Hi
I am trying to email you a complaint about your Ocho Rios Jamaica Margaritaville. I may have sent two other emails so I am sorry if this is a repeat. I am trying my best.
First of all I went to your Ocho Rios Jamaica Margaritaville this last week on the day of February 11, with twenty of my travel companions and we had a wonderful time eating lunch and drinking Margaritas, singing and dancing with the music. Two days later on the night of Feb. 13th, I went back to Margaritaville in Ocho Rios with ten other friends from my group because of the great time we had there two days before. I ordered a Margarita on the rocks salted, my favorite. I got a Margarita with no tequila. I paid for it and tipped him and the next drink I hoped that because I tipped him he would bring me a Margarita with the tequila. The bartender brought me my drink for the second time with no tequila. I paid for my drink $7.75 for the second time with a dollar tip for the second time. Now I didn’t want anymore so I didn’t order another drink. When I was just about finished with my third drink he brought me another Margarita again with no tequila. I didn’t order the drink but took it again and paid for the third time $7.75. I paid a total of $23.75 for drinks that had no alcohol. Also the change from the drinks was on the bar (Jamaican money) and he took the change without asking (it was under and around my purse) as a tip for himself. The money totalled $1.50 in Jamaican money.

Now I bet your asking why I didn’t complain. Well I know I should have but I felt very uncomfortable and scared. I was not the only one who felt this way. My travel companions, men and women all between the ages of 45 and 55 all felt the same way. There was alot of security out side the restaurant in the mall area but nothing inside that we could see. This night there were very few tourists and alot of locals who were not very friendly. We were stuck at the restaurant because our ride back to the Riu (our resort) was not due back, we had to wait for him.
I did not complain to the bartender because I was scared of him and I was scared of all the other employees and what my complaint might start and trouble that might ensue. I know that there were other people who were not happy with their drinks either and for the same reason (fear) did not complain.
Also the music entertainment was for a short time Jimmy Buffet music turned way down low so that we could barely hear it. They did have a DJ that played next and the music he played was terrible. We did ask if he could speed it up a bit and he did not. He played for the bartenders because they knew all the songs, Celine Dion and other crap that you would hardly think would be at Margaritaville.
I have been to the Las Vegas Margaritaville several times with friends and family and also the Key West Margaritaville and also Cheeseburger in Paradise in the Chicago area. My friends and family love going because of the great drinks and the wonderful Buffet music of which we are all big fans.

This visit was a major disappointment because the drinks were not what we ordered, no alcohol, we were too afraid to say anything. There were hookers there. I know for sure because one of them offered her services to one of my travel companions. Also the trademark Buffet music was not even played for us.
I am a Chicago girl and I am not afraid of much and never afraid to complain at restaurants and bars. I have traveled to Canada and Mexico and all over the United States and never have I felt that uncomfortable in an establishment. We were told not to go out in towns in Jamaica but because it was a Margaritaville we felt that we would be safe. Yes we did get back to the hotel in one piece but this was the first time I ever felt I was not safe in a Margaritaville.

I just felt that you should know. I love your restaurant and will never turn down an opportunity to visit any of them but never again in Jamaica. I think that perhaps you should take a look at what I happening there. I wouldh’t want anything to hurt the good name of your restaurant/bar.
Thanks a loving fan of Jimmy Buffett.
Kathie Johnson
1509 Cherrywood Lane
New Lenox, IL 60451
815-485-5911

If you haven’t already, I would be sure to send an e-mail to Margaritaville at info@margaritaville.com

Please sign me up for Buffettworld at my email address richardflanders@msn.com. Oh, please tell Jimmy to come to Colorado this year.

Thanks,

Richard

I just received an email from Ian from the Margaritaville in Cozumel who denies they have a gift shop when is says right on the Margarita Cozumel website that they have store and sell Margaritaville merchandise and i emailed them thru the website!! This company will do anything for a buck!!! I thought i read somewhere that they are expanding….if this is the case, why would they do that when its obvious from the previous posts here they can’t manage the locations they have open. They apparently have thugs managing these facilities. I am teling everyone i know what a rip off Margaritaville is…..in more ways than one.

Does anyone know who or how to contact the Margaritaville store buyers?

