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| U-Haul Sucks, But Where Else Can You Go? |
It was moving time for me and I needed a truck. U-Haul sucks, but where else could I go?
Penske
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| Penske - Doesn't Suck |
My usual go-to. What Penske has that U-Haul doesn't:
- Calling the phone number online will get you directly to the dude working the counter
- Trucks are nicer
- Booking is easier, they don't try to up-sell you
- It's ran like a well oiled machine. Like anything Old Man Penske put his hands on.
Unfortunately, my branch closed for renovations and the nearest available location was 40 miles away
Budget
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| Budget - Doesn't Suck Either |
The backup plan. What does Budget do well that U-Haul doesn't:
- Lower Prices
- Funny signs - The Budget Truck rental on Grand River northwest of Detroit had a permanent sign out front that said "Trucks across the street are more expensive"
- What was across the street? U-Haul. Gotta love it
My local branch was all sold out. Gah.
U-Haul
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| U-Haul Sucks |
What U-Haul does that the other guys don't:
- Calling the number of your local store puts you through to a call center, where a dude unaffiliated with your local (often franchised) branch books or changes reservations that the local branch then un-reserves or changes again
- Make promises they can't enforce remotely from the call center
- Sell you a truck rental that you don't actually have
- Try to up-sell you with every sentence
So I talk to Uhaul Call Center Dude (UCCD) and get my truck all booked. No, I don't want tape. No boxes please. No, I'm sure I don't want boxes. No, I don't need a dolly. No, I don't want tie straps. No, no, no. Just let me book a truck dammit.
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| The U.C.C.D.s |
Okay UCCD says, "you'll get a call at 6PM tomorrow confirming your reservation for the day after." That's weird, why do I need a confirmation call for something that UCCD says is already booked? UCCD says it's just standard practice. Okay, weird.
U-Haul didn't follow through. I received a text message at 8AM from U-Haul
confirming my reservation... the location changed, the time changed. Am I still getting a phone call? I called up the new U-Haul location and was put through to a call center, this time a different UCCD was there to help.
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| U-Haul - Sorry dude, you ain't getting a truck! |
- Axle
