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how is your experience with payless car rental in vegas?

Discussion in 'Getting There & Getting Around' started by random512, Nov 25, 2016.

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  1. random512

    random512 Low-Roller

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    How is your experience with Payless car rental? They seem to have the cheapest rates. For example, $22/day for a full size rental but they only have 1.5* on Yelp based on 500+ reviews which seems pretty bad. Other car renters charge over twice as much. Should I avoid Payless? Do you have a particular car renter that you always try to use in Vegas?
     
  2. M0rtyC

    M0rtyC TBD

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    I've rented from them a couple times in the last few years never had an issue

    They are owned by avis/budget group so they are legit
     
  3. bruceb

    bruceb Low-Roller

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  4. Foos

    Foos High-Roller

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    Do Not Sign the contract unless and until it says the same amount as your reservation, they will say that it will be fixed when you return....do not fall for that.
    This goes for all the companies but Payless is the worst with the up-selling spiel, if you do that you shouldn't have any problems
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  5. mescalita

    mescalita old and in the way...

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    Foos is absolutely correct about making sure your contract total matches your reservation price. We use Payless once in a while - I always smile and tell them right away that I will be declining everything extra, including the "mandatory" roadside assistance. They do have the best prices for many of our trips, but they don't have an "express" option, so most times I'll spend a few bucks extra at Dollar in order to bypass any counter lines. Every minute spent standing in line is a couple less hands of blackjack for me to enjoy....
     
    Last edited: Nov 25, 2016
  6. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    I use payless once and a while. Yes, their rates are some of the lowest in vegas. Some things to be aware of:

    Lines at the counter may be long depending on what time you arrive. Even though the other car agencies go quickly payless seems to take a little longer. I think it took close to an hour to get processed but that was because there were about 15 people in line with only 1 or 2 clerks working.

    There is NO (or very little) selection on cars, you get what is available and if you don't like it you may have to wait until someone returns their car. In fact one time a family waited over an hour for the previous renter to return their car. I was lucky because my rental was already available when I went outside. Don't hope for a free upgrade because that isn't likely to happen (not impossible though, it happened once or twice to me).

    As others have mentioned, check your bill with a fine toothed comb. If the $$ amount isn't the exact amount as the amount quoted when you made your reservation then check your bill for some bogus charge. Once they charged me for the roadside assistance and when I asked why the clerk said that it was mandatory. I couldn't complain (they said no manager was present) but after I got home I called my cc company and had the bogus charge backed out of my bill.

    I will use payless but most times I find just as good rates when I go through Costco so rather go through them because they go through the bigger national chains like Alamo and Budget.
     
  7. duffer1991

    duffer1991 Whale

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    Everything that I read above is correct. I just want to add a few thoughts/experiences of my own:

    1) REFUSE TO SIGN UNTIL THE AMOUNT IS THE SAME AS YOUR PAID RESERVATION: I use Payless every time I go to Las Vegas and know what to look for. Yes, they will insist on mandatory roadside assistance. Be polite but firm that you refuse to pay for it. As an aside, I once had my Payless car break down the first day and the emergency roadside number told me to call the airport location directly. I left messages all day and not one call was returned. I drove the car in 110 degree weather to the return and most likely damaged the engine, but that was not my fault.

    2) MAKE SURE THEY DONT INCLUDE THE 'OPTIONAL REFUELING CHARGE": There was a woman at the counter who told me the amount was higher than my reservation because they include the optional refueling charge but that it would be deducted if I return the car filled. DO NOT FALL FOR IT. I refused and she removed it.,

    3) DONT FALL FOR THE UPGRADES 'DEALS': I am a big man: 6'4" and 250 lbs. The clerk commented that I reserved a compact car and suggested that such a big man should upgrade because they had a special. She then actually claimed that a larger car has stronger air conditioning and would be worth it because it was 110 degrees outside. I said "no thank you." She kept offering me upgrades until I told her to get her boss. She then told me that she was going to just give me the upgrade for free.

    I thought my charm worked, until I realized they were out of compact cars and had to give me a free upgrade to a Toyota Tacoma. I have to admit that it was really quite clever to try to make me pay for something they would be forced to give me for free.

    4) BABY, IT'S DARK IN THERE: One thing that all of the car rental companies have in common at the Rental Center is the lack of lighting. It is dark on purpose to hide damage to the cars. Use the lights on your phone to really inspect the entire car BEFORE you accept it. Mark damage on the forms and take photos BEFORE you leave. You will be tired from the flights, excited to get to the hotel and casinos, hungry or ready to rest a little. Take the few minutes to check things completely INSIDE AND OUT (I once had a car that was really filthy in the back seat).

    I was talking to/flirting with a couple pretty Midwestern women who were in Las Vegas "to work for the weekend." I knew what they meant and still admired their looks and honesty. When they got into their car, I suggested that they inspect it for damage and I explained why. They let me use my phone light and they saw that someone keyed the length of the car on both sides near the ground. I also showed them that the roof (only in Vegas) has curse words scratched into it. They got another car and offered me a nice time if I want to hang out. I politely declined but enjoy the memory of what might have been.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  8. Rush

    Rush MIA

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    The hookers had a 'scratch and dent sale'?
     
  9. duffer1991

    duffer1991 Whale

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    LOL....I prefer to think of it as my Midwestern charm.... but maybe you are right Rush. If you are downtown on December 13, I will buy you a beer!
     
  10. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    One thing our in-house TA folks have taught us is that in some (many?) markets, like in LV, very few rental agencies have any "economy" cars even though the corporate web sites will allow you to book them. Unless I really need something nicer I'll always book an economy and 9 times out of 8 they will give me a compact or mid-size.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  11. Rush

    Rush MIA

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    That's great to know!

    I booked for 14 days in February, and took the lock-low-and-go rate from Dollar. My thinking was, they never tell you what car to take, just the aisle. I was going to hop in a larger car, and see if the guy at the gate gave a shit?
     
  12. M0rtyC

    M0rtyC TBD

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    And $10 seals the deal
     
  13. smerrian

    smerrian View from Bally's

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    I never had a problem with Payless. I once had a big problem with EZ Car...they had no cars left. It was very Seinfeldian.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
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