Screwed by Uhaul (obviously)

DVD · Post by **DVD** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 7:31 pm

As I have said in an email that you may see, I made a rookie mistake and trusted Uhaul.

Tonight at 6:15 I get a call from the Bayshore location- which is not where I signed up to pick up the rig- saying that they are not going to be able to rent me the 14' truck and 5x8 trailer because they "can't let the equipment go" for the length of time of I reserved (25th to the 6th).

I am supposed to pick up the rig tomorrow. 6 people and several thousands of dollars were riding in that truck and trailer and they give me 15 hours notice.

They offered me the 10' truck for half the time or the 14' for one day. ONE DAY.

Does anyone in the SF area have a trailer I can't rent from them?

Very very very angry.

DVD

HughMungus · Post by **HughMungus** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 7:38 pm

Just out of curiosity, did they know where you were going? Did they ask? What did you tell them?

DVD · Post by **DVD** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 7:42 pm

It was a pick up and drop off at the same location. I never mentioned that I was going to Burning Man. They did ask me where I was moving to. I replied that if it made no fucking difference; that they were cancelling a contract with me with less than 24 hours notice.

redqueen23 · Post by **redqueen23** » Thu Aug 25, 2005 10:32 pm

Uhaul SF is very up on the event and down with playa crusted vans...How much "junk" as my non supportive anti playmatic support system..(they put the "AGGGG GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME AHHHH!!STOP EATING MY SOUL!!GAWDDDD!!!"in dysfunctional family:..sorry How much stuff are you haulin cuz like Ive got a bunch and maybe we can split the stress together and flip the bird at those who would cause us to get all Type A...

When life gives you lemmons,bust out the tequilla

DVD · Post by **DVD** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 10:15 am

However (better then 'but') we hit the Budget on 7th and Hooper and they hooked us up with a 16'. We're packed and hitting the road today.

Uhaul is past, the man is the future.

Se you out there. I'll be the DMV greeter from 2-6 on Monday. Come say hi.

DVD

ZaphodBurner · Post by **ZaphodBurner** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 10:21 am

A sculptor here in Oregon (Kasia), whom I interviewed for the Black Rock Beacon about her Ajna project, told us that she's had U-Haul back out at the last minute two times because they found out she was going to Burning Man.

Just remember: College is about to start. You're moving your little sister to the university in Reno. No, your little sister is not available and you're not going to give strangers her address.

Oh...and clean the fucking truck/trailer when you're done with it so they stop pulling this shit on people.

-c

HughMungus · Post by **HughMungus** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 10:46 am

Congratulations DVD. Glad that worked out.

I went into a u-haul to get some packing materials this week. I used my DEBIT card to check out and entered my PIN and the guy comes to me with a piece of paper he says I have to sign. I say, "What am I signing?" (I don't just sign something put in my face). He says, "It's like a contract." I say, "A contract for what? I just paid with my debit card." Finally the other guy comes over and says, "You don't have to sign anything." Ugh. Robots.

headquarters · Post by **headquarters** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 11:43 am

when i priced a few years ago the different companies Uhaul was the lame duck. they were at least twice what other places were and they were all wierd about renting trucks for more then 1 day.

Uhaul = $1800
penske = $700

Davoid · Post by **Davoid** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 5:49 pm

U-haul has a long-established record of backing out and general fuckery that has nothing to do with BM. I've been fucked over by them on the east coast nowhere near Labor day or school coming back or anything, and know others with the same experience. Though I'm sure many U-haul centers are indeed clued in to when BM is and act accordingly.

There are many horror stories about moving companies in general; seems like a pretty corrupt industry, so always watch your ass and get ALL costs up front and in writing. But anyway, I've had better luck with Budget, Ryder, and Penske. YMMV.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 6:04 am

To ratify Y'All Haul's crappy NATIONWIDE rep, I'll tell you I've NEVER had one completely trouble-free encounter with them around here, either. Make sure to CAREFULLY check the truck UP, DOWN and UNDER before leaving the lot. Start it up and let it run for a minute. DO NOT TRUST THEM. It's not an evil conspiracy- It's just good 'ol stupidity and laziness. They get away with murder 'round here, being practically the only game in town.

Petalford · Post by **Petalford** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 8:07 am

I agree - uhaul sucks - I have never had an easy time dealing with them ever!

