If you have an upcoming car rental...
- SpacemanSpiff
- Posts: 2487
- Joined: Wed Jul 08, 2009 1:33 pm
- Location: Richmond VA
- Contact:
If you have an upcoming car rental...
... you might want to double check the pricing, especially with Hertz.
I learned through a Disney fan-related website that Hertz, who had a longstanding special rate with this group, has basically yanked the promised discounting pricing out of existing reservations and adjusted them upward without warning.
I have two future ones (one with Alamo in October, one with Budget over New Years) and double checked, and they appear to be ok - for now. But, considering there are only really three major car rental consortiums left (Enterprise/National/Alamo, Hertz/Thrifty/Dollar, and Avis/Budget), I fear that once one starts doing something, the others will follow suit.
This isn't a small thing -- the current market rate for my October rental is roughly double what I booked it for, and the New Years' one is about 25% higher currently.
Just keep an eye on things, folks.
I learned through a Disney fan-related website that Hertz, who had a longstanding special rate with this group, has basically yanked the promised discounting pricing out of existing reservations and adjusted them upward without warning.
I have two future ones (one with Alamo in October, one with Budget over New Years) and double checked, and they appear to be ok - for now. But, considering there are only really three major car rental consortiums left (Enterprise/National/Alamo, Hertz/Thrifty/Dollar, and Avis/Budget), I fear that once one starts doing something, the others will follow suit.
This isn't a small thing -- the current market rate for my October rental is roughly double what I booked it for, and the New Years' one is about 25% higher currently.
Just keep an eye on things, folks.
"If you're dead, you don't have any freedoms at all." - Jason Isbell
- Ritterskoop
- Posts: 5728
- Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:16 pm
- Location: Charlotte, NC
Re: If you have an upcoming car rental...
Drivers didn't lease new cars last summer because they were not on the road as much, so the fleet of newish used cars that forms the rental corps was decimated.
But i didn't think they would raise prices once you'd made a reservation. That defeats the purpose of a reservation.
But i didn't think they would raise prices once you'd made a reservation. That defeats the purpose of a reservation.
If you fail to pilot your own ship, don't be surprised at what inappropriate port you find yourself docked. - Tom Robbins
--------
At the moment of commitment, the universe conspires to assist you. - attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
--------
At the moment of commitment, the universe conspires to assist you. - attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
- SpacemanSpiff
- Posts: 2487
- Joined: Wed Jul 08, 2009 1:33 pm
- Location: Richmond VA
- Contact:
Re: If you have an upcoming car rental...
And, of course, whenever there is a scarcity, the scammers come out:
https://www.al.com/news/2021/07/rental- ... arcer.html
The article was originally from the Orlando Sentinel, but it's behind a paywall.
Here's all you need to know to realize it's a scam (and, BTW, never prepay for a car rental; it's difficult to get money back at best, and it limits your flexibility).
https://www.al.com/news/2021/07/rental- ... arcer.html
The article was originally from the Orlando Sentinel, but it's behind a paywall.
Here's all you need to know to realize it's a scam (and, BTW, never prepay for a car rental; it's difficult to get money back at best, and it limits your flexibility).
Yep, the old "prepaid / gift card" trick. As soon as someone trots that out, run away from it.Looking to take advantage of record-high prices, fake websites are popping up, offering rental cars for cheap. The sites then ask the buyer to use a gift card or pre-paid debit card to pay for the vehicle.
"If you're dead, you don't have any freedoms at all." - Jason Isbell
- SpacemanSpiff
- Posts: 2487
- Joined: Wed Jul 08, 2009 1:33 pm
- Location: Richmond VA
- Contact:
Re: If you have an upcoming car rental...
Now I've hit an interesting snag with one of the rentals.
The airline for our New Year's Florida trip emailed me yesterday, saying the flights have changed their times slightly; simply put, they are moved back an hour. No real problem, get to the beach an hour earlier.
But then I tried to change the pickup time with my primary rental (Budget). Apparently they treat a time change as a brand new rental (I don't recall this being a problem in the past, but I might have just been inobservant). This caused my four-day rental to jump by 60%. Mrs. Spiff and I just decided we'll keep the current setup and wait the extra hour (or just show up a half hour early to the Budget county) and live with it.
It's just crazy right now in the world of car rental. Pay attention to every detail on these things, folks!
The airline for our New Year's Florida trip emailed me yesterday, saying the flights have changed their times slightly; simply put, they are moved back an hour. No real problem, get to the beach an hour earlier.
But then I tried to change the pickup time with my primary rental (Budget). Apparently they treat a time change as a brand new rental (I don't recall this being a problem in the past, but I might have just been inobservant). This caused my four-day rental to jump by 60%. Mrs. Spiff and I just decided we'll keep the current setup and wait the extra hour (or just show up a half hour early to the Budget county) and live with it.
It's just crazy right now in the world of car rental. Pay attention to every detail on these things, folks!
- tlynn78
- Posts: 8664
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:31 am
- Location: Montana
Re: If you have an upcoming car rental...
Sadly, not limited to car rentals. People be trippin'.SpacemanSpiff wrote: ↑Tue Aug 03, 2021 6:38 amNow I've hit an interesting snag with one of the rentals.
The airline for our New Year's Florida trip emailed me yesterday, saying the flights have changed their times slightly; simply put, they are moved back an hour. No real problem, get to the beach an hour earlier.
But then I tried to change the pickup time with my primary rental (Budget). Apparently they treat a time change as a brand new rental (I don't recall this being a problem in the past, but I might have just been inobservant). This caused my four-day rental to jump by 60%. Mrs. Spiff and I just decided we'll keep the current setup and wait the extra hour (or just show up a half hour early to the Budget county) and live with it.
