Avis Rent A Car

Horrific lack of customer concern. Understaffed. Bus runs about ¹⁄₃ the rate of the other rental companies. Counter staff has little to no concern for wait times or customer challenges. I’m a Preferred and switching to Hertz permanently after this horrid experience. Absolutely amateurish and ridiculous.

Woefully understaffed. A huge line at check-​in and only two clerks working a counter with 9 available check-​in computers. Incredibly slow.

First off… the design flaw of getting a bus from the airport to Avis sucks… but thats on the airport.
Then — a small 4 door with full coverage is $ 123 for 24 hours. Not one day, 24 hours. Not that this is made a point of when you take the car — and it should have because…
When I dropped the car back, 24 minutes past the time I picked it up the day before, I got stung $ 120 MORE ontop of the $ 123 making it 243 for 24 hours and 24 minutes of rental car use… I should have sold it to a chop shop at that point and reduced my losses.
They then made me run (literally run) to the office acorss the yard to dispute the charge which was eventually reduced to $ 130. So $ 7 for 24 additional minutes.
The staff were fine and polite, it wasnt them at all, but its these cut throat snake style policies that make absolutely everyone hate rental car companies.

Welcome the the company of employees who can’t keep up with there end of the bargain.
THIS IS THE PLACE FOR THAT LOVELY EXPERIENCE YAY.
After them not answering the phones for 30 minutes at the Detroit Airport we took a risk, boarded a bus, and arrived at Avis 10 minutes later with bus drivers who drive so fast the luggage slides off the racks.
Then with 2 check-​in employees and about 18 people in line moving at a snails pace and one of the older employees checking people in asking about customers days and what there doing while we sweated in line for over an hour and a half. We booked a BMW X5 online and after an over hour wait we finally got our customer service representative who barely spoke English and told us she was «hooking us up» and giving us a «great rate» and she couldn’t believe we got this luxury car for «so cheap». Thirty minutes go by of her typing away and we finally go outside to pick up our ride and it’s a X3 which is a micro machine compared to an X5.
We walked back inside and said ma’am we booked an X5 and she goes oh let me see, oh it’s X3 I’m sorry and she goes let me get the manager (took 10 minutes for a manager to come.) She explains soon as I’m done with you guys I’m leaving for the night I’m so tired, while 20 customers were still waiting in line. Also told us she would give it to us at the same rate, even though we already paid for an x5.
The manager comes and goes sorry it says X5 or other. we go what the fk. this is BS. I go okay she said she will give it to us at same price and he goes she doesn’t have the authority to do so. We said whatever give us the X5 and we will worry about it later. Twenty more minutes go by and finally the car arrives, brand new X5 fresh to death bam what we ordered.
Needless to say, please stay away from #$@$#$hole Avis and go with Enterprise or somewhere else, this location of Avis is a complete and udder failure of American business. Screw you Avis. Also (get American’s who can speak ENGLISH)

Be warned! You will have to wait in line forever! It is absolutely ridiculous.
This is my second time using Avis at this location. There are only two people manning the check in and hey take forever.
Do not recommend.

Understaffed and incompetent is a bad combo. I will do my best to avoid this place in the future

Wow, it’s surprising that NASA let these guys have the evening off to staff the counter at Avis! EVERY single customer has stood at the counter for at least ten minutes often with the assistance of no less than 3 employees trying to solve the giant mystery that is «how to rent a car.» I know it’s hard to believe, but there are kiosks, actual machines, that do a better job of renting you a car than the geniuses staffing the counter at Avis. Unless you enjoying standing in line for an hour before being helped incompetently, don’t waste your time here.