I have played at the Margaritaville in Myrtle Beach since its opening back in 2004. I worked many dates there and was considered “a favorite” according to then manager, Michael Whitmer. I was one of the performers who was always happy to fill in even with last minute notice and never complained about cancellations or the fact that the outside venues were not necessarily “weather-proof” which I don’t have to tell you isn’t condusive to keeping electrical equipment in top working condition. I didn’t even complain, when at last minute, 21 of my gigs this past year were canceled to make way for a dj they wished to put in place of not only my bookings, but others who were bumped out of Tuesday, Friday and/or Saturday nights. I was told that I would be compensated for the dates that fell within the 30-day written notice of these cancellations. When I heard this, I called the new manager, Chad, and asked if I had done something wrong and punitive action was being taken. He assured me that this was not the case and that I would be one of the first to receive consideration for the following year. About a month later, he informed me, via e-mail..no phone call, that there would be no compensation for any of the lost dates. Still, I did not complain. I had one date left and when that date came, it was the same day a hurricane was heading our way. I called on the day of the gig and the woman I spoke with informed me that the patio would be open until 9pm. My performance was to be from 4:30 until 8:30 so I left my home in Wilmington, NC, in spite of the fact that I had not finished hurricane prep, and headed the 77 miles for Myrtle Beach. When I arrived, I saw that the patio had not been set up and when I went inside, was informed by the manager Chad that the patio was not opening that day. I told Chad that I had just driven down from Wilmington and he pulled me aside and said to me, “I don’t know if it’s your intention to make me look bad in front of my employees, but I think we both assumed, and when you assume, you make an ass of you and me (really, he said this) but I’m sure you understand that these things happen. I said nothing but he could tell that I was displeased. How many times I thought to myself would I have to turn the other cheek? To make a long story short, I have not received any dates for 2009, nor a phone call from Chad as promised and after having spoken with other managers there, been told that it was because of my conversation with Chad on that last day there. I don’t think it was too much to ask to get a phone call before hand and yes, things slip through the cracks, but Chad treated me with such disrespect on that day that I had to speak out about it. I’ve always enjoyed playing there and made many friends as a result. If I was not doing a good job, so be it…but if it is because of my last encounter with Chad on that day, I think there is something seriously wrong with the way this was handled. If there is any question regarding my work ethic or loyalty to Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, I ask that you contact Mike Whitmer in the Pompano Beach Margaritaville.

Thank you for letting me share this experience with you.

Hi
Just reading my comments of last year. Can you do me a favor and take my address and phone number off. Thanks Kathie Johnson

I haven’t been to many margaritaville restraunts, just the ones in New Orleans & Orlando. I’ve had a great time in each of the locations,which brings me to the purpose of this e-mail. Margaritaville would be perfect for The Market Square here in San Antonio,Texas. they already have t-shirts that say “welcome to margaritaville,Tx. I asume because the margarita is the unofficial coctail of San Antonio & there is the ever popular cerveza of your choice. It’s a match that can’t lose. Think IT over

Hey Jimmy : What happend to the Great Manager at your Key West location named Lou.Word around the campfire is he got shoved out of his job by corporate and replaced by a Manager that likes to diddle the staff.
AFTER that guy got fired corporate brought in a pretty face without half the experience or people skills as Lou. Do Key West a favor bring Lou back and pay him what he desrves. For future reference- if you keep screwing over the locals down here we’ll protest your parrothead convention.

I attended the concert in charlottesville, VA in November, 2209. The show was awesome of course, and I had great seats!!! However, I bought a souvenir t-shirt afterwards and got home to realize that it said “Tour 08″ The Year of Still Here. It does not even have a location listed in Virginia. I am very disappointed. I do suppose I should have read the shirt closely but I bought it because of it’s design, not thinking it would have said 2008 on it.

We visited Margarita Ville at the airport in Cancun Nov.30 2009 and we were severely overcharged. Because we signed the receipt which was not an itemized receipt, which we should have scrutinized at the time of purchase( gee we were on our way to catch our plane ) we are responsible for the outrageous charge. We purchased 2 chicken wraps, 1 cheeseburger, to Margaritas and on chardonnay and they charged our account $179.70!!!!

