How many layers of middlemen have you experienced?

[Cynicor]

My folks are off soon on a trip, I booked car hire for them and I wonder if it will all go spectacularly wrong. Why?

I booked on the Kayak website, which directed my to a company called QEEQ I’ve never heard of, who are reselling a Europcar deal that is fulfilled by Times rent a car.

If I just handed my folks the booking email I wonder how they’d ever find the car, but being Japan I have more hope that it will work out.

So my booking with 3 middlemen all taking a cut, and also being the cheapest deal, makes me wonder how much or how little the actually rental company is getting.

But regardless, what’s the most nonsense booking situation or reseller of resellers that you’ve seen?

 

[9171]

But regardless, what’s the most nonsense booking situation or reseller of resellers that you’ve seen?

Yours?

 

[Seat0B]

Some years ago, before the advent of smartphones, we were staying in an Accor property in the suburbs of Paris with the family. Seat Daughter and I came down with a heavy cold. So we decided to blow off the next planned stop and extend our stay for a couple of days. I speak passable French, so I was despatched to the reception desk to arrange it all, in French.

“Hi, we are in Room 1006 and due to check out tomorrow. Is it possible to extend for 2 days?”
Yes it is possible, we are not fully booked.
“Will we have to change rooms?”
No, your room is also available.
“Great, how much will that cost please?”
I don’t know.
“Well can you find out?”
No. The rates are available only on the Accor web site.
So I headed to the business centre to find the rate, printed it out after working out how to buy a printing card from a vending machine, went back to front desk. This was some while ago and trust me when I say the web site was even worse than it used to be today. IYKYK
“Ok, I’d like to finalise the extra 2 days please at the quoted rate” - handing over print out.
I’m sorry madam, we cannot take walk in bookings at this property. You will have to go back to business centre, make an internet booking and then either email it to us or print it. Then you can return here and check in.
Did all that. Went back to front desk.
“Hi, I’d like to check in for this booking please.”
“Certainly madam. I will need your passport for that.”
Which of course was in the room…..

Not sure if they were taking the p!ss or if that was actually the process to be followed - being Accor, nothing would surprise me.

In retrospect, it’s quite funny.

 

[Cynicor]

Oh yes, I know accor, the French, and the Accor website. That surprises me absolutely 0. Ridiculous

 

[drron]

You probably are paying too much. Times rental car is a Japanese rental car provider. They are everywhere as are many of the Japanese firms such as Toyota and Nissan. The problem is they will only rent you a car in the next 3 months so if you put in dates more than 3 months out you will get the middle men.
One way around is booking through Hertz. They have an agreement with Toyota rental car and you will get the Toyota rate but can book much further ahead.
When they pick up the car the safest thing is to take the highest insurance as it comes with no excess at all. And I know having had a slightly bent car taken back to Toyota rental car.

Also they need to have a fair bit of cash. If they get a traffic fine it is usually ~ 25000 yen ($A2500. And it must be paid in cash, no cards accepted, and paid within a couple of days or the rental company will cancel the rental.

And they must be aware that if they have an accident and someone is injured the driver will almost certainly be given 4 days detention. They will be reviewed by a prosecutor within those 4 days but in 98% of cases they will apply an extra 10 days detention.
If they find themselves in that situation it is best to remain silent and ask for a lawyer and the embassy to be notified.
Also both of them need to have the ability to contact family as extremely likely they will be unlikely to see or talk to the other.

 

[p--and--t]

Some years ago, before the advent of smartphones, we were staying in an Accor property in the suburbs of Paris with the family. Seat Daughter and I came down with a heavy cold. So we decided to blow off the next planned stop and extend our stay for a couple of days. I speak passable French, so I was despatched to the reception desk to arrange it all, in French.

“Hi, we are in Room 1006 and due to check out tomorrow. Is it possible to extend for 2 days?”
Yes it is possible, we are not fully booked.
“Will we have to change rooms?”
No, your room is also available.
“Great, how much will that cost please?”
I don’t know.
“Well can you find out?”
No. The rates are available only on the Accor web site.
So I headed to the business centre to find the rate, printed it out after working out how to buy a printing card from a vending machine, went back to front desk. This was some while ago and trust me when I say the web site was even worse than it used to be today. IYKYK
“Ok, I’d like to finalise the extra 2 days please at the quoted rate” - handing over print out.
I’m sorry madam, we cannot take walk in bookings at this property. You will have to go back to business centre, make an internet booking and then either email it to us or print it. Then you can return here and check in.
Did all that. Went back to front desk.
“Hi, I’d like to check in for this booking please.”
“Certainly madam. I will need your passport for that.”
Which of course was in the room…..

Not sure if they were taking the p!ss or if that was actually the process to be followed - being Accor, nothing would surprise me.

In retrospect, it’s quite funny.

I had something similar but not quite as bad in Renmark SA.

Wanted to extend my current booking by an extra night. Went to reception to extend another night. Yes there was room available and yes you can stay in the same room but the rate will be nearly double.

Huh! I just checked on the xx_ website and its the same rate as for the last couple nights.

“Oh the (third party) website is always cheaper than booking with us. Book and pay them (xx_ website) and come back to me with your booking number and I’ll arrange for you to stay in the same room”