| Working for a significant car rental company selling to | | | | was driving for a very reduced rate should have and |
| wholesalers has its perks. Over the years one | | | | could have been rented to regular customers which |
| manages to become friends with the major players | | | | was why we were in business. He tried to tell me |
| either dealing with them or meeting them at domestic | | | | people in the business take care of each other. I |
| and international travel trade shows. And the saying | | | | explained my situation only 5 or 6 months prior with |
| "one hand washes the other" does apply. They could | | | | discounted hotel rates and told him that he abused a |
| call on me for a discounted car rental rate and I could | | | | favor. |
| call on them for a discounted hotel rate. But never | | | | I then told him that I would honor the special offer for |
| request help during the busy season when cars and | | | | the two weeks requested. For the balance of the |
| hotel rooms would be in short supply. | | | | rental period he would be charged the tour operator |
| I mention this because in the fall of 1986 we were | | | | net rate for the mid-size car. Also a bargain |
| doing a major renovation in our home from | | | | considering that we did not do business with them. I |
| mid-September to just before Thanksgiving. During that | | | | also told him that the Miami station would go to his |
| time we spent every Friday through Monday at a Fort | | | | hotel and pick up the car. If it wasn't available they |
| Lauderdale or Hollywood Beach hotel to get away | | | | would swear out a warrant for unauthorized use. And |
| from the mess. I asked my hotel friends for a | | | | that is when he hung up on me. I said out loud to |
| discounted room rate and they helped . We did not | | | | anyone who could hear, "What a baby. He hung up on |
| request a discounted rate during Columbus Day | | | | me." |
| Weekend when rooms were in short supply. | | | | It took about an hour before the father, the hotel |
| Now that you have the picture I received a call early | | | | owner, called me. I mentioned at the start of the |
| January, 1987 from the son of an owner of a mid size | | | | conversation that if the apple didn't fall from the tree |
| Miami Beach hotel. His car broke down and could I help | | | | that he too would hang up on me. He said that he |
| him for a couple of weeks until it was repaired. I need | | | | wouldn't and then proceeded to complain about the |
| to mention that we didn't do business with this hotel. | | | | amount that was being charged for the car rental. |
| However, previously their former sales director had | | | | That it was only fair to work with fellow travel industry |
| given our company a $1,000 deposit to establish credit | | | | people. I said that his son had abused the favor and I |
| in the event that they would give us some car rental | | | | asked him when was the last time he discounted a |
| business. | | | | hotel room during the height of the busy season? |
| The request came after the busy Christmas holiday | | | | No response to the question and stated that he |
| and about 4 weeks before our next peak period | | | | wouldn't pay the charge. I gave him the bad news. He |
| commencing Presidents Day Weekend and running | | | | didn't have to because we had a $1,000 deposit of his |
| until the end of March. I offered him a mid-size car and | | | | thanks to his ex-sales director. We would deduct the |
| would charge him the tour operator net rate for a | | | | charges from the deposit and since we weren't doing |
| sub-compact car, a two car upgrade with an | | | | business with his hotel would refund the difference. |
| attractive price. He would return the car in two weeks. | | | | Now we were on the phone and I didn't have a visual |
| It was a win for him with a good rate and a win for us | | | | but I sensed rage. His response was that he was |
| by renting a car which would normally remain idle | | | | going to do everything he could to get me out of the |
| during a slow time. | | | | travel business. |
| He wanted the car for two weeks but it was about | | | | I need to mention that I loved what I was doing and |
| two months later, the early part of March, when I got | | | | thought that the work I did was like being on vacation. |
| the call. It was the Miami rental station wanting to know | | | | As a joke I said, "I have been in the business for 20 |
| when the car would be returned. The vehicle was | | | | years and have been trying to get out of it for the last |
| sorely needed for reservations. Imagine my surprise. It | | | | 19 years. Anything you can do to help I will appreciate." |
| was very unusual for people in the business to abuse | | | | He slammed down the phone. I said out loud not |
| favors knowing full well the importance of maximizing | | | | knowing who would hear me, "The apple does not fall |
| resources during the height of a season. | | | | far from the tree. |
| I called the renter and spared no words. The car he | | | | |