Dollar Minivans

[BAST]

What types of minivans is Dollar now carrying? I had read previously that the standard was now the Caravan rather than the Grand Caravan/ Town & Country and that Dollar was trying to upsell to the Grand Caravan/ Town & Country.

We used Dollar back in May, got a great rate and a Grand Caravan with very low miles. I want to use Dollar again when we go in January, and really need a Grand Caravan.

Anyone have recent experience with this?

 

[sgtdisney]

We used Dollar in July and they are now selling the regular Caravan as their standard minivan. I have heard of some people getting a Grand Caravan and not having to pay for it, but this is becoming pretty rare lately. My situation was this... I reserved a minivan through the Dollar Website. When we got to the counter they told me I was entitled to a Caravan and were 'kind' enough to tell me how little cargo space the regular Caravan has behind the 3rd row of seats, after I told them I had 6 people.

Anyway, bottom line they told me if I needed the cargo space, which I did, I could pay to upgrade to a Grand Caravan. After a little negotiating, I got them to agree to about 3.50 extra per day. I have heard some people who had to pay as much as 7.00 per day. If you really need a Grand Caravan and you are going with Dollar, I would expect to pay slightly higher to get one. If you get a Grand Caravan at the price you reserved, consider yourself lucky.

 

[zulaya]

Keep watching National though, people. I am, because this standard Caravan thing is sticking in my craw. For my dates in December, Dollar gave me a Minivan quote (with a code) for $263 after taxes. If Dollar decides to charge me, say, $5 per day to upgrade to a Grand, then I am paying $293 and maybe a little more in taxes.

Right, now, National with EC and the DC contract, with taxes for a Minivan is $319. High, I know, but only about $25 more than Dollar and I KNOW they have larger vans. See my thread about what National has had in the minvan aisle and fitting 6 people with luggage.

I plan to keep watching National and hope they have a code available for my dates for the minivan. They have a nive code that expires next week for a Minivan for $229. With taxes, that would be around the $263 that I was quoted from Dollar only I know I'd have enough luggage space for the party I am traveling with.

 

[dbail2]

Every year we have rented a caravan from Dollar and have gotten a grand Caravan till this Jyly they charged us more money when we went to pick up the van to get a grand caravan. I was kind of mad and planned on writting them but forgot. Thanks for reminding me I will write to them now......

 

[denisenh]

Just received the news letter from Dollar with these specials listed:
I put in for MCO pickup and return, Nov. 7 to Nov 13. Without code base rate was 359.99 with code 199.99
Drive a Minivan for Le$$!
Offer only available when booking on dollar.com and must include "EMN39" in the
"Promo Code" field. Offer subject to availability at participating locations.
Offer valid on rentals through November 20, 2002. Offer not available in New
York Metro area, which includes Newark, NJ.

Great Fall Savings!
Offer only available when booking on dollar.com and must include "NFALL" in the
"Promo Code" field. Offer subject to availability at participating locations.
Offer valid on rentals through November 20, 2002. Offer not available in New
York Metro area, which includes Newark, NJ.

 

[smart cookie]

Got a GRAND caravan this past July with no upsell.

Dollar code list: www.travelcouponsonline.com

 

[Eeyore1954]

Mousesavers (www.mousesavers.com) has a great code (DOL39) good through 11/25/02 (I think). Minivan from Dollar for $199 weekly rate (plus fees and taxes). I did a few rough calculations and figured it would come to around $240 for a week. Check out mousesavers.

 

[ZuZugal]

I have a minivan reserved for 8 days in October. Since reading these posts I called the counter directly at MCO. The Dollar rep told me that the Caravan and Grand Caravan fall into the same category; 7 passenger minivan. He said we would not be charged more for the Grand but one might not be available. Putting in a request would be just that, a request. We do not arrive until 9pm so I think we'll get the tail end of what is left.

Anyone else had an experience w/this subject in the past 2 weeks or so? I would be very interested to hear.

 

[sgtdisney]

Originally posted by ZuZugal
The Dollar rep told me that the Caravan and Grand Caravan fall into the same category; 7 passenger minivan. He said we would not be charged more for the Grand but one might not be available. Putting in a request would be just that, a request.

ZuZugal, that is exactly what they told me too. I contacted Dollar a number of times before I left on my trip and they all told me that the Grand and Regular Caravans were the same and it was on a request basis. When I got the counter, the rules changed. You are then at the mercy of the agent behind the counter. I argued with them a little bit about this and they of course denied that it was a fact and basically said that I could pay for the Grand Caravan or take the regular one. Once you are at the counter you are at their mercy. I had a backup reservation with National, but it was still slightly more than the price I would pay for the upgraded Grand Caravan at Dollar. So I bit the bullet. Now that I think of it I was planning on writing to Dollar's Customer Service about this too. Now that I am thinking about it again, I think I will.

