folks choose to complain about travel experiences.

I have to note, from owning a small hair salon, many yrs (18), that when folks are happy, they don't tell friends, when unhappy, they tell everyone, but the owner. (I had the best of the worst staff in town, eventually got rid of all of them, said "There's a front and back door, pick 1"), and worked alone for yrs.

This is so hard on small business.

I know, that the owner, in most cases, if aware will make things right.

Am I so wrong?

No b, your not wrong. People tend to think if all is well, no need to say anything but a nicely stated compliment goes a LONG way! There are a few business' that are not reputable and don't care what happens, but most do. On Bonaire I have come across one or two in the last 23 years I've been visiting that had a total dis-reagrd for it's customers. In general I have received extraordinary service in a sometimes difficult situation. I'm glad I see the glass half full, it sucks the other way around!

I so agree ladies.

What gets me is the first time poster who slams a local business/restaurant and then says, we've been coming to Bonaire for X years and have always loved it or never had a problem. Then let something happen
to tick them off; a rental car, a bad meal, lack of service and suddenly they always find the impetus to log on & post their "I'm gonna get 'em back now" report..

Vince, you have been around long enough to know that BT is a outlet for posting "I HAD A PROBLEM".

Want to be a Mod? The pay is great, and you get free Mylanta.

Jerry..I DO have a great deal of admiration for the work the mods do. But knowing their Sisyphean (& I do think that's the correct word for what you folks do) task of retaining order & civility on this board amongst all the various "personalities" which appear here; there certainly isn't enough Mylanta (or Xanax for that matter) to entice me.

Oh, come on Vince, as Jerry said the pay is great. Plus, you get polo ponies, jets, and all the FREE Mylanta, Xanax, and Valium you want!

don't forget the HKS!!

My favorite recent post of this nature was in the Diving Bonaire section. Miss "I have 5000+ dives" went off on the guys who took over Larry's operation. If you read their answer to her, I bet she was a royal PITA. I tried to answer her nicely, but just couldn't. LOL

b, I learned long ago that most dissatisfied customers will not tell the management. As you say, they tell everyone else. It gave me a different perspective on the customers I had that did complain to me. At least they were telling me so I could correct any problems or mistakes. They were not just finding another business and not letting me know about things that drove them away. They were giving me a chance to make things right and keep them as a customer.

But in the day of the internet, it is much easier for many people to go on line and post things anonymously or at least without having to face someone at that moment.

It is much more productive to give polite constructive criticism and suggestions to the business than to just get on line and blast them. Especially if it is a place that you were happy with in the past. But, there are lots of people out there who don't do things that way.