Any experience with Payless?
May 15, 2010, 8:52 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: too far from the airport
Posts: 3,298
Any experience with Payless?
Title says it all. I've never rented with them. Are they reliable? It seems like they don't have any affiliation (points, miles, or discounts) with airlines or hotels, or do they?
May 16, 2010, 11:27 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: South Bend, IN
Programs: Caesars-Diamond Hilton-Diamond IHG-Plat MGM-Gold Wyndham-Diamond Hertz-PresCircle National-Exec
Posts: 658
If you do a search on this forum you will find several threads with reviews and experiences with Payless.
Basically, I think the concensus is they are not as good (less inventory, longer wait times to get your car, try to sell you everything you don't want, etc) as the big boys (Hertz, Avis, Alamo, National, etc) but sometimes do have decent enough prices to make it worth the inconvenience.
I have used them twice in Las Vegas but only when I saved a significant amount ($20 or more for a rental). Since, even with a reservation, you must wait in line and go thru a desk agent to get a car; it took me much longer (45-60 minutes each time) to get my car than my usuals (National, Dollar, and Alamo) where I go straight to the lot or the Kiosk. For $20 or more I might use them again but, then again, maybe not as I hate to need to get insistent to stop the desk agent from going thru his attempt to sell me an upgrade, insurance, gas, etc that I don't want. They must get paid a commission on these things as a simple "no" doesn't stop them from continuing to try.
Basically, I think the concensus is they are not as good (less inventory, longer wait times to get your car, try to sell you everything you don't want, etc) as the big boys (Hertz, Avis, Alamo, National, etc) but sometimes do have decent enough prices to make it worth the inconvenience.
I have used them twice in Las Vegas but only when I saved a significant amount ($20 or more for a rental). Since, even with a reservation, you must wait in line and go thru a desk agent to get a car; it took me much longer (45-60 minutes each time) to get my car than my usuals (National, Dollar, and Alamo) where I go straight to the lot or the Kiosk. For $20 or more I might use them again but, then again, maybe not as I hate to need to get insistent to stop the desk agent from going thru his attempt to sell me an upgrade, insurance, gas, etc that I don't want. They must get paid a commission on these things as a simple "no" doesn't stop them from continuing to try.
May 23, 2010, 8:00 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 21
Payless: First time was also the last time
My first and only experience with Payless, at the Montreal airport this weekend, was a disaster.
The location didn't have cars, despite the fact that a bunch of us waiting had confirmed reservations. I was told the couple before me had been waiting two hours; my estimated wait time was half an hour.
Didn't help matters that Payless' little office was a mess, with a grungy-looking attendant in jeans and t-shirt (his soothing attempt at customer service: "You'll have to wait like everyone else").
I fled in a cab back to the airport - Payless is located at a hotel on the grounds, but a short drive away - and headed to Enterprise. As always, the guys there were courteous and friendly, and got me out the door in three minutes.
This is what I call the Spirit Airlines lesson: It's worth paying a higher price to avoid dealing with certain travel providers.
The location didn't have cars, despite the fact that a bunch of us waiting had confirmed reservations. I was told the couple before me had been waiting two hours; my estimated wait time was half an hour.
Didn't help matters that Payless' little office was a mess, with a grungy-looking attendant in jeans and t-shirt (his soothing attempt at customer service: "You'll have to wait like everyone else").
I fled in a cab back to the airport - Payless is located at a hotel on the grounds, but a short drive away - and headed to Enterprise. As always, the guys there were courteous and friendly, and got me out the door in three minutes.
This is what I call the Spirit Airlines lesson: It's worth paying a higher price to avoid dealing with certain travel providers.
May 29, 2010, 10:16 am
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Southern, CA, USA
Programs: UA just 8800 mi short of Silver
Posts: 2,815
My experience is that most locations are off airport, and once you get there, it becomes stressful to get the car (mine was not well maintained), and they seems to be worse than timeshare salesmen with their insurance upsells.