 

[zulaya]

ZuZugal--

You should call back and ask that rep if he/she is willing to put it in writing and fax/mail it to you. It would be interesting what a counter rep would say if someone came armed with a written statement that Caravans and Grand Caravans ARE the same class and that there is no price difference.

If you get a note, let us know.

 

[dbail2]

I sent an email to dollar complaining about the upsell for $6 a day for 16 days in July. They sent me back an email today. They are refunding me the $ from the upsell (from the caravan to the grand caravan)and offered an apology.

 

[OhMickey]

Wow! I'm going to e-mail them right now!

In June I called in advance and requested a Grand Caravan because my daughter had broken her leg and we had to tote around a wheel chair. The agent said that there were NO guarantees and we would have to see what was available. When we arrived there were Grand Caravans available for an extra $5/day. Of course we had to pay it.

 

[sgtdisney]

Originally posted by dbail2
I sent an email to dollar complaining about the upsell for $6 a day for 16 days in July. They sent me back an email today. They are refunding me the $ from the upsell (from the caravan to the grand caravan)and offered an apology.

Hey that is great news... Did you have a copy of your receipt when you emailed them? Did they ask for the invoice number. I have my receipt, but it is at home.. Just wondering who you emailed and what specifics that you needed to supply. I want to email them now too. These agents must be pulling some kind of scam or something.

 

[zulaya]

Just FYI, National has this new code on their website under Specials to Go. It's a 4 letter code *HOL that was supposed to have ended on Sept. 30. Now it looks like they are extending its validity through February 8.

I plugged in the rate code and my DC contract number and got a total with taxes of $282. That's only $19 more than my quote from Dollar. $19 is worth it to me to know that I will have a big enough vehicle for the people and luggage that are traveling in my party.

 

[sgtdisney]

I took dbail2's advice and emailed Dollar this weekend and explained to them what happened with me, and the upgrade I was changed for the Grand Caravan a couple of months ago. They wrote me a wonderful note appologizing for the confusion and refunded me back the amount of the Upgrade that I was charged.

However, they did say in the note that Dollar is now charging a daily upgrade fee to get a Grand Caravan as they have a longer wheelbase and more luggage capacity, etc. I wrote the Customer Service manager back and thanked for the wonderful customer service and also asked her to clarify for certain Dollar's policy on the Caravan/Grand Caravan issue. It is just nice to know, because based on how Dollar handled this concern, I know I will use them again and I just want to be certain if I need to budget into the price of the rental a charge to upgrade to a larger van..... Either way, I am happy with how Dollar handled this concern of mine, and I would still recommend them to anyone.

 

[zulaya]

If they are going to charge more, they should make it an option on their website to actually reserve and pay for the Grand Caravan as a separate vehicle class. I am travelling with 6 people and their luggage. The minivan is the least expensive option for my group as the sedans these places carry only seat 5. And with 6 people...for a week at the World...we will need every inch of luggage space we can get. Not that we pack everything but the kitchen sink, but with 2 families travelling together it adds up fast.

It's just not consumer friendly to have 1 minivan class advertised on the website and then when people get there, and are in a bind, and have no choice but to pay, these consumers are told to pay more for a larger vehicle. Not because they are trying to be luxurious, but because a larger vehicle accomodates their party.

Hopefully they will change their website to reflect this price change.

 

[sgtdisney]

I did just get confirmation back from Dollar that they do consider the Caravan to be the kind of van you are reserving through the website. They told me that if there are both Caravans and Grand Caravans on the lot that there could be an upgrade charge. They also said that if there were no Caravans available a Grand Caravan would be supplied at no charge. Basically it was said that there may be an upgrade charged for the larger van but it was all based on availability...

When in doubt, I would email or contact Dollar before your rental. Maybe the policy will change. I do agree that if the Grand Caravan is considered an upgrade it should be clearly listed on the website and should be an option when booking. Most people who really need the space that a minivan offers will be in a bind in the smaller Caravan as opposed to the Grand Caravan especially when travelling with 6 or 7 + luggage.

 

[zulaya]

Actually, I did call their FastLane people since I am a member and all they could do is put in a request. This was way back in April or May when I made the original ressie before this Caravan/Grand Caravan became a hot topic. I probably will call them again and see if I can get clarification.

 

[sgtdisney]

Let us know what they tell you. There is such a big difference between making a request, which I can completely understand if they ran out of the car you requested, and charging you more for the van you requested.. Dollar really needs to clarify this and stand by the rule one way or the other.

This whole thing is confusing. It really sounds like it is hit or miss lately.

 

[dbail2]

I got a full size car for $166 (including all fees) for 4 days in December using that code (which is actually on National"s site in the upper right hand corner) and the Disney Club........