Apperantly: New upgrade policy in Germany
Dec 17, 2012, 12:11 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: FRA, AMS
Programs: LH:SEN++ 2012, FB Plat,AMX:PLA/CRB, *WOOD:PLA,Sixt:Diamond , LuckyStrike:Red, others
Posts: 119
Apperantly: New upgrade policy in Germany
Sixt seems to roll out a new policy when it comes to upgrades.
It looks, as if they now pickup the customer friendly idea to ask for upsells rather than giving away any upgrade for free.
Several occurences of this new behaviour have been reported on mietwagen-talk.de recently. I got litterally trapped myself. (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/19856226-post181.html).
Doing so, Sixt follows the idea to generate more revenue on the counter, just as the known 'premium' rental brands Dollar and Thrifty do.
Hint: In case they try to improve your experience through an upsell, try to negotiate ! At least the upsell amounts can be negotiated.
It looks, as if they now pickup the customer friendly idea to ask for upsells rather than giving away any upgrade for free.
Several occurences of this new behaviour have been reported on mietwagen-talk.de recently. I got litterally trapped myself. (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/19856226-post181.html).
Doing so, Sixt follows the idea to generate more revenue on the counter, just as the known 'premium' rental brands Dollar and Thrifty do.
Hint: In case they try to improve your experience through an upsell, try to negotiate ! At least the upsell amounts can be negotiated.
Last edited by MichaelFFM; Dec 17, 2012 at 5:06 pm Reason: typo
Dec 18, 2012, 5:28 am
#2
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 381
maybe Gary can comment if this new upgrade policy is only valid for Germany or also infected the UK.
for explanation: it basically means: offer the customer the crappiest car on the lot - even if it may be a downgrade - and then sell him a bigger one for more money.
for explanation: it basically means: offer the customer the crappiest car on the lot - even if it may be a downgrade - and then sell him a bigger one for more money.
Dec 18, 2012, 7:04 am
#3
Company Representative - Sixt
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Chesterfield, England
Programs: www.sixtblog.co.uk; http://www.facebook.com/sixtrentacaruk
Posts: 425
Let me start by saying, Sixt has no policy to downgrade any customer, in fact our rule is never to downgrade a customer.
We are looking after our customer just the same as always and there is no change to the upgrade policy for our regular customers such as our Platinum and Diamond. I apologise if individual perception is different.
And of course we will also offer our customer the choice to upsell but we have been doing this just the same for a long time already. Our only aim is to provide a friendly service with a positive feel.
I will be more happy to listen and to look into any specific cases if you'd like to send me the details in a private message. Thanks Gary.
We are looking after our customer just the same as always and there is no change to the upgrade policy for our regular customers such as our Platinum and Diamond. I apologise if individual perception is different.
And of course we will also offer our customer the choice to upsell but we have been doing this just the same for a long time already. Our only aim is to provide a friendly service with a positive feel.
I will be more happy to listen and to look into any specific cases if you'd like to send me the details in a private message. Thanks Gary.
Feb 7, 2013, 6:34 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: HAM
Programs: LH Sen, SPG Plat
Posts: 25
Well, at my last rental in Hamburg I had the choice when my booked category was not available: downgrade at the same price (certainly the agent didn't tell me about the downgrade, she was trying to get away with it by saying what a nice car she has got for me) or an upgrade for an additional fee. Only after some discussion (stating my platinum status) I was offered a free upgrade.
Feb 13, 2013, 2:12 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Amsterdam&Stuttgart& Edinburgh
Programs: IC Amb.,FB,Hertz,Sixt
Posts: 776
I just picked up a car today in Stuttgart, I booked a C class estate with a request for auto box. The lovely lady said they had a 525 x touring for me. The was no trying to upsell in fact she didn't even say it was an upgrade. Very nicely done compared to some companies who say what a nice car you are getting when it is only what was booked !
Mar 25, 2013, 9:48 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: AA lifetime gold
Posts: 6
Automatic
so what happens if you reserve an automatic transmission vehicle, whatever the category, and it is not available ? Will you be forced to accept a lower category or automatically get whatever higher category vehicle is available ?
Apr 13, 2013, 1:27 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: MUC (home), DUS (office), XXX (customer)
Programs: LH, AB, SPG, CC, Sixt, EC
Posts: 6,334
Had this twice by now. Booked a very basic car for the weekend which they could offer but said there would be no upgrade (me being Platinum) after I asked. However, I could upsell and then they quoted prices which were more expensice then what I would have paid on the website in the first place.
The SIXT representative also told me they are allowed to upgrade one, in exceptions two categories but NEVER more then that.
The SIXT representative also told me they are allowed to upgrade one, in exceptions two categories but NEVER more then that.
Apr 19, 2013, 6:09 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: HAM
Programs: LH Sen, SPG Plat
Posts: 25
Apr 21, 2013, 12:43 am
#14
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 201
Booked PDAR at LGW. Offered Merc C180 (told it was an upgrade). What "policy" is this?
He was going by price! The PDAR is cheaper than the FDMR at LGW currently, rather oddly. Then he said he was confused and didn't know his cars - he has worked at Avis and Enterprise before Sixt...
What "policy" is this?He was going by price! The PDAR is cheaper than the FDMR at LGW currently, rather oddly. Then he said he was confused and didn't know his cars - he has worked at Avis and Enterprise before Sixt...
Apr 21, 2013, 12:44 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 201