JOHN_JOHN_JOHN

"Elite" status is a slap in the face to all customers. If the rental company is capable of offering that level of service, then that level of service should be the norm, at the non-elite price, and available to all customers. Elite members shouldn't have to pay extra for it. And non-elite customers shouldn't be subjected to inferior service just because they don't have elite status.

I've never liked dealing with the staff either. Many of the times I've done it in the US I've had to deal with foreigners who speak very poor English, and just don't seem to care at all about giving even a basic level of customer service. I don't expect much when renting a car, but being able to understand the agent does matter to me, as does them showing even a slight amount of interest in making it a tolerable experience for the customers.

It's even worse when the vehicle you reserved days before isn't there, but there are several equivalent vehicles on the lot, and no other customers obviously waiting for them, yet the rental agents insist those vehicles aren't available. I've had problems with a well known national brand. The problem I had wasn't obvious unless going at freeway speeds. A replacement may have been available, but that would have cut into the rental time, which just isn't an option when there are places to be and things to do on a tight deadline. And I just can't trust these companies to honor whatever damage waivers or insurance they might offer. I don't want to waste my time arguing this crap with the foreigners who often work as agents at the rental counters.