Rental Van extended "scam" is it really true?

[Sillyminny40]

We rented a van in Orlando through our TA at a great price. When we got to the rental place with our voucher, the rental car agent said "oh do you want to upgrade to an extended van with better air conditioning and room for $XX per day?"
My husband declined and when we were done there she said "oh by the way all we have is the extended van so you are getting a 'complimentary' upgrade".
When we got out to the lot, my husband said it is highly unlikely that this rental car agency has "regular" size vans as he did not see any ready to go or in the return lane. (There are hundreds of vehicles in the lot).

We would have paid about $160 for the upgrade we were going to get anyway and I have to admit the rental agent was insistent even upon me getting the $9 extra per day as a second driver (which we also declined).
Being on a budget, we knew what we wanted.

Anyone comments on this? We could be way off in our perception of this but it does seem very odd.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I would say very likely your thoughts are correct.

 

[OKW Lover]

Let me guess - it was Alamo?

This is a common rental scam. Don't have the size car that was reserved, then try to get the customer into a larger car for more money.

 

[OntFamily]

rental agents are paid a commission, when they get the consumer to purchase uprades

 

[Sillyminny40]

It actually was Thrifty. We have used National in the past with no problems. Anyway, we did not pay for any "upgrading" or second driver. The agent could have been very persuassive but hey! I have been visiting here at this board for a long time.

 

[hsmamato2]

This happens to us with every car co. we've rented from.... we love it! the "do you want the xxx upgrade of the day?" for just a bit more money...
It's always b/c that's all they have left anyway!after a while, we know to just decline,and go get our free upgraded vehicle.....
I always feel bad for the folks ahead of us, they always seem to have a poor sucker there every time.... buying insurance,extras,etc etc.....

 

[CarolA]

This is common. Alamo is "famous" for offering to upgrade you to the only type of car they have open, but I have had it happen with Dollar and others.

(My favorite comment was the "better A/C". That's too funny!)

 

[PatMcDuck]

We have been hit with this at both Budget and Dollar in the past. I now ONLY rent thru National, Alamo, or anywhere else that I pick my own vehicle. (using Emerald, Quicks**ver, etc)

I also look very carefully to avoid the extra fees for my spouse to use the vechicle. Another ripoff.

 

[Lewisc]

The reverse is also true. Many rental car locations have very few economy or even compact cars available. Some travel guides suggest booking an economy car and getting a "free upgrade". Agencies in Orlando generally have economy and compact cars. Families find their luggage won't fit in the economy car they reserved and are forced to pay more for an upgraded car then they might have paid if they reserved the appropriate sized car initially.

 

[CarolA]

The reverse is also true. Many rental car locations have very few economy or even compact cars available. Some travel guides suggest booking an economy car and getting a "free upgrade". Agencies in Orlando generally have economy and compact cars. Families find their luggage won't fit in the economy car they reserved and are forced to pay more for an upgraded car then they might have paid if they reserved the appropriate sized car initially.

One of the funniest things I ever saw at MCO was a family having a HUGE fight over this. Dad had apparently followed the "travel guide" advice and the rental car company GAVE them what they reserved. It was Mom, Dad and two teens with enough luggage for a month stay trying to cram this into a compact car. Mom was screaming at Dad to "just upgrade" Dad was crusing back that the 'guides say you get free upgrades' and 'I am NOT paying the upgrade fee' I left, but my bet is on Mom winning LOL!

 

[Lewisc]

Almost as funny was watching a family trying to fit their luggage in a convertible, back in the days in which National sometimes had special cars in the Emerald Aisle. There wasn't any chance it would fit but the family was determined. I didn't wait to see how long before they gave up.

One of the funniest things I ever saw at MCO was a family having a HUGE fight over this. Dad had apparently followed the "travel guide" advice and the rental car company GAVE them what they reserved. It was Mom, Dad and two teens with enough luggage for a month stay trying to cram this into a compact car. Mom was screaming at Dad to "just upgrade" Dad was crusing back that the 'guides say you get free upgrades' and 'I am NOT paying the upgrade fee' I left, but my bet is on Mom winning LOL!

