Hertz - Hertz: Have you considered just getting out of the Seattle car rental business?

Seriously. Why bother? That train wreck of an operation does more damage to your brand reputation than the profits the station generates. Have you considered selling the whole thing off to an outfit that is more customer-oriented, efficient, and process-driven? I'm thinking Enterprise, Payless, or perhaps the people who run the Budget franchise location at MCI would do a better job with it.

Today they had to take me in a golf cart to get to my big-pimpin' Hyundai Elantra. What's next? Will I have to rent a car to get to my rental car? I guess I shouldn't complain: this time, the car was actually there. Unlike the last two times.

On a positive note, you can make it from Sea-Tac to downtown Seattle in 3rd gear in an Elantra. However, if you notice this early enough, I'd recommend putting it in "D". Much more pleasant ride.

Well, the new rental car center in PHX requires an elevator or escalator ride, and even the gold people are forced to walk a bit, probably not as nice as the golf cart. Plus there's no longer an exclusive Hertz bus, you have to ride sitting next to the riffraff of the other rental car companies. :)

...you have to ride sitting next to the riffraff of the other rental car companies. :)

LOL...I hate sitting next to the riffraff of other rental car companies!

The golf cart itself wasn't a problem. It's just the culmination of a wide myriad of problems. The golf cart ride to a Hyundai was more symbolic than anything: "We're going to jam you with the worst car we have - and we're going to park it as far away as possible."

The only possible explanation of my SEA troubles is the fact that everybody who rents there is President's Circle and unless I'm willing to commit 40 rentals a year to them, they simply don't have time to provide mediocre customer service to me. (That's all I really expect - passable, mediocre service.) No...I stand corrected...the other explanation is that Hertz SEA is a beast than even a brigade of PC's can't tame.

Perhaps my '07 strategy should be to focus on National - my 20 rentals or so puts me in some sort of psuedoelite tier with them (I think). The two things I struggle with are (a) my nearby HLE always treats me great as a 5*, and (b) I do a lot of 2-day rentals which qualify for 2x WN credits, whereas with National you really don't get much - just a "rental credit" and base miles.

I rented from Hertz a couple of weeks ago in Seattle and had no problems, whatsoever. I was even upgraded to a Sonata. :)

I reserved an LR3 at SEA for the long Christmas weekend, and before leaving the airport, I did my usual checking that everything was working properly. However, the front wipers wouldn't turn on, but I could hear the wiper motor running. I went back to the Gold desk to report this, and someone came out to check the car.

On closer examination, the wipers were not even on the truck! I could've left the airport, then in the middle of a rainstorm find out there were no wipers.

At least they had another LR3, with all working parts.

Perhaps my '07 strategy should be to focus on National - my 20 rentals or so puts me in some sort of psuedoelite tier with them (I think). The two things I struggle with are (a) my nearby HLE always treats me great as a 5*, and (b) I do a lot of 2-day rentals which qualify for 2x WN credits, whereas with National you really don't get much - just a "rental credit" and base miles.

I too have a great HLE. They will virtualy bend over backwards to help you out, numerious great upgrades, etc. My real problem with National is that their locations are so inconvienient (mostly at airports) and their "psuedo" exec aisle flat out sucks. There idea of "elite" is having 5 loaded Impalas on the Exec Aisle vs. 3 on the Regular Aisle. Although I do have some minor gripes about Hertz, (SEA comes to mind) on the whole, they are the best ones out there and that is why i continue to stay with them...

Well, the new rental car center in PHX requires an elevator or escalator ride, and even the gold people are forced to walk a bit, probably not as nice as the golf cart. Plus there's no longer an exclusive Hertz bus, you have to ride sitting next to the riffraff of the other rental car companies. :)

Ah, don't make me tell ya about the elevator ride you are required to take to get to the Gold counter in SFO after getting off the train. ;)

Sanosuke!

I guess I shouldn't complain: this time, the car was actually there. Unlike the last two times.

Funny, it's like that part of Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
"I want my f'n car!"

Funny, it's like that part of Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
"I want my f'n car!"

Renting at SEA is a sure ticket to ride into the Twilight Zone, in my experience.

THE WORST customer service, almost a PARODY of the worst customer service it is so bad.

The only problem I had last week with Hertz at SEA was the back driver's side door on my Towncar wouldn't unlock. Hmm, I think I forgot to tell them that. Guess the next victim can tell them.