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Getting around Bonaire: Warning about Budget rental
Bonaire Talk: Getting around Bonaire: Archives: Archives 2007- 2008: Archives - 2007-06-01 to 2008-12-31: Warning about Budget rental
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Chaplain (BonaireTalker - Post #13) on Monday, May 12, 2008 - 9:14 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We rented a truck from Budget rental through our package deal with Golden Reef Inn last week, and they gave us a truck with rotten tires. Of course one of the tires got a flat and they made us pay to get this rotten, bald, cracking, tire fixed!!!! In the USA a tire like this tire would not EVER have been allowed on any vehicle.
So....if at all possible do not rent a vehicle with Budget on Bonaire. If they would rent trucks with tires like that and then stick repair of those tires to a customer, you can imagine what else they might do.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DiveWarm (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Monday, May 12, 2008 - 10:22 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for the heads-up...great information to know. Don't know if our rental is through Budget or not, but we'll make sure to not only check the condition of the body of the truck before we take it out, but also the condition of the tires. If they are bad, bald, or otherwise, we'll make them give us another car.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jan Klos - ( Hamlet Bonaire #10) (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #632) on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 7:02 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I do not think that Budget is the only rental agency that has trucks with bald tires. And remember it is the renters responsibilty to check the vechicle before hand. The last time we got a flat, the charge to fix it was under $10.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cecil (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6399) on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 7:37 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Agree with Jan, I rented from Budget the last two times and had no problems and great trucks. A while back I rented from A/B (I think) the truck was beat but still survived the week with no problems. It really is luck of the draw.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marcus L. Barnes (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1034) on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 8:17 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I normally rent from AB. One trip the package included a truck from Budget. Big Mistake. That thing was junk. The other nine trips I've done to Bonaire I've always used AB and have never ended up with a truck anywhere near as bad as the junker from Budget. I've avoided Budget ever since.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Debbie Babcock (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7190) on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 8:51 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I think it really comes down to who has the newest fleet of trucks in at the time you are renting one from any rental company. Divers are very hard on trucks and the iron hard shores of Bonaire really take a toll on them quickly. Getting a flat tire can most certainly happen even if the tires are not bald, I had rented a truck from one of the above, woke up one morning, tire was flat, they came out and replaced the tire at no charge to me, so they don't "always" charge ya, I can attest to that, and there have been times where I just went and had the tire repaired myself at Lisa Gas when I had a leaker or flat when I rented and payed something like $10. I look at this as no big deal.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Boat Chick************** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5159) on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 10:45 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I've rented from Netty, Budget, and AB. And have to agree with Debbie and others, they all have junkets to rent, because of the harsh conditions on Bonaire, and what divers put those trucks through. I've had problems with trucks from AB and Budget, but it didn't ruin my vacation:-) I find that if you treat gals at the agency with respect and kindness, you can get things fixed no problem.

The tailgait handle on an AB car broke, it took a few days to get a time when I wasn't diving to get to the mechanic to fix it, but that was my choice, I wasn't going to scrap a dive to fix the tailgate...lol...and last time with Budget, the Ac wasn't working, so they told us to go to the repair shop, the guy put freeon in it (no charge to us) and we were on our way.

I guess I'll add balding tires to my checklist next time ;-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lloyd Haskell (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #224) on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 11:34 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I had a terrible truck from Budget , we had 3 flat tires in one week , all were near bald. Rented from Bencho last trip . Truck was a beater and tires were slightly better . After a red-eye I must remind myself to take more time and check tires . I don't mind a beater but bald tires are a safety issue , some safety standards would be nice for the trusting tourist . Ive rented vehicles in the third world with better tires than those i see on Bonaire .

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By A rose by any other name..aka RosAnne (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2355) on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 12:05 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I think Cynde hit the nail on the head here, not fun but nothing to ruin your vacation over. We have rented from Budget the last two years and have had no troubles. The cars were not sparkling new but they were inexpensive and the customer service agent was very nice. We had in the past rented from others and have had minor problems such as a non working gas gauge and a flat. Also, Budget was half the cost of any of the others we used so I can deal with little issues.:-) Always check the vehicle before leaving the rental area.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barbara "CB" Gibson (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1817) on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 11:40 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I'm sorry if anybody else had trouble with a Budget vehicle, but ours was almost brand new and had almost new tires. It was dirt cheap, and the check in and check out was fast and painless. Wish you'd all had our experience.

I did note that the rental agreement stated pretty clearly that the renter was responsible for all tire repairs...I said "Hmmmm.", but it was what it was, and we didn't have any trouble....

(Message edited by barbara_gibson on May 13, 2008)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill Perkins (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #201) on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 1:43 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I must be lucky because I've always had good trucks with Budget and will rent with them for 16 days in December.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill Carrier (BonaireTalker - Post #90) on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 9:59 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I have used Budget in the past, and they have always been good to me. I still recommend them.

What I do with Budget, as well as other rental agencies, if I don't like the condition of the car or tires, I ask for a different rental. Last November I rented through Budget, and when I asked for a different truck, they quickly and cheerfully did make a switch.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By pat murphy (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1517) on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 12:10 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

we've used budget (no problems) island (no problems) and AB (leaking gas tank and headlights wouldn't shut off....but this was with the previous, previous, previous manager), and netty (also no problems) best thing you can do is thoroughly check the vehicle and point out any dings, scratches, bald tires, cracked light lenses, etc. when you are picking up your vehicle. we've had trucks that have so many scratches that the truck diagram on the rental form was a jumble of circles and arrows.

i don't think it's right that anyone should get charged for a new tire just because they are the one unlucky enough to be driving a truck when the tire finally gives up the ghost after dozens of patch jobs.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3076) on Thursday, May 15, 2008 - 8:21 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

But if they rode on a flat tire from Rincon to Kralendijk, that may be a good enough reason to charge for a new tire. There are two sides to every story...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By pat murphy (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1519) on Thursday, May 15, 2008 - 10:46 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

i agree michael.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bev Delarue from the North (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #366) on Friday, May 16, 2008 - 6:27 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

We have rented from AB and have had great trucks. Last time we got a flat tire from driving on a cactus plant (on the shore ) when I went to tell them because I wanted to get a spare he told me I should never change the tire myself it was included in my package for them to come and change it. I think there trks and service has been great after 4 trk rentals

 


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