ERAC ranked 3rd worst on www.jobvent.com

Please check this website out before you go on the interview!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Unregistered-67

Please check this website out before you go on the interview!!!!!!

Yes - I went on it - pretty funny!! all those who ar thinking about working here should look at this first as well.

We got to make ERAC number 1!

Enterprise should be number one on the worst jobs to work list. Why, you ask? As an MT you work at least 55 hours a week and some weeks 60 hours. You get paid shit while working those hours and have to put up with your Branch Manager and Assistant Manager’s bullshit about how you have to “start high” when quoting rates on the phone. Think about that. Start high. What does that tell you about this company? This company only cares about money. Bottom line is that ERAC is a business that pretends to care about customers, but in reality doesn’t.
If ERAC really cares about their customers then why do they try and quote high rates? I really feel bad that I try and rip off customers over the phone. I have had customers call and have their internet up right in front of them while they called me and caught me in many lies. They would say something like “What, that rate is ridiculous. I see that car is going out for $25, not $40.” I would then proceed to tell them to book the deal online.
Of course customers can be total assholes. I hate when some customers call and try and take advantage of me. “Do you have a discount for Triple A members”? I fucking hate that. Everybody has a god damn Triple A card, you fuck off. Or they will say “I work for the government.” Seriously, who gives a fuck, so you work for the government what are you? Special?

I really wish ERAC would just put a big ass sign in front of the counter that has the rental guidelines because I can’t tell you how many times I have had to explain to customers the deposit rule. The biggest complaint I get is “Why do I have to put a $200 security deposit plus the cost of rental with a debit card?” Or with an insurance or dealership deal “Why should I have to put down a security deposit….Toyota messed my car up, they should have to pay that deposit.”

I also can’t tell you how many times I have been yelled at for giving free upgrades to customers. I’ll give you an example: I had a couple come in and they made an online reservation for a Standard size vehicle and it they booked it as a weekend special for like $19.99 a day. Of course we did not have their car as usual and so I tried for the up sell into a Jeep Liberty. It did not work. So I did a little bit of bull shitting with the computer like I was typing and then said “hey it looks like our internet special is now good for SUV’s as well, so I can give you the Jeep Liberty for that same rate.” They were happy and I saved our ESQI potentially. So, about 10 minutes later or so when I have already checked them into the car, my assistant manager looks over the deal I just put out and gives me a hard time because of the cheap rate I gave them for an SUV. How can this prick give me a hard time? We did not have any god damn cars, just SUV’s and Vans, so instead of making them wait a half hour, I got the deal done. No bullshit stalling for that S car, I got them in and out and saved ESQI. My point is: how can we be so damn greedy and have a high ESQI score? Making the customer wait more than 15 minutes for their car is shit. They should be in and out because they made a reservation for a car at a certain time. Why should they pay more because we don’t have their car? It doesn’t make much sense to me. I always try and see things through the customer’s eyes and I agree with them most of the time.

My Branch manager has told me time and time again that our internet rates are the minimum for our cars. So if you’re a customer, this should tell you something: Make the reservation online because chances are if you call up on the phone, you will be fucked in the ass without a condom. Believe me I have seen so many people been taken advantage of on the phone or at the counter. This worst part about this whole rate thing is that my Branch Manager told me starting high is not unethical. This guy has a wife and kids. Sounds like a great family man except he rips people off daily for a living to make those commission checks. Enterprise is so unethical in many ways but I wanted to point out the worst part and that is the way their employees have been trained to quote rates. What an evil corporation!

[Captain Fucking Bleedgreen]

Originally Posted by no good job

Enterprise should be number one on the worst jobs to work list. Why, you ask? As an MT you work at least 55 hours a week and some weeks 60 hours. Bottom line is that ERAC is a business that pretends to care about customers, but in reality doesn’t.

All big business sets out to care about customers. Without customers, there is no business. Problem is sometimes people forget what their business is based on...repeat customres.

You talk about ERAC as an entity that eats and breathes. ERAC is you. ERAC boils down to each individual employee and the service they provide.

If ERAC really cares about their customers then why do they try and quote high rates? I really feel bad that I try and rip off customers over the phone.

Because it's a business, not a non-profit. I agree there are more reasonable ways to make money and rate integrity is important. But if you quote the lowest possible price every time to everyone, you're never going to make any money. Internet deals have always been the best... The Internet levels the playing field tremendously, you're competing against everyone for lowest rate, period. People booking through the Internet are looking for the cheapest rate... Customer service, brand name recognition etc. are irrelevant to most online bookings.

You're not ripping them off if you're qualifying over the phone. Asking why they need a car (ins. claim, retail, corporate acct. etc.) helps guide what rate you're quoting. Customers are in need of a service and you're providing it.

Rates are fluid at many locations based on bookings, holidays etc. Supply and demand... this is also not ripping people off in my humble opinion, it's business.

