 Poster: A snowHead
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I was at Frisco (Colorado) and my hired car I picked up from Denver had a leaky tyre. So I stopped into their local branch to see what they could do to help me out. Turned out they had another one just like the one I had and all I had to do was sat there for 10 minutes while awaiting for it to get washed clean and fueled up...
That's when I over-heard a rather heated conversation happening in the far end of the room. A Brit accent also got my attention.
After a few minutes, the picture was rather clear. The gent reserved a full size car WITH SKI RACK. The last bits was emphasized and extra charge were added to include the cost of the ski rack.
However, the reality as the manager explained, there's no way the branch could provide the rack!
The gentlemen was understandably upset. And for a short while I thought he had a point. After all, he specifically requested a rack to be there and it was promised.
But as the manager explained apologetically, the system simply doesn't work!
And it quickly dawn on me he was correct!
Those of you who owned cars that have fitted racks all know... each rack typically have specific fit to a particular model of car!
The way car hire places typically work with numerous cars coming and going. They really don't know too well exactly which particular car will be there on a given day! All they knows is there will be some cars on that day, and at least one of them is big enough to fill the reservation. But not knowing exactly which car will be there that day, they can't possibly locate a rack that would fit that car body.
He apologized over and over again. He offered a bigger car, an SUV that has a split fold down back seat so the skis can go inside the car rather than on the non-existing roof rack, for the same price. But the gentlemen will not (or can not) accept that solution, because he was counting on putting 4 (or 5?) normal size bloke inside the car, which would preclude any spare space for the skis!
I didn't know how it ends because my replacement car was ready at that point.
So, if you're making plans to hire a car in the US and were thinking you really NEED a ski rack, it may simply not be possible, despite what the hire car company promised (and charged)!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@abc, in Europe we use magnetic racks to avoid the problem
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@abc,
What@holidayloverxx says. Magnetic ski racks are universal and is what you get in European rentals.
The customer was right. I feel for the branch manager since the booking system messed him though.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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And I suppose the only other solution then in that case would be to offer a 2nd vehicle for free..
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@abc, On my first ski trip to Colorado in 1988 I hired a car at Denver airport (can't remember the rental company) and the skirack I was supplied with was a magnetic type. It worked well apart from one particularly windy day when there was a strong cross wind and I heard a noise from the roof so I pulled in and checked and the magnetic mounts had moved sideways about an inch or so. I repositioned them and carried on and fortunately there was no more skirack movement problem.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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On second thought, if you really want a SUV, perhaps the way to get it for the cost of a medium size car is to request a ski rack! 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I gave up hiring ski racks in North America many years ago. The hire companies never get the message and even if the rack is available, you have to wait ages for it to be fitted. After having a 'Sorry, no rack!' conversation in Calgary like the one described above, I realised that the only reliable solution is to rent a full sized SUV and chuck the things in the boot instead.
That doesn't always work, though. Last time my so-called full sized SUV was a Hyundai Santa Fe. No room for skis in its tiny boot, so they went on the passengers' laps instead. Not ideal.
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From experience seen, all the ski racks used in the USA have been on SUV's. These already have rails on them and the racks just bolt onto the roof rails. Never used them even though hire cars have had them ( apparently, they often just leave them on if the last person wanted them ) Prefer to just sling the skis inside with a seat reclined.
I would suspect the hire company didn't have any ski racks at all, or he would have offered an SUV with rack. Had he offered a full size SUV, plenty of room for 4 plus skis and luggage possibly 5.
When we were in Canada we had a fullsize SUV, managed to get 6 folks into it one day and their skis inside - saved the group getting the bus back
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Alamo in Calgary took a huge hit when they once failed to give me a ski rack. I got a free upgrade to a new model of uber-gigantic Jeep with just delivery mileage.
After a five hour drive to resort, I saw on the TV news that Jeep had issued a product recall due to electrical issues. I tried my car and it failed to start - the gremlins had hit me. Alamo had to send another car and a recovery truck from Denver to sort me out - two full days labour and nearly 1000 extra miles. That was a very expensive missing ski rack!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Quote: |
| The problem is, if the magnetic rack gives, you lose your skis! Not to mention messing up the roof of the car |
I've had one for about 15 years and used it totally trouble free. If they are mounted on a completely flat part of the car roof they don't give. Their 'magneticness' is incredibly strong - you wouldn't want your fingers in the way when the rack thunks onto the roof!
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Could you imagine how the argument would go if the customer had signed the contract to pay x dollars for the car hire then arrived at teh car hire desk saying because of a system mix up he only had y dollars (y<x). Then offered the difference in Cuban dollrs.
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You know it makes sense.
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| johnE wrote: |
| Could you imagine how the argument would go if the customer had signed the contract to pay x dollars for the car hire then arrived at teh car hire desk saying because of a system mix up he only had y dollars (y<x). Then offered the difference in Cuban dollrs. |
Most likely he'd be offered a smaller car for the y dollars that would cover (if it does cover).
And, if you have Canadian dollar, a Seattle hire agency might be willing to accept it and give you the car you reserved.
Basically, a hire car reservation is an agreement which both side benefits if the contract gets fulfilled. So within their capability, the car hire company will try to fulfill it. Upgrade to a larger car is one of the common practice to make that happen.
So, while the gentleman had an expectation to a full size car with ski racks, that wasn't available. He can either accept something that will do the job, albeit less efficiently. Or he can walk away with his money (refund) and be without a car.
This happens with airlines from time to time (overbooking) and hotels (room has flees) just as often.
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FAQ
) The problem is, if the rack gives, you lose your skis! Not to mention messing up the roof of the car.