MoisturePup · Post by **MoisturePup** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 8:28 am

Petalford wrote:I agree - uhaul sucks - I have never had an easy time dealing with them ever!

U-Haul is the worst. I've used Penske for all my previous moves and was fine with them. The stories of Penske's playa repos are greatly exagerated. You might get fined, but that'd be it, read your contract and make sure it doesn't mention Burning Man. If it doesn't, you're in the clear.

Fat SAM · Post by **Fat SAM** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 6:20 pm

Polaroids...of every corner of the truck. Every inch. And do it on the lot and get initials.

I've seen friends charged out the ass on the "This wasn't here when you got it" gag.

Polaroids. Not digital. People are getting screwed around on digital stuff as evidence.

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 11:26 pm

This is interesting. I have a friend in L.A. who is Korean and we were having lunch one day in Korea Town. I asked him about the difference between American and Korean culture. He mentioned how in the Korean community people worked together and use their numbers to leverage the best price for certain goods and services.

I grew up in Long Beach, CA. and my Dad worked for the Navy in the Shipyard. Once a year they would pay everyone in $2.00 bills just to show the local merchants how important the Navy and the Shipyard were to their business.

All this to say, I wonder what would happen if next year we got together as a community and said that we were going to only use one rental company, and then we asked for bids from each of the rental companies and went with the lowest one (they would give us a code and a time period for the discount).

Conversely, I wonder what would happen if we agreed to boycott a certain rental company(s), and each one of the us that boycotted them agreed to send them a letter explaining why, along with the name of the company we had chosen instead.

I mean how many trucks/trailers/gennys are rented by burners every year for the event?? 1,500? 2,500? 5,000? I have no idea, but I'm guessing that it adds up to a pretty big fucking chunk of change at the end of the day.

Just a thought.

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 11:41 pm

Interesting ideas, Chai. I would suspect the request for a quote idea would work better than a boycott. The reason being, they are going to think "A: We try to avoid renting for Burning Man anyway so they are doing us a favor. B: Burners are 0.000001% of our business and if they don't rent from us then big fuzzy duck!"

Now if a request for a quote on a quantity deal came in, that would be a nice chunk-a-change.

I think your Korean friend has the right idea. Pooling requirements to create an economy of scale is generally a good idea. If there are enough from a given city, other options are available too. Get one or more shipping containers and arrange to have then delivered/returned. Might be cheaper than 15-20 people renting individual vehicles, particularly over a long distance. Lots of solutions out there. I just wish there was a train depot nearby so you could ship rail freight out of SF. Same deal, shipping containers.

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 11:53 pm

Hmmm

http://images.airliners.net/middle/0/3/3/891330.jpg

(edit ... no image linky permitted)

Should be able to handle the playa airstrip. Hey, they don't call it Burning Money for nothing!

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 12:00 am

People are already doing the rail thing from NYC I believe they do 4 or 5 shipping containers. I met some Canadians (Kanuckistanians?) that did an entire 18 wheeler this year.

With the price of gas skyrocketing, these are becoming more attractive options.

Post by **AntiM** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 8:23 am

There's quite a few burners out there with CDLs who can drive those 18 wheelers. That would reduce what you'd have to pay for the semi if the driver wasn't taking wages for delivery and pick up.

We keep fantasizing about our camp in a reefer unit (refrigerated trailer!), a rail unit holds 100 gallons of diesel just to chill the cargo. Too bad Larry isn't an owner-op, or we'd be out there in a rig. Of course, that precludes Hushville for us, so better a "what if" anyway.

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 11:19 am

I am starting to wonder what it might cost to rent a rig for two weeks vs the cost of a half-dozen uhauls. I am thinking it might be possible to even find someone to lend a trailer if it's just otherwise sitting idle.

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 11:25 am

I know the Canadians that I spoke with had a guy who drove the truck himself (and arranged all the paper work beforehand). I think that's the key, finding a driver.

Post by **AntiM** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 7:24 am

Finding the driver, yes. You must have a CDL just to move the rig, and there are all types of permits to cross state lines, much less the border! For example, iIf you hauled fuels of any type, I think that automatically puts the rig in "hazmat" status, I'll have to ask Larry if there's a "how much" level. A professional driver would know what was required.

