When my wife and I arrived in Cruz Bay on May 4, my wife purchased two noodles [snorkeling personal float devices] at The Snorkel Spot in The Marketplace using a Visa credit card for $18. "The Snorkel Spot" receipt clearly states "Store Credit Only" / "Returns must be within 30 days and are for store credit only." The enclosed quotes indicate exact sentence structure and wording. Taken literally, the 30 days time constraint applies only to the return period, NOT the credit period. After arriving at our rental house near Coral Bay, we discovered several noodles already on the property. Since we no longer needed the newly-purchased noodles from Snorkel Spot, we left them in our jeep and returned them to Snorkel Spot on our next trip into Cruz Bay on May 8. In accordance with the store owner's return policy, a rather unfriendly employee [with an attitude more like what would be expected on St Croix or St Thomas than from the friendly folks on St John], my wife was informed that a refund could not be credited to the Visa charge card used for the purchase, but a store credit would be given. Not exactly ideal because an ethical owner would offer a refund, but fair enough in this situation since store policy is clearly stated on the receipt. Except the store clerk then went on to explain that the store's owner does not actually intend to honor the wording policy stated on the store receipt. Rather, the store owner also puts a time limit on the issued store credit itself even though the policy on the receipt establishes no such time constraint. The store clerk said that it is preferred that the store credit be used immediately when the original merchandise is returned, but that the store owner would "generously" allow a 30-day period for the issued credit to be used. Since most store customers are short-term, one-time tourist visitors, the store owner's verbal policy [not her clearly stated written policy on store receipts] forces customers to buy something [at island-inflated prices that they probably have little use for] or simply allow the store owner to retain the customer's funds without receiving any merchandise. That makes for a nice profit margin for a one-time sale, but hardly ensures a satisfied customer or the likelihood of repeat business. However, since my wife and I make visits to St John [at least] twice yearly and are repeat customers for island businesses, she requested that she be permitted to use the store credit of $18 on our next visit [tentatively planned for December]. My wife was told that the store owner would not allow that, but my wife could talk to the owner herself. We left Cruz Bay [on May 8] without using the store credit, but returned to the store on the morning of May 11 prior to our departure for home later that morning. The Snorkel Spot owner was present, but still declined to honor the $18 credit for a future [December 2016] purchase. She did not seem at all concerned that her failure to honor her own written return policy represents unethical business practice and even can be considered dishonest behavior. Her response to our very civil appeal for fairness was to offer a gratuitous "Have A Good Day" and turn her back and walk away. She had her money and that was all she was concerned about. My wife did go ahead and use the store credit to buy some overpriced souvenir trinkets for a couple of her friends back home, although my preference would have been to contact the bank that issued the Visa credit card and discuss the possibility of blocking reimbursement of funds to the store because of the owner's violation of her own written return policy. But for $18 it would hardly be worth the effort, and writing this review itself is worth $18 to me. This is a factually accurate review without "spin". It is doubtful that my wife and I or any of our friends and family who often visit St John will ever step foot in the Snorkel Spot as long as the current owner still owns the shop. There are too many shops and businesses on the island who treat customers honestly and decently, as opposed to our unpleasant experience with The Snorkel Spot. read more
