My National Review

[CarolA]

They are fading on my perferred list.

Rented a car last Saturday. Pick up was fine, I got a Yellow Bug Convertible

However, this was the first convertible I have ever had where the rental car company gave you NO hints on how to put the top down. We finally figured it out, but when you tried to drive with it down a warning bell sounded.

We were at the Dolphin when this happened so my boyfriend went in to see what they suggested. NOTHING? We decided to trade cars....

The guy at the desk was wearing an Alamo shirt (where he appeared to have studied customer service) First he spent 10 mintues planning his date. Then he won't give me a new car because I don't have the valet slip saying I gave them back the broken one. Go get it, come back in and I am third in line now.

The printer then broke. Kid has no idea what to do, calls someone who tells him to use the manual contracts, kid gets it out. Makes a new call "how do I fill this out" I left got my car back from valet and just ignored the warning bell.

Also, the passenger seat wouldn't move.

When I complained on return no apology.

I am not happy and will try to keep my money at Hertz. I despise Alamo and this experience made me feel like I was renting from them...

 

[AllyBri]

This is why it is so great there are so many rental companies to choose from.
I must have had at least 70 rentals from National and NEVER had a problem. Hoping, I'm not jinxing myself.

 

[travelin' tigger]

We were at the Dolphin when this happened so my boyfriend went in to see what they suggested. NOTHING? We decided to trade cars....

The guy at the desk was wearing an Alamo shirt (where he appeared to have studied customer service) First he spent 10 mintues planning his date. Then he won't give me a new car because I don't have the valet slip saying I gave them back the broken one. Go get it, come back in and I am third in line now.

The printer then broke. Kid has no idea what to do, calls someone who tells him to use the manual contracts, kid gets it out. Makes a new call "how do I fill this out" I left got my car back from valet and just ignored the warning bell.

Also, the passenger seat wouldn't move.

When I complained on return no apology.

I am not happy and will try to keep my money at Hertz. I despise Alamo and this experience made me feel like I was renting from them...

I've never had to deal with weekend staff at the National/Alamo desk at the Dolphin, but I'd say something to headquarters about the customer service you received. I've always dealt with Melissa and she's absolutely GREAT!! In fact I have written National commending her and her customer service.

Hope you'll give National one more shot if the price is right!!!

 

[donkthemagicllama]

For what it's worth, I've rented a Jeep Wrangler from Budget and a Eclipse convertible from Dollar in Orlando and a Sebring convertible from Hertz in LA, and in none of those cases did anyone give me any indication or show me how to put the top down... No stickers or instructions in the vehicles either (except the owner's manual). We never did figure out how to take the soft top off the Wrangler, and it looked awfully confusing (Owner's manual: Removing the top, pages 30-76... yikes!), so we didn't even try (you don't just push a button like the other two...).

It sucks that the car wasn't working properly though... what a hassle.

The clueless staff I have expeienced before... I rented 2 cars (1 for myself and 1 for my BIL) last Christmas, and it took the guy in the booth about an hour and 5 phone calls to figure out how to put my BIL's name as the primary driver instead of me. Meanwhile, a huge line was growing behind us, and no one there was too happy...

A bug convertible? Did you pick it up at the Orlando airport? I know this is off-topic, but were there many bugs to choose from in the convertible aisle?

 

[CarolA]

Well there was no owners manual either.

I have rented Sebrings and there is normally a little warning sticker which if you read you can figure out what's going on...

My bug was on the EA and there were several of them. It was a fun car to drive. VERY VERY Small backseat and trunk.

 

[donkthemagicllama]

I've been such a big fan of National since I discovered how quick you could be out of there when renting from them... Renting a car anywhere else (in Orlando, anyway) used to always be at least a 1 hour ordeal dealing with people who's goal seems to be to scare the pants off of me and my wife to sell insurance...
OK, a bit of an exageration, but the aisle system at National seems sooo much better.
Maybe it's been a while since you've rented from somewhere else, but I'd give them another shot before going somewhere else...

 

[bavaria]

Well, once again I'm with Carol on this one. Like her, I am a big time Hertz user for work, but strayed to National based on reports here. After 3-4 BAD National experiences with no cars in the EA, rates not correct, etc I am back to Hertz at MCO.

While National has 'made good' and corrected the errors somewhat after the rental, standing in an empty EA aisle at midnight with 20 frustrated families is not worth my time.

 

[CarolA]

I've been such a big fan of National since I discovered how quick you could be out of there when renting from them... Renting a car anywhere else (in Orlando, anyway) used to always be at least a 1 hour ordeal dealing with people who's goal seems to be to scare the pants off of me and my wife to sell insurance...
OK, a bit of an exageration, but the aisle system at National seems sooo much better.
Maybe it's been a while since you've rented from somewhere else, but I'd give them another shot before going somewhere else...

I rent cars weekly.... I like Hertz better. I will probably give them another shot but they are on my watch list. I will NEVER again rent from Alamo. (I tried once but after waiting over an hour they took my cc and then told me it would be at least another hour before they "found" a car. I told them to cancel and took a cab... Then a month later a charge appeared on my card for failure to show up.... I was LIVID!!! I don't care HOW cheap they are, I am not giving them my cash. If I begin to have the same lack of Customer Service from National I am out of there. I am willing to pay for service)

 

[bavaria]

I am willing to pay for service)

At some point the cost/service ratio tips beyond the point of accetable. If paying a few dollars more means less time wasted waiting for cars at odd hours, or disputing rates, I'll go for the few dollars. My time is worth it.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Carol, how was the National service in comparison to, let's see.....how about TSA?

 

[CarolA]

Carol, how was the National service in comparison to, let's see.....how about TSA?

Dan,
You KNOW National has not sunk that low....

Actually the TSA in Orlando was very organized this time. I was through there in record time. The TSA in Atlanta was the same as normal, but they didn't feel the need to scream as much as in the past. (I have no idea why they weren't screaming, but I will take it)

The service at MCO wasn't bad, I do think it would have been nice if the woman had said they were sorry the car had issues. The service at the Dolphin was unacceptable to me.

I will probably use National again. I had both Hertz and National reserved for this trip at the same price. I decided on National due to the location since I had a EARLY flight Thursday morning.

On a positive note there was LOTS of room in the overhead for my laptop!!!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Dan,
You KNOW National has not sunk that low.... ....