Do we get "conned" by upgrades!

[TSOOBI]

As a 5 star member i wish i got a upgrade out of BNE last night. Booked a camry and got a 2011 camry with 47,000km on the clock. Condition report sheet was like a billboard top 100 with more hits than Elvis... bumpers, doors, quater panels the only thing not noted was the roof ! The interior had been doused in air freshener and really was sub standard. After working and travelling all day i had lost the will to fight and drove the first 50km with all 4 windows down.

So next time you get an x-trail maybe it is an upgrade from the usual cough box they mave have given you !

 

[Deleted member 29185]

As a 5 star member i wish i got a upgrade out of BNE last night. Booked a camry and got a 2011 camry with 47,000km on the clock. Condition report sheet was like a billboard top 100 with more hits than Elvis...

So next time you get an x-trail maybe it is an upgrade from the usual cough box they mave have given you !

There may be a lot of truth in that. The rental after the X-Trail one was for the same original class, full size premium, and I got an SR-6 Ford. The correct car for the class but it had just under 80 000 on the clock. When I brought it back, the Hertz car park guy commented that I was a really good driver as I had delivered it back to them with 2000 less kms than it booked out at :shock:. I said to him the car was a s#it box and commented that I thought they were retired at around 40k. He said that had changed and Hertz is now retiring at 100k. Seems s*it box just might be par for course, which might be why the X-Trail upgrader guy was amazed that I didn't think it an upgrade when it was "new" (it was under 10k on the clock, in immaculate condition and admittedly better than the SR-6.....ask my wife, she still hasn't shut up about it).

 

[simongr]

At the end of the day. All you need to do is ask. I certainly know that most of the staff will happily try and accomodate you in something else, if you don't wish for an SUV. My feeling is there could have been a lack of the premium full size cars available and instead of waiting for one to get cleaned/washed and then dropped to the parking lot the CSR gave you an X-trail that was ready to go.

The simple difference is verbage - I would describe it as a convience upgrade "instead of waiting would you like a..." vs "you've been upgrade to"

Hope this helps somewhat

Sorry to offend but this is a crock.

If I book a car at a time then give me the car I booked at the time I booked. I don't go to a restaurant where I booked a table for four at 7PM and get told I can have a table for four at 8PM, table for three at 7PM and maybe the table you booked might come in around 7:30 if you don't standing around in the cold outside being ignored...

Hire car companies have designed their systems/conditions around being able to not give what the customer ordered and expect customers to accept that. It is shonky at best and illegal at worst.

 

[markis10]

I am not sure a comparison with restaurants or even hotels is valid, given car hire companies don't have set check in and check out times, and based on my considerable experience as a renter often have many overdue cars that won't even be back for days after they said they would. Managing an inventory with those conditions must be a nightmare, yet a car sitting in the yard is a liability, it's a pretty tough business I reckon.

What makes the difference is a good operator who knows the company systems but has empathy with the customer, and I met a few with Hertz over time, it it was not for their stupid systems I probably would still rent from them, but silly drop off charges for airport pickups CBD returns etc and older fleet finally saw me say goodbye, along with enhancement of the Presidents circle benefits, long gone are the days when I was greeted with "welcome Mr Markis10, you have a pick of the fleet, what takes your fancy?"

 

[beardoc]

I am not sure a comparison with restaurants or even hotels is valid, given car hire companies don't have set check in and check out times, and based on my considerable experience as a renter often have many overdue cars that won't even be back for days after they said they would. Managing an inventory with those conditions must be a nightmare, yet a car sitting in the yard is a liability, it's a pretty tough business I reckon.

What makes the difference is a good operator who knows the company systems but has empathy with the customer, and I met a few with Hertz over time, it it was not for their stupid systems I probably would still rent from them, but silly drop off charges for airport pickups CBD returns etc and older fleet finally saw me say goodbye, along with enhancement of the Presidents circle benefits, long gone are the days when I was greeted with "welcome Mr Markis10, you have a pick of the fleet, what takes your fancy?"

Is it worth not going for Hertz PC at all? I will reach it about June at this rate - but I'm wondering whether it's worth it at all.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Is it worth not going for Hertz PC at all? I will reach it about June at this rate - but I'm wondering whether it's worth it at all.

I haven't been PC so I can't answer, but my thoughts are that mid tier on multiple rental mobs will suit me better. I will be interested in reading the feedback you receive though!

 

[markis10]

Is it worth not going for Hertz PC at all? I will reach it about June at this rate - but I'm wondering whether it's worth it at all.

If you rent a lot at a branch with good people yes, because they will know their way around the system and its quirks, Brisbane city was one that always looked after me, including giving me brand new G6Es for one ways to CNS, with Europcar being more often than not priced better with a more interesting fleet I think my hertz rentals are now single digit, especially with the Thrifty $75 5 day deals.

 

[Mal]

I think its interesting that I was 5 star with hertz for a few yeara (and treated well), very close to pc too, but when my rentals dropped to zero over a year and have remained at zero they just haven't cared.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Typical spivs those car rental companies as bad as children.

