Recent reviews of Advantage and Payless rental car

I have to admit....the Payless guy actually make me laugh during our jousting match a few weeks ago.

I had already launched a Rose Bowl Parade Float-load of "NOs" at the guy, but he kept plugging away. I was getting noticeably irritated and he says...

"Are you in a hurry?'

"Listen, I just want to get going."

"Think of it this way, as long as you're here (not in the casino), I'm saving you money."

I did have to laugh - but continued saying no - until I finally had paperwork in hand.

I think he had the final laugh, however....

Stuck us in a nice black car - perfect in the 100 degree sun!

Champster, it saved $80 over the next closest competitor and took all of 10 minutes, so I'd say he was more perturbed about it then I was, especially if he gets a commission on the upsells they do. Took me all of 5 minutes to type out the letter to Payless. We'll see if it results in any response, but I suspect it will. I'd use them again for the savings, but then again, I'd rather put the good dollars on the room and not the car. Not gonna be in the car that much, but do enjoy a beautiful view of the strip when I awake and when I go to sleep

Point well taken Ronnie except for putting "good dollars on the room". I'd prefer to put the savings into seeing Celine Dion at Ceasars

EZ & Payless share rental counter..........and I swear they share schpeels too!
I just booked EZ (for the 2nd time ever) and even though I KNOW the counter person will
try to Upsell me on how much I Need their Ins. and how badly mine will be if something happens, lol,
EZ is still far below Price-wise what everybody else is charging, the next time I'm there.
So ya do, what you gotta do.
Just keep repeating..........no............no.............no..............no.................Sign here. BYE!

One other note....

The last time I used Advantage, I used their early check-in that they call "A-Pass". You get to answer the questions with the standard "no" this way online, less any snappy comeback lines from a pushy counter-dweller.

I made the assumption (incorrectly) that A-Pass worked like the Alamo advance check-in. With that one, you go straight to the car with your printout and avoid any interaction with el-pusho altogether. So to the car I went. Advantage garage guy told me I had to go to the counter anyway. I asked what I had gained with my advance check-in - - he said - - "Not much".

Back I went - not thrilled. You do get to stand in the exclusive "A-Pass" line, which is supposed to jump you ahead of those in the main line. I was standing in that line alone with a spot openned. He was calling someone up from the other line. I did ask very nicely if I was supposed to get in the other line, or was I in fact supposed to have been called first. A different guy - not working the counter at the time - jumped up to process me instead. Brief awkward moment - resolved quickly.

Basically I did get to the counter right away, which was nice. Piercing glares received from those in the main line -who probably had been waiting awhile - not quite so nice.

That all said, remaining processing went MUCH faster. We did what I would call a VERY quick "review" of my no answers. There were no attempts to upsell or anything.....moreso to make sure I understood what I was getting.

So even though it's not quite as slick as I experienced with Alamo, still was a time saver and allowed me to avoid the full-blown sales pitch. Will do it again when I use Advantage - we'll see if the next person tries to heat me up more than this guy did. And, I suppose, if you wanted to remain in the good graces of your fellow travellers, you could simply line up in the main queue!

Sure it wasn't called the pain in the "A-Pass"

Just a couple of quick notes on Payless...I have been renting exclusively from them for the last 5-6 years. Yes, the hard sell is exasperating. Now that they've realized that their scare tactics don't work they have begun frauduently (IMO) charging the "road service" fee. This happened to me only once and I contacted them (after I returned home) and the fee was credited back immediately with an apology and a promise to speak with the employee.LOL! The very next time they tried again and I stopped them dead in their tracks and didn't "ask" them to remove it, I demanded it and they complied with nary a word.

Yes, all of this is aggravating, but saving sometimes more than $100 in rental is worth it to me. Just stay strong and call them on their sh*t. If all else fails sign on the dotted line and take care of it when you get home. I have had a couple of occassions where I've called and had some charges reversed.

My only other advice is to be VERY diligent when you check out the car. In fact, on my next trip in August I am actually bringing a flashlight with me in order to see better. I have had it out with the return staff over non-existent or previously existing damage.

My last comment is that you can come across these issues at ANY car rental place. Just be firm and be cautious.

Hey Now!
4 letters...
AARP!
Alamo was cheaper than anything but Fox.

we've had good luck so far with payless. used to do alamo (quicksilver). had a dollar fling for a while (good coupons). did budget once. (never again). as soon as we have a bad experience, we'll move on, but for now its kinda fun to get their reaction when you ask "do you REALLY think your roadside assistance is a good buy when you can get AAA for 3 months and NO $125 limit for about the same price?"