Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:06/19/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I rented a lift and a trailer from A-1 rentals in **********. The person helping me took it upon themselves to hook up the trailer, which ended up running into my bumper causing damage. The owner (****) told me to get an estimate. I emailed it to him. He then told me to get a second estimate because it seemed high (which I know legally I only need one estimate). The second estimate was even higher and now he wont answer or call me back. The last time I talked to him, when he asked for a second estimate, he said he contacted his insurance company. He has never once reached out, and now every time I call, hes busy so I leave a message to call me, and he never calls back. Id like to settle this before taking him to small claims court.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/28/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I rented a riding brush mower from the ********* ** location. I stopped in at the store before my rental and asked them to change the blades on the machine I was going to rent. When I arrived later that day with my trailer to rent the mower the service person only changed the bolts and washers for the blades and flipped the blades over. "They are 2 sided but were heavily worn and cracked" I commented to the person helping me that I hope I didn't loose a blade and have to come back. I had pre-paid for a full 24hr rental. I picked up the rental around 4pm and I live just under 1hr away. I got to use the mower for about 1hr of mowing time. The hour meter had less than 2 hours on it *** this included getting familiar with the mower, idle time and cleaning it to return it. I broke one of the two replaceable blades. I had the mower back to the Rental place by 8am when they opened. They commented that I must have hit something hard and how he put in new bolts and washers. I reminded him that the blades were well worn and cracked. After showing them my paperwork etc, I asked if I could be charged for a half day instead of a full day and he said no he won't do that. I asked if I could take the pull behind mower for a half day and he said sure they would give me a discounted price "about $40 off" on that machine and I said no way I paid for a full day rental. Once we got to this point the rental person was not being helpful anymore. They did not fix my rental that morning for me to continue my use I paid for and I did not get the pull behind rental either. I took my paperwork and ended up leaving. Once I left I immediately called the same Rental company in ********* ** as it is the *********** location in my opinion. I called and asked to talk to the Manager. They told me they weren't available and would take a message. After almost 2 weeks I called again and finally got ahold of a manager. Told him what happened and he took my info and still hasn't responded.

  Business Response

  Date: 01/05/2024

  I am the owner of the company and have cancer that I was off for part of the month for treatment. My management should have been able to handle this with more time with the existing mower or with a 1/2 day (I would allow 5 hours) towable mower that the customer had wanted. I spoke with the shop guy in Rice Lake and was told that the mower just received a new blade for this rental. The new blades cost more than 1 day rental and came back very damaged. We didn't charge the customer for the blade damages. We can't be responsible for the equipment once it leaves our lot. The rates for that mower runs $120 for 3 hours, $160 overnight (pick up last hour and return within the first hour) and $200 a day. It is a rough-cut ride on brush mower that can cut trees up to 2". I would give the customer either another few hours on the ride on brush mower or the towable mower to finish his job. Normal wear and tear happens to these types of mowers and after a few minutes the blades look beat up. They still will cut long grass and trees that they are designed for. I would be more than happy to discuss this in further detail if he would like. I am usually in the office from about 10:00 until 5:00 pm Monday thru Friday. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 01/05/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  Reading the owners message, his Rice Lake shop guy "Did Not put on new blades". The blades were flipped as they are reversible. The guy from Rice Lake put on new bolts, nuts washers/shims. Also a 4-5 hr more rental is not as many hr's as I paid for. I was supposed to have it till closing time which is closer to 8hr's more. There was not lots of damage to the mower, one of the two cracked blades broke. that is it. I had washed the mower and then filled it with gas after the Rice Lake guy said he would charge me $10 a gallon if it wasn't full. I wasn't done with the full rental I paid for. I would have been more than happy if the mower was sent out with two new blades. The Orec mower I rented has two short reversible blades, about 4" maybe 5" long and do not cost more than a rental. I have the part number and looked them up.
  
  Regards,
  
  ***********************

  Business Response

  Date: 01/08/2024

  We installed new blades on the mower, per my shop guy in *********, that is the long blade with the 2 flails on the ends. Regardless, I would approve the rental unto 8 hours to make up for the headaches you occurred during your past rental experience. We strive to have equipment that works properly and the customers happy with the finished job. I am very sorry that you had bad experience. I hope this makes up for that. 

  ******************* Owner A-1 Express Rental Center. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 01/24/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  [Please type your response here.]
  After your response of two different references of your "Rice ********* Guy" saying he replaced the blades and the first pictures I supplied. I decided I better find the problem and I rented a metal detector. I found the broken blade. It definitely is a "well used blade" The four supplied pictures show there is no way this was a new blade. After much thought and consul, I cannot trust to use the rental I paid for. I believe if I use the rental that upon return your Rice ********* guy will Lie again and I will be stuck with a bs bill. If you look up ****** reviews for ********* location multiple reviews mention problems with your guy there.  A refund at this point is the only option.

  
  Regards,
  
  ***********************