that says "DON'T LEAVE ANY VALUABLES INSIDE YOUR CAR" in front of your nose every single second you use your car, could unclear... or lame. We don't put them there because we're sticker-happy.
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By Michelle Mouton (BonaireTalker - Post #85) on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 12:42 pm: |
I hope that anyone going to Bonaire is lucky enough to find this resource. It's unparalleled. There is no better travel guide to anywhere like Bonaire Talk. Saying that, I think if you really look into this board before you go, it is evident that the code for the thieves and the tourists is: Car windows down, unlocked car - means nothing's in there. If fact, so many people did this when we were there and there are so many replica's of the exact same car that we actually got into someone else's car by mistake. Stickers didn't really help us on this - because we weren't paying attention. So, Marc I think you should just tell your clients to read the sticker and follow the instructions - I think of it, actually, as a local custom in crime prevention. Similar to US Neighborhood Watch programs.
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By Jeff (BonaireTalker - Post #13) on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 2:33 pm: |
Marc, does your additional insurance cover broken
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By Marc @ CrystalVisions (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1263) on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 2:59 pm: |
Yes it does Jeff. It has a $0 deductible on theft damage (I hope this is allowed, Jake), but there is a "stupidity clause" : If the police report shows that there were valuables inside the car, the deductible goes back to its normal amount. We also took this measure to prevent possible insurance fraud. There's a difference between good faith and being naive ;-)
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By Jeff (BonaireTalker - Post #14) on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 3:31 pm: |
Marc, thanks for the info I will use A-B in the
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By Cindylou (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #268) on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 4:15 pm: |
Will and all. Attached here is an extract from our 2003 letter to officials on Bonaire. Please note the part about the stolen battery. As suggested by the car rental companies, we leave nothing in the vehicle , leave them unlocked normally with windows down. But that leaves easy access to the engine release and hence our experience. Ah (heavy sigh) ...
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By Glen Reem (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1693) on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 9:54 pm: |
Cindylou,
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By Joe Urso (BonaireTalker - Post #36) on Tuesday, March 2, 2004 - 3:01 pm: |
Bon in the end is no different than any of the other islands.. All on a seeming slow decline in socio/economic conditions that breeds discontent, and hence crime. 100 or more years ago as the West colonized, and in some cases plundered the islands for all sorts of reasons to do with trade, they set in motion a series of reactions that today, has some islands on a continued struggle with independence ( Haiti ) and others still under the West's control for better or worse. The end result is a glaring disparity between the "haves" (Tourists, govts ) and the "have nots" ( the average working resident of the islands )
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By Robert Larson (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Sunday, March 7, 2004 - 12:56 pm: |
Has anyone thought of or used a portable motion sensor alarm? Been thinking of trying it myself.
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By Marc @ CrystalVisions (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1272) on Sunday, March 7, 2004 - 2:19 pm: |
Well, *that* would certainly keep the donkeys away...
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By Leif S (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #222) on Friday, March 12, 2004 - 9:56 pm: |
Whoa, Nelly!, Jeff, I'm shocked and dismayed. "If the police report shows that there were valuables inside the car, the deductible goes back to its normal amount." BOGUS! If there was a break-in and a theft of something from a vehicle, then something worth stealing would virtually always HAVE to have been inside the vehicle. Your alleged "stupidity clause" thus purports to deprive any renter of the VERY benefit (the $0 deductible on "theft damage") that you try to sell as a benefit. If what you're saying is that the zero deductible only applies if the thief breaks into an empty car, well, DUH, "what's the point of breaking in" says any thief who is not simply smokin' crack (which is, fortunately, NOT among the prevalent problems in Bonaire.)
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By Dara Walter (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #587) on Friday, March 12, 2004 - 10:06 pm: |
The thievery is not only aimed at tourists. I can name a number of crimes directed at life-long residents. Victimization of the local folks - car and home theft and vandalism - is common and locals don't get any action from the police either (even when there is a trail of oil leading directly from the site of the theft to the home of the thief).
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By seb schulherr (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1461) on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 1:41 am: |
Actually, I've been given to understand that Bonaire does not have police, the police are controlled from Curacao, and are not responsive to local interests.
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By Michelle Mouton (BonaireTalker - Post #87) on Sunday, March 14, 2004 - 11:55 am: |
After reading this thread, and posting once - I have a question. Why is there not a citizen policing practice in place? I know that there are some business organizations on Bonaire. Kiwanas (sp?) or something??? I'm in Rotary in the states and this topic seems to need local business leader attention. Shouldn't this be an issue for the island if the police really don't follow "oil trailing to the thief's locale"?
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By Marc @ CrystalVisions (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1279) on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 9:37 am: |
Leif, 2 reasons.
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By Leif S (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #223) on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 10:49 am: |
Marc:
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By David Frank (BonaireTalker - Post #43) on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 7:19 pm: |
Well, nothing gets this board going like this issue! My 2 cents: Marc, our first of 8 trips we were explicitly warned by the rental company about this problem. Our last 5 or 6 trips we have rented from AB and no mention made. The warning to leave nothing in the car, leave windows down, etc was appreciated and we have NEVER had a problem or felt unsafe on Bonaire. Warning stickers are everywhere. Have you been in the US lately? My outboard engine has a warning sticker telling me not to swim near the propellor when the engine is running. The window screens in my house have warning stickers telling me not to rely on them to keep children from falling out. We see them a thousand times a day, and other than the passing thought "@!#$*& lawyers" pay no mind. Your business will not suffer if your customers feel you are providing them information that will save them the hassle and cost of replacing valuables or paying for vehicle damage.
