The good, bad, and ugly on Alamo, please!

[AZKathy]

I did a search and got a few opinions on Alamo, but I would love to get some more responses about Alamo.

I got a GREAT deal with the Disney Visa 20% discount for our trip this month. I found a mini van for over $100 less than our dollar reservation. Problem is that one of the people that are vacationing with us had a terrible experience with Alamo in 1996 and does not want to rent from them. Are they still that bad or was this an unusual situation? I look forward to hearing about experiences with Alamo. This price is so good that I am wanting to keep with Alamo, but my friend is reluctant. Help!!!

 

[zulaya]

You get what you pay for. We made the mistake of "going cheap" our first time to WDW (before I educated myself on these boards) - I booked a package and Alamo was cheapest. DH, not knowing better, was bamboozled into buying insurance we didn't need - they told him he couldn't take a care until he bought insurance. The lines are horrendously long - unless you are part of Quicksilver, which is corporate now - because they are Disney's official rental car company and all the packages sell Alamo.

I'd check other rental places and see if you can't find a deal closer to what you want. Have you checked National? Avis? Budget? Those are all at the airport and have much better reputations with customers service. Personally, I prefer National. You can usually find a way to join Emerald Club for free somewhere and with that you make your ressie, when you get to the airport you just walk to the aisle with your class car, get in, drive to the booth, show your paperwork and away you go. I have yet to have that process take more than 5 minutes. Well worth my time and sanity, plus I won't go anywhere where someone treats my poorly. I'll give my money to someone else.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I have never had a problem with Alamo, fast easy and nice cars.
Anyone can join Quicksilver, you just have to be a business, make one up and it is free. If the price is right, I would have no hesitation going with them, most especially since they are onsite at MCO now. If I avoided everyone I had a bad experience with, I would never go anywhere.

 

[JMTAPerry]

We went this past Jan w/ the in-laws. Our car was already booked with National about 10 months in advance (great deal on a van). In-laws decided to join us a few months later and the "official" company had switched to Alamo in the meantime. I found a good deal and booked a car from them.

When we got there, there were no full size cars available. So, they upgraded them to a convertible (at no extra cost) and they LOVED it! No problem.

As with any company, I think it depends on who is standing behind the counter when you get there. If you have a great deal, stick with it. There will always be people who had good and bad experiences with the same company wherever you go. That being said, you might as well save if few bucks. JMHO.

 

[inkkognito]

I will do Alamo if the price is right. We've gotten them twice and Avis twice through Priceline. I prefer Avis because once you leave the counter, you can drive right out. With Alamo, you wait at the counter and again to leave the parking garage (which has typically been the longer wait for us). Their cars were a bit more battered than Avis, too, but they ran fine.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[AZKathy]

bump

 

[Skinsfan]

Never again. Off-site, long lines, poor customer service.....

 

[tax58]

We used the "old Alamo" with the off-site location. Big mistake. My DW says never again. But the "new" on-site Alamo might be better. It can't be any worse.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Skinsfan
Never again. Off-site, long lines, poor customer service.....

It is now onsite.

 

[Pinnie]

We decided to "try" Alamo again since it went onsite this past Easter.

Our plane landed a few minutes after midnight on Friday, April 18. We got out of the ALAMO line at 1:30 a.m. There were about 40 people in line and 2 attendants. Then after we got the car, we waited another half hour to get out of the garage at the booth.

We also had the "high pressure" insurance sales thing at the desk. We declined and I think the guy finally got the message because I finally told him if he didn't believe that I already was covered with MY auto insurance, he could call my agent!

I have had such good experiences with National, Hertz, Dollar, and even Budget that I will NEVER go back to ALAMO again.

There are plenty of other companies willing to rent me a car and I will be happy to use them!

pin
remember the magic
DVC/BCVs 2002
remember the magic

 

[Frozenfingers]

We rented a week from Alamo last April. I felt the agent was kinda pushy with the insurance, took the 2nd NO though. He also hawked the gas, told me Disney was at a buck ninety and alamo would fill for a buck seventy (?) if I took the extra coverage. Otherwise they would charge me four something a gal when I returned the car.. (he was about 30cents high on WDW prices) The experience did leave a bit of a sour taste with me and
I was expecting some sort of hassle when I returned the car. But, it went ok.. made sure I informed the clerk checking the car in that I filled just outside the airport and stood by as he inspected the car

I hope that since Alamo is now the "official" agency for WDW, all the agents will be required to attend the Disney college and gain some perspective on customer service.

