Sandals all across the Caribbean practice strange business practice when it comes to excursions. If a guest wants to book a tour, they go to the tour desk and pay Sandals directly. Sandals then calls the operator and makes a booking. The operator then takes the guests out. Four months later the operator is still asking to be paid from sandals. This happens with all Sandals resorts and is nothing new nor is it unusual. When the operators complain, they are told that if they can't wait then they will no longer be sold at Sandals. The smaller operators like me wait longer. I am owed money no for 9 months and it appears that I will have to sue them for my money. The bigger operators just wait the 4 months. This is no BS. They do similar things with local governments. Here in Antigua after not paying utilities for over two years they threatened to pull out when the govt. said they were going to cut them off. <BR>They are big bullies.

Sorry, but thats your problem but we love those excursions.

After many years of owning my own restaurant in the states, I know exactly what you are talking about. Suppliers are always surprised when I insist on paying the invoice upon delivery. But after seventeen years, I receive the best products delivered by the happiest deliverymen. My heart goes out to you. It's too bad you can't stand outside the resort and inform the guests that you have not yet been paid for November's services. I bet that would make a dent - but I guess you would be off the list then, huh? <BR>If that's what it takes to be successful, I want nothing to do with Sandals!

Heading to Sandals Antigua Feb. 11. Really dont like to hear that about a major corporation not making good with the local operators. What can I do to learn about "non-Sandals" excursions in terms of itinerary, cost, booking, etc?...

If you want to do any of the Sandals tours, then just tell the tour desk that you would like to pay directly as you heard that the tour companies had trouble getting their money from Sandals. I bet you they will know what you are talking about. Not only that because if Sandals call a tour operator and books a guest who pays directly, then the tour operator will still give a commission to Sandals to keep good relations between the tour desk and the operator. The operators never want to screw anyone. We just would like to be paid for taking people out. <BR>

This is exactly why I always pay directly! Oh and by the way I never stay at Sandals.

Truronian its your loss not ours! We wont miss you at Sandals there are plenty of other people there to have fun.

How can you have fun at the expense of other people. Are you totally without conscience?

I am appaled by the two responses that showed a total lack of respect to local vendors/operators. Can you really have a good time knowing that people that work hard taking YOU out to have a good time are having problems getting paid? <BR>How can you even say it's their problem? <BR>How selfish? I wonder how you do in real life when you obvioulsy have regard for anybody else but YOUR good time. How sad.

I totally agree with Ivona. Unfortunately there are those who are only out for #1 and don't care about anyone else as you have seen by the lack of compassion for our fellow man. I have thought about booking at a Sandals as I have never stayed there and they look nice, but they are off my list now. It is a shame that the islands feel they have to have them so bad that they let them bully their way into not paying their way. Especially since they are almost the most expensive place to stay on all of the islands. That is deplorable behavior.

I will be going to Sandals next week (SRC) and was thinking of some kind of excursion. After starting a business from scratch, building it and selling it I fully understand you point. I always paid on time and I ALWAYS had good service from those vendors. If that is the way Sandals does business then over time they will get what is coming to them. Remember, what comes around goes around....

DOES ANYONE REALLY GIVE A SHIT IF THE TOURIST TRAP GUY GETS PAID.

As others have pointed out, many businesses seem to see themselves more as predators than members of the community and mistakenly consider this good business. <BR>And then there are the Glen Smith's whose selfishness and narrowmindednes override their own best interests, yet can't see that. His comment was so outrageous that one has to wonder if he's just trying to provoke posters on these boards. <BR>As a business owner myself, I can say that there are reasons why good businesses embrace ethical business practice and focus on being good citizens. Sandals will eventually reap what it sows. When you put a few disreputable establishments like Sandals on an island it poisons their suppliers' attitudes and, in time, will adversely effect their business. <BR>Sandals is not my kind of resort in the first place, but I will be on the alert for similar schemes.<BR>Thanks for your post, Antiguan! Nice job.

I think in some ways it does matter. Do you go to a resturant if you hear the food or service stinks from someone? Do you have close friends that are not looked upon highly because they are dishonest or treat other people badly? The same applies here. If I am ever to go to Sandals again, then I want to know that they are working with the locals in a good way - not using their power of $$$ to push their way around. What happens if this person had to close their bussiness because he did not get paid on time? What about his famliy? I know for a fact that I paid Sandals upfront before my trip! I only hope someone from Sandals reads this and takes it to heart. If not then watch out, I am coming to one of your resorts next week, and a very large guy who can eat and drink one heck of alot! &lt;LOL&gt;<BR><BR>