Only on Bonaire are the people like this!!

[DiverVince]

Went in to a local place on island yesterday to buy some outdoor teak furniture. Picked out some nice teak recliners. After the owner helped me put into the car, I went inside to pay using a local debit card. Well the place did not have electricity so my card was useless. I told him I could write a check on a local bank but I certainly didn't have my checkbook on me.

Now here's the amazing part. I had over $500 of merchandise in my car, the owner did not know me nor did he ask for identification. He simply said, well take the furniture and come back tomorrow and give me a check.

Now I ask a simple question..Where or where in the US can an unidentified person walk in, remove over $500 in merchandise and simply walk away on the word of an unidentified stranger???

 

[diverrex]

On two different diving trips, one to Belize and the other to Akumal Mexico the dive operators let us dive all week without having any type of credit card or other deposit, only a room number at an offsite condo. In Akumal we even took all our gear towards the end of the week to dive the cenotes with another dive op, we could have just as easily been leaving the country. It was sort of a pleasure in both instances to complete a week's diving then finally go up to the counter to discuss payment for the first time. Heck in Belize without me even asking he said he'd take 10% off the published daily rate since we did a week.

 

[pdive]

Went in to a local place on island yesterday to buy some outdoor teak furniture. Picked out some nice teak recliners. After the owner helped me put into the car, I went inside to pay using a local debit card. Well the place did not have electricity so my card was useless. I told him I could write a check on a local bank but I certainly didn't have my checkbook on me.

Now here's the amazing part. I had over $500 of merchandise in my car, the owner did not know me nor did he ask for identification. He simply said, well take the furniture and come back tomorrow and give me a check.

Now I ask a simple question..Where or where in the US can an unidentified person walk in, remove over $500 in merchandise and simply walk away on the word of an unidentified stranger???

He probably figure that on a 100 sq mile island he'd find you eventually. Its not like tourist come to Bonaire to by furinture. You'd better pay up or he'll send the Crowbar Mafia after you!

 

[D_B]

It's nice, and kinda humbling, to have trust given to you by only your word

 

[BeadDent]

My first day on Bonnaire. The people have been great! Glad to hear there is still some trust out there. by the way Bari reef was awesome!!!!!

 

[Tom Smedley]

And it still is I bet - Have fun on your trip!

Bari reef was awesome!!!!!

 

[DiverVince]

Bead Dent: to a fellow north new jersyite..you're gonna love it!! The ocean as of late has been like a big lake..The viz is great!

 

[Mike]

I went into a Chipolte's for lunch, got the to counter and discovered no wallet. Counter person gave me my lunch for free.

On two different diving trips, one to Belize and the other to Akumal Mexico the dive operators let us dive all week without having any type of credit card or other deposit, only a room number at an offsite condo.

Did the same thing on Roatan last year with Mayan Divers.

 

[lulubelle]

It's nice, and kinda humbling, to have trust given to you by only your word

Yes it is. It happens alot here in the South. Not too long ago I managed to get to the airport with no wallet. You can actually fly without an ID although trust me you don't want to. So I get to my gate and am on the phone trying to reach a colleague in Boston as I have no idea how I am going to get from the airport to the hotel. A stranger hands me 100 dollars and his business card.

I think I'd like Bonaire culture.

 

[pilot fish]

Cute story but I think you are leaving out some essentials. Did you show him ANY form of ID? Did you have ANY conversaton where you mentioned where you were staying ,your name and that you owned a condo on Bonaire? Did he see your car and get the license plate number? Keep in mind how small that island is and how difficult it would be for you to get off that island without paying him? Just smart business.

Went in to a local place on island yesterday to buy some outdoor teak furniture. Picked out some nice teak recliners. After the owner helped me put into the car, I went inside to pay using a local debit card. Well the place did not have electricity so my card was useless. I told him I could write a check on a local bank but I certainly didn't have my checkbook on me.

Now here's the amazing part. I had over $500 of merchandise in my car, the owner did not know me nor did he ask for identification. He simply said, well take the furniture and come back tomorrow and give me a check.

Now I ask a simple question..Where or where in the US can an unidentified person walk in, remove over $500 in merchandise and simply walk away on the word of an unidentified stranger???