Complaint Review: U-Save Car Rental

On Wednesday, May 4th, 2011, I had my Canon T2i Digital SLR camera stolen from U-Save at the airport in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  I left my back pack, which contained my camera in the rental car for 5 min.  In that time, the car was driven to the back lot to be washed.  At that time, a 25 year old man found my backpack named Mike, went through all my belongings, and then abruptly left work.  He told the police he found nothing but "some junk items."  I know he found my camera.  It was at the bottom of my backpack.

I guess I'm wondering why the man took my backpack into a garage for 2 min, so his co-worker couldn't see what he was doing?  Why did Mike leave work an hour and half early on Wednesday?  Why did Mike not punch out when he left work on Monday?  Why did Mike not turn my backpack into lost and found?  Why did he not call the front desk and tell them a customer just left a bag in the car?  Why was he going through my personal belongings?

I wish the story got better from there but then I had a terrible confrontation with the manager.  I believe his name was Dave Roberts.  He was a younger man with short brown hair and bad skin.    I went to the front desk and spoke with the two employees there.  They were both very friendly and apologetic for what just happened.  They informed me that the manager, Dave, was on his way into the office.  As soon as Dave arrived he seemed agitated.   He was dressed in a dirty blue jeans, a dirty blue U-Save golf shirt and wore his hat backwards.  Not very professional looking at all.  He appeared homeless.  He told us U-Save is not responsible for anything left in the car.  He then told me Mike, the young cleaning guy was the most honest employee he has.  He could not provide me or the Horry County Police with Mike's last name or cell phone number.  He could not tell us why Mike left nearly two hours early that day.  He could not explain to me or the police why Mike would be going through customers personal items.  Dave, then looked at me and said "you staring hard boy."  He then took his hat and sunglasses off, put them on the U-Save counter and tried to start a fight with me.  I told him, "I was not staring, I was looking at the manager for answers."  None of which he was able to come up with.  Thankfully the Horry County police department stepped in and would not let a physical altercation take place.  The police actually had to restrain the manager.  I've never been so insulted in all my life.  I can not believe U-Save condones violence in the work place.  I'm a paying customer.  My party rented 5 mini vans that week alone, and that was the thanks I got.  A camera stolen and a manager with no manners, no people skills, who tried to start a fight with a customer.

Why did Dave think he could speak to me like that?  Calling me BOY?  I'm on vacation with my wife and child and he's calling me boy?  Truly unprofessional.  I want this manager to lose his job immediately.  No way does he value his job, his customers, or his company.  I would really like to see both Dave and the younger Mike lose their jobs.  Neither employee has proper work ethics.  I'd really like to see U-Save do the right thing and reimburse me for my camera, that cost $1000.  It was only left in the car for 5 minutes!  I know who the common criminals are.  I know it's Mike and based on Dave's unprofessional attitude, I would guess he's part of this scheme to steal things from paying customers.  I will be faxing in a copy of my police report to the USave head office.  The Horry County police did tell me they suspect Mike to be the thief.  Based on the interviews with both of the men that were cleaning cars, they said the interviews differ greatly.  They told me there isn't much they could do since U-Save doesn't have any surveillance equipment by the car cleaning bays.  They did think it was Mike as well. 

Don't rent through U-Save!  You may save $40-60 over the course of a week but it's not worth it.  The front counter is incredibly slow.  The manager will try to pick a fight with you.  The employees will steal from you car as soon as they have the opportunity.  The day I picked up my car, (before the $hit hit the fan,) another guy in line was screaming at the USave folks b/c his car died twice on vacation and he had to call AAA!  I don't believe USave has a lost and found box.  Anything lost will be found by the employees and then turns into their own treasure.