Bear Car Rentals

Cons: I never got his name, but the tall, heavy set African-American guy who was at the front desk when I returned the rental car scammed me for cash for himself and should be fired. Seriously. I've been waiting for this review opportunity because I have no clue who else to contact about this. When I returned the van -- after filling it up with gas beyond full for a total of $30 just an hour or so before returning the van, the guy at the front desk seemed real nice and friendly, took the car keys to check the condition of the car, and then returned and suddenly announced (still with a nice demeanor and smile on his face), that the gas tank was "just a smidge" under the Full level, but "we could take care of that" for just $5 in cash ... otherwise he'd have to charge me the usual rate for extra gas and put it on my credit card that was on file. I told him I had just filled up the entire tank, but he still said it was under the max of full. In hindsight, I should have insisted on going out to the parking lot WITH him to show him it was filled even beyond full just barely an hour before, but I was already so exhausted from the move, that I wanted to get home ... and he was "so nice." (Stupid me, from New York City, I should have known a scam when I saw one.) I looked in my wallet and discovered I only had a $10 bill. He said that would be fine, but he didn't have any change ... So after renting the van for a whole week for a well-worth-it $500, that $10 I gave this con artist ruined my entire experience renting from Avis, and made me realize I had been taken by someone who had this sort of thing down pat. Since he is the only person in that entire Avis office at the drop off point, he clearly is used to saying the exact same thing and making money off the books for himself by getting people to give him "tips" in exchange for lying to them about how much is in their gas tank. I typically don't complain about anything, but this is ONE thing that needs to be addressed by Avis. If someone is really and truly reading this feedback, as opposed to just doing the perfunctory e-mail questionnaire to make customers think Avis really cares about their experience, they will call me back or email me within 24 hours after reading this so that we can discuss and take some action. Scam artists have no place being hired for the front counter of any Avis car place. The guy from Pakistan at the Avis rental place in Hoboken, where I picked up the car to begin with, was the epitome of professionalism, courtesy, good humor and genuine helpfulness (and should probably be promoted to manager, if he isn't already). Any company he works for would be lucky to have him, and customers clearly and deservedly love him. The exact opposite is unfortunately the case for the guy in Avis's Newark drop off place.

Cons: Price