?Sheppys?

[Gary F]

Having readall of the forums on car hire I narrowed my chioce (for 2 wks this summer) down to Sheppy, Thrifty or Shermans. Having looked at their websites it seemed Sheppys was the way to go.
However, I've now emailed him twice - last week and again this week - about a booking but I've heard nothing back.
I know how highly Steve and the other forum users rate him but its not a good sign that I can't get a response - unless of course someone out there knows why? Problems with emails perhaps?
Or should I expect to wait, that being the Tobago way?
Just a bit worried if the car breaks down is the wait to get it sorted the Tobago way too!
Any info or advice that any one can provide will be gratefully received.

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Gary

Welcome aboard!

Good question. I'm going to email him and find out. In the meantime, you might be advised to place your booking through Yes Tourism who normally deal with all matters within hours. They're also located just a couple of hundred metres from Sheppy's compound, so they can easily find out what the problem is.

Car breakdowns in Tobago can be a problem. You might want to read our articles on the entire subject - it can be a nightmare. Of course it depends upon where you are when the breakdown occurs. If you're up in the rain forest, expect a LONG delay. But, of course, that's one of the reasons to stick to the reliable agencies - and particularly for using Yes Tourism. It those levels of service that make the difference.

Talking of 'service' - here's an interesting and true story for you.

We spent five days at the Toucan Inn during our recent visit. We had a car from Sheppy. I came out of the hotel one morning and couldn't find our car. It was a white Sunny, covered in mud because we'd been up-country in all the rains for a few days, and then plastered with red blossom that had fallen from the Brazilian Shade tree outside the Toucan Inn and, with the morning dew, baked onto the vehicle.

Anway, the vehicle wasn't there. But there was another shiny white Sunny. I looked inside and there was my Panama hat on the back seat and a couple of other bits and bobs. My key fitted and it WAS our car. Mystery.

I called Sheppy. He said he had driven past long before breakfast, seen the car (he didn't even know we were staying there and thought we were still up in Castara) and noticed that one of my tyres was very low. He suspected a puncture, so collected the car, whipped it back to the yard for a tire change and gave it a full interior and exterior clean while he was at it.

That's why Sheppy is our preferred car rental firm on Tobago.

[Gary F]

Many thanks Steve - I'll drop Yes Tourism a line.

Sounds like different service from some other hire companies - Europcar once gave me a car which they'd explained at great length it was a diesel and I must not put petrol in it. Caused some confusion at the next petrol station when the nozzle wouldn't fit because it actually ran on unleaded petrol!

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Gary

I just got a reply back from Sheppy. Yes, he got your email yesterday, but not the first one. He's in the process of replying back to you and apologises for the delay.

[Wendell Grosvenor]

I emailed Sheppy's about a week ago to hire a car, and chuckled when I wrote the email - will I ever get a reply? You see I've known Sheppy for a couple of years and believed he was a phoneman more than an email man - so was prepared to phone him. Anyway I phoned him, complained bitterly (jovailly ribbed him) about his email system and proceeded to do a very good deal with him. He is so easy to do business with (but probably not by email.) His land line is (868) 639 1543 Fax (868) 635 1213 Mobile: 680 8931.

[Steve Wooler]

You are perfectly right, Wendell, but fortunately Sheppy now has two assistants in his office - Rita and Shelley - who hopefully whip him into shape.

Having said that, you can't beat the phone. Phoning doesn't need to cost the earth. In fact you can telephone Tobago from the UK for just 7p a minute using the excellent TeleDiscount system (see our Telephone article in Miscellaneous/Practicalities).

[Wendell Grosvenor]

Hi Steve,
Thanks for the update of Sheppy's office sitution. We plan to be in Tobago in May so who knows we might get introduced to the lovely Rita & Shelley and lay the foundations for some more good business. We'll let you know how we get on. Wendell

[Jane H]

Hi all,

We called Sheppy by phone when we arrived on Tobago to hire a car. We got excellent service from the receptionist, and then Sheppy himself who rang us back.

Our Suzuki Jimny (Yes Steve - we hired a soft top and really enjoyed having it and driving it - and it coped really well with the worst roads that Tobago could throw at it!!!) arrived on time, delivered to the hotel in tip-top condition and with the best tyres we've ever seen on a hire car - and they included 2 drivers on the rental agreement at no extra cost. Not only that, but everything else worked too - windscreen wipers, screen washers, lights (OK we've had some really dodgy hire cars elsewhere.)

We wouldn't hesitate to recommend Sheppy's as a really good, efficient cost effective car hire service.

Jane (and Hugo)
Anyway - we wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.