Aubrey Bamdad & Dionisio Santos of Qori Inti Amazonian Herbals, LLC failed to arrive at agreed time in prepaid transportation needs, were rude when confronted with failure, and then refused to refund $1000 deposit. NJ, Peru, Costa Rica Spiritual Retreats Internet

Aubrey Bamdad and husband, Dionisio Santos, had been prepaid in cash (money orders) by my friend and myself for a week spiritual retreat which included local transportation in Costa Rica to the retreat location. Aubrey sent hubby to fetch us but he couldn't bother to show up anywhere close to the designated time. I later discovered this man's attitude was "I am the great Dionisio, you will wait for me until it is convenient for me and don't you dare complain." After Dana sat in the hot sun for an hour waiting, we called Aubrey. At this point a normal person would have been apologizing for transportation not arriving as scheduled, but not Aubrey. She first accused us of not being at the right pick up location and then when I aked why our transportation wasn't there she responded, "We had other things to do." Really? You had other things to do than what you had already been paid to do? 

Aubrey & DIonisio's actions indicated they were repeatedly negligent and unprofessional with our prepaid transportation needs: 1.) Last minute change in transportation time and location 2.) Failure to pick us up at agreed time and location 3.) Failure to accept personal responsibility and rude when confronted with failure to pick us up 4.) Transfer of transportation responsibility to us 5.) Transfer of out-of-pocket transportation expense to us 6.) Failure to provide adequate directions 7.) Failure to assume responsibility and arrange taxi transportation 8.) Failure to honor their commitment.

After their perfomance, my friend and I were not longer interested in attending their spiritual retreat. They refunded $1600 on the spot but refused to refund our $1000 nonrefundable (see below) deposit.

I mailed Aubrey a detailed letter on 4/21/2014 requesting a refund of our $1000 deposit. Aubrey has not responded. I emailed Aubrey the following request to refund our deposit on 5/15/2014: "You received correspondence from me on 4/21/2014 detailing the facts of your failure to provide adequate transportation services for Dana and myself on March 14, 2014 as agreed upon in your retreat contract. It is my understanding that the purpose of a non-refundable deposit is to protect the seller of services from the buyer cancelling after arrangements have been made in advance of said services. The purpose of this deposit is not to permit the seller to rudely not honor their written commitment, exasperate the buyers into cancelling, and then retain the deposit. After your failure to provide adequate transportation services coupled with your disrespectful behavior, it is highly unethical for you to refuse to refund our $1000 deposit. How is it that you to purport to guide others on a shamanic journey but are unable to take personal responsibility for your actions (or lack of actions)?"

I posted a buyer beware warning in the comment section on Aubrey's qoriintiherbals youtube channel videos. Aubrey finally surfaced and posted "In addition, this woman threatened me verbally and physically, she tried to push me while I was 7 months pregnant because I would not cave to her threats and demands."

Now I know Aubrey is not only a THIEF but a LIAR (or at a very minimum, deluded). I never came anywhere near her but I was one second away from smacking her husband's finger out of my face before Dana stepped in and got him off me.

Dana was already disappointed with Aubrey's lack of transportation performance and refusal to refund our deposit but the accusation of me pushing Aubrey prompted him to write her a lengthy email. He is quite saddened by Aubrey's spiritual descent from the person he knew and respected ten years ago. 

These two are just two more gringos who have discovered another way to exploit the rainforest for personal gain.