Paddlenpedal
Aug 17, 11, 9:40 pm
I'm usually a Hertz guy, occasionally Avis and Enterprise, but really am not terribly loyal when it comes to cars, they've always been about the same to me. I do like the Hertz Gold program. However, on this trip to Austin, Dollar was less expensive or equal than all the others, so I thought I'd give em a try. NEVER again, I'm cured of this.
Check in was extremely time consuming, almost 20 minutes with the agent, the computer wasn't working right (it happens) but the most annoying thing, was the constant pressure for an upgrade (at a price) from them-Sure, they all do that, but it's usually more like "I have you in a XXXXXXX but for only $10/day more I can give you a XXXXX". No thank you "Ok, would you like LDW insurance" No thank you. "Ok, here's your keys, spot B-2, have a great day" and off I go.
Not so with Dollar, it was more like someone had a gun to her head, and unless I took the upgrade, she was gonna be toast. Had to politely say no thank you repeatedly to the upsell, over and over and over-THEN she wanted to talk Insurance....over and over and over. Yes, thank you I KNOW what LDW is, NO I don't want it. Then she wasn't able to print my contract, had to go to the back and have the "Manager" do it for some reason. When she came back, I noticed the car was what I reserved, a "Full Size" sedan, but couldn't help but notice it was a freaking 5 year old Honda Accord with almost 60k on the clock. A 2006 model! NEVER seen a rental car that old before that wasn't at a Gas Station Rent-a-Wreck. Figured it was a mistake, the info on the contract had to be wrong.....but get out to the location where the lot attendants pull up the cars, gave the lady my contract, she hands it back and says "the guy's gonna be gone a while, you might just want to go get it yourself unless you want to wait....." I've waited long enough, so I decide to go search the lot (she wasn't sure which spot it was in, said "click the keys, and honk the horn....") I pointed out there WAS no keyless entry on this key, just a key.....
Anyway, I finally find the car, and yes, it is indeed a 5 year old car, and looks like it. It's pretty rough, smells bad, stained carpets, fogged over headlights, crumbs in the seats and more "Damage Reported" stickers on the dents and dings than I've ever seen, and doesn't look like it's been washed in a month- but I've wasted enough time with this, and it's only a 3 day trip, so whatever. Actually drives OK, though it's a hybrid, so the constant shutting off of the motor and starting up again at red lights kinda is irritating, but again, figure it's just a few days.....then, on the way back to the hotel this evening, the check engne light comes on. Unbelievable! I do not have time to drive all the way back into Austin to change this piece of junk out, hopefully it starts in the morning.....Shoot, if she wanted to do the upsell thing, all they would have had to do was show me the POS they were giving me!
Sorry to rant, usually I'm very easy to get along with, I travel a LOT, and usually take delays, missed connections, changes, and the occasional bad room or meal in stride as all part of the experience, but this car really has soured me on Dollar. Next time I'll rent a horse, before I rent anything from them again!
Check in was extremely time consuming, almost 20 minutes with the agent, the computer wasn't working right (it happens) but the most annoying thing, was the constant pressure for an upgrade (at a price) from them-Sure, they all do that, but it's usually more like "I have you in a XXXXXXX but for only $10/day more I can give you a XXXXX". No thank you "Ok, would you like LDW insurance" No thank you. "Ok, here's your keys, spot B-2, have a great day" and off I go.
Not so with Dollar, it was more like someone had a gun to her head, and unless I took the upgrade, she was gonna be toast. Had to politely say no thank you repeatedly to the upsell, over and over and over-THEN she wanted to talk Insurance....over and over and over. Yes, thank you I KNOW what LDW is, NO I don't want it. Then she wasn't able to print my contract, had to go to the back and have the "Manager" do it for some reason. When she came back, I noticed the car was what I reserved, a "Full Size" sedan, but couldn't help but notice it was a freaking 5 year old Honda Accord with almost 60k on the clock. A 2006 model! NEVER seen a rental car that old before that wasn't at a Gas Station Rent-a-Wreck. Figured it was a mistake, the info on the contract had to be wrong.....but get out to the location where the lot attendants pull up the cars, gave the lady my contract, she hands it back and says "the guy's gonna be gone a while, you might just want to go get it yourself unless you want to wait....." I've waited long enough, so I decide to go search the lot (she wasn't sure which spot it was in, said "click the keys, and honk the horn....") I pointed out there WAS no keyless entry on this key, just a key.....
Anyway, I finally find the car, and yes, it is indeed a 5 year old car, and looks like it. It's pretty rough, smells bad, stained carpets, fogged over headlights, crumbs in the seats and more "Damage Reported" stickers on the dents and dings than I've ever seen, and doesn't look like it's been washed in a month- but I've wasted enough time with this, and it's only a 3 day trip, so whatever. Actually drives OK, though it's a hybrid, so the constant shutting off of the motor and starting up again at red lights kinda is irritating, but again, figure it's just a few days.....then, on the way back to the hotel this evening, the check engne light comes on. Unbelievable! I do not have time to drive all the way back into Austin to change this piece of junk out, hopefully it starts in the morning.....Shoot, if she wanted to do the upsell thing, all they would have had to do was show me the POS they were giving me!
Sorry to rant, usually I'm very easy to get along with, I travel a LOT, and usually take delays, missed connections, changes, and the occasional bad room or meal in stride as all part of the experience, but this car really has soured me on Dollar. Next time I'll rent a horse, before I rent anything from them again!