It's just crazy right now in the world of car rental. Pay attention to every detail on these things, folks!
To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead. -Thomas Paine
You can ignore reality, but you can't ignore the consequences of ignoring reality. -Ayn Rand
Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities. -Voltaire
You can ignore reality, but you can't ignore the consequences of ignoring reality. -Ayn Rand
Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities. -Voltaire
- Bob Juch
- Posts: 26470
- Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 11:58 am
- Location: Oro Valley, Arizona
- Contact:
Re: If you have an upcoming car rental...
I got this via email today:
Club 1 Hotels offers free direct access to wholesale car rental rates that are up to 60% off at over 142,000 global locations and 800+ car rental partners, including Hertz, Avis, Budget, and more. Their extensive portfolio of vehicles ranges from budget to premium and everything in between. Plus, members also have access to wholesale rates at over 1.5 million hotels and resorts.
Their site is at https://www.club1hotels.com/likemind
I don't intend to need an auto rental, but this might aid those here who do.
Club 1 Hotels offers free direct access to wholesale car rental rates that are up to 60% off at over 142,000 global locations and 800+ car rental partners, including Hertz, Avis, Budget, and more. Their extensive portfolio of vehicles ranges from budget to premium and everything in between. Plus, members also have access to wholesale rates at over 1.5 million hotels and resorts.
Their site is at https://www.club1hotels.com/likemind
I don't intend to need an auto rental, but this might aid those here who do.
I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.
- Douglas Adams (1952 - 2001)
Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere.
Teach a child to be polite and courteous in the home and, when he grows up, he'll never be able to drive in New Jersey.
- Douglas Adams (1952 - 2001)
Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere.
Teach a child to be polite and courteous in the home and, when he grows up, he'll never be able to drive in New Jersey.
- BackInTex
- Posts: 12808
- Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 12:43 pm
- Location: In Texas of course!
Re: If you have an upcoming car rental...
Trying to re-plan last year's postponed then cancelled Hawaii trip. Avis has no availability and all other are around $200/day for a compact on Kauai. I can pre-pay and say a few hundred but I'm nor pre-paying something I may not get to use (should Hawaii close again).
..what country can preserve it’s liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? let them take arms.
~~ Thomas Jefferson
War is where the government tells you who the bad guy is.
Revolution is when you decide that for yourself.
-- Benjamin Franklin (maybe)
~~ Thomas Jefferson
War is where the government tells you who the bad guy is.
Revolution is when you decide that for yourself.
-- Benjamin Franklin (maybe)
- Estonut
- Evil Genius
- Posts: 10495
- Joined: Sat Oct 13, 2007 1:16 am
- Location: Garden Grove, CA
Re: If you have an upcoming car rental...
What about a campervan? Then you have an additional option if lodging plans get screwed up.BackInTex wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 4:18 pmTrying to re-plan last year's postponed then cancelled Hawaii trip. Avis has no availability and all other are around $200/day for a compact on Kauai. I can pre-pay and say a few hundred but I'm nor pre-paying something I may not get to use (should Hawaii close again).
A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five.
Groucho Marx
Groucho Marx
- Bob Juch
- Posts: 26470
- Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 11:58 am
- Location: Oro Valley, Arizona
- Contact:
Re: If you have an upcoming car rental...
I read that due to the shortage of rental cars, people have been renting U-Haul trucks.BackInTex wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 4:18 pmTrying to re-plan last year's postponed then canceled Hawaii trip. Avis has no availability and all other are around $200/day for a compact on Kauai. I can pre-pay and say a few hundred but I'm not pre-paying something I may not get to use (should Hawaii close again).
I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.
- Douglas Adams (1952 - 2001)
Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere.
Teach a child to be polite and courteous in the home and, when he grows up, he'll never be able to drive in New Jersey.
- Douglas Adams (1952 - 2001)
Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere.
Teach a child to be polite and courteous in the home and, when he grows up, he'll never be able to drive in New Jersey.
- Pastor Fireball
- Posts: 2560
- Joined: Mon May 24, 2010 4:48 am
- Location: Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Contact:
Re: If you have an upcoming car rental...
And you know U-Haul's motto: "No experience driving a large truck? Good luck!"Bob Juch wrote: ↑Mon Aug 09, 2021 6:51 amI read that due to the shortage of rental cars, people have been renting U-Haul trucks.BackInTex wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 4:18 pmTrying to re-plan last year's postponed then canceled Hawaii trip. Avis has no availability and all other are around $200/day for a compact on Kauai. I can pre-pay and say a few hundred but I'm not pre-paying something I may not get to use (should Hawaii close again).
"[Drumpf's] name alone creates division and anger, whose words inspire dissension and hatred, and can't possibly 'Make America Great Again.'" --Kobe Bryant (1978-2020)
"In times of crisis, the wise build bridges. The foolish build barriers." --Chadwick Boseman (1976-2020)
"In times of crisis, the wise build bridges. The foolish build barriers." --Chadwick Boseman (1976-2020)
- jarnon
- Posts: 6293
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:52 pm
- Location: Merion, Pa.
Re: If you have an upcoming car rental...
I always use Enterprise if possible. Good service and cheaper than the other companies. I'm now in a small town in Illinois and rented a car for two weeks. I planned to pick it up Wednesday morning but was delayed till Thursday just before closing. So I asked them to deduct one day's charge, and they took off two days. I also asked if I could keep the car a few days longer and return it in Pennsylvania. No problem - their rate with the drop-off charge is less than their competitors' for a local rental.
Слава Україні!
עם ישראל חי
עם ישראל חי