Comments on: Stranded by Fox Car Rental at the Seattle Washington Airport

By: Ava

Ava — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:09:28 +0000

A friend and I had our own interesting experience with Fox, in Seattle, about two weeks ago.
The counter agent apparently thought we were not bright. He became sarcastic and patronizing as we made decisions about his offers, such as our decision to not take out their insurance, to fill up the tank as we returned the car rather than allowing them to do so with their inexpensive gasoline. Then came the upgrade pitch. We should upgrade for $10 a day more on a car with a larger engine than a compact car with a 4 cylinder engine, as it was cheaper to run a larger engine. He could hardly wait to get rid of us as we declined his offers. We decided he did not like us because he got paid over and above for all of the modifications and upgrades. Lo and behold, when we went to the lot, all they had available were “upgrades”. The first, a Toyota Highlander looked great, but no fan or air conditioning. At the gate, they offered to have a mechanic look it over for us. As we considered this their problem and did not want to make it our problem, we declined the car and moved on to the last available one, a shiny, silver Dodge Charger. We nicknamed it the “Silver Bullet”. The transmission periodically clunked, but otherwise we made out just fine. This was a newer model car; I have to wonder about the service on their cars. Interesting note, we upgraded without the sarcasm from the agent or paying their higher rate.
I don’t know who he thought he was fooling. However, I would not have wanted to count on being rescued if we had become stranded. A very non-professional experience with these people, from start to finish. The entire appearance and experience reminds me of a very loose,unstructured and unaccountable operation. I don’t believe I can safely, confidently rent from them, again. Even if I pay more elsewhere.

By: Duane

Duane — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 22:54:36 +0000

Be aware of hidden charges! Rented a car and I added a second driver. No body ever told me by adding a second person it will be an ADDITIONAL $8 A DAY! When attempted to discuss this with them, got the run arounds. No body would listen to my concerns, all they wanted to do is rent the car. Next time, I will go else where. Attempted to talk to their cooperate office, and found Marya to be rude and unprofessional. Look at other places before renting here! Be aware of their rude behaviors. People need to learn there are a lot of other places that would treat people correctly and would appericate their business!

By: jon

jon — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 14:02:56 +0000

I had a similar experience. Right or wrong, I sometimes make 2 car reservations when I travel. In this case I’m glad I did. I landed in Seattle to ski in Whistler. I had an SUV rented with FOX for I believe $29/day. I had a pretty good rate as I had booked months in advance. When I got to FOX they told me this was for a jeep wrangler. I couldnt fit into this car and was unaware this even was an “suv”. They told me I could rent a ford explorer, however it would be $99/day. $99/day!!! They must be kidding!! With fees it would have been almost $1000/wk. I told them I was going to leave and they reduced the rate to I believe $65/day or something like that, but with fees it was still over $500/week. I gathered my things and got back on the shuttle to the airport. (The driver, by the way, was as friendly as could be as you stated) I had reserved a midsize car from dollar for $129/wk. I got on the shuttle for dollar and one of the managers happened to be on the shuttle. I didnt tell him anything about the FOX experience, but he was very friendly and was speaking with all the people on the shuttle. When I got off the shuttle I continued to talk to him while I was at the counter. I asked the agent if they had any bigger cars so I could more easily fit my skis. They said that for $10/day more I could have a subaru outback. So for around $200/week plus fees I had a four wheel drive station wagon with only 1000 miles. What a great experience with dollar.

Having said that, I have had good experiences with FOX. They are one of the few companies that will let you rent one way and I have done so from San Francisco to Las Vegas. The only issue I have had with FOX in the past is the inconvenience of their locations, but it is usually worth it to me to save $100-200 for the cost of the extra 30 minutes to pick up the car.

By: Frederick

Frederick — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 02:51:16 +0000

I too was stranded by Fox. My flight arrived in Seattle (7-2010) about 11 PM. I repeatedly tried calling them on the “courtesy phone”. There was no answer for about an hour, then I finally got someone. That person (female) told me that they had “run out of cars and closed early”. My reservation had been made three months prior. I was not alone in standing on the curb waiting for their shuttle that never came.

The next morning I called their corporate office. The very friendly woman there stated that they had a car for me now, and I could go pick it up. I went. When I got there I was told that the corporate person was wrong and that they had no cars available, and that my only recourse was to rent from someone else, then submit to the Fox corporate office my new rental contract, and MAYBE they would pick up the difference.

They explained to me that reserving a car with them does not actually reserve a car. He said it only holds a price that I could rent for, if they happen to have a car available. (Seriously, they said this.)

I looked in the lot (where there were 3 or 4 cars) and asked if those belonged to them. He said “yes”. I suggested that he give me one of those, as the statement about not having any cars appeared to be false. He said he couldn’t because those were “reserved” for others. He only stammered when trying to explain why those renters had actual cars reserved for them, while my reservation was only to guarantee a price. My guess at the truth is that my rental was for a mid-size, and the cars in the lot were full-size and sports cars (which rent for a bit more than my “reserved price”).