Our experience was mostly positive, but they definitely deserve only two stars. Our reservation was maybe a little different than most — we paid upfront using credit card points — so we may not see the same payment issues others have seen.
GOOD:
— The rep we dealt with was very pleasant, and the other reps at the counter that day seemed to be doing their best to maintain a good attitude despite complaints (I’ll mention that in a minute).
— The rep took an extra minute to get us a slightly nicer model car.
— The car was clean, in great condition, and exactly what I asked for.
BAD:
— We had to ask for a vehicle inspection form. We were checked-​in, given the contract, and told where to wait for the car. When it arrived, the porter got out and started walking away. Before he got too far we noticed a few suspect scratches and asked him who to inform — he said to go back to the counter and tell the rep. THAT was when we got an inspection form. Other reviews mentioned how slow they were, and it seems like this can be a nasty byproduct; in our haste to get the heck out of there, we almost forgot about the inspection. But I think it should be a mandatory part of completing the agreement.
— They seemed to be short staffed in the lot area. Our rep had trouble getting quick information via walkie talkie, which caused significant delays. Customers were getting very vocal, but the reps didn’t engage in any back-​and-​forth.
— The signage for the lot is horrible. To give you a quick tip: Yes, the entrance with the large tire spikes is where you actually enter the lot to pick-​up and drop-​off cars. The sign says «Car Return Rental Office», which makes you believe that particular entrance is for returns only, but it’s not. Also, if someone is dropping you off, we didn’t see an obvious customer parking area, we just chose a spot next to the rental office.
— Weird thing: Our car was driven to us, where one person who was behind us had to walk to her car. We’re not Preferred or anything, maybe she was and could choose her own car (I didn’t get the sense that she was), but the rep told her the stall location… and she asked us for directions on how to get to it. :-)
Our wait wasn’t as long as I thought it would be; there were six people in front of us, and three reps. But two customers/​reps were having issues, which made it seem worse. A fourth rep opened soon after; our total wait time from entry to drive-​away was about 30 – 40 minutes.
Not a horrible experience at all, but navigating the lot was irritating, and the inspection form issue didn’t sit well with me. We’ll probably try someone else next time.

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A LOT LIKE GOING TO THE DMV IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING YOUR CRAMPED, CROSS-​COUNTRY FLIGHT!
3 people staffing the counters, with a crowd of 25+ in queue. The exhausted travelers standing in line have no recourse but to ice-​grill the employees while they wait… and wait. It’s obvious the clerks are immune to the mob stare-​down, and have gotten completely over any embarrassment about the extreme under-​staffing, because no apology for your 40+ minute wait will be forthcoming when you eventually get to the counter. Had I anticipated this level of non-​service, I could have rented from the equally dismal Fox, Advantage, or Payless and saved myself some money. As well, our «smoke-​free vehicle» reeked of cigarettes. Absolutely inexcusable, indifferent, customer non-​service stemming from gross mismanagement at this Detroit Airport Avis branch.
You would hope that the suits in corporate read these numerous, negative Unilocal reviews, but it’s clear they don’t. Great way to run a formerly good company into the ground. Never again, Avis. Not at DTW, or anywhere.
Tip: When you finally get to the counter, resist the temptation to make a snarky remark about the dearth of clerks. Wait until you’ve got the keys to a working Avis rental before doing this, or risk being assigned a known lemon.
Tip #2: A lot of the Avis cars are dinged up. Our front bumper was loose. Check your vehicle in a well-​lit area before leaving the lot. (Another Detroit Metro Avis reviewer smartly suggested that renters just circle the whole car on the damages form.)

So I arrive at this location and the bus drops us off at a little booth. I get out, wait in a long line. When I finally get up there, they put my information in and tell me, ‘you’re not preffered, you need to go to the next buildimg’, really? So I wandered around a busy parking lot to find another building. The only saving grace is the fact that the woman in the main building was a lot nicer than the woman in the preferred building. I also wasn’t shoved in a little tiny economy car.

Avis RentAl Cars — in general these guys are not great. At DTW incredibly bad.
Avoid using them if you can. Flight came in late due to WX. The counter at Avis was short staffed with just one agent — even though it seemed there were other folks milling about.
Gas tank was not full when I left. I was. Too tired to argue at that point. They asked me for my gas receipt when i returned! Even though I brought it back full and the needle was on F!
When I parked there was not adequate signage. Again, a lot of people but no organization.
Try to avoid Avis especially in DTW!