 

[winniedapooh]

This happens to us with every car co. we've rented from.... we love it! the "do you want the xxx upgrade of the day?" for just a bit more money...
It's always b/c that's all they have left anyway!after a while, we know to just decline,and go get our free upgraded vehicle.....
I always feel bad for the folks ahead of us, they always seem to have a poor sucker there every time.... buying insurance,extras,etc etc.....

That poor sucker was DH the one and only time I let him go to the rental counter alone!!! We had a minivan, which I am used to and is great on the old knees. He upgrades to some SUV thing that I had to climb, not good for the knees, in and out of and paid an extra 120 bucks! I was so not happy about that!

 

[NotUrsula]

If the pitch is that your luggage won't fit, then tell them to please show you the car and let you try before deciding -- maybe it's a legitimate issue, but I sure wouldn't believe that it is so until you see the car that they claim won't hold it. Most of the time you'll be told the truth about the availability at that point.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Budget is really good about not offering crap when you're a fastbreak customer. They have your preferences noted and your contract is pre-filled to the defaults you list. They never ask you if you'd like the collision waiver, extra driver, etc.

Also, not sure if it has to do with being a fastbreak customer or not, but we've always gotten really nice vehicles, brand new, whether in our booked category or upgraded. We flew to SFO over the weekend to look at colleges where DD17 was accepted and the car had less than 500 miles on it, XM radio, ipod jack, sunroof, etc.

 

[Sillyminny40]

Believe me, noone ever needs all the clothes we bring. Try to use one carry on and a backpack and things will be a lot easier regardless of having a van!

Our luggage was left in Toronto while we had to fly on to Orlando. We whipped into Walmart for emerg clothes and ended up wearing those every day (yes we washed them every night) as they were so comfy and nice looking.
Our bags arrived within 12 hours anyway. Noone needs blow dryers (often in rooms just check before you leave), extra stuff, etc. Try to half everything.

 

[MEK]

This happened to my DH on our last trip. We rented a mid sized car and they asked us if we wanted to upgrade to a van. My DH said no, but we ended up with the van because all the midsize cars were gone. It's a sales ploy. They are trained to ask you if you want an upgrade when they don't have the car you wanted. You can't blame them for trying, but they shouldn't get snitty if you say no.

 

[MEK]

BTW - ours was thrifty, too. Probably same agent caused it really irritated my DH. She used the old, "Aren't you used to a bigger car at home? I bet your wife would like an upgrade". My DH replied ,"Not my wife (the one, the few, the proud who refuses to drive anything that doesn't have a manual transmission)"

 

[PatMcDuck]

They have no shame with this ploy on the minivans. The 2 times it happened to us, we showed up as a family of 6, with our luggage AND a wheelchair for my 3rd son, with a minivan reserved. You would think they would at least feel bad pulling this extra charge for extended minivan scam considering the wheelchair!

My complaint was that when we reserved the minivan, there was no option to reserve the larger minivan, it really was not another car class. (at least at that time, it was 4-5 years ago). I was really upset, argued over and over, but what could i DO, we had that wheelchair and we were stuck.

Now we have tried other things, like once we rented 2 intermediate cars, for way less than I could get a minivan for........ now we could also send a few family members on magical express with some luggage as well.

 

[Lewisc]

Sillyminny40 is correct, many people over pack.
NotUrsula is correct, the rental car employee may use limited luggage space as a way to talk a customer into paying for an upgrade that may not be needed.

BUT

don't count on a free upgrade. The trunk space in an economy car can be very small, particularly if you have those large 29-30" bags. The rental agencies are sometimes "creative" in their definition of a compact vs full sized car. Take a look of what's being offered in the car class you reserved. If you have any question go to a car dealer and look at the car. Even bring an empty suitcase, you're considering buying the car and want to make sure your luggage fits. OR Tell the truth, your renting the car on vacation and want to make sure your luggage will fit. If you like the way the car drives you'll consider buying the car.

 

[salmoneous]

Test best thing about Dollar's "Express" program (and similar deals from other companies) is not having to deal with these issues. At MCO, you still have to wait in a line, and you don't get to pick your car. But your paperwork is all filled out in advance - nobody tries to sell you insurance or get an upgrade. And if they don't have a car in your class, they just give you the upgrade.

For the record, I don't think Dollar actually has any "Economy" class cars. Every time I've rented one I've been given a "Compact".