The grumpy thread

[Volksy]

On 07/09/2025 at 10:34, artdjones said:

I collected a car at Europcar in Carcassonne yesterday and experienced this.

First crack out of the box:- Do I want to upgrade to a diesel auto A Class thereby increasing the hire charge by 75%.

Admittedly, I despise the Polo I got. Gutless and also vibratory if you change up when it tells you to.

I hired a Fiesta or equivalent from SIXT a year or so back. Turned up to collect and the only car parked in the collections area was a BMW 116i 

Go in to read and sign War and Peace with the brain washed overly enthusiastic person behind the counter. 

"Would you like to upgrade to this beautiful BMW we have here?" he said gesturing excitedly in the direction of the collections area.

"No, you're ok, quite happy with the vehicle I've chosen" I reply.

" Well we're doing a special offer on the BMW at the moment" trying a different tact.

"No, you're ok. I'm in a bit of a rush so can we get this sorted please" rapidly losing patience with him.

"Oh two seconds, I just need to have a word with my Manager" and disappears through the door at the back of the counter.

5 mins goes by and he comes back through.. "I've had a chat with my boss and we can, on this occasion, upgrade you to the BMW free of charge!"

 

See, I knew straight away that they didn't have the class of car I'd requested, and would have had to upgrade me anyway. I did take umbrage at the way they tried to upsell me on a vehicle they had to give me anyway, and it wasn't a small amount.

 

So, as I was in a bit of a grumpy mood, I went full Karen and requested to speak to the Manager.

"Oh he's just nipped out on a delivery." Is the response..

However due to the layout of the office, to exit,  mystery manager would have had to walk out through the area I was stood in. I called the lads bluff. In the fact that he'd kept me waiting an extra five mins while he went in the back and scratched his balls as there was no one actually there.

He goes into 'teenager caught in a lie' mode, and starts stammering ,turns bright red etc. 

He passes over the keys to the BMW, and scarpers back office as soon as he can. 

 

Did I raise a complaint with SIXT? Too right. They gave me 15% off a future rental, sort of an apology and saying they would be reviewing training... 

[Dave_Q]

Did a favour for ex-wife, her Zoe snapped a spring and it was stuck on the drive as the car body was sat on the remains of spring and making bad noises when turning.

Spent about 3-4 hours on it in total including going back and forth to fetch tools and parts. 

Asked her to pay for the parts, and £32 for a spring compressor I bought to do the job.

"Only if I get to keep the spring compressor"

Lesson learned about helping her again.

[Lord Sterling]

6 hours ago, Volksy said:

I hired a Fiesta or equivalent from SIXT a year or so back. Turned up to collect and the only car parked in the collections area was a BMW 116i 

Go in to read and sign War and Peace with the brain washed overly enthusiastic person behind the counter. 

"Would you like to upgrade to this beautiful BMW we have here?" he said gesturing excitedly in the direction of the collections area.

"No, you're ok, quite happy with the vehicle I've chosen" I reply.

" Well we're doing a special offer on the BMW at the moment" trying a different tact.

"No, you're ok. I'm in a bit of a rush so can we get this sorted please" rapidly losing patience with him.

"Oh two seconds, I just need to have a word with my Manager" and disappears through the door at the back of the counter.

5 mins goes by and he comes back through.. "I've had a chat with my boss and we can, on this occasion, upgrade you to the BMW free of charge!"

 

See, I knew straight away that they didn't have the class of car I'd requested, and would have had to upgrade me anyway. I did take umbrage at the way they tried to upsell me on a vehicle they had to give me anyway, and it wasn't a small amount.

 

So, as I was in a bit of a grumpy mood, I went full Karen and requested to speak to the Manager.

"Oh he's just nipped out on a delivery." Is the response..

However due to the layout of the office, to exit,  mystery manager would have had to walk out through the area I was stood in. I called the lads bluff. In the fact that he'd kept me waiting an extra five mins while he went in the back and scratched his balls as there was no one actually there.

He goes into 'teenager caught in a lie' mode, and starts stammering ,turns bright red etc. 

He passes over the keys to the BMW, and scarpers back office as soon as he can. 

 

Did I raise a complaint with SIXT? Too right. They gave me 15% off a future rental, sort of an apology and saying they would be reviewing training... 

I had something similar some years ago when my Mercedes was crash into. I was given an Insignia estate which was great and useful given I was moving at the time to my flat. I received a phone call from the hire company trying to "entice" me into a Mercedes A-Class. I ended actually having an argument with the lads at the hire place as he insisted on upgrading me. I refused as I needed the space of the Insignia to move. I kept the Insignia until the third parties insurance company started coming out with the threats etc... to which I called their bluff.

Back when I was trade-plating, one of the companies I worked for would hire you a car if your following job was difficult to get to or time-crucial (I.e. Public transport may not get you there before the garage closes or if the customer was to become unavailable after a certain time)

What we got as a car was often supposed to be the most basic option. Often we got the Mk1 Toyota Aygo, sometimes a small 'Citroen Nemo' type van. Then suddenly we always got given a plethora of Hyundai i800s which I absolutely loved.

[Wibble]

4 minutes ago, Lord Sterling said:

I had something similar some years ago when my Mercedes was crash into. I was given an Insignia estate which was great and useful given I was moving at the time to my flat. I received a phone call from the hire company trying to "entice" me into a Mercedes A-Class. I ended actually having an argument with the lads at the hire place as he insisted on upgrading me. I refused as I needed the space of the Insignia to move. I kept the Insignia until the third parties insurance company started coming out with the threats etc... to which I called their bluff.

Back when I was trade-plating, one of the companies I worked for would hire you a car if your following job was difficult to get to or time-crucial (I.e. Public transport may not get you there before the garage closes or if the customer was to become unavailable after a certain time)

What we got as a car was often supposed to be the most basic option. Often we got the Mk1 Toyota Aygo, sometimes a small 'Citroen Nemo' type van. Then suddenly we always got given a plethora of Hyundai i800s which I absolutely loved.

I’ve had a couple of i800s too, manual and auto, loved them both. Enterprise rentals and both times, they were shocked I’d done over 1500 miles in each in a week. Great buses!