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By seb schulherr (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1465) on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 9:29 pm: |
Leif, do you have any notion of the cost of a new tire or window on Bonaire? These rules don't just spring up whole, they evolve as responses to experiences. A new spare with a wheel is about $300 US. I've tried to get an old locked tire off of a minivan, and it's not a fun thing, especially in a swimsuit, and I had a tatmi mat to lie on, thank my wife!
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By Leif S (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #228) on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 11:18 am: |
Seb: Marc runs a business, and thus ought to be expected to maintain an appropriate reserve to cover business risks and payment intervals, just like every other business on the planet.
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By seb schulherr (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1469) on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 12:44 pm: |
Seb: Marc runs a business, and thus ought to be expected to maintain an appropriate reserve to cover business risks and payment intervals, just like every other business on the planet.
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By Marc @ CrystalVisions (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1282) on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 1:23 pm: |
Thanks Seb, you've saved me 15 minutes of my unvaluable time.
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By David Frank (BonaireTalker - Post #45) on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 5:47 pm: |
Marc,
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By David Frank (BonaireTalker - Post #46) on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 5:55 pm: |
Almost enough said. I should say we are repeat and satisfied AB customers, find the staff to be pleasant and helpful, and the trucks to be reliable and in good repair. We have already reserved through Bel-mar for December. I certainly don't intend the above post as anything but a reasoned discussion of this issue.
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By WILL BEGIN (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #8) on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 8:34 pm: |
HELLO MARC AND OTHER SURFERS
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By Michelle Mouton (BonaireTalker - Post #88) on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 9:49 pm: |
Well, that was loud and clear!
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By Linda Richter - NetTech (Moderator - Post #1726) on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 7:57 am: |
Will,
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By Linda Richter - NetTech (Moderator - Post #1729) on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 8:24 am: |
Another moderator pointed out that we were referred to as an Editor. We do not edit/change any posting short of removing profanity and spam. We do not have to do this often. This is a discussion group so that all opinions can be heard in a civilized manner.
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By John P. Wahlig (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #129) on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 2:48 pm: |
Will:
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By Freddie Hughes (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4634) on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 4:01 pm: |
Will, I agree with John STOP YELLING!!!
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By Michelle Mouton (BonaireTalker - Post #89) on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 5:38 pm: |
Note: I have never participated on any other internet board in my life but I do know that it's not nice to use caps. :-)
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By Israel A. Sanchez (BonaireTalker - Post #15) on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 6:04 pm: |
Alright, I can no longer remain quiet. This has gone way out of control! It is very unfortunate that Will had to have his vacation ruined by the experience, but to say that "We were not warned" to justify it is simply naive and irresponsible. Going to a destination without doing a thorough research is inviting trouble. There's a wealth of information available but you have to be proactive to get it and use some common sense. I'm willing to bet that 99 percent of posters in this board are aware of the theft problem and do take steps to avoid becoming another victim. Granted, this does not guarantee that you will not become another statistic, but surely helps reduce those chances. My wife and I went to Bonaire for the very first time in January (we got married there) and were fully aware of all the everyday problems in the island and the steps that should be taken to prevent them way before our departure date. This board was by far, the best source of info. I never posted a question because all the answers were already there. All I had to do was a simple search. Incidentally, I have to get this out of my chest... It really bugs me when people post the same questions over and over. Something like "How's the diving in Bonaire?" or "what restaurants are good" are topics that don't need to be posted over and over since there are a lot of recent posts (the best source being the trip reports) that cover both good and bad aspects of the experience. In my experience, that shows someone who expects to have things handed to them. It takes but a couple of seconds to do a search!!! Whew! I feel better! Anyway, back to the topic. The theft problem has been covered extensively here. I also got info from one of my clients, who incidentally was the one who convinced me to pick Bonaire. He loved his time here, but was very aware of the problem, and in fact, was the first person to recommend to roll the windows down and leave no valuables (all common sense) Please stop passing the blame! It is unfortunate that you went through that most unpleasant experience, but crying that you were not made aware (as opposed to informing yourself prior) is not going to help! The people in this board are well aware of the problems in paradise and addressing them in alarming, loud capital letters is overstating the obvious. This whole conversation reminds me of those frivolous lawsuits against fast food companies by overweight people who claim they got to their sorry state of health because they "did not know" fast food was a nutritional wreck! Start taking responsibility for your actions (or lack of) and keep in mind that whenever you point a finger, three point back at you! Ughh! Coach Izzy
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By Brian (bcj.) (BonaireTalker - Post #42) on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 6:06 pm: |
Michelle: It has nothing to do with this board in particular. It's something you'll find on pretty much any open-membership forum such as this.
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By Brian (bcj.) (BonaireTalker - Post #43) on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 6:10 pm: |
Another lesson learned is that you can't change someone else, especially through e-mail, unless that person is open and willing to be changed. No amount of ASCII characters is going to impress your idea or philosophy upon their way of thinking. This has been my most common observation in exchanges such as this - most arguments...er...heated discussions begin when people are trying to convince someone else that they (the writer) is right and the others (the readers) are wrong.
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By Michelle Mouton (BonaireTalker - Post #90) on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 7:47 pm: |
Thanks Brian -
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