rental cars

[kentak]

I just got back from a trip to California where I had planned to use my ique, charge my phone, etc. Unfortunately Alamo disconnects their cigarette lighter sockets! When I asked about it they kept telling it was a no smoking car. Are these guys kidding? How many other rental companies do that?

Ken

[philippz]

that's the last time I'm renting with Alamo!

[ezjeeper]

All they have to do is take the cigarette lighter! They could leave the auxiliary plug connected. Not many people I know carry a car cigarette lighter around, just-in-case the rental doesn't have one!

Give me a break! People have lots of other items that require the plug. What about charging your cell phone, or running your laptop, and of course the IQue? I rely on the plug when I travel since I am coming from overseas, I can't charge my cell in my hotel room, I have to use the car plug.

Guess I won't be using Alamo any more either.

[Ken in Regina]

Most of them do. I ran into this in Calgary .. went through three Budget cars before they got me one that someone had forgotten to disconnect. They gave me some song and dance about the power socket in some cars being in places where some people's cars have the ignition switch and the lawyers were afraid that people will try to stick the key into the power socket without thinking about it, zap themselves and sue the rental company.
:rolleyes:

[apersson850]

Geeee!

Do you know the difference between a run-over badger and a run-over lawyer?

There are skid marks in front of the badger. :p

[0gopogo]

:)

And how can you tell the difference between a dead badger and a dead lawyer on the road?

The vultures aren't gagging over the badger.

---

Do you know how to save a drowning lawyer?

Take your foot off his head.

---

When attorneys die, why do they bury them 600 feet underground?

Because deep down, they're really nice guys.

---

Thanks for the heads up. Glad I did not rent from Alamo for years. And I guess I was lucky that the last Budget car I rented in San Francisco in June was OK.

On the other hand, if there really were/are people stupid enough to confuse the cig lighter with the ignition switch - excuse me? We get the lawyers we deserve...

[bamb_i]

Said in another post (http://www.pdastreet.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=50977) ...and saying it here too! Thanks for the good start to my day. A laughing out loud start!

[tenortwo]

Q: You are in a room with a tiger, a rattlesnake, and a lawyer. You have a gun with two bullets. What do you do?

A: Shoot the lawyer twice.

[Roofrat]

Getting back on topic (sorry) ...

The following post ended up in another thread, but I believe belongs here ...

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Red Baron: I just returned from Lubbock, Texas yesterday and rented from Alamo. My plug worked.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is one of my pet peeves. In todays age of dependence on portable electronics (cell phones, PDA's, etc.), especially while travelling, I cannot understand the mentality of disabling the power outlets in rental cars. I never know if my car is going to have one that works or not until I get in and plug in. And by that time, I'm usually in too big a hurry to do anything about it. And we all know about using the iQue with the travel kit while navigating in the car ... without an external power source, we're lucky to arrive at our destination before Betty poops out.

So hopefully Alamo is wisening up - I hope they all will eventually.

[ScottyDont]

My last few rentals with Enterprise were problem-free. Excellent company to deal with IMHO, and they don't disable their power ports.

Oh, and for you gadget types (isn't that EVERYBODY here?), they are now renting the Toyota Prius in some markets. I got one in San Francisco and was amazed at the great gas mileage and overall good utility of the car. Plus, it's like driving in a video game with all the quirky buttons, displays and features.

[The Swede]

I was just in contact with customer service at Alamo, since my rental company in Sweden partners with alamo. This is the reply I got from their CS-rep.:
Thank you for your email inquiry.
"Rumors are not facts. No we did not disconnect the lighters in the cars. All
our vehicles come equipped with manufacture standard features, therefore if
it is a standard feature in the car, your will get a car with a cigarette
light in it or you may request it upon arrival and they are all 12v.
Should you need further assistance, please feel free to contact us again.
Sincerely,
Lydia W.

Alamo International Internet"

[Bokkie]

Originally posted by The Swede
Should you need further assistance, please feel free to contact us again.
Sincerely,
Lydia W.

Alamo International Internet"

That sounded kind of terse but not unexpected. Our company has a PA called Lydia W who though she is PA to the chief honcho, everyone knows, including her, that it is really she who runs the company! I think every company needs a Lydia W.

[The Swede]

Honcho? I like that word! Sure going to call my boss "honcho" staring tomorrow :p

Our head-honcho is called Ingvar Kamprad. He would never hire a PA. It costs too much. :p

[kentak]

I sent an email to Alamo, very similar to the note which started off this thread. They replied that they were disappointed that their policy inconvenienced me and that they would consider my remarks in the future. Not a very satisfying response. No more Alamo for me! By the way, I had three different Alamo cars on that trip and the lighter socket didn't work in any of them.

Ken

[Ken in Regina]

It appears that Lydia W. at Alamo is blowing smoke up The Swede's skirt.

[dough333]

I travel every week for work and, naturally, take the iQue with me. My company rents from Hertz and I've never had a problem with the power plugs in any of the cars I've had. And I've been in quite a few cars, believe me!

I would be surprised if Alamo actually fiddled with the wiring of the socket. Most likely they just removed the fuse for the socket. If anyone runs into this situation, check the fuse box and maybe carry a couple of 15amp minis with you.

CD
last seen: N37* 24’23.2” W121* 56’55.3”

[prjohnsonjr]

When renting a car, that's probably the first thing I check. I've used Dollar and Avis and have found that when the cigarette lighter didn't work, they were very accomodating in substituting a vehicle with a working cirgarette lighter. I do find that happens occasionally, and some companies, "Try Harder."


Paul

[Dave in Phoenix]

While Alamo now has the same parent company as National, I find National is almost always lower cost both in the U.S. and in Ontario Canada. I've had National cars with the lighter thingy removed but never with the plug in not working. I will watch for that in the future.

Sometimes Hertz is the less costly rental in some cities, and I've always found there plugs working also.

Good to know what we should check for. I would be upset if I did get a car without a working plug.