Keep them inline

 

[TSOOBI]

There may be a lot of truth in that. The rental after the X-Trail one was for the same original class, full size premium, and I got an SR-6 Ford. The correct car for the class but it had just under 80 000 on the clock. When I brought it back, the Hertz car park guy commented that I was a really good driver as I had delivered it back to them with 2000 less kms than it booked out at :shock:. I said to him the car was a s#it box and commented that I thought they were retired at around 40k. He said that had changed and Hertz is now retiring at 100k. Seems s*it box just might be par for course, which might be why the X-Trail upgrader guy was amazed that I didn't think it an upgrade when it was "new" (it was under 10k on the clock, in immaculate condition and admittedly better than the SR-6.....ask my wife, she still hasn't shut up about it).

Well the SH#T box has to go. The smell of cleaning fluid / deodoriser is so overpowering after the car has sat in the sun the kids feel almost instantly ill. I called the gold reservation line and they were horrified and promised BNE airport office would call and they did. Have to drop my brother in-law back Monday night and they will swap over the car..... I will see if they offer an upgrade for the experience I have had.

 

[mella2007]

Hertz nor Europcar have really cared about our business since we have a corporate rate with both (which is more expensive than normal rates sometimes). Never had an upgrade in 10 years from either and when I complained to Hertz last month that the Never Lost didn't work, they didn't want to give me back the $6 nor a complimentary one on the next rental. Poor form

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I will see if they offer an upgrade for the experience I have had.

Please keep us informed!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Hertz nor Europcar have really cared about our business since we have a corporate rate with both (which is more expensive than normal rates sometimes). Never had an upgrade in 10 years from either and when I complained to Hertz last month that the Never Lost didn't work, they didn't want to give me back the $6 nor a complimentary one on the next rental. Poor form

Avis is currently doing a triple HH pints deal mella2007.

Avis - Earn Triple Points, plus save up to 25% on global rentals from Avis (Hilton)

 

[TSOOBI]

Please keep us informed!

HERTZ BRISBANE AIRPORT EMPLOYEE ANTHONY YOU DISGUSTING VILE LITTLE MAN

Returned the cough box this afternoon and followed the instructions as per the gold line. Approached the counter to deal with Anthony and he stared at me blankly. Explained the situation he said " they all smell like that!! " to which I refuted and said NO they ALL don't smell like that. Explained how after sitting in the heat the stink is unacceptable and how once again I had driven here with windows cracked as it smelt.

Told me to wait here and he left the counter to return with a smug look and said " sorry I don't know what your on about I just sat in it and it doesn't smell ". By now my blood is boiling and told him the car is a pile of junk and it stinks. It's unacceptable and change it.

More smug looks as he rolled his eyes ( lol one thing that fires me off.... Roll your eyes a me !! ) and called on the radio.. " need to swap a car as th customer here is complaining about the cleaning fluid smell... Can't smell it so can I get another car without cleaning fluid "


So now having been called a liar three times and had eyes roll at I walked away and will take this further.

Once more for the google ranking


HERTZ BRISBANE AIRPORT EMPLOYEE ANTHONY YOU DISGUSTING VILE LITTLE MAN

 

[lovestotravel]

I read somewhere here or FT that Hertz are getting rid of SV6 and XR6

It was me that told you this and another poster on FT, and another branch manager has now said that there will basically be no more XR6/SV6's in the fleet shortly. A few new ones will float around the East coast but expect to see more "other brands" in the fleet.

commented that I thought they were retired at around 40k. He said that had changed and Hertz is now retiring at 100k.

Hertz changed their "policy" on the XR6/SV6's from disposing them at 40,000km to over 80,00kms. A Manager told me that since they are worth nothing at 40,000km they may as well hang onto them as long as possible and try to recoup costs. The used car market for full size cars like the XR6/SV6 is dead!

Is it worth not going for Hertz PC at all? I will reach it about June at this rate - but I'm wondering whether it's worth it at all.

Yep I have been well and truly looked after by Hertz by being PC, however that's probably more due to my CVI score than just being simply PC

200+ rental days a year does help

 

[lovestotravel]

So now having been called a liar three times and had eyes roll at I walked away and will take this further.

Taking it further ? Please do tell me more about this.......................

As for getting a car swapped, the best way is to claim that it needs a wheel balance and/or the brakes feel a little "funny"

 

[austgap]

Returned the cough box this afternoon and followed the instructions as per the gold line. Approached the counter to deal with Anthony and he stared at me blankly. Explained the situation he said " they all smell like that!! " to which I refuted and said NO they ALL don't smell like that. Explained how after sitting in the heat the stink is unacceptable and how once again I had driven here with windows cracked as it smelt.

Did you get a replacement car? Plus I've PM you regarding this.

 

[TSOOBI]

Did you get a replacement car? Plus I've PM you regarding this.

I got the "no cleaning chemicals " car in the end. Appreciate it and PM

Cheers Nate

 

[horseman]

My old company had a policy of only renting the cheapest. One trip I had I had a Camry *shudder* booked, that trip I had to drive through snow fall in the middle of New Zealand. I was upgraded thank god to a land cruiser. Later that trip my Hyundai was upgraded to a xr6, much fun was had on a hotter drier part of NZ. I considered all these upgrades. A mustang to an xtrail however is just disgusting