TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Update on Car Rental Question

Just wanted to update on my original post requesting suggestions on car rentals in November. We did choose to go with Ace/Safari and their price beat anyone else we had checked with. However, the only negative to our experience was the rudeness of the rental agency clerk who processed our rental. I have never experienced anything like it and it really started our trip off on a bad note. Maybe she was just having a bad day but we did nothing to provoke her attitude. We had no problems with the car and no problems during the return so I will have to give them a thumbs up for that. But at the beginning of the trip I was regretting that we hadn't went with a different company because I wasn't looking forward to the return of the car. I received an online survey from the rental company and I did let them know of my experience and they assured me they always strive to provide good customer service and thanked me for my feedback.

Anyone can have a bad day. Hopefully they will take action from your feedback and treat customers with appropriate respect in the future.

the attitude at ace/safari has always been horrible. that is one of the reasons we stopped using them years ago. I guess after all the years, they still haven't learned customer service. that is the reason we have used AAA now for over six years....always great service, and myra and alain are great people!!!

Ed, you keep referring to the previous ownership when you disparage ACE, and for some reason don't care to accept that there are different owners involved today. I believe your issue was with fraudulent business practices on the part of PREVIOUS management. Can't argue with not liking them, but it's totally unfair to today's owners. I don't know why you keep attributing bad motives to the new owners. It's hard enough on the island to make a living as an honorable business, without being unfairly maligned by someone with a bone to pick with someone unrelated to the current business.

And, your issue was not with Ace/Safari, but Ace/Panoramic.

I have no interest in Ace, other than as a happy customer, but I hate seeing a business being unfairly maligned, especially by a repeat offender.

we are now in SXM and have rented from Ace and we have nothing to say so far! We were given a bigger car than we reserved for the same price ! And their prices are very good ! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Cruzer,
ace has aligned with safari for years...if my memory serves me correct, they even were out of the same office space. i may be wrong...but i feel that they have been ''owned'' together for a long time. It is NOT unusual for many brands to be owned by one individual or company. Not saying this is so....but a possiblitly. It is not uncommon in the islands or anywhere else for that matter. Also....different ownership doesn't necessarily mean different staff. ...and it sounds like the STAFF may be the same rude desk staff it was back then!!!!!!

About 5 years ago Ace was aligned with Panoramic and run by a man named Mohammed. Despite a poor reputation I rented from him for several years with no problems. Others had a lot of problems with him. The last year I rented from him he really screwed up and left the Island. Safari was a separate company. Friends of mine rented from Safari.

Rented from Ace for 7-8 years. I would not characterize Ace as friendly, but they have never been rude either. They always seem like business as usual ans a little understaffed at the counter. We have never had a bad experience with the cars. We will continue to rent from Ace.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

You have a lot more patience than I do! Bravo for that. I would have told her where she can put this car and walked over the airport and found a rental company that would have been really happy to have my money with a smile!!! Best way to tell these morons where to go, hit them in the pocket. boycott this company! Drop off and pick up at the airport was key for us, and after YEARS with one company, we loved. We had to change to a company that had service on site. We were greeted with open arms and big smiles and the same with a big THANK YOU. As I said there many rental companies, and we all have "Guy", but no one should start "Sand gravity" with an attitude!! Ma Duo Duo anyone??? LOL!!!