Frustrating consumer experience with Enterprise

[rog1187]

So I'm taking 3 kids (7 people total) to the Polar Express on Saturday and thought it would be great to rent a van so we could all travel together. I was hoping to get one with a DVD player so the kids could watch a movie on the ride to and from. Stopped by the Enterprise on the Mileground to see what they had on the lot and guy behind the counter said they couldn't promise anything - didn't offer to even look in the computer or on the lot to see if what they had or if it was possible. He let a ready-to-buy customer walk right out the door with a bad experience. Even if he didn't have one...at least make the effort.

 

[DvlDog4WVU]

So I'm taking 3 kids (7 people total) to the Polar Express on Saturday and thought it would be great to rent a van so we could all travel together. I was hoping to get one with a DVD player so the kids could watch a movie on the ride to and from. Stopped by the Enterprise on the Mileground to see what they had on the lot and guy behind the counter said they couldn't promise anything - didn't offer to even look in the computer or on the lot to see if what they had or if it was possible. He let a ready-to-buy customer walk right out the door with a bad experience. Even if he didn't have one...at least make the effort.

So spend a large amount of my life in rental cars. I can empathize. He certainly could have explained it better to you, but in general you can request a type of vehicle not a specific vehicle. The reason he couldn't promise you one or even bother to look is that everything they have on the lot is first come first serve by type.

 

[op2]

So I'm taking 3 kids (7 people total) to the Polar Express on Saturday and thought it would be great to rent a van so we could all travel together. I was hoping to get one with a DVD player so the kids could watch a movie on the ride to and from. Stopped by the Enterprise on the Mileground to see what they had on the lot and guy behind the counter said they couldn't promise anything - didn't offer to even look in the computer or on the lot to see if what they had or if it was possible. He let a ready-to-buy customer walk right out the door with a bad experience. Even if he didn't have one...at least make the effort.

Where is the movie playing and where are you? My initial thought is, the movie is in town, 10 minutes away or whatever, pack the kids in a car, two if necessary, drive 10 minutes and see the movie. Why would you need to rent a car with a DVD player for that? Are you driving from Motown to Pittsburgh to see the movie or something?

 

[COOL MAN]

I agree with DD as to their "first come first served" approach for a walk-up customer; had you actually gone to the trouble (and it doesn't sound as though you did this) to reserve a minivan......not sure if they rent full-size vans......then your expectations would (and should) have been substantially higher.

OTOH, I agree the kid probably could have worked a little harder for you; though, to be honest, my own experience regarding the helpfulness of Enterprise (who I admit to only using on occasion) associates is actually pretty decent. But I don't see how tough it would have been for the kid to simply tell you that your selection wasn't available.

Another problem is that even if they had the minivan you (theoretically) wanted parked out front and available for rent, there's probably only a middling likelihood the unit in question would be equipped with the DVD player you wanted.

 

[WVUCOOPER]

Where is the movie playing and where are you? My initial thought is, the movie is in town, 10 minutes away or whatever, pack the kids in a car, two if necessary, drive 10 minutes and see the movie. Why would you need to rent a car with a DVD player for that? Are you driving from Motown to Pittsburgh to see the movie or something?

Polar Express is a train ride, not the movie. It's in the mountains and a pretty good drive from Rog's town, so he wanted to show a movie to the young kids on the drive to and fro.

 

[bornaneer]

Polar Express is a train ride, not the movie. It's in the mountains and a pretty good drive from Rog's town, so he wanted to show a movie to the young kids on the drive to and fro.

Cumberland area train? And have you done it before and if you have what are your thoughts? Thanks in advance.

 

[DvlDog4WVU]

Cumberland area train? And have you done it before and if you have what are your thoughts? Thanks in advance.

Cass Railroad. Board it out of Elkins I think. We are taking our girls next year. You need to book the trip months in advance because it fills up.

You are probably middle of the road between the Cass RR and the ones in PA

 

[WVUCOOPER]

Cass Railroad. Board it out of Elkins I think. We are taking our girls next year. You need to book the trip months in advance because it fills up.

You are probably middle of the road between the Cass RR and the ones in PA

^^ What he said.

 

[Mntneer]

I agree with DD as to their "first come first served" approach for a walk-up customer; had you actually gone to the trouble (and it doesn't sound as though you did this) to reserve a minivan......not sure if they rent full-size vans......then your expectations would (and should) have been substantially higher.

OTOH, I agree the kid probably could have worked a little harder for you; though, to be honest, my own experience regarding the helpfulness of Enterprise (who I admit to only using on occasion) associates is actually pretty decent. But I don't see how tough it would have been for the kid to simply tell you that your selection wasn't available.

Another problem is that even if they had the minivan you (theoretically) wanted parked out front and available for rent, there's probably only a middling likelihood the unit in question would be equipped with the DVD player you wanted.

