By John Chaplain (BonaireTalker - Post #13) on Monday, May 12, 2008 - 9:14 pm: |
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.
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By DiveWarm (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Monday, May 12, 2008 - 10:22 pm: |
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.
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By Jan Klos - ( Hamlet Bonaire #10) (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #632) on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 7:02 am: |
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.
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By Cecil (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6399) on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 7:37 am: |
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.
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By Marcus L. Barnes (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1034) on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 8:17 am: |
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.
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By Debbie Babcock (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7190) on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 8:51 am: |
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.
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By Boat Chick************** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5159) on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 10:45 am: |
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.
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By Lloyd Haskell (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #224) on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 11:34 am: |
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 .
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By A rose by any other name..aka RosAnne (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2355) on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 12:05 pm: |
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.
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By Barbara "CB" Gibson (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1817) on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 11:40 pm: |
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.
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By Bill Perkins (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #201) on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 1:43 am: |
I must be lucky because I've always had good trucks with Budget and will rent with them for 16 days in December.
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By Bill Carrier (BonaireTalker - Post #90) on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 9:59 am: |
I have used Budget in the past, and they have always been good to me. I still recommend them.
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By pat murphy (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1517) on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 12:10 pm: |
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.
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By michael gaynor (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3076) on Thursday, May 15, 2008 - 8:21 am: |
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...
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By pat murphy (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1519) on Thursday, May 15, 2008 - 10:46 am: |
i agree michael.
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By Bev Delarue from the North (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #366) on Friday, May 16, 2008 - 6:27 am: |
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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