See what you learn when you're married to a long haul trucker?

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 8:55 am

Shit, there was another thread around here about fuel portage in the tips folder, I think, where I had a link to Nevada's rules. I think it was something like 15 or 20 gallons above what is in the tanks can be transported without any permits. But if you fuel up your drums at Empire or Gerlach, I would think you would stand a lot less of a chance of getting a ticket. Another thing is that a rig of that size is going to have to stop at least once in each state at scales and turn in fuel tickets, etc. This gives the police a nice long closeup sniff of the contents.

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 9:29 am

Just as a "safety" thing, I don't think it's smart for anyone (u-haul or other wise) to fill up a 55 gallon drum(s) and haul them across the state (or country). Wait until you to Gerlach or Empire.

Fat SAM · Post by **Fat SAM** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 9:48 am

Chai Guy wrote:This is interesting. I have a friend in L.A. who is Korean and we were having lunch one day in Korea Town. I asked him about the difference between American and Korean culture. He mentioned how in the Korean community people worked together and use their numbers to leverage the best price for certain goods and services.

I grew up in Long Beach, CA. and my Dad worked for the Navy in the Shipyard. Once a year they would pay everyone in $2.00 bills just to show the local merchants how important the Navy and the Shipyard were to their business.

All this to say, I wonder what would happen if next year we got together as a community and said that we were going to only use one rental company, and then we asked for bids from each of the rental companies and went with the lowest one (they would give us a code and a time period for the discount).

Conversely, I wonder what would happen if we agreed to boycott a certain rental company(s), and each one of the us that boycotted them agreed to send them a letter explaining why, along with the name of the company we had chosen instead.

I mean how many trucks/trailers/gennys are rented by burners every year for the event?? 1,500? 2,500? 5,000? I have no idea, but I'm guessing that it adds up to a pretty big fucking chunk of change at the end of the day.

Just a thought.

That's an AMAZING idea. It should be addressed to the BORG or whoever it is that runs JRS...There are plenty of Burners who get the newsletter...Organization is the key on something like that. It's brilliant, though. It should be posted on BM.com after it's worked out.

Who do you talk to about something like that? How does this get organized?

Post by **AntiM** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 10:42 am

Another thing is that a rig of that size is going to have to stop at least once in each state at scales and turn in fuel tickets, etc. This gives the police a nice long closeup sniff of the contents.

As long as you have your permits and drive safely, the cops don't give much of a damn about big rigs. They only stop them for speeding, DOT violations (lights out and such) or if they have a solid lead on drugs or other smuggling. The weigh stations are little more than a roll through to check for unbalanced or overweight loads. I've only seen NM ask for permits, you hold your permit book up to the window. AZ stopped larry once because one of his treads had come off; he had a nice nap until the repair guy got there. The CA bug check station (I-15) asks the driver what's in the trailer, they're supposed to check the bill, but usually just ask and wave. I've yet to see the cops break a seal on the trailer and look inside. If your driver is on the ball, everything will be in order and there won't be any cause for worry at the scales.

bayone · Post by **bayone** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:11 pm

Im getting kind of nervous because I have an enterprise van reserved out of reno for 5 days and I am afraid that they are going to back out at the last minute or something. Any suggestions on how to keep that reservation solid?

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:14 pm

LIE LIE LIE

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:37 pm

bayone wrote:Im getting kind of nervous because I have an enterprise van reserved out of reno for 5 days and I am afraid that they are going to back out at the last minute or something. Any suggestions on how to keep that reservation solid?

I'll direct this to anyone out there that rents from Enterprise...if they back out of a rental agreement with you before heading to the playa this year would you PLEASE let me know via PM about it? I have several good reasons for making the request and it could benefit burners in the years to come.

This is ONLY in regards to Enterprise Rent a Car / Rent a Van, etc. And thanks for considering my request.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 11:00 am

If anyone wants some 40 ft reefer containers I ran across some cheap in Dallas, older but working.
Working reefer trailers are possible.
Purchase is cheaper than renting unless you want a new one.

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 11:07 am

Clarification: Are these reefers traditional wheeled trailers or steel cargo shipping containers?

Screwed by Uhaul (obviously)

Screwed by Uhaul (obviously)

No destination given

Hey...Wanna split this haul?

Appreciate it