We rented from Dollar last year.. it was totaly hassle free.

 

[Geoff_M]

My boss swore off Alamo after a bad experience at MCO a few years ago. The lines were horrible, and then she watched what they did to an older couple at the counter position next to her. One of the digits on the husband's driver's license had worn off and they couldn't accept it. So he asked if his wife could be the "rentee" instead. They said "Yes", but then balked when the couple couldn't produce a credit card with her name on it. The clerk said that the name on the credit card MUST match the name of the person renting the car. Pleas to the manager on duty yielded no different result. The couple left car-less, mad, and sputtering ill feelings.

 

[Skinsfan]

Oops! On-site long lines, poor customer service....

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Skinsfan
Oops! On-site long lines, poor customer service....

and, no Quick silver kiosk, just a QS counter, which does make things move quick.

I have heard that they have improved customer service, however.
Long lines are prevalent anywhere the price is right.
I have yet to have a problem. In fact, I spent more time in an Avis line than any line at Alamo. Nothing against Avis at all, btw, I love them.

 

[alansh]

Alamo is off my list; I don't care how cheap they are. The service is bad, and the hard sell on add-ons is really irritating. AAA's Hertz rates are generally very good.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by alansh
Alamo is off my list; I don't care how cheap they are. The service is bad, and the hard sell on add-ons is really irritating. AAA's Hertz rates are generally very good.

While I do agree AAA rates are good with Hertz, I don't really want to go offsite, and I have had only one bad experience with them and I swore after that one NEVER AGAIN. Rarely do I become this stident after one incident, but, this one really was really a hummer. So, I guess it just goes to show, you can have a bad experience with anyone. I have used Alamo, Budget, Avis and National and have never had anything to compare with the Hertz experience, in fact I have had nothing but wonderful service from the above mentioned agencies (ok an itsy problem with Alamo, and that was taken care of within hours of the original rental and the name was taken and given to the "higher ups" and I was well taken care of by Alamo for my aggrevation.) but even that was nothing compared to the Hertz episode. And, even when I did complain to the "higher ups" at Hertz, they could have cared less. I guess being number 1 makes you impervious to customer satisfaction.
I think it is wonderful to share experiences and information, but, I also think one should make up their own mind about who they use, just like you and I do.

 

[TIGGERSMOM]

I have used Alamo several times - never any big problems. Last time was in February in MCO.

They are now on site and while there was no Quicksilver kiosk, I refused to wait in the regular line. Knowing they were partnered with National(which is the next counter) I went to Emerald line at refused to not be waited on.

I did have a rude service rep try to tell me get back in line, I refused asked for a manager and told them I would call corporate if I had to from line. Got my car, got an apology from the manager and was out of there fairly quickly.

I wrote to corporate complained and did get a coupon for a bump and free weekend which I wil be using in June.

My advice when given poor service complain long and loud, they hate to have anyone tell what lousy service they have especially in the crowded airport.

For QS you can be a gov't , state or municipal employee also.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by TIGGERSMOM
I have used Alamo several times - never any big problems. Last time was in February in MCO.

They are now on site and while there was no Quicksilver kiosk, I refused to wait in the regular line. Knowing they were partnered with National(which is the next counter) I went to Emerald line at refused to not be waited on.

I did have a rude service rep try to tell me get back in line, I refused asked for a manager and told them I would call corporate if I had to from line. Got my car, got an apology from the manager and was out of there fairly quickly.

I wrote to corporate complained and did get a coupon for a bump and free weekend which I wil be using in June.

My advice when given poor service complain long and loud, they hate to have anyone tell what lousy service they have especially in the crowded airport.

For QS you can be a gov't , state or municipal employee also.

I don't know why you felt you were getting bad service, you had a reservation and decided that you did not need to wait in line ( I guess you did not see the Quick Silver Counter). National is a sister company to National, not a partner. IMHO, for what it is worth, you were definitely in the wrong line. They did not give you lousy service, but, I am sure they would have done anything to quiet you. What you did is like going to Sam's Club and expecting someone from WalMart to check you out (assuming they were next to each other). They are owned by Wal*Mart but are separate companies.
National and Alamo do not share their cars or the reservation system.