My flight was 2 hours late and it was not AVIS’S fault but they wanted to make it right so they did. Full upgrade and wonderful service for a extra few dollars and even apologize for the late flight. Jeet was the lady that assisted me and made my experience here a happy and easy going. Thank you to the folks at AVIS DTW. I will be visiting again!

I rented a car from this location and forgot my jacket in the car. Called at least 20 times and holding for hours, I couldn’t connect with the Detroit airport location to speak to a human being! Very bad with Avis being the top rental firm. Will suggest to drop Avis as the corporate rental firm for our org. Very disappointed!!!

I’ve had my run ins with this location over the years.
Had you asked me last year what I thought I’d be complaining to Unilocal about having to give a full star.
The manager here is working hard to make things better.
This area basically it’s difficult to find a good work ethic for what Avis has to pay.
Over the years I could tell the employees liked it here so much if the Avis building caught on fire they would probably roast marshmallows and forget about grabbing the fire house.
I’ve slowly started seeing more smiles on the associates faces and they are doing more than in the past.
I’ve learned over the last year if it’s not right tell them and they will do their best to resolve it.
For the experiences you have at an airport for Detroit it doesn’t get much better.

I went to this Avis and reserved a car for 2 days. Later I found I only needed it for a day and a half. So I brought the car back early. Upon returning home I checked my credit card statement and found they charged me $ 200 because I returned the car early! When I arrived there they told me they appreciate my service in the military and they would take care of me as a wounded veteran. They really took care of me! I guess this is how we take care of veterans these days. Stay away from this place!

Terrible wait times, for the shuttle and the check in counter. Staff has a bad attitude and don’t care about service or wait times. Long lines at counter!
I travel often and this place in Detroit is the worst!
No more Avis

I would give zero star if i can. I paid 472 dollars for 2& half day rental (no accident, minimum insurance coverage) for cavita sedan. Even considering that $ 120 added for the tank I didn’t fill (which is also expensive considering it was still half full), this is crazy expensive.
Also, they first gave me ford taurus and the car stunk with cigarette smoke and it even had low tire pressure warning. It’s such a mess here and i swear god i will never do any business with avis.

The ONLY reason I rented a car from Avis is because Priceline doesnt allow you to choose a preferred rental car location. POOELY MAINTAINED VEHICLES and even worst customer service
1– Be sure to fill out a damage sheet and check the car thoroughly! My car had several dents, dings and scratches on the exterior, along with several stains on the seats.
2– Arrive with enough spare time to do a test drive. My vehicle (Hyundai Sonata) made a LOUD humming noise when I drove above 40. Imagine riding a rinky dink scooter with a broken muffler –_​-​. Because I was pressed for time and the Sonata was the only vehicle left in the fullsize class, I just drove with the music turned up kind of high.
When I presented my issues to a manager names Henry, he just stated that Sonatas are generally loud which is why he never drives them. No apology, no apathy, he seemed annoyed.
Thankfully this was just a 2 day rental, otherwise it may have been even more of a headache!
* I previously rented a Sonata from Budget and it ran beautifully*.
I WOULD NEVER RENT FROM AVIS BY CHOICE!

90% of the time I rent from Avis at DTW, they don’t have my car ready and I have to stand in line at the preferred center. As does everyone else. So there is always a line. It sucks.
Rent from somewhere else.

I love this AVIS!
This AVIS takes a lot of heat, and has quite a few bad reviews. I understand that sometimes when you get off a plane you can bet irritable, especially if everything isn’t going your way.
However, between the Senior Ops Manager Beau in Preferred, and Dave in the regular office… if you are kind and patient, this staff will always go out of their way to ensure that you leave happy!
Much of the time this office is very excellent at sending you a text message of where your car is, so you can just land and pick-​up-​and-​go! This is a wonderful feature. I just wish it were a little more accurate!
If you land after 11:30pm, be sure to book your car at 11:00pm so the system doesn’t roll you after midnight :)
5 STARS for customer service because given the chance, these guys really go out of their way for you!