- Report: #1316382
Complaint Review: Phantom Fishing Fleet - Cabo San Lucas Other
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Author Not Confirmed
Why?
Phantom Fishing Fleet
Dock E Cabo San Lucas, 23450 Other, Mexico
Phone:
52)1 624 136 4658
Web:
http://www.phantomfishingcabo.com/#_=_
Categories:
Business Rating:
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Phantom Fishing Fleet Phantom 3, Cabo San Lucas Ripped off, Scammed. Unsafe boats that broke down. Cabo San Lucas Other
My Fiancée and I chartered the Phantom for a half day (11:00am-3:00pm) to target Marlin the last day of our Cabo trip. I was disappointed as soon as I stepped on the boat. The boat was not in good shape, but I thought- Hey, maybe these guys can put us on some fish. On the way out the boat had to stop for Ice, then to get bait, then to check our fishing licenses (this didn’t happen on the other 3 boats we fished that week) before we left the marina. They said bait was included in the price, but they only picked up 3 blue runners. Then asked if I wanted to pay for more.
The boat was loud and the engine smoked the entire way out. We wanted to sit in the back and get sun, but we didn’t want to breath in any fumes. We stopped, they baited 2 lines and threw them off the back, but they decided not to troll for Marlin. This is like throwing a dart, expecting fish to show up in that specific spot. I figured a junk fish would find the bait before any Marlin would, and sure enough, within 5 mins a small bull shark was on the line. Not wanting to waste anyone’s time, I said I am fine cutting the line and getting back to targeting a Marlin or Dorado, but they insisted I reel the shark in. They began backing the boat up to help us retrieve line and as we were backing up the boat, the engine gave out (big surprise). The captain and first mate starting pulling up floor covers and panels trying to fix the engine, this happened at 11:30am. Meanwhile, we drifted and I continued to reel in the silly shark for the next 20 mins. Neither captain or mate are paying attention, still busy fixing the engine, so when I get to the leader on the shark I break off the line.
Around 12:00pm they throw in the towel and tell us they can’t fix the engine. They tell me they will request another boat to pick us up. I notice they are calling someone on their cell phones and speaking in Spanish, but neither one has once used the radio to signal for help. They tell me it “won’t be long at all”. Seeing as how I could see the arch I knew we were at worst 30 mins out, but we were in 1000 feet of water unable to anchor and we began to drift………
And drift……. And drift……. And drift……. And drift…….
At 2:00pm, after drifting for 2 hours… I asked, was the boat on the way?
“won’t be long at all” and more calls on the cell phones speaking in Spanish.
Another hour and a half passes, it’s 3:30pm now and I notice the mountains are very faint, we have drifted for miles now. I ask where the boat is, “it’s on the way” – I know we are being lied to at this point because the first mate ties a Marlin flag on a fishing pole and tries to wave down a passing boat from the bow. Now I am getting worried that no one is coming, we are drifting out of cell phone range and our radio doesn’t work. We continue to drift for another hour until 4:15pm when the boat finally shows up… Over 4 hours after we were told a boat was coming!!!
At this point we knew we missed our afternoon snorkeling excursion we had prepaid for, we hadn’t brought lunch/were starving, and upon boarding the second boat they started to set up to fish. We told them “STOP, please take us in immediately”, but instead of powering in, they idled the whole way back to conserve fuel costing us another 2 hours on the ride back in.
We set foot back on the dock at 6:15pm after leaving at 11:00am. I expected an insincere apology and our money returned at the VERY LEAST for wasting our entire last day in town/costing us money. Instead, no apologies, no refund and for showing my displeasure I was told by the owners brother “S*it Happens”. The greasy brother was also nice enough to tell us this boat breaks down every time they take it out, then he laughed about it.
When I demanded a refund the owner told me he could only give me back less than half of what I paid, because of his expenses for “fuel and bait”. I expressed this was a terrible way to treat customers the little brother got in my face and told me “THIS IS MEXICO!”, Like I should’ve known that businesses in Mexico aren’t run with class and integrity. Then he lost his mind and burst into a tirade of expletives, racial epitaphs, and homophobic slurs right in front of my fiancée. These people were just so terribly rude. We weren’t even angry after we left, we were utterly disgusted at the experience.