 

[TIGGERSMOM]

No, when I was there in Feb there was no QS line/kiosk. I asked 3 different employees and was told to get in line with 40 other people.

I have the QS service for a reason. Faster service. By going to Emerald and making a stink, they called an manager(who btw they said was not on duty - but complain and POOF one appeared).

What I did was go to the front of the line w/o pissing off those waiting in line already by pushing past them. They may be on separate systems but they do share management because I was taken care of by a manager in National garb.

If they were right and I was wrong why the apology, why the "gift" from corporate.

They did not have things in place when they opened Alamo in the airport - my fault - NO! If they weren't ready to provide the service they should have waited to open the counter or made other other provisions. I refuse to be treated like cattle - patted on the head and go along. I signed up for a service, I use them on a regular basis, at least 5 trips a year, so I demand the service they promise.

If they had a QS line/kiosk I would gladly use it - they did not.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

They have had the QS counter since the merge. You did not make a EC reservation, so, in reality you did not belong in the EC line. I really don't see why you think you did. I am a QS member also, but, I can tell you that if they did not have the QS kiosk or counter available, I would suck it up and use what EVERYONE else had to use, I don't think I am above going with the flow.
I do know that I would not have gone to another counter of a separate company for service.
As to why they sent you stuff from corporate, that is, to be blunt, a "shut up" letter. It is a warm fuzzy to intice you to continue to use them. It costs them nothing, keeps you quiet and makes you "think" you were right. It is done by most major companies all over the world.

I refuse to be treated like cattle - patted on the head and go along. I signed up for a service, I use them on a regular basis, at least 5 trips a year, so I demand the service they promise.

If you read the terms of contract that you were sent when you signed up, it states that this is due you where available. It does not guarantee it everywhere.
I also find it difficult to believe that your jumping to the head of any did not annoy other people , they were probably much to nice to lower themselves to that level.

I am sorry, but, your level of "entitlement" mentality just amazes me.

From the QS page on the Alamo site.

WELCOME TO QUICKSILVER®

Smart business travelers seek ways to save time and money on their business travel. At Alamo, our goal is to offer both. Not only do we offer customized corporate rate programs to meet your needs, we also offer our business travelers time saving conveniences such as Quicksilver, our expedited counter service.


>> Online Enrollment
>> Terms & Conditions
>> Rates & Reservations

A Dedicated Counter Just For You
Dedicated exclusively to the corporate traveler, your rental and billing preferences are already stored on file, making your rental process quick and efficient. Available at most Alamo airport-serving locations, a quick presentation of your driver’s license and registered credit card sends you on your way to your car.

Return Just As Quickly!
If you pay by credit card, Alamo's friendly Express Return agents quickly process the transaction curbside using hand-held computers

One Card or Two?
We’ll send you a Quicksilver I.D. card and handy I.D. stickers. You can either present your Quicksilver card to identify you at the time of rental or simply place the I.D. stickers directly on your registered credit card.

Partners In Travel
Not only will you speed through your rental, you’ll also have the opportunity to earn frequent traveler rewards with one of our participating travel partners’ programs. We make it easy to earn rewards with Alamo's Travel Partners. Remember to request your partner choice at the time of rental.

Faster Reservations Using Quicksilver QuickPath
Make reservations with just two clicks using Quicksilver QuickPath when both your Quicksilver and Corporate I.D.'s are registered in an Alamo.com Membership profile. Alamo.com membership offers easy access to upcoming reservations, convenient time savers and more. If you are not already enrolled in the alamo.com membership program, enroll now.

When using Quicksilver QuickPath, We'll use your Quicksilver Master Rental Agreement options to pre-fill your reservation where applicable. All you do is tell us where and when you're travelling and select your car!

Rental Preferences At Your Fingertips
Forget which card you registered or not sure if you updated your drivers license? View your profile online when you are an alamo.com member. Updating your profile is just as easy when you use our toll-free member services number to contact one of our dedicated Quicksilver Representatives.

Enrollment is Fast, Easy & Free…
As long as you are affiliated with an Alamo Corporate or Business Benefits Program account. For more information about these programs, see program details located in Business Travel. Or if you prefer, contact Alamo Corporate Sales at corp@goalamo.com or call 1-800-328-8018.

If you already belong to one of these programs and have your Corporate I.D. number handy, enroll now.

*_Quicksilver service may vary from location to location.
.