 

[WhiteTailEER]

Cass Railroad. Board it out of Elkins I think. We are taking our girls next year. You need to book the trip months in advance because it fills up.

You are probably middle of the road between the Cass RR and the ones in PA

If you're boarding out of Elkins, you are getting on the Tygart Flyer. Cass is significantly further south.

There's also the Durbin Rocket (20 min south of Elkins) and the Cheat Mountain Salamander, all in relatively close proximity. The Cheat Mountain Salamander and Cass RR end up at the same place at the top of the mountain but take different routes getting there. (I think it's Cass, 95% sure)

The Tygart Flyer out of Elkins is the only one of those trains that approximates the types of cars in the Polar Express movie. I don't know if they do it for the Polar Express, but you can even board the Tygart Flyer in Belington and ride it down to Elkins and then on out from there.

 

[bornaneer]

If you're boarding out of Elkins, you are getting on the Tygart Flyer. Cass is significantly further south.

There's also the Durbin Rocket (20 min south of Elkins) and the Cheat Mountain Salamander, all in relatively close proximity. The Cheat Mountain Salamander and Cass RR end up at the same place at the top of the mountain but take different routes getting there. (I think it's Cass, 95% sure)

The Tygart Flyer out of Elkins is the only one of those trains that approximates the types of cars in the Polar Express movie. I don't know if they do it for the Polar Express, but you can even board the Tygart Flyer in Belington and ride it down to Elkins and then on out from there.

We have done the Cass Railroad that goes to the top of the Mountain. We have also done the Potomac Eagle Train that departs from Romney. Kids enjoyed both.

 

[WhiteTailEER]

We have done the Cass Railroad that goes to the top of the Mountain. We have also done the Potomac Eagle Train that departs from Romney. Kids enjoyed both.

The Potomac Eagle is the only one in the state that I haven't done.

I live relatively close to the others and my son was really into trains when he was little, so we did all of the others. We also went to PA to a Thomas the Tank Engine thing when he was little. It was a full-size train made up to look like Thomas. They had a nice train museum and another place with a nice model train layout. It was in Strasburg, PA, if I remember correctly.

 

[mule_eer]

The Potomac Eagle is the only one in the state that I haven't done.

I live relatively close to the others and my son was really into trains when he was little, so we did all of the others. We also went to PA to a Thomas the Tank Engine thing when he was little. It was a full-size train made up to look like Thomas. They had a nice train museum and another place with a nice model train layout. It was in Strasburg, PA, if I remember correctly.

I have major issues with Thomas the Train. The issues are entirely based on my summary of every episode of that show: Thomas ignores all advice and/or instructions he's given, completely fowls everything up, finally decides to listen to the good advice he got at the start, apologizes, and does the right thing finally. Mind you, he gets praise for doing this over and over again. I think he's a plot by the Brits to screw up American society. They haven't forgotten about that insubordination in 1776.

 

[WhiteTailEER]

I have major issues with Thomas the Train. The issues are entirely based on my summary of every episode of that show: Thomas ignores all advice and/or instructions he's given, completely fowls everything up, finally decides to listen to the good advice he got at the start, apologizes, and does the right thing finally. Mind you, he gets praise for doing this over and over again. I think he's a plot by the Brits to screw up American society. They haven't forgotten about that insubordination in 1776.

LOL.

My son didn't really watch many of the shows, but got into the little wood train set and all of that. We would look for deals at yard sales and stuff like that, so he had tons and tons of that wooden track and nearly all of the trains.

BTW, It isn't Thomas the Train, it's Thomas the Tank Engine ... you're gonna piss off a bunch of 5 year olds calling him the wrong name.

 

[bornaneer]

The Potomac Eagle is the only one in the state that I haven't done.

I live relatively close to the others and my son was really into trains when he was little, so we did all of the others. We also went to PA to a Thomas the Tank Engine thing when he was little. It was a full-size train made up to look like Thomas. They had a nice train museum and another place with a nice model train layout. It was in Strasburg, PA, if I remember correctly.

If you like train museums and visit Baltimore you may want to visit this one, I think its very good. http://www.borail.org/

 

[MikeRafone]

Cool Man nailed re; Enterprise. Reservations are the way to go with them. Enterprise hires a lot of kids fresh out of college, you're lucky if you find someone who knows what's on the lot during peak travel seasons. Call a few days early if you've got the option, talk to the manager about what you you're looking for and they'll generally come up with something close. If not I've found out they're good about discounts on your next rental.

This time of year, they're booked up the wazoo. All of the kiddies got out of school today for the holidays. The Xmas travel season is on. It's one of the worst times of the year to be a walk-in.

