So even though you may sell, for instance, the liability insurance, you have failed to sell four to

What s it like on the other side of the car rental counter? The answer may surprise you. I ve been corresponding with a former car rental employee, discount tickets sea world and he s shared some remarkable insights into the business that might help you make a more informed decision discount tickets sea world the next time you rent a car.
Every customer who walks up is an opportunity to sell a number of different services. For me, I can sell the damage waiver that s the most popular liability insurance, personal accident and effects coverage, and the pre-pay fuel option.
Upon returning a customer s vehicle, I can charge a fee if the tank is not filled up to the level it was rented at. For customers who have reservations, I can upgrade them to a better vehicle. That s six different opportunities to sell to each customer.
As a car rental employee, your goal is to sell every one of these products to every customer, he adds. And if he can t? Then that all-important number by which every car rental employee discount tickets sea world is judged is lowered.
So even though you may sell, for instance, the liability insurance, you have failed to sell four to five other services and thus your number will be docked. This number is very important because we get paid a commission on it according to a pay scale and the dollar amount we ve brought in each month and quarter.
The numbers game is played at the highest level. Managers are judged based on their location s cumulative number an aggregate of all employee numbers so they re likely to encourage more aggressive sales strategies.
Keep in mind that you re dealing with overworked, stressed-out employees discount tickets sea world from the moment you walk up to the counter to the moment you return your vehicle. At one point, this ex-employee was working 12-hour shifts without a break. Also, remember that they see dollar discount tickets sea world signs the moment you walk through the door. So they will do anything in their power to sell you insurance, a fuel purchase option discount tickets sea world or an upgrade.
1. Always inspect the car you are renting with an employee before signing anything. Car rental offices should discount tickets sea world have a vehicle inspection form that s signed by you before the car leaves the lot. This limits the possibility discount tickets sea world that you ll get blamed for damage that you didn t cause. Unfortunately, from my experience, many customers were blamed for damage they did not cause, he says. As a tired and busy employee, the last thing I want to do is walk around the car with you and make notations about the small scratches on the rear bumper. I could care less. But you should be adamant that this is done before you sign for anything.
2. Off-airport discount tickets sea world locations are often cheaper than airport locations. The vehicles at airport locations typically discount tickets sea world cost more because of airport fees, which cover the car rental agency s rental and transportation costs. The cost difference can be great, he says. You may want to reserve a car at a location nearby the airport. You should see a difference.
3. Make multiple reservations and play the system. Most reservations can be canceled without penalty. My insider suggests making multiple discount tickets sea world reservations. Look at rates online discount tickets sea world or call in for them, he says. If you re not too picky, make a reservation for one of the small, cheap cars. Make another for a nicer car that you might like to rent. When you show up, use the reservation discount tickets sea world for the smaller car. Ask the rep how much it costs to upgrade to the nicer car you want to rent. If they rate ends up being less than what you reserved the higher-class car at, then do it. If not, use the other reservation. They have to honor reservation rates.
discount tickets sea world 4. Negotiate discount tickets sea world your upgrade. discount tickets sea world Upgrade rates don t exist. They re made up by salespeople. If you come in with a Ford Focus reservation and were interested in a larger car, I ll charge an upgrade for you to get into a Ford Escape, he says. If you have a Ford Escape reservation and are looking for something more fuel-efficient, I ll charge you an upgrade to a Ford Focus. This actually happens! The fee is entirely at the salesperson s discretion, and is entirely negotiable.
5. Timing is everything. The largest expense incurred by a car rental company is depreciation. Basically, these companies are leasing all the cars in their fleet. They re charged different rates for different types of cars. It is very important for car rental companies to have as many cars on the road as possible, as any cars that are sitting are not making money, and are actually costing the company money in depreciation fees. A customer who shows up after a busy holiday weekend can more or less name the price for a rental car. They should be begging discount tickets sea world for you to take cars off their lot, he adds.
