Friday 14 August 2009

Top 20 Secrets Of Car Rental - 20 Car Rental Tips!

Okay, so I've been working at this company for over 6 months now.
I feel like I can finally give you guys tips and secrets of car rental.
These tips will save you money and a lot of headache!
  1. Always make a reservation in advance! The desk price is ALWAYS higher, and by quite a bit. Shop around on travel websites and look for good deals.
  2. PRE-PAID VOUCHERS will be the cheapest option, and the rental company will "block" your card for less, because you've already paid for the entire rental! Also, Make sure you verify what extra charges you might incur on top of the pre-paid vouchers - airport fee, extra driver, baby seat, different location drop-off!
  3. Smaller car rental firms will offer better deals, but their locations will be less conveniently located and will most likely not be open 24 hours a day.
  4. Airports are expensive! Airport surcharges can reach $30!
  5. Bring your own baby seat / GPS - these will save you about $5-10 per day each.
  6. Prices vary from day rates / week rates / monthly rates. Consider taking the car for 7 days instead of 6, this may save you quite a bit. Some companies offer weekend deals, check!
  7. Bait & Switch! They'll lure you in with "$9 per day", but you'll be forced into spending an additional $20 on mandatory insurance.
  8. Insurance is expensive! In most European countries, insurance is not optional and you'll spend anywhere from 50% to 70% of the rental charge on insurance alone. CDW is the basic insurance.
  9. Rental employees will usually try and sell you supplementary insurance (NDI or LDW) This is usually not necessary. It's a sure-way of the company to get their money. IF YOU THINK that you may be involved in an accident, this will be worth your while, because you'll spare the "deductible" which is usually anywhere between $400 and $1500, depending on the car. No types of insurance EVER cover glass and tyre damage. ONLY PREPAID VOUCHERS DO ON SOME OCCASIONS!
  10. Always book the smallest car you think will fit you. Since the smallest and cheapest cars are the most commonly booked, they'll be the quickest to run out. We've often given out Intermediate sized cars even when the client booked the smallest car available. If you book at the airport or a large location, this will probably not be the case. This will more likely work in smaller locations
  11. Diversify your credit cards! A lot of times, various companies will offer better deals for different types of credit cards. American Express Centurion, Mastercard WORLD, Visa GOLD (Canada) all offer cheaper and more comprehensive insurances!
  12. Fill up right before you get to the car-return! Some companies charge 150% more for petrol! NEVER opt for the 'prepaid petrol'
  13. Additional drivers will cost you $3-10 per day. Consider whether this is really necessary. If it is, try and book this in advance, it may save you a few $$$. Some pre-paid vouchers will offer this free of charge! Try Holiday Autos or Dertour!
  14. You really don't need the International Driving License unless your license is in a non-roman alphabet print. Make sure your license is valid for the country you are traveling to!
  15. Be nice and get an upgrade! Since upgrade rates don't exist per-se, you may be able to score a better car for less! A standard upgrade will be about $10 per day, but you may be able to get a car two classes up for the same price. Negotiate and be friendly to the car rental employee, and they'll likely oblige! Note that larger cars usually use more petrol, so the upgrade may cost you dearly..
  16. Negotiate the extra-driver charge! Some employees will be likely to give it to you for free if you are nice!
  17. Call the office you're renting from! Some locations don't offer 24hr service! Don't be stuck in the middle of the night outside a closed rental office!
  18. Remember to walk around the car and have the employee show you EVERY damage there is, and mark it down. Get a copy! Make sure the spare tyre is there and that you know how to replace it in case you need to.
  19. Make sure to get the emergency number, just in case you get stuck. Cars break down a lot, and rental cars even more so than your usual car.
  20. Different countries have different car fleets. You may have booked a manual Opel Corsa, but you may be getting the automatic equivalent of that specific country. In Europe, most cars are Manual transmission, but elsewhere, manual transmissions are rare! You may not be getting a manual/automatic car. Check online with the company that you will be picking your car up from and not the one you ordered from, because there will likely be a difference!

Wednesday 15 April 2009

Cocktails

An employee from the main HQ came to our branch, and asked my colleague to refuel his truck.

Unbeknown to him, the truck is a diesel. He put in regular unleaded.

The next two hours were spent trying to remove all remains of the unleaded fuel, and eventually ended with a damaged engine.

Hurray for ignorance!

Thursday 9 April 2009

Fuel [2]

I sent out a replacement car to a customer who had trouble with his car, claiming all sorts of lights came on. The tow truck driver spent 3 hours getting to said customer.

When the driver dropped off the car, he noticed that the only trouble with the previous car was that the fuel light was on. The customer claims "I've never seen that light before, so I didn't know what it was."

The thing is, in the car he had, it's shaped like a fuel pump.

Saturday 4 April 2009

I'm not lying! HONEST!