Of course customers can be total assholes. I hate when some customers call and try and take advantage of me. “Do you have a discount for Triple A members”? I fucking hate that. Everybody has a god damn Triple A card, you fuck off. Or they will say “I work for the government.” Seriously, who gives a fuck, so you work for the government what are you? Special?

Government: "do you have a corporate account with us?" there's your in. I love your comments about AAA. I hear you. Funny stuff.

I really wish ERAC would just put a big ass sign in front of the counter that has the rental guidelines because I can’t tell you how many times I have had to explain to customers the deposit rule.

This is why you have a job...this is customer service...explaining this with a sign would practically eliminate your job. If you can explain it well your ESQI benefits. If you can't and you're bitter, time to move on and your ESQI tanks.

I also can’t tell you how many times I have been yelled at for giving free upgrades to customers.

agreed, your example is absolute horse shit. If there's a res and you don't have that car...done deal. ghost upgrades are shady and that sucks.

My point is: how can we be so damn greedy and have a high ESQI score?

Because there are lots of employees out there just like you that try and do the right thing every day and it makes people happy. If you could do it with a smile on your face, imagine what our ESQI would be then? That would take management transformation on many topics.

Sounds like a great family man except he rips people off daily for a living to make those commission checks. What an evil corporation!

selling up and selling dub doesn't make someone spawn of the devil (I would know...)

Customers need to rent cars, customers use dub when they wreck cars, we are providing a service they need and want. If you're unhappy where you're at, why don't you look into other divisions within ERAC or look outside for something that will make you happy?

Originally Posted by Jesus Fucking Christ, Bitch

All big business sets out to care about customers. Without customers, there is no business. Problem is sometimes people forget what their business is based on...repeat customres.

You talk about ERAC as an entity that eats and breathes. ERAC is you. ERAC boils down to each individual employee and the service they provide.

Because it's a business, not a non-profit. I agree there are more reasonable ways to make money and rate integrity is important. But if you quote the lowest possible price every time to everyone, you're never going to make any money. Internet deals have always been the best... The Internet levels the playing field tremendously, you're competing against everyone for lowest rate, period. People booking through the Internet are looking for the cheapest rate... Customer service, brand name recognition etc. are irrelevant to most online bookings.

You're not ripping them off if you're qualifying over the phone. Asking why they need a car (ins. claim, retail, corporate acct. etc.) helps guide what rate you're quoting. Customers are in need of a service and you're providing it.

Rates are fluid at many locations based on bookings, holidays etc. Supply and demand... this is also not ripping people off in my humble opinion, it's business.

Government: "do you have a corporate account with us?" there's your in. I love your comments about AAA. I hear you. Funny stuff.


This is why you have a job...this is customer service...explaining this with a sign would practically eliminate your job. If you can explain it well your ESQI benefits. If you can't and you're bitter, time to move on and your ESQI tanks.
agreed, your example is absolute horse shit. If there's a res and you don't have that car...done deal. ghost upgrades are shady and that sucks.

Because there are lots of employees out there just like you that try and do the right thing every day and it makes people happy. If you could do it with a smile on your face, imagine what our ESQI would be then? That would take management transformation on many topics.


selling up and selling dub doesn't make someone spawn of the devil (I would know...)

Customers need to rent cars, customers use dub when they wreck cars, we are providing a service they need and want. If you're unhappy where you're at, why don't you look into other divisions within ERAC or look outside for something that will make you happy?

Okay how is quoting rates high not ripping people off when there are lower internet rates? What is the point of even having the internet rates when we just quote rates so high? I totally understand that ERAC is a business and they want to make as much money as possible. But does that excuse them for pulling rates out of their ass. I hear my Assistant Manager on the phone and all the time he literally just makes up his own rates.

Why should it be up to the customer to negotiate their rates? Why should one customer get a Standard size car for $44.99 per day and another customer gets it for $27.99? I’m telling you if only the customers knew what was happening to them they would be so pissed off. Enterprise is a shady business because there are no set rates; everyone working there just pulls rates out of their asses. “Standard cars usually start out at $52.99 per day but I can get you that rate for $39.99 today.” Some customers actually will buy this bullshit and think they are getting the best possible rate, while in reality the Standard size car on the internet starts out at $34.64. The point I’m trying to make is that there is no consistency. And don’t give me that “Rates are based on supply and demand bullshit.” I know that. I’m just saying that it is unethical to just make up the rates. I have seen my managers at the counter lie to their customers time and time again. There’s no end to the bullshit, trust me.

Do you think everyone on an airplane paid the exact same amount for their tickets?

[FailingEnterpriseAdmin]

Originally Posted by no good job

Okay how is quoting rates high not ripping people off when there are lower internet rates? What is the point of even having the internet rates when we just quote rates so high? I totally understand that ERAC is a business and they want to make as much money as possible. But does that excuse them for pulling rates out of their ass. I hear my Assistant Manager on the phone and all the time he literally just makes up his own rates.

