Alamo questions

[gmeh1]

I wish rental car companies would ...

take into consideration *the customer* Really

Does Not appreciate having to carry two bulky

*key fob thingies* in their pocket (belt loop,etc)

throughout their vacation ... (for the purpose: ease of inventory)

We are quite well atuned to customer service. In fact, we excel at it. If that is the only thing you have to worry about, consider yourself very very lucky. Worldwide we have over 1 Million cars.

 

[gmeh1]

So glad you and others notice the amount of knowledge gmeh has on rental cars (and she is somewhat of a Southwest expert as well). She has been saving me money and aggrevation in renting cars for a long time now on these boards

Thank you Steve. Not too great with SWA anymore, I live where I used to fly to for vacation.

 

[TheMorgans]

Gmeh1 you are such a wealth of information and I love to read all of your posts. They are sooooo helpful. I have another question.......

I have my Sept resi with Alamo using my Costco code. Do I need to remember to bring my Costco card.

It's not a problem, but I am just trying to cut down on the number of "required" items that I have to rember to pack for our two week land/sea adventure.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Frequent flyers have long ignored the "advice" given above and have a whole book of "tricks" to take apart the keys LOL! I personally have never done it, but I put them in my purse, men seem to despise the giant bulk of keys more and are more determined to take them apart.

I have had the thing fall apart on me. I just hand all the keys, tags etc to the return agent when that happens. (Looking at the set I have now I give it a 50/50 shot of staying in one piece until Thursday wen I return the car. ) I am not going to bother to put it back together for National LOL!

And if your car does not come with two keys, open the trunk and dig around. AMAZING what you can often find hidden back there. I have found keys, owner's manuals, the little card you need to activate the GPS system and so on. Why National thinks "hiding this under the truck cover" is a good idea is beyond me but.....

 

[gmeh1]

Gmeh1 you are such a wealth of information and I love to read all of your posts. They are sooooo helpful. I have another question.......

I have my Sept resi with Alamo using my Costco code. Do I need to remember to bring my Costco card.

It's not a problem, but I am just trying to cut down on the number of "required" items that I have to rember to pack for our two week land/sea adventure.

I would carry it with me, sometimes they ask, sometimes they do not. I do understand wanting to cut down on "stuff", but, thankfully a Costco card is small.

 

[gmeh1]

Frequent flyers have long ignored the "advice" given above and have a whole book of "tricks" to take apart the keys LOL! I personally have never done it, but I put them in my purse, men seem to despise the giant bulk of keys more and are more determined to take them apart.

I have had the thing fall apart on me. I just hand all the keys, tags etc to the return agent when that happens. (Looking at the set I have now I give it a 50/50 shot of staying in one piece until Thursday wen I return the car. ) I am not going to bother to put it back together for National LOL!

And if your car does not come with two keys, open the trunk and dig around. AMAZING what you can often find hidden back there. I have found keys, owner's manuals, the little card you need to activate the GPS system and so on. Why National thinks "hiding this under the truck cover" is a good idea is beyond me but.....

Often customers hide those things. few of our cars have GPS systems, so, I will bet a customer put it there. We don't really hide anything, honestly. Owner's manuals are kept in the glove box until they get stolen, GPS systems are part of the owner's manuals, so, ditto and the keys, I promise you we don't hide them there.

Men just naturally love to take things apart, it is part of their DNA.

 

[Planogirl]

gmeh, thanks for the hint about getting two keys or telling someone if you don't. But what do you do if you pick up at a place like the Dolphin where a valet brings you the car?

 

[gmeh1]

gmeh, thanks for the hint about getting two keys or telling someone if you don't. But what do you do if you pick up at a place like the Dolphin where a valet brings you the car?

Good question. I would have the valet sign something that stated he/she gave you a car with only one key and then call Alamo and have it noted in the computer. I would do the same thing if you noticed scratches or damage.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Often customers hide those things. few of our cars have GPS systems, so, I will bet a customer put it there. We don't really hide anything, honestly. Owner's manuals are kept in the glove box until they get stolen, GPS systems are part of the owner's manuals, so, ditto and the keys, I promise you we don't hide them there.

Men just naturally love to take things apart, it is part of their DNA.

Actually I agree they are really hidden by you. I think that is where they get shipped when the car heads out. And sometimes things don't get properly assembled. It is generally very new cars that have the trunk stash and the stuff is often still shrin wrapped

 

[gmeh1]

Actually I agree they are really hidden by you. I think that is where they get shipped when the car heads out. And sometimes things don't get properly assembled. It is generally very new cars that have the trunk stash and the stuff is often still shrin wrapped

I do find things like plate guards and trunk cargo nets in the trunk. You agree they are hidden by me? We have a few 2013 coming in, I am going to check the trunks. I know they stash the headphones and remote for the mini vans with DVD players at the factory before they are shipped. back at ya.

 

[onyx8]

Onyx - That's a great idea! I frequently rent locally, and have access to my tools. Sadly, I'm not yet crazy enough to take tools in my checked luggage on vacation.

I have a second home in FL so I leave the tools there, lol.

I have never lost any keys in my life so I will continue to cut the tie. $250 won't kill me if a rental key is my first loss.

 

[gmeh1]

I have a second home in FL so I leave the tools there, lol.

I have never lost any keys in my life so I will continue to cut the tie. $250 won't kill me if a rental key is my first loss.

thank you so much for being respectful of the rules and procedures.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I do find things like plate guards and trunk cargo nets in the trunk. You agree they are hidden by me? We have a few 2013 coming in, I am going to check the trunks. I know they stash the headphones and remote for the mini vans with DVD players at the factory before they are shipped. back at ya.

Sorry that was a typo

Should have read NOT hidden by National I think it is where the car manufacturer sticks things. No idea why but as I said they are often still shrink wrapped etc..... Last time I had a brand new car I kept hearing something bump around in the trunk so I started digging. Found an owner's manual and a valet key all in a package near the spare tire.

 

[gmeh1]

Sorry that was a typo

Should have read NOT hidden by National I think it is where the car manufacturer sticks things. No idea why but as I said they are often still shrink wrapped etc..... Last time I had a brand new car I kept hearing something bump around in the trunk so I started digging. Found an owner's manual and a valet key all in a package near the spare tire.

Kind of figured it was a typo. As I said I often see cargo nets and plate frames (I assume for the front plate) in the trunks.

What amuses the bejeebers out of me is what renters LEAVE in the cars. Luggage, laptops, beer, wine, water, clothes, cd/dvd etc. What they take is more astonishing. Spare tires, key fobs, jacks, owner's manuals and whatever else is not nailed down. I try to make it a point to check for spare tires, I feel they are important to have. Cannot always do it cause we are busy and I often spend time trying to find cars with Sirius radio for customers or walking them over to Customer Service at Alamo cause they feel they are "entitled" to something other than what is on the aisle(s). Checking mileage on the cars (under 20K), making sure they are clean, have two sets of keys and the fob. Basically, making sure that it is a vehicle I would rent and I am damn picky. I have no qualms about sending the car back to prep and making them redo it.