6. Complain and you shall receive. Car rental companies often go to great lengths to make customer happy even when their grievance are not legit. Like most companies, we want you to use again and again and again, says the insider. Even some of the most ridiculous complaints that I ve seen have been resolved by one of my managers. They offered a full refund discount tickets sea world and a free rental to a customer I knew was full of it. But we want you back so much that an occassional hit is fine.
That s too bad that you got charged an extra $30.00. That seems very unfair if you replaced the fuel you used. However, if you replaced the gas but drove 30 miles between the gas station and the point of return, the gas needle may not have moved but they (Hertz) would ve still had to have refueled however much was burned and so that being the case, you probably got hit with the $9.29/gallon plus tax fuel  service charge. It s best to refuel no more than 2 miles from the point of return and provide a receipt to the return agent proving discount tickets sea world you just refueled the tank.
That s too bad that you got charged an extra $30.00. That seems very unfair if you replaced the fuel you used. However, if you replaced the gas but drove 30 miles between the gas station and the point of return, the gas needle may not have moved but they (Hertz) would ve still had to have refueled however much was burned and so that being the case, you probably discount tickets sea world got hit with the $9.29/gallon plus tax fuel  service charge. discount tickets sea world It s best to refuel no more than 2 miles from the point of return and provide discount tickets sea world a receipt to the return agent proving discount tickets sea world you just refueled the tank.
Yes, return the vehicle! This is why car rental companies used to be so reluctant with renting to customers with debit cards. You don t have to qualify to have a debit card. You have to qualify to have a credit card just like you have to qualify to rent a car. This is why most car rental companies have implemented conducting credit checks to customers using debit cards.
I have rented many cars and the companies love me and treat me with respect There is no pressure to buy insurance and are customer service friendly. I think this is crazy you would say this about the empoyees!!
I rented a car at enterprise in ky and 100 for 1 day. went through priceline and got a price it was supposed to cost 45.99. when i get there they said they didn t have the model i wanted even though priceline said they did .they said they would put me in a mini suv for the same price .they knew I was in a hurry to get to work by the time the guy was through I paid over 100 for 1 day. ended up getting it forthree mor and paid almost 450 when i checked the weekly discount tickets sea world rate it was under 300 I got robbed.
Youre story is incomplete. HOW DID YOU GET TO 100 BUX? Whenever you rent a car you reserve a category discount tickets sea world or similar. The car agency reserves the right to upgrade you at no additional cost into a larger size should the size you reserve not be available which in this case you said they did. If the base rate was 45.99, you add the 5-7 different airport taxes and concession fees and add any of the optional coverage products it can easily climb to 100+. Enterprise out of all companies carefully goes over the charges as you sign the contract and even walks out with you to do a walk-around on the vehicle. When you drove out you knew you were paying 100 bux. You then kept the car for THREE more days. If I rent a compressor at Home Depot for 120 a day and keep it 3 more days, im expected to owe 360 bux. Nevermind the fact that if I wouldve discount tickets sea world bought a compressor I wouldve bought one for less. But thats my fault. I knew what I was paying.
Yes, the weekly rate was perhaps 300 bux but after you wouldve added the taxes/coverage etc you wouldve been at over 550-650 bux. Alamo, Enterprise discount tickets sea world and National management gets promoted not by the bottom line eventhough its important to the operation. They get promoted on the service quotient. If you feel youve been taken then call their customer service number but from your story above you dont have a leg to stand on. Renting a car in the USA is still one of the most affordable services around. A days rental during the low season discount tickets sea world could cost less than a trip to the movies for 2 and less than 1/2 it would cost to rent a jet-ski at a beach resort for just 30 minutes. Keep it in perspective
I absolutely agree with points in this article. I rented an SUV through Enterprise her in Iowa. I was traveling, opened discount tickets sea world the glove compartment box, and saw the person discount tickets sea world before me had paid $30 less a day. Seems crazy. Thanks for these helpful discount tickets sea world tips!
What s your problem? If you're having trouble with a business - any business discount tickets sea world - and you've reached a dead end, maybe I can help. Send me an email and I'll investigate. (I can't promise a fix, but I take every request seriously.) If you want to connect with other consumers, why not sign up for my free weekly newsletter , RSS feed or free daily email updates ?
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