UrsulasShadow
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- Joined
- Mar 15, 2005
- Messages
- 8,457
This did not ruin my trip, by any means, but beware of the Alamo at MCO. I reserved an economy car for my stay last week. Online reservation was fine, online checkin was fine. I arrived at the Alamo stand in the garage at the airport, showed the lady directing people my check in, and she pointed me to the "Compact" row of cars, and told me to take any car in that row that was available. So, I picked out an adorable Cabriolet convertible. No lie, it was in the compact section. So, I took it.
Drove up to the check out booth, and the lady there told me I couldn't have that one, it was a convertible. I said, no kidding, but I was told to take any car in that section. She said she would have to charge me extra. I said no. So, she made me TURN AROUND (if you've ever been in that lot, you know it's one-way). She told the girl in the booth next to hers to allow me to drive the WRONG WAY back to return the car. What a pain! Cars beeping at me the whole way...I felt like an idiot.
So, I put the car back. I got all my luggage out of the car, and found another further along in the same lot. It was a small red car, 2 door, not a convertible, so I shouted to an Alamo employee at the end of the lot, IS THIS A COMPACT?? She indicated it was, and so I packed it up with my luggage yet again, and drove it to the checkout booth. No problem this time. Whew! But, on my way to this other car, I noticed another couple picking out a minivan IN THE SAME COMPACT LOT and giggling about how lucky they were. I gave them a warning, citing my experience, and told them they could try it if they wanted, but I was made to turn around and pick another. So they decided not to chance it.
Anyway, as I was driving to my villa, not 2 miles down the road, I hear a Ding Ding Ding...the fuel light was on. It was completely empty of gasoline. What a company! So, I called the phone number at the top of my rental agreement from the roadside. The nice gentleman that took my call apologized for the inconvenience, and said he'd make a note in the computer that I was to return the car empty for no charge. I took his name and thanked him, filled up my car at the nearest gas station, and thought no more about it.
Until I returned the car a week later. I pulled into the lot, and was directed to a line of cars being returned that day, and an attendant with a hand-held computer thingy. She directed me to get out of the car and hand her the keys, which she scanned. She looked at the fuel gauge, and I told her she should have a note in her computer explaining that since it was empty when I took it, I was told to return it empty. She said, "It ain't here, you're gonna have to talk to the manager over there", and started walking off with the keys. Umm, hey, lady, I need to get my luggage out of the trunk...mind if I use those keys???? Heavy sigh, handed me the keys, instructed me to leave them on the roof of the car when I was done. I know, I'm such an imposition, ain't I?
So finally I dragged my luggage over to the booth, waited my turn behind another customer, and about a half hour later got to speak with the person behind the counter...who basically says, yup, it's all here, you're all set...but you're a half-hour late, so we're going to charge you $11. Whatever. I expected the charge.
Anyway, my point is, I got this car for a very good rate...$79 for a week. But I paid for it in aggravation, because of sloppy business practices. You get what you pay for.
Drove up to the check out booth, and the lady there told me I couldn't have that one, it was a convertible. I said, no kidding, but I was told to take any car in that section. She said she would have to charge me extra. I said no. So, she made me TURN AROUND (if you've ever been in that lot, you know it's one-way). She told the girl in the booth next to hers to allow me to drive the WRONG WAY back to return the car. What a pain! Cars beeping at me the whole way...I felt like an idiot.
So, I put the car back. I got all my luggage out of the car, and found another further along in the same lot. It was a small red car, 2 door, not a convertible, so I shouted to an Alamo employee at the end of the lot, IS THIS A COMPACT?? She indicated it was, and so I packed it up with my luggage yet again, and drove it to the checkout booth. No problem this time. Whew! But, on my way to this other car, I noticed another couple picking out a minivan IN THE SAME COMPACT LOT and giggling about how lucky they were. I gave them a warning, citing my experience, and told them they could try it if they wanted, but I was made to turn around and pick another. So they decided not to chance it.
Anyway, as I was driving to my villa, not 2 miles down the road, I hear a Ding Ding Ding...the fuel light was on. It was completely empty of gasoline. What a company! So, I called the phone number at the top of my rental agreement from the roadside. The nice gentleman that took my call apologized for the inconvenience, and said he'd make a note in the computer that I was to return the car empty for no charge. I took his name and thanked him, filled up my car at the nearest gas station, and thought no more about it.
Until I returned the car a week later. I pulled into the lot, and was directed to a line of cars being returned that day, and an attendant with a hand-held computer thingy. She directed me to get out of the car and hand her the keys, which she scanned. She looked at the fuel gauge, and I told her she should have a note in her computer explaining that since it was empty when I took it, I was told to return it empty. She said, "It ain't here, you're gonna have to talk to the manager over there", and started walking off with the keys. Umm, hey, lady, I need to get my luggage out of the trunk...mind if I use those keys???? Heavy sigh, handed me the keys, instructed me to leave them on the roof of the car when I was done. I know, I'm such an imposition, ain't I?
So finally I dragged my luggage over to the booth, waited my turn behind another customer, and about a half hour later got to speak with the person behind the counter...who basically says, yup, it's all here, you're all set...but you're a half-hour late, so we're going to charge you $11. Whatever. I expected the charge.
Anyway, my point is, I got this car for a very good rate...$79 for a week. But I paid for it in aggravation, because of sloppy business practices. You get what you pay for.
what if you ran out of gas on I-4?
) when they are obviously wrong.
)
(btw, the the extra driver is free b/c DH has QS).