Bold - Customer (on phone)
Italics - Employee

Hi, I need a replacement car
What's the problem with the car miss?

The car-code (lock mechanism) won't let me start the car.
OK miss, I'll send a mechanic to you, and he should be there in about 2 hours. Where are you located?

I'm at a hotel in [southern most part of country, ~3 hours from nearest city] .
No, wait! I don't want a mechanic, I want a new car.

I can't send you a new car miss, because our mechanics know how to deal with this issue. The only justification for a new car would be if the mechanic fails to fix the problem or if the car's been through an accident and is not fit for driving.

Yes! THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT! We've been in an accident!
(in the background): "no no! don't say accident! say there wasn't any accident!"

[...]

Fuel [1]

Bold - Employee
Italics - Customer (On Phone)

Car Rental company, Anon speaking.
Yes Hello, I need you to replace my car.

Okay sir, (identifying customer) - What seems to be the problem?
I was driving up a steep hill and the car suddenly shut down.

Did the car give any warning, perhaps a light on the dashboard?
Yes, the NO FUEL light was on.

And was there petrol in the car?
No, it was almost empty, but I figured I could go about 30 more kilometers.

[*facepalm*] Sir, what probably happened is there was very little petrol left, and the angle the car is in stops the petrol from getting to the engine. What you need to do is either fill up or tow the car to a level location and then fill it up. Either way, you should fill up as soon as possible.
I want you to send a tow truck.

Since there is no fault in the car, this costs about $100 to be billed from your account.
I WILL NOT PAY! THIS IS AN OUTRAGE! THIS IS NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR THE TOW TRUCK.

If you don't want us to send a tow truck, you should probably hire one yourself then, or make a trip to the petrol station.
I
will do no such thing! I pay a lot of money for this car, and I am not responsible for this!

(customer actually has cheapest car available for rent)
Okay sir, then what do you suggest we do?
I want you to tow the car at your expense.

I'm not going to do that.
(rest of the call is just negotiating a solution. Nothing of interest. In the end, he agreed seeing as it's his fault... Obviously...)

Saturday 28 March 2009

S350

Bold - Employee
Italics - Customer

This car is too small.
Well sir, it's twice the size of what you paid for.

I want that Mercedes S350.
That's about $700 more per week

Can't you give it to me for free?
Uh. No sir.

Monday 9 March 2009

Preemptive damage

So this customer walks in, and rents a car.
The car he's given is a regular sedan.

"So this is not a very tall car, it has a low clearance, right?"
-"Yes, that's right."

"So when you mark down scratches, can you mark a few dents at the bottom?"
-"Uh, why would I do that?"

"Well, it's a low car and it might get damaged."
-"Exactly, and you will have to pay if you damage it"

"But I don't want to pay..."
-"Then don't damage the car. I'm sorry sir, we don't work that way."



Friday 27 February 2009

How lazy are you!?


So I've been asked this about a dozen times, but only by Americans.
"Does the car have automatic headlights?"

No car in our arsenal apart from the occasional Mercedes has automatic headlights.
The only thing that's automatic is the transmission.


"EVEN MY HYUNDAI AT HOME HAS AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS".

Well, good for you. Our Hyundai's don't.

"Typical. I should've known."

So this is to the Americans (why is no one else complaining about this?) -
HOW HARD IT IS TO TWIST THE STUPID KNOB AND MAKE THE LIGHTS GO ON!?
HOW LAZY HAVE YOU BECOME?

Edit: SO apparently these people mostly agree with me, about this guy complaining about the auto-headlights.

Monday 23 February 2009

Nothing of interest


Today I treated customers with respect and nothing of interest happened.
Also, I had a banana.

Saturday 21 February 2009

Friday Night Phone Calls [3]

Bold - me
Italics - Customer (on phone)

Car Rental Company, Anon speaking
Hi, I need a car.

Okay miss, I can put in a reservation. When do you plan on picking the car up?
I... I'm sorry. What?!
(sounds offended...)

When were you planning on picking the car up?

[silence]

*click*

Lying rats

More often than not, a client will return the car without a full tank of petrol.
It's clearly explained to the client that returning the car without a full tank of petrol will cost them a whole lot more. I'm talking $40 for half a tank...

So to try and fool us, they'd come in a day before the rental period ends, and ask to replace the car because it has 'faulty breaks'. This is usually tested quite easily and found not to be the case.

We won't tell them that we think they are lying. We will replace their car.

But only if the petrol tank is full.

When we tell them that they returned the 'faulty' car without a full tank of petrol, they'll say they got it with half a tank anyway.
* Proceed to show them the document they signed stating that the car had a full tank of petrol, which they will quickly refute claiming that is not their signature.

By then, it's only a matter of showing them the contract they signed, with the exact same signature 6 more times on the page...


I try and not let the lying customers get under my skin, but most times I'm so ready to just throw a set of keys at them and yell "THERE! HERE YOU GO YOU LYING RAT".