Why should it be up to the customer to negotiate their rates? Why should one customer get a Standard size car for $44.99 per day and another customer gets it for $27.99? I’m telling you if only the customers knew what was happening to them they would be so pissed off. Enterprise is a shady business because there are no set rates; everyone working there just pulls rates out of their asses. “Standard cars usually start out at $52.99 per day but I can get you that rate for $39.99 today.” Some customers actually will buy this bullshit and think they are getting the best possible rate, while in reality the Standard size car on the internet starts out at $34.64. The point I’m trying to make is that there is no consistency. And don’t give me that “Rates are based on supply and demand bullshit.” I know that. I’m just saying that it is unethical to just make up the rates. I have seen my managers at the counter lie to their customers time and time again. There’s no end to the bullshit, trust me.

When you have the ability to set your own prices, charging different prices to different customers is called "Price Discrimination" (it's an economic term, and no, it's not in the same moral category as racial and ethnic discrimination).

The theory behind this is that each customer and each seller has a "reservation price" at which they'd be exactly indifferent to taking the deal or not. With perfect price discrimination, the seller finds a way to charge each customer $0.01 less than their reservation price. Of course, the customer is trying to pay only $0.01 more than the seller's reservation price. Since there's often a range of prices in which both sides would be happy, it comes down to negotiation.

Lots of companies use price discrimination, some by using temporal price discrimination, like charging high-season and low-season rates, or offering weekend specials. Others by offering bulk discounts, or offering "list" prices and letting customers try to negotiate. Airlines are famous for charging different prices for adjacent seats on the same flight. It's not always bad for customers, either. For example, many computer companies offer steeply discounted hardware and software to currently registered students in campus bookstores, for example.

I don't really see a problem, at first glance, with Enterprise offering different prices to different customers. The Internet has the effect of making very efficient competition based on price, and sellers hate this, of course, but it makes sense that the Internet price would be the cheapest and that the walk-up price, for customers who aren't doing a lot of comparison shopping, would be higher.

It can become a problem for the seller, though, when customers start to suspect that the first price offered is the artifically-high bullshit "list" price and that they'd be suckers if they took it. Once this happens, customers back away for fear of being taken advantage of. I certainly felt that way when I rented from Enterprise, that the first price was the "sucker" price and that they'd lower it if you challenged them. Customers really, really hate this.

I also get unhappy when Enterprise offers special corporate discount rates, implying they're lower than what's commonly available, and then it turns out they're higher than the Internet rate and they deliberately make it harder for you to find that out, even if you're using your corporate rate to reserve on the Internet.

When it comes to negotiating like this, it's common for both sides to try to appeal to a local custom or some historical standard, even if they're lying, as in the example from the previous post.

I strongly recommend people use the Internet to make their reservations. In this way you get the lowest price, although it's often for a car that doesn't exist, but that's another story.

[Captain Fucking Bleedgreen]

Originally Posted by FailingEnterpriseAdmin

I don't really see a problem, at first glance, with Enterprise offering different prices to different customers.

I also get unhappy when Enterprise offers special corporate discount rates, implying they're lower than what's commonly available, and then it turns out they're higher than the Internet rate and they deliberately make it harder for you to find that out, even if you're using your corporate rate to reserve on the Internet.

Internet rates fluctuate as well. I'm not saying you didn't get screwed Admin, but I am saying you can't base that judgment on one comparison to one Internet rate one day.

Corporate rates tend to be tiered based on volume of business as well, so you're not going to always get the rock-bottom price if you're not driving revenue by residing in the top tier of repeat business...even as a corporate account.

Is this fair when the Internet is so easily accessible? It's debatable. I'm thinking ERAC is functioning on the assumption that many people don't use the Internet to book rentals and the ones that do are comparison shopping, so they're banking on the corporate accounts not questioning it. I'm not sure I agree or disagree, I guess I'm indifferent to this practice.

Originally Posted by FEA

When it comes to negotiating like this, it's common for both sides to try to appeal to a local custom or some historical standard, even if they're lying, as in the example from the previous post.

I don't agree with branches not using some sort of guideline for rate integrity. I just don't believe in charging every customer the same rate either.

[Captain Fucking Bleedgreen]

Originally Posted by no good job

Why should it be up to the customer to negotiate their rates? Why should one customer get a Standard size car for $44.99 per day and another customer gets it for $27.99?

“Standard cars usually start out at $52.99 per day but I can get you that rate for $39.99 today.”

The same standard size car can go for those two rates as retail, then the very next rental: insurance. different categories.

The bullshit you discuss in the next sentence is because they want the customer to feel good about paying that rate. I do not agree they should pull it out of their asses, but there is a good reason for differing rates.