My Review: 2
I think that U-Haul pretty much sucks. It is convenient to have a place where you can rent large trucks and other vehicles which are otherwie unavailable to the average citizen. But in general they suck. Here is a short list of what can (and often does) suck about U-Haul:
- You make a reservation for a rental, and when you come pick it up it is not there. Too bad for you.
- You call to confirm your rental before you come get it and liars assure you that is ready to go. (See #1)
- Boxes are expensive there.
- Rope and tape are even more expensive.
- Sometimes you crash into things with a large truck. (Never happened to me, but several friends have had incidents. Truthfully that one can’t really be blamed on the no-talent ass-clowns at U-Haul – any large truck might cause similar issues.)
- They keep older trucks in their fleet; older trucks with no air conditioning that you get to drive when it’s hot outside. That sucks.
- Their staff is slow and incompetent – especially at large U-Haul central locations.
- The small, independent gas station affiliates are difficult to deal with and have small parking lots that are difficult to maneuver.
The only thing I kind of like about U-Haul is their color: orange is a sweet color. For that reason alone they avoid the low grade of 1, treading the murky water of poor performance and keeping their lips barely above the suffocating water line with a narrowly achieved 2.
{ 2 } Comments
Haha. Wow people like you give a whole new name to whiny idiots who blame companies for issues that are almost unavoidable considering the nature of the business and the nature of the people who rent the trucks.
Obviously, its a big bummer to make a reservation on a truck and find out the spot you made the res for doesn’t have it. It’s happened to me a few times actually, but I ALWAYS get a truck, albeit with some slight inconvience.
It seems like some dealers are better than others about making the calls when they need to and getting the customer the info they need.
In points 3 & 4 you are flat-out whining. If it’s ‘too expensive’ and you can’t reach the ‘OMG it’s expensive’ Police; maybe that tells you something. You (as a customer) have a choice when it comes to all those things. You can’t blame U-Haul for trying to run a business. Call a moving company next time if you think you have any concept of expense.
Point 5 is no one’s fault but the boneheads who try to save a buck and move themselves in a truck they obviously couldn’t handle. Things do happen I’m sure where some U-Haul guy doesn’t hook something up right or something gets overlooked (afterall, we are talking about people)–but blaming U-Haul because they rent big trucks to people who wreck them has nothing to do with U-Haul. If you wreck the truck and act like it’s U-Haul’s fault, you are an idiot. You are the person behind the wheel afterall. Use your head.
Point 6 is valid, but it isn’t like it’s U-Haul’s policy to disrupt working A/Cs or to keep old trucks that just flat-out don’t have them. If something breaks, it’s up to the person working the counter to make the calls and get the truck fixed. You can’t blame a whole company for the laziness of one guy. The trucks are most often (in my best estimation) abused to the max by careless customers who use it just like a Kleenex. Unfortunately when you are driving a truck that has been used many, many times for heavy work by countless individuals (many who abuse the truck FULLY) something is bound to go out on it once in a while. You can’t blame them for your A/C going out mid-trip. You can call the customer service and ask for a discount, and I’m sure they would oblige due to the discomfort. Hell they might even have you pull over and have someone come out and get it going. I’m not sure to what extent they would take it, but I’m absolutely positive they would seek to make you happy. I’ve never had this issue. I’ve rented HUNDREDs (literally) of times and not once have I had a heater or A/C problem. I chalk most of that to luck honestly, because I’m aware it happens. I don’t blame that on U-Haul anymore than I would not blame it on myself if the one in my car went out.
Point 7 is a bias generalization that is COMPLETELY untrue. The business is catering to the SELF-HELP market. Even if you know of a handful of U-Haul places that you consider incompetent, there are many more certainly more capable than you of renting the equipment U-Haul offers. Helpful and knowledgeable people. Even if they weren’t–you either can move yourself or you can’t. Most people I’ve seen (much like myself) have very little to ask of the U-Haul person themselves. Read the paperwork, follow the driving tips on all the different signs and pamphlets and I think you can figure most of it out.
Point 8. I don’t even know what you are talking about. Go to QT for Christ’s sake. You can’t complain about something that is an additional service you paid for. If these places are out of your way then there is a pretty simple solution. That service isn’t doing you any good. However, I’m sure you are convieniently leaving out the detail that lets everyone know these small independant affiliates give you a deal on gas you don’t get at the regular stations. I’m just trying to rack my brain for what reason you would complain about these guys when there are a dozen corporate options for gasoline on every main road. If you aren’t getting something out of these small affliates (the benefit you convieniently failed to mention), then why are you going to them?
Point 9 is laughable. Their choice in color has nothing directly to do with their service. The fact you give them points for this is a perfect example of how flawed your rating system is. You give them points for colors used of all things–why should anyone care at that point what reasons you took points away for?
There are many options for truck rental. Go to any of the big three and the service is almost identical. It’s a self-help business. It’s for moving on a budget.
If you can’t handle the size of the truck; the occasional problems that MIGHT arise from a used and abused moving truck; or the prices for supplies—then by all means vote with your money and avoid doing business there.
DON’T blame a company for trying to make money on their tape. Or for providing you with a large truck that can sometimes (much like ANY other vehicle–including bicycles) be wrecked. Things happen, but I believe–much like anyone else who rents trucks—they are out to make you happy, provide you with equipment and make a buck or two in the process. Go buy your own truck or go rent from someone else if you don’t like the way a company does it’s business. Otherwise, try to avoid writing overly negative reviews on websites citing points that blames U-Haul for the stupidity of yourself and others.
Price is all that really matters anyway in this business anyway. All the charges are clear on the paperwork. No hidden fees. There are fees for not returning the truck at the proper fuel level–and I’ve had problems with that before, but it’s a fairly easy thing to understand and follow.
U-Haul gets a 7/10 from me. I think that is reasonable. I’m open to disagreement, but only considering valid points. People will have all varieties of horrible mishaps that might make them give a review much like yours–but that’s better than citing points like yours.
Wow, @Mark, you get a 10 out of 10 for writing the longest comment of all time on my blog. Even if you did call me whiner. Thanks for reading.
Post a Comment