U-Haul

If you want a fair deal you better go somewhere else. This learning lesson cost me a lot of money (in my budget). My main issue is at the initial contract signing, the shop manager indicated the ‘picture’ gas gauge on the form just below ¼ of a tank. We were moving furniture under a time constraint, and honestly, the last thing I thought I needed to do is question the nice guy behind the counter. Wrong! First lesson learned. This shop offers a $ 22 credit if you bring the truck back with ¼ of a tank. That sounded like a fair deal. Wrong! I did not realize I was given the truck with ¹⁄₁₆^th of a tank of gas, so if this is the way this U Haul Store lines their pockets, they’ve got a good scheme going on. According to the odometer when we returned, we only drove 31 miles, but I had to put in $ 45 in gas — or 11 gallons, to get that $ 22 credit. 11 gallons for 31 miles? And this was a small truck — definitely got more than 3 miles per gallon. In addition, I showed the manager the gas receipts totaling $ 45 — he didn’t care. So… To back up, before I returned the truck, I filled it to ¼ tank, I did not realize the gauge was literally ‘a hair’ off from the ¼ marker. Because it was a ‘hair’ off the manager was not going to give the $ 22 credit, so I had to drive the truck back to the gas station and put in an additional Half Gallon, and drive back to the UHaul store. More time wasted.
Secondary issue, when we returned the truck, from moving beds and couches, the man who ‘inspected’ it for damage said he would charge us a cleaning fee because there was sand inside the box truck. What? We moved furniture, not surfboards — yes I saw about a nickel size spot of dirt when I began loading my furniture but I didn’t realize I would be charged for the previous renters small mess. It was not a big deal to me at the time, so I did not complain! Wow, these people really try to get those extra fees from their customers. I advised the ‘inspector’ the small amount of dirt was there previously and I would not pay a Cleaning Fee. He scolded me for not inspecting the vehicle before I drove it off the lot. Advice taken — I will not rent from them again, regardless of their convenience. I’ll drive to a Professional operation and be treated fairly and with respect.
Last note, the manager defended his actions by saying «I’ve been in this business for 15 years! I know what I’m doing!» Yep, sadly you have found a very lucrative way to run a business. Try Fair and Honest and you’ll make even more money.