We just returned from the Margaritaville in Montego Bay. The single worst dining experience of my life, I have been to this location several times and it WAS fantastic. This time however was much different, the people were rude and acutually would not let us order what we want. I know as rediculous as that sounds they absolutely would not let us order what we wanted the drinks came out well after the food. The food was sub par at best and it took over an hour just to check and get out of there. I have given you the sugar coated version. I have never written a negative review in my life but I can tell you that you should avoid the Margaritaville in Jamacia it was a very unfriendly and even bordering on a scary place. We were treated like dirt and paid a very large amount of money to be treated that way. I am a huge Jimmy Buffet fan and will continue to be but I will no longer be going to Margaritaville.It was very sad to see how far the establishment has fallen.

Just visitied the Margaritaville in Negril and it was terrible..
I had the buffalo chicken wings and they were so
salty that you couldn’t eat them. The waitstaff did mention
that they were salty and spicey before I ordered it, but I figured
how bad could they be I have had them many times before.
She also mentioned that many people complain about them and
they had changed the spice ingredients a few weeks ago and
that they have told management there but nobody listens.

Jimmy Buffett has great music but his restaurants that he
lends his name to are going down fast.

I love my job at Margaritaville Vegas…….. at least I used to. Now I love that I am part of Union that will protect me from Corporate America’s take over. I knew once they put us all in the same uniform more was to come. I have worked for Margaritaville for almost 7 years. I still have camp shirts from 2004. We used to wear any camp shirt we wanted. It was a way of displaying not only our personality but also the laid back atmosphere we have. Not anymore!! We all run around in the same ugly blue shirts that are falling apart after a couple months so the big corporation can save a buck. They don’t even sell these shirts in the retail store. What’s the matter? They are good enough for us to wear but not the customers. The previous general manager quit recently and now we have a guy from Pheonix thats buddy buddy with the big dogs at coporate. He is already rubbing a few people the wrong way. Talking to your employees about pay cuts isn’t going to win you any popularity contests.Grabbing a server when they walk away from a confrontation isn’t exactly kosher. I was told I better watch my language or I could lose my job. We need to be more “PG” at work. Do they realize we are in Vegas? There are people standing right outside the restaurant handing out cards with naked hookers on them. Where do you think these cards end up? Thats right…… at my table with a bunch of guys out here for a bachelor party. “PG” ….watch your language but make sure you upsell that Margarita to the 45ozer for 30 bucks a pop. What do you mean there are people having sex in the bathroom! You have someone puking under the table!! there is a man pissing in the hallway!! A homeless man is soliciting tables!! People are throwing bottles from the the third floor!!! yeah…. and I need to watch my language. HEY ALL YOU PARROTHEADS!! Your club t-shirts are no longer welcome at the Vegas restaurant. Our new Director came in last week and had them all taken down and thrown away. Yeah……. the shirts that we have all walked past for years. The shirts that have all your signatures and your little piece of history in Vegas. I can’t tell you how many times I have waited on a Parrothead that walked me over to the wall to show me thier club t-shirt and point out thier signature. Don’t worry…… we are all Parrotheads here too. One of the servers rescued your shirts from the dumpster. I really hope this message reaches Jimmy. He needs to know the people that work for him are destroying the Margaritaville spirit. They say we don’t have Margaritaville spirit in Vegas. Well I have been at Margaritaville Vegas since they opened as most of the staff have. We are not just employees. We are all Parrotheads and we see more Parrotheads here than any other Margaritaville. Please don’t make Margaritaville another Corporate Cookie Cutter. That isn’t what Jimmy had in mind.

Vegas

Went to Job Fare at Navy Pier located in Chicago,IL.With all due respect u r not an Equal Opportunity Employment Company . I went with the excitment and hopes of a job opptunity. Unfortunately much to my surprise I did not meet the “step server”requirement,nor have the experience of working in resturant establishments such as CHEESECAKE FACTORY,RAIN FOREST CAFE other like establishments.If only u would have posted need not apply without those credits on ur application my time and that  of ur “interviewers”and my hard earned $24.00 paid for parking would not have been s and wasted.

Went to Margaritaville New Orleans on 4th of July. I am gluten intolerant. The restaurant was out of both the gluten free buns and the gluten free chips. Does Buffett want to have a gluten free menu or not?
                                                                                        Bruce in New Orleans

im an ex employee of the key west cafe and i agree with u one hundred percent keep posting your comments and call corporate also……