I ended up renting with Thrifty. And although the rental agent there tried excruciatingly hard to get me to buy every add-on they offered (all of which I declined), they did give me a car, and the rest of my Thrifty rental went smoothly.

By: AllyO

AllyO — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:45:50 +0000

We just returned last night from a week in Seattle. I had the unfortunate experience of renting from Fox, also. Had chosen them because of the best on-line rate. What we got instead was a 30-minute wait for the shuttle to their facility (even though we called from the airport), another 45-minute wait at the counter (even though we were the only ones in line with maybe five agents standing there, doing nothing — no joke), and just poor customer service all around. In order to save time, we hadn’t checked any bags but with Fox, we didn’t even leave with the car until nearly two hours after our flight landed. With the additional $100 in fees upon returning the car, we should have just gone w/a reputable on-site (AT the airport) car rental and saved the time and hassle. I don’t plan to ever use Fox again.

By: Jon

Jon — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 02:25:33 +0000

after reading this article I am now worried. I am scheduled to fly into Seattle this next week and have a reservation from Fox Car Rental for a convertable jeep for two weeks at what would be a good rate. However, now I worry about the service I will receive when I arrive at their counter. I guess I should have a backup reservation ready to go just in case.
I will report back here on my experience good or bad with Fox Rental in Seattle when I get home.

By: Monkref

Monkref — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:19:47 +0000

FOX NON-CAR RENTAL (LAX 2/14/10 12AM) STRANDED SEVERAL PEOPLE. THEN TO TOP THEIR PISS-POOR SERVICE OR CARE, THEY TYPED UP A RENTAL AGREEMENT FOR A RENTAL DOWN THE STREET AND SAID THEY WOULD PAY THE DIFFERENCE, WOULD USUALLY MAKE YOU AT LEAST A LITTLE LESS ANGRY. HOWEVER, FOX ALREADY KNEW THAT THE OTHER COMPANY DIDN’T HAVE ANY CARS AS THERE WERE PEOPLE IN LINE IN FRONT AND BEHIND ME FROM THE OTHER COMPANY – NO CARS THERE EITHER. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FILE A “CLASS ACTION” ON THEIR BUTT!

By: Pam B

Pam B — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:23:31 +0000

I too was stranded by Fox in Las Vegas, unfortunately I had just flown in from the Midwest and the Fox shuttle failed to pick me up at the designated location. Apparently the crew decided to close early that evening, so my circumstance left me stranded in Vegas @ 12:30 in the morning. There were 2 other reservations who were stranded as well. Completed their request for my feedback which was “never received”… Have called and have gotten no offer to resolve my disappointment. Won’t be working with them ever again.

By: Tom C

Tom C — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:19:28 +0000

I, too, recently got stranded by Fox Rent a Car. Their online reservation system quoted me $46 for a one day rental. After waiting forever in line I was presented with a contract for $77 for a day. quite a difference. For the first 15 mins I was pleasant with them – after that I stated that I dont understand the large difference in price – she just continued to try to push what a great deal this was. great deal: false advertising, poor customer service. Hertz got our money that day. I normally root for the underdog. not again with fox. more like “sly fox”.

By: John S

John S — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:32:23 +0000

I find your experience interesting as I am from Seattle and go there often and usually rent from Dollar. I’ve been using them yearly since 2003, last Novevmber I was home for vacation traveling with two kids. The counter rep for Dollar would not accept my CA. drivers license because it has a chiped (broken) corner. I’m literally talking the very bottom right corner where there is absolutly nothing front or back where that TINY chip is. Their claim was that it could be suspended.

I was furious… especially after renting from them so often. I wasn’t about to give that clerk a break either I rode him pretty hard. I looked to the next counter where the Hertz staff was chuckling, and I asked them “Do you have such an ignorant policy? the Herts clerk said “no” i got out of line at Dollar and went over to Hertz where they began to process my paperwork… and I was still so adjatated that I told Hertz thanks but this isn’t sitting well with me I picked up the courtesey phone and called the off-site lot where you actually get your car and the manager told me to board the shuttle, come over and he’d take care of it.

When I got there he looked at my history, apologized and pointed me to my car… All things considered it worked out but I find the level of customer service provided by damn near anyone under 40 is a joke! These people are back there making $8 an hour and absolutly void of the fact that they are dealing with someone who is on vacation, made proper reservations, and what have you.. My position on that is, as a coprpration, if you are going to adapt such a policy then its their obligation to find out what a given state does (physically) to license when it’s suspended… CA doesn’t cut a corner off a license if its suspended the punch a big hole in it. I still have the very same license and I have never been asked by anyone in any state about that chip. If you were a remotely accountiable corporation I’d like to think that you’d research that before throwing out such stupidity at a long time customer.

I’ve have rented twice since then with Dollar and i pormise you, the only reason I continue to do so is because of that off-site manager’s actions in doing the right thing.

Thank you,
John S.