My spine still hurts from getting stuck with a Dodge Neon as a walk-in on the Thursday before Labor Day weekend in 2000. Buckboards probably had better suspensions than those crap mobiles. If I hadn't had to get home that night, I'd have walked.

 

[DvlDog4WVU]

If you're boarding out of Elkins, you are getting on the Tygart Flyer. Cass is significantly further south.

There's also the Durbin Rocket (20 min south of Elkins) and the Cheat Mountain Salamander, all in relatively close proximity. The Cheat Mountain Salamander and Cass RR end up at the same place at the top of the mountain but take different routes getting there. (I think it's Cass, 95% sure)

The Tygart Flyer out of Elkins is the only one of those trains that approximates the types of cars in the Polar Express movie. I don't know if they do it for the Polar Express, but you can even board the Tygart Flyer in Belington and ride it down to Elkins and then on out from there.

Ill defer to you obviously. I just know you board at Elkins. Trains aren't my thing, I have two daughters so we're in to Shimmer and Shine, Dora, and Mickey.

 

[PriddyBoy]

Speaking of Enterprise, I went to the Star Wars movie as a Federation empath. I didn't have to be a real empath to sense angst.

Wow, this thread really went sideways. Planes, trains, automobiles and Star Ships.[laughing]

 

[rog1187]

Where is the movie playing and where are you? My initial thought is, the movie is in town, 10 minutes away or whatever, pack the kids in a car, two if necessary, drive 10 minutes and see the movie. Why would you need to rent a car with a DVD player for that? Are you driving from Motown to Pittsburgh to see the movie or something?

Not a movie, but the train out of Elkins

 

[rog1187]

I agree with DD as to their "first come first served" approach for a walk-up customer; had you actually gone to the trouble (and it doesn't sound as though you did this) to reserve a minivan......not sure if they rent full-size vans......then your expectations would (and should) have been substantially higher.

OTOH, I agree the kid probably could have worked a little harder for you; though, to be honest, my own experience regarding the helpfulness of Enterprise (who I admit to only using on occasion) associates is actually pretty decent. But I don't see how tough it would have been for the kid to simply tell you that your selection wasn't available.

Another problem is that even if they had the minivan you (theoretically) wanted parked out front and available for rent, there's probably only a middling likelihood the unit in question would be equipped with the DVD player you wanted.

I actually had called earlier in the week and asked about a minivan...and they couldn't guarantee a van with a dvd player so I thought I'd stop by closer to the day I wanted to rent it.

 

[COOL MAN]

You know how to make the reservation......you just don't know how to hold the reservation.

 

[COOL MAN]

I actually had called earlier in the week and asked about a minivan...and they couldn't guarantee a van with a dvd player so I thought I'd stop by closer to the day I wanted to rent it.

Compared to competitors like Hertz and (especially) National, Enterprise inventory.....in my experience.....tends to be a little lower on the food chain in terms of features. In the times I've been forced to rent vans from National Emerald Isle.....more often than not Chrysler Town & Countrys......they've typically been fairly well-equipped (usually with Stow-and-Go second rows, leather, and DVD players).

Your situation reminds me of a situation a few years ago when I wanted to rent a minivan to move my son into his college apartment. I specifically wanted a Dodge or (better yet) Chrysler T&C with the Stow-N-Go second row so I could easily fold the seats into the floor (and not have to worry about taking them out). I made a Emerald Isle reservation since they couldn't, under any circumstances, guarantee me a specific make of minivan.

I called the local office on rental day and learned they had a Town & Country on the lot at the time; but they would not hold it for me. In other words, if someone came and selected it before I arrived for pickup, I'd be **** outta' luck.. Fortunately, I was able to get there within 45 minutes and the Chrysler was still available.

 

[MikeRafone]

Lol! I'm always renting from Enterprise in WV to go to Emerald Isle in the summer.

True story, we're staying up towards Indian Beach one year. I wasn't happy that we'd been stuck with an Impala for the trip and made it known before I left. However it was coming up on the 4th and the pickings were slim, so I took it. We were there less than two days when I get a call from the Emerald Isle office. They were offering to swap me a Hyundai Santa Fe for the thing and no fee for the upgrade. (If a Hyundai can be considered an upgrade.) I said I'd be right down. I'm thinking, " I must have put the fear of God into those SOB's."

When I got there I asked what was up. the manager tells me a guy back in WV had rented the Impala the week before, had loved it, and wanted to buy the thing. I go "Old coot?" The manager grins and goes "Yep." So much for me being a tough guy after 50.

I was happy, the coot was happy, and Enterprise was happy. The kid I handed the keys to that was getting ready for that 16 hour round trip? He was kind of pissed. I guess he thought spending the weekend knocking around the beach after hours chasing tail beat two days on the road and a night in scenic South Charleston? Live and learn.