I took the time to detail this so it doesn’t ruin your trip too. These are some of the scummiest people you will encounter in life, let alone Cabo San Lucas. The Phantom boats are unsafe, the fishing gear is junk (old, faded/rusted), and the people running it have their best interests at heart- not yours.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Facts Never Lie
#2Author of original report
Wed, July 20, 2016
Im sorry you think the review is "unfair and fraudelent". I would use those same words to describe the way you conduct business... I think its unfair to pay for something you dont receive, and I think it fraudulent to keep someones money if you cannot deliver.
I guess you dont let the truth get in the way of the excuses you are making after the fact. Let me refresh your memory:
1) There was never a discussion about what the best time of day to fish was (nor would we have cared, we are upset that your BOAT BROKE DOWN and we didnt get an opportunity to fish) we only met you after the incident so technically you were never even there.
2) Bait was included in the price we paid. What I didnt realize is that only meant I got 3 blue runners unless I wanted to pay for more. It cost us another stop on our way out of the marina to pick them up.
3) We PAID for our fishing licenses personally and also had to eat those costs too (since we never got to fish). Attached is a photo of my receipt showing charges for both licenses we paid for (but dont let the truth get in the way of your excuses).
4) There was no "$30 lure" to break off. We got live bait, remember, and the boat was broken/not moving so we couldnt troll lures. We wanted to break off one of those cheap old rusty hooks you had on. The Phantom tackle was old and worn out, there wasnt a lure worth $30 on the entire boat.
5) Its a flat out lie that we were picked up within an hour (again, you werent on the boat so maybe your crew lied to you). We drifted without power for 4 HOURS!!! We were tired and hungry as we were supposed to be back on the dock at 3:00pm, and we didnt return until 6:15pm.
6) You refunded me $180 in cash. You said you had "expenses to cover for bait,fuel, and repairs". Im sorry but repairs should never fall on the customer.
7) Those are flat out lies from you about what I said... Your brother was overly aggressive and got in my face. I asked him to step back and he flew into a tirade of homophobic obcenities. I should point out we had not dealt with him in any fashion up until that poiint, he was not on the boat all day, he was dressed like a slob wandering around the dock, and we had never seen him before so we didnt even acknowledge him being a part of Phantom fishing until you mentioned who he was.
8) Boats break down - YES. But not as frequently as the last several times that boat has gone out as your first mate told us. If you knew the boat had issues you shouldve fixed them and not sent people out.
I shook your hand because Im a reasonable person. A reasonable person entitled to expressing his displeasure. Im surprised by all the lies and if I have to I can post the pictures of the broken down boat, smoking, and your first mate waving a flag on a fishing pole trying to wave down a passing boat (because your radio was broken) as we drifted along.
I will not remove what is a very accurate account of what happened because if it prevents even one person from getting on one of the unsafe Phantom boats it has been worth the trouble. You should consider taking care of your customers in the future, we fish in Cabo frequently as do the people who use our condo. I couldve used you again in the future had you been more accomodating.
Report Attachments
Luis G
Cabo San Lucas,Mexico
This is what REALLY happened...
#3REBUTTAL Owner of company
Wed, July 20, 2016
Your review of our business and your experience is unfair and fraudelent. Allow us to address the following: You were told that afternoon fishing is not the best time, bait in the afternoon is scarce and often half dead. You didn't pay for bait and refused to pay for licenses as it was "the afternoon, I shouldn't need to pay for a license"... you wanted us to break the law by not having fishing licenses for you. Deisle engines do tend to smoke especially when they are just getting warmed up. Yes our boat broke down, that can happen with boats, but we had you transferred into another boat within an hour and you shose to continue fishing. The timeline you give is completely false. We never want to break-off a $30 lure and leave it in a fish. Fishing strategies vary... etc.
Though, the main issue we would like to address is that once back on the dock. We apologized and refunded you $200 (which you for some reason lied about). You were aggressive and confrontational, literally coming withing a few inches of my face, and after you called me and my brother "Mexican dumbasses", "Stupid" and "F*cking Mexicans", etc... at that point my brother was extremely offended and wanted you off the dock, reminding you that "This is Mexico" and you should have some respect for the locals of the country you are visiting. Then, when you finally left, you shook my hand and thanked me.
Your review is a false account of what happened and we hope that it is removed from this site.
