Note: Review is for a truck rental only (Penske)
Dixon Hardware & Lumber Co. (Store front) - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/dixon-hardware-and-lumber-company-dixon?select=QB6mZI88E2zqWiYtIn8cvg
I made reservations for a 22' Penske truck for the end of August, two weeks prior to my pick up date using my AAA discount. The online rental process @ the Penske website was painless and easy... Well at least until I received a phone call from Dixon Hardware & Lumber a couple of days before the pick-up date.
- 1st Message: Good morning, this is Dixon Hardware & Lumber calling about your truck rental. Unfortunately, we overbooked trucks. A truck is available but you will need to pick it up from Sacramento rather than Dixon. We can have a truck here but not until the day after, thank you.
My first thought after hearing this was, "WHAT THE F*K?!" I made the reservation two weeks prior and two days before pick up you are giving me this call? 'After my fifth, "WHAT THE F*K?!," I decided to call back the next day after my blood cooled from the temperature of the sun to a nice simmer... Un'f*ken-believable! "Serenity now! Serenity now!..." (Sigh)
- 2nd Message (Received the next day in the am): Hi, this is Dixon Hardware & Lumber, we will have your truck here but would it be okay if your pick up time was @ 9:30pm rather than 9am? Please give us a call.
Okay, so I guess they got the clusterf*k of the reservation situation sorted out... 'That's a plus. After all, when people reserve a truck for a move they have other pieces of the puzzle in place that coincide with the actual truck being present on a particular day such as hired movers, specific move out/move in dates, etc. When someone's renting a 22' truck, it's no small move. I wasn't moving a 3-4 bedroom house, rather just one guy with a whole lot of art, art supplies, books, and lots papers. (i.e. - A whole lot of sh*t) Also, add one bully-pit with about as much crap as a very spoiled, small child, plus chew toys.
HAPA (My co-pilot) - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/dixon-hardware-and-lumber-company-dixon?select=ig2XVbK40hR_SbgnqadkdQ
I called Dixon Hardware shortly after I received the second message. I told the lady on the phone that if it would help, they can have the truck their at 10am versus the original 9am pick up time... I try to work with people, especially if their in a bind. It makes it a bit less stressful and hopefully smoother for everyone, "Win-win!"
The truck - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/dixon-hardware-and-lumber-company-dixon?select=U6HEkbyvYR5u71942LhacA
We arrived just after 10:30am and the truck had just arrived right before we did... 'And that worked out fine.
Backlot - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/dixon-hardware-and-lumber-company-dixon?select=47OuanAurN45hEnd0UvYuQ
The nice lady that helped me check out the rental was great, she was friendly, knowledgable, and answered all my questions. She was thorough and it was very appreciated. She discovered that one of the fluid levels were low on the rental and happily topped it off, did I mention, thorough? - "Mahalo for the aloha!"
Photo - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/dixon-hardware-and-lumber-company-dixon?select=8qoiPDT54bjZPzBTwPS2qg
So, what originally was supposed to be a 22' truck, ended up being 26'... I was already a bit nervous with a 22' truck and a 26' one didn't make me feel any better BUT it did have an air seat. It was like being on a roller coaster!... 'And you bet your sweet @ss I took out insurance on this baby, being part Asian, the odds were already against me.
Photo - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/dixon-hardware-and-lumber-company-dixon?select=FYnXwoV4aLbTJmutAVkTTw
All in all, not too bad of an experience after the dust settled with the exception of the initial voicemail message of "Hello, we don't have a truck for you."
Hey Penske/Dixon Hardware just keep in mind that if this is how you plan to handle business with truck rentals, "It's a slippery slope, my friend," and expect to lose your clientele. I've used Penske in the past, when I first moved to the OC and in May of last year when I returned to the SF Bay Area. I was a very strong advocate for Penske but after this recent experience my faith is not quite so strong... 'Within the past few years, I have seen more and more third party partners teaming up with the truck rental company. Penske is a great value especially if you're a AAA member BUT I'd easily go with a competitor and pay a bit more if it guaranteed me a truck on moving day. I hope Penske doesn't bite off more than they can chew with choosing quantity versus quality of service. When I returned the truck, I heard more unsettling stories about missed dates and people not having a rental truck when needed... 'Precursor of Penske's future? I sure hope not.
- Aloha!
Food: n/a
Ambiance: 3
Service: 3 (Customer service, great; reliability of service, questionable)
Value: 4 read more