Payless car rental?

[Debi]

Does anyone have any experience (good or bad) with Payless car rental? They have the lowest rates for my travel dates (October 6-10), but I haven't seen/heard much about them. Any thoughts/comments?

 

[jxgriffi]

Everything I have seen or heard about Payless has been bad. I've heard they have good rates, but a lot times, they will be out of cars (or the class that you want and you end up with an egg), little adds that sound like they are "part of the price" but really aren't and pretty lousy customer service.

I know I pay more, but I only rent with the bigger fish and 99% use National. They have always treated me with incredible customer service and if they don't have my class, will usually upgrade me to the best they have rather than downgrade to save money.

Just my thoughts...

 

[Debi]

Thanks, jxgriffi. It looks like Payless is a no-go for me. Alamo and Budget both have good rates for my travel dares, so I'll go with one of them.

 

[seashoreCM]

I have used Payless at MCO several times in the past five years and have had no complaints so far.

I have run into situations that others are ticked off by but I don't consider abnormal:

1. A long line at the check out counter (once)

2. Not giving me the car early when I arrived early (but offered me a car at a higher price early or delivering the correct car at the appointed hour the latter which I chose)

I only reserved the egg so I can't comment on whether they did not have the car class.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Michael623]

I cut and pasted this from a post I made last fall:

Here is a topic I feel quite passionate about; saving money on car rental. I am about to give payless a ringing endorsement but please believe me that I don't work for them or get any benefit from this other than helping you stretch your buck.

That being said, here we go...

I love payless. Here is my typical rental experience:
2 minute wait after getting bags for shuttle
4 minute shuttle ride to the Payless office
5 minute wait in line if your unlucky, I often encounter no line
5 minute transaction
Once you leave the lot you are actually one exit closer to WDW than the airport.

Here are a couple of other tips:
1. Sign up for their passport club, it saves you another 5% over the rediculously low price.
2. If you read the reports here they will tell you that there is high pressure to get the insurance but rental places make a ton of dough off this insurance and everywhere I have ever rented from asked me about insurance. I didn't think they were any higher pressure than anyone else.
3. I go to WDW a few times a year with just my DW so I don't need a Lincoln. I always rent the economy car and have never even seen one on the lot. In fact one time they gave me a Mini-van. Typically it is either a Chevy Cavalier or Nissan Sentra. I have rented from them dozens of times and have never gotten an "economy car" so my theory is always rent the cheapest and hope for an upgrade. They will ask you if you wnt an upgrade but say no. If, on the off chance they give you the Suzuki Swift, you can still go and upgrade.
4. I rented from Dollar in September and waited in line for 35 minutes. By the time I got to the counter i could have been half way to WDW if I went Payless. The only reason I didn't go with payless is because the are only opent to Midnight, the only complaint I have with them.

New record for my longest post. Hope it helps!

By the way I have a 6- day rental for late january for, drum roll please...$77.36 including fees and taxes! Rock on!!!

 

[Lewisc]

Mary (mousesavers) doesn't suggest Payless.


Michael I though Payless is on McCoy Road (N of the airport). The fastest way to drive to Disney is using the S route.

That said if the rate is low enough go for it.

 

[inkkognito]

If they don't have your car class, don't they automatically upgrade you at no extra cost? I've never used Payless, but I've had that happen with just about every other company (Avis, Budget, Alamo, and Thrifty) at one time or another.
Barb

 

[Debi]

I've rented a few times from Enterprise, also located off-site. I've always had good experiences with them, but there are a few companies that are less expensive than them in October.

Do you have to call for a shuttle for Payless? As I was waiting for a shuttle for Enterprise, the only shuttles I saw were for Hertz and Enterprise. How frequently do the shuttles run?

Those questions asked, I already made reservations through National. I found a coupon through AMEX for a free upgrade, so I'm getting an intermediate car for the price of a compact car. Can't complain!