/rant

A word of warning

If you refuse to sign documents I've asked you to sign after you've admitted to wrongdoing,
or you are just plain rude,
or you cause damage and you just 'leave' the car without letting us know -

I WILL BILL YOU.
I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE, AND I HAVE YOUR CREDIT CARD!
It's the little things that make me happy...

Thursday 19 February 2009

Tales of Insurance

Bold - Employee
Italics - Customer

I have a car here.
Okay sir, do you have a reservation number?

No. Find my name. It's (ambiguously spelled name).
Sir, I can't find your reservation, could you spell me your name?

No, find it on the computer.
Sir, are you sure your reservation is for today?

Yes, of course.

[some time passes, during which his 5 children make a mess of the counter]

Okay sir, I've found it, it was 3 days ago.
Plech. Your computer is wrong.

Okay sir, never mind. I need your credit card and driving license.

[customer proceeds to give me 4 cards, bound in rubber bands, 3 of which are declined by his bank]

Okay. I've given you a larger car than what you've ordered.
Can I get a 7 seater?

Not for this price sir. This price is for the smallest car we have.
But I want a 7 seater for this price.

I can't do that sir, the computer won't allow it.
Try anyway.

I'm sorry sir, I can't do that.

Upon signing the rental contract:
What insurances do I have to pay?

The standard Collision Damage Waiver.
I don't want to pay it.

Then I can't give you a car sir.
I told my travel agent I don't want to pay insurance.

Sir, I cannot give you a car if you decline the COMPULSORY insurance, you can only decline the additional insurances.

Why am I declining them?

Sir, I offered you them and you said you don't want to pay them.

You're right. I don't.

Then sign the decline clause.

Fine, but I'll have you know this is simply outrageous. I shouldn't have to pay for insurance.

Tuesday 10 February 2009

You did what!?

Bold - Employee
Italics - Customer (On phone)

Car rental company, Anon speaking
Hi, my car was stolen.

Uh, okay. Let me look up your information
[...]

Okay sir, please tell me how the car was stolen.
I was just at the store for 5 minutes and my car was stolen.

Sir, did you lock the car with the alarm system?
No, I left the car running because I was only gone for 5 minutes! It's very close to my house.


[facepalm]

Wednesday 4 February 2009

Friday Night Phone Calls [2]

Bold - Employee
Italics - Customer (on phone)

Car Rental Co, Anon speaking
Hi, do you rent cars?

Yes, we do sir.
Can I rent one?

Yes, you can sir.
Okay, I'd like to rent a car.

Okay sir - you will have to come to one of our branches - where do you live?
Oh, you don't deliver the car to me?

No sir - you will have to come to one of our branches and sign a contract.
This is an outrage! I shall report this to the local newspaper.

Uh... Okay sir
*click*

Thursday 22 January 2009

Luggage Concerns

Bold - Employee
Italics - Customer

Here you go sir. (Presenting customer with a car)

This is not big enough for me.

(Replaces car)

Here you go sir, bigger car.

I brought too much suitcase for 5 days.
Do you know why I brought so many suitcases?

No sir, I do not.

I don't know why.

OK sir...

What? The internet?

Bold - Employee
Italics - Customer (on phone)

Car rental company, Anon speaking

Hey, I need to rent a car.

Okay sir, give me your details please.

But I always book through Jennifer.

Sir, I don't know who that is, but I can book your car for you.

Will it be more expensive?

I don't know what prices you've been given, but it might be. You can try booking through the internet.

How do I do that?

Log on to our website.

What is that? Like ooh-ooh-ooh?

What?

How is the internet? Like ooh?

I don't understand sir.

I'll try and use the internets then. Thank you

Good day sir.

Tuesday 20 January 2009

Friday Night Phone Calls [1]

Bold - Me
Italics - Caller (on phone)
10:30pm

Car Rental Company - Anon speaking


Uh, Who is this?

This is Anon.

Ah, I see. Hello Anon.

Hello sir.

I'm calling to inquire about a car.

Yes sir. How can I help you?

I had a car, but it's in the garage.

Okay sir.

When will it be out?

I don't know sir. Have you checked with your garage?


No.

(wtf) Better check in with them first then sir.

Oh. Allright. Bye.

Brand new? Pfft

Bold - Employee
Italics - French customer

"Hey, I upgraded your car from a Hyundai Getz to a brand new Accent with 8 km on the meter"


-"I don't understand..."

"I upgraded your car.... You were supposed to get a Getz, I am giving you a brand new Hyundai Accent"

-"I'm sorry... Brand new?"

"Yes sir, brand new"

-"I dont understand, Is it not new?"

"IT IS BRAND NEW"

-"So not very new?"

"WE JUST GOT IT YESTERDAY IT HAS 8KM ON THE METER. IT IS THEREFORE BRAND NEW"

-"Oh. Okay...."