A Question?

6/28/2002

[CreekerFreeper]

I have meet with an interesting dilemma...I had a U-Haul rental truck reserved (with a confirmation number) for a month. Today, I received a telephone and told that I could not get a truck; that there were none available, even though I had a confirmation number guaranteeing me a truck for use on Saturday.

The long and short of the matter is that I scrambled to find another truck. Well, it came as a shock to find there was not a single truck for rent in a 50 mile radius of my location. In fact, I check numerous places throughout the state and NOTHING.

But, when I called Budget Truck Rental, I was told an interesting little tidbit by the Customer Service Representative...she told me that if I were looking for a one-way, i.e. city-to-city, move, then I was out of luck. But, if I intended to move locally (within the city) then I could probably find something. So, I thanked her and hung up. In short, I recalled the other truck rental companies and the story was the same as the one at Budget.

Not to sound like a conspiracy nut, but I find it peculiar that no single truck rental company have one-way rentals, but do have the hope of local rental. The companies are blaming it on the time of year, but I am beginning to feel it has something to do with the threats of terrorist attack on the July 4th holiday.

I was just wondering if any other Freepers have experienced the same problem this week/weekend. Just wanting to know?

[The Other Harry]

The truck rental business is very complicated.

For one thing, the local agencies are generally franchisees. They have very little control over whether a truck actually will be available. People don't always return them when they're supposed to.

For another thing, your post does not qualify as news. If does not belong here.

[mfreddy]

They're going to start sending you tin foil, get ready. seriously, this is the weekend all college dorms (in KS and MO anyway)have to be vacated. I was supposed to move a piano this weekend and was told this is one of the two busiest weeks of the year. EVERY YEAR.

[CreekerFreeper]

Here are some of the topics I checked:

Miscellaneous
Unclassified
Your Opinion/Questions

So, I think it's allowable. But, if you don't like it, don't read it. I was just asking a simple question, putz.

[CreekerFreeper]

Thanks. But, my disgust at the whole deal is the fact that I have a confirmation and a charge to my credit card. No more business with U-Haul.

[Kermit]

So much for a guarantee. What does it mean then?

One ways are tougher, because then the local office has to get another truch, either through random chance that some one rents into the area or they have to have one trailered in.

I don't know how it is any more, but June (and into the first weekend into July;^)) was the busiest time for moving. So I don't believe it has anything to do with the terrorist threat (save your tinfoil for the trout).

[alisasny]

Maybe they were just out of trucks.....we all f up at time to time...deal with it and move on.....otherwise you get the TIN FOIL man or lady of the week award...

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

This thread was poted in 'your opinion questions' and I see no reason why you were so harsh.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

This thread was posted in 'your opinion questions' and I see no reason why you were so harsh.

[LowOiL]

It is odd but certain times of the year, you can rent a truck to somewhere and it cost a fortune, but if you check the opposite way it is relatively cheap. Shipping from point A to B can can sometimes cost triple the costs of going from B to A.

Supply and Demand, human migration patterns.

[The Other Harry]

This thread was posted in 'your opinion questions' and I see no reason why you were so harsh.

I'm just like that.

I think the local agencies make more money if they can get the truck back (from a local rental) and then rent it out again. They tend not to like doing one-ways.

It also depends on where you live, time of year, etc.

One thing I can tell you: Most of the reputable outfits will give you a free upgrade in truck size if the truck you reserved is not available. You may need to get a bit bitchy to get it, but somethimes they can come up with something.

Another thing you can do is lie. Tell 'em it's a local, then don't return it at the same location. I'd check on the penalties in the contract before doing this. Play dumb.

Good luck!

[The Other Harry]

Btw, I've had the best luck with Ryder and the worst luck with U-Haul. Penske seems okay too (not sure).

[ErnBatavia]

For another thing, your post does not qualify as news. If does not belong here.

Dear Teacher: I found this thread on "Humor", not "News"........it's guys like you that tend to sour Freep just a little bit; just bite your lip and read (or bypass, or whatever), OK?

[piasa]

Penske's good in my experience.

[LostThread]

too bad they dont let ya rent the "brown truck"
People love the brown truck!

[adversarial]

This thread was poted in 'your opinion questions' and I see no reason why you were so harsh.

because he's a putz (see post #4)

[Hazzardgate]

If I were you I would stay at home

[Deb]

Don't most people move during the summer, when the kids are outta school?

[Slyfox]

Last summer we totaled our trailer in Iowa. We had to remove all of our belongings and rent a truck to haul it all to a self-storage unit. While we were at U-Haul waiting for a local truck, a college student came in and found out the one-way truck that she had secured over the internet was not available. Boy, was she hopping mad. The manager finally said, "I can't help it ma'am we have no control over the internet stuff." Later, as we finally secured a "local" truck, the manager told us that everyone seems to be leaving Iowa and no one seems to be moving in, hence, no one-way trucks.

Besides the one-way truck problem, there seems to be a huge disconnect between what is stated on their website and the individual places of business.

[PaddyPhelan]

JERRY: I don't understand. I made a reservation. Do you have my reservation?
RENTAL ASSISTANT: Yes we do. Unfortunately we ran out of cars.
JERRY: But the reservation keeps the car here, that's why you have the reservation!
RENTAL ASSISTANT: I know why we have reservations.
JERRY: I don't think you do. If you did, I would have a car. You see, you know how to take the reservation, you just don't know how to hold the reservation. And that's really the most important part of the reservation: the holding. Anybody can just take them.

http://my.ohio.voyager.net/~sh oemake/sounds/sein/sein-jerry-eserve.wav