Other Car Rental Programs/Partners (ie. Alamo, Enterprise, Sixt) - Trouble with Costco coupon in LIH

I prebooked a costco rate and included a coupon that I got from the costco travel brochure in the stores in my web reservation. When picking up my car at LIH on Apr 9 I gave the agent my name and she found my reservation. I gave her the coupon and then said "it won't take it". I said I didn't understand so she clicked a few more keys and said again "it won't take it". Getting very frustrated I pull out my copy of the web reservation and show it to her. She gets very flustered and turns to her supervisor who says "Ex him". She types a few more keys, gets a wierd grin and I'm on my way with the crappiest car on the lot - over 22K miles, lots of scratchs, a seat I sink into about a foot.

They were also pushing upgrades really hard.

Don't forget to print your copy of the receipt and bring it with you.

I prebooked a costco rate and included a coupon that I got from the costco travel brochure in the stores in my web reservation. When picking up my car at LIH on Apr 9 I gave the agent my name and she found my reservation. I gave her the coupon and then said "it won't take it". I said I didn't understand so she clicked a few more keys and said again "it won't take it". Getting very frustrated I pull out my copy of the web reservation and show it to her. She gets very flustered and turns to her supervisor who says "Ex him". She types a few more keys, gets a wierd grin and I'm on my way with the crappiest car on the lot - over 22K miles, lots of scratchs, a seat I sink into about a foot.

They were also pushing upgrades really hard.

Don't forget to print your copy of the receipt and bring it with you.
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Whenever I get a really crappy car from any rental outfit (I had one a week ago), I drive it around the block and return it stating, "This Piece Of Junk" has (1) bad brakes, pulls to the right (or left), etc.......and it usually has such stuff. You will almost always be given a far nicer car and the process takes 10 min or less. You can also tell them you will repost to Costco regarding a crappy car. I did and have. Costco has a policy of following up on complaints and is a major player in small company travel.

MisterNice

Same thing happened to me in Kona. I booked a reservation with an Entertainment coupon via the website, and the counter told me the coupon was 'invalid'. Showed him the printout, and the supervisor overrode it. This borders on fraud if it happens routinely.

It happened to me in SAN last week with a 30 dolla off Costco coupon for Avis. It turned out the clerk did not know how to enter it. Her superviser made it happen by yelling 10 seconds of majic key strokes towards her.

MisterNice

This has become more and more common in the rental car industry. Something about being truthful, upfront, and honoring all committments, rather than creating a hassle is something that is no longer available. It is like you check your ethics at the door when you work for a car rental company....what is up with that? Buying a car used to bring out sleaze...now it is CEOs of rental car companies that are the sleazy characters. I know, I know, the market is so competitive that corners (i.e ethics) have to be cut....hmmmm....

When they were really busy, and short of cars, I found that they would often try even harder than usual to push bigger cars on me ("All that stuff won't fit in the car you reserved, sir") for only a small exra daily fee. When I declined I almost always wound up with the bigger car anyway.

Alamo is a sleazy outfit. I've had problems like those detailed above every time I've rented from them so I don't ever use them anymore.

When they were really busy, and short of cars, I found that they would often try even harder than usual to push bigger cars on me ("All that stuff won't fit in the car you reserved, sir") for only a small exra daily fee. When I declined I almost always wound up with the bigger car anyway.

Yep... I've had this happen w/Alamo as well. One time the guy tried to convince me to upgrade into a gigantic Cadillac during a snowstorm. :rolleyes: After waiting about 40 minutes at the counter they finally gave up and put me in a 4WD for free. :)

- RightD

I am off to LIH again this year and a NWA $15 off or 1 free day Costco coupons to use for my rental. Has anyone had trouble redeeming coupons there recently ? I had a less than satisified experience last year. I'd happily pay a bit more for another car rental company but the difference is more than $50 for a week plus extra driver fees (another $30-$40). I also wonder why Alamo is so much less expensive than any of the others.

Alan

I am off to LIH again this year and a NWA $15 off or 1 free day Costco coupons to use for my rental. Has anyone had trouble redeeming coupons there recently ? I had a less than satisified experience last year. I'd happily pay a bit more for another car rental company but the difference is more than $50 for a week plus extra driver fees (another $30-$40). I also wonder why Alamo is so much less expensive than any of the others.

Alan

Last week at HNL, I used the $15 off from current NWA promo combined with another 10% off that was generated automatically when I made the reservation to get a full size car for $183 all in for a week including an extra driver. The agent asked for the coupon and I just said it is a web coupon from NW, she said fine, no problem. Of course I had the printout. I asked her to put my NW number in the res, she said it is all set, of course it wasn't but it doesn't matter in HNL anyway. You have to call for the miles forever to get them. But $183 for a full size Buick boat is ok by me.