Enterprise fail...

HaveGun · Jul 13, 2020

I have to drive to SeaTac on Thursday to pick up my daughter, her husband, and three grandkids and drive them back to this side of the state. They are in the middle of a PCS and will have 6 giant duffel bags, plus all the strollers and other crap needed to survive a 12-hour flight.

Not enough room for everyone plus all their gear in any vehicle I have access to. So I reserved a 15-passenger van from Enterprise over a month ago. I pick it up from the local airport Thursday morning with my dad, then we drive 300 miles to Seattle, load up, then drive 300 miles back the same day.

Enterprise called me this morning and informed me that they wouldn't have a vehicle available in time. WTF?? I reserved it over a month ago and that's not enough time to get one available, and then you wait until 3 days before the move to let me know??

I freaking hate incompetence!

I was told they could rent me two 8-passenger vehicles instead. So, I have to pay for twice the amount of gas for a 600-mile trip? That's $125 for one vehicle. The rental was $160. So they expected me to pay an extra $125 out of pocket due to their incompetence.

I said a single 8-passenger vehicle will work, but I will have to use my utility trailer in order to fit all of the gear. Nope. Towing isn't allowed with Enterprise vehicles. I asked how will they know I towed anything with it. Good point. He will make sure the vehicle I pick up Thursday will have a tow package.

At least I will able to make it work, now. But I don't relish the idea of using my own utility trailer for 600 miles and into the belly of Seattle, but whatever.

Certaindeaf · Jul 13, 2020

This is why I teleport everywhere.

bigbearbear · Jul 13, 2020

Don't do it. If you tow and the contract specifically says no towing, and you damage the vehicle somehow, insurance will not pay for it. You'll be in a world of hurt as car rental companies charge a huge amount even for minor damages.

Get the 2 vehicle deal they offered instead.

DivCurlGrad72 · Jul 13, 2020

sobo · Jul 13, 2020

HaveGun said:
into the belly of Seattle, but whatever.

On the bright side, you won't actually be in the belly of Seattle at SEA-TAC. It's a good 10 miles or so south of the beast's downtown, if that's any consolation...

To avoid most of the Seattle bullbubblegum, take I-90 to SR-18 (Exit 25), then SR-18 up over Tiger Mountain to Covington, then get SR-516 in Covington and head to Kent, and then from Kent to SEA-TAC. You'll be approaching the airport from the south, avoiding Seattle altogether.

It's not gonna be interstate free-sailin', but you'll avoid the belly of the beast.

HaveGun · Jul 13, 2020

sobo said:
On the bright side, you won't actually be in the belly of Seattle at SEA-TAC. It's a good 10 miles or so south of the beast's downtown, if that's any consolation...

But I'll probably still be able to smell it...

sobo · Jul 13, 2020

Ooooooooooh, yeah...

HaveGun · Jul 13, 2020

And they are bringing their sociopathic cat in a carrier. I asked if it was OK to transport the cat on the roof, AKA Romney-style. My daughter did not find that amusing.

sobo · Jul 13, 2020

"Poor little guy... Probably kept up with you for a mile or so..."

Devneck · Jul 13, 2020

I once, uh ... knew this guy ... who rented a van for a trip to the Oregon coast for 10 days camping trip and crabbing. His kids played in the ocean and left soaked clothes in the van overnight ... smelled like fish pretty bad.

Night before ... he ... returned it. Soaked the carpet and covered in coffee grounds overnight. Vacuumed it all up next morning. I'll be damned if the fish smell was overwhelmed enough with coffee they never charged for extra cleaning.

L84Cabo · Jul 13, 2020

Escalate. Cause that's B.S.

Ask for a manger and then ask for the manager above that if you have to. The least they can do is throw you two vehicles for what the one would have cost you. But before you call them, call Hertz and the rest and see if anyone has a rig that will work. Just in case.