WTF Avis?

[fbhjr]

Tomorrow I’m doing a day trip to Cincinnati.  I’m flying out at 6:30,
spending 2 hours at the factory there and then flying home for about 10PM.
As it is only 5 hours 9 minutes between when I land and take off again, it
is an hour to the factory from the airport and I’ve got to go through
security on the way back, I’m going to be pressed for time.

Back when Phoenix Swords used to spend $2-$3k a year on rental cars, I set
us up as a corporate customer with Avis.  (They used to have the best price
on rental vans when we used them to drive to the southern shows.  They have
since stopped renting the bigger vans.)
So, anyone with Phoenix Swords who wants to be a “preferred customer” can
do so just for asking.  (Assuming I give your our company ID.)

This doesn’t get you a whole lot.  You might get a discount, but often you
can get one as good or better through other booking sites.

The only real advantage is you don’t have to fill out any paperwork when
you get a rental car.  Show your license and Avis card, they hand you the
keys and off you go.

I want that for tomorrow, but Orbits didn’t have the option to add my Avis
number when I made the reservation.

“No worries,” I thought.  “I’ll just log onto the Avis site and add it.”
But, they have no way of doing that if it isn’t already linked.
“No worries,” I thought.  “I’ll just call their customer service people and
have them add it.”

I called the “preferred member help” number on the back of my Avis card.
The number had been disconnected.

“Well, I’ve had the card for 7 years,” I thought.  “They’ve probably
changed the number.  I’ll just call the main customer service number on
their web site.”
The main customer service number on the Avis web site goes to a law firm
number for a class action suit about neck injuries.

“OK, I’ll just call the branch office in Dayton where I’m getting the car,”
I thought.
I looked it up on Big Yellow and called.
“The number you have reached is disconnected,” the computer voice told me.
“But, AT&T will reroute you to a similar business in the area for free.
Please indicate which business you are after.”
“Avis,” I told it.

And, I got through.  I added my preferred number to the reservation and the
woman at the other end assures me there will be a car waiting for me
tomorrow morning.
I hope that’s true.
If I had to play corporate hide and seek just to add my customer number to
a reservation, imagine what it would be like if I actually had to complain…

Comments

[malterre.livejournal.com]

I hope you have a car as well...

[evrgreen.livejournal.com]

I am hoping that you don't have a rental car parking lot experience like Steve MArtin had in "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" (still one of my favorite movies, but NOT an experience I would wish on ANYONE!!)

Good luck!

[brickhousewench.livejournal.com]

Wow, what happened to "We're number two so we try harder?"????

[palusbuteo.livejournal.com]

Wow, yeah, number zero but we want to try harder to make you fed up as a customer :P

[pallid-regina.livejournal.com]

I will wave at you on your whirlwind near-to-me trip!

[morgan-lafaye.livejournal.com]

I hope for their sake, they have a car waiting for you.