Playing the Rental Car *deals* game?

[wdisneelvr]

Why oh why do the rental car agencies play the games they do?

They continously keep us hopping around from one rental site to another desperately punching in discount codes, dates and the completely crazy scale of car sizes.

Does anyone else think this is nuts?

I've been getting discount rental rates for years now doing this, and it doesn't seem to be getting any better.

Why must the consumer jump thru hoops to get a "good deal"?

In order to get good deals this is what I've found works the best.

* Book at least 6 months to a year or more in advance.
* Then as your time gets closer, keep checking those rates.
* Scour the internet for discount codes and try each one.
* Rates will go up unbelievably about 1-2 months before your date of travel.
* Try at least two weeks before you leave to see if your rental has gone down.
* Check again just before you leave and right up to the last minute to see if rates went down (usually to go sky high at this time)


This invovles a great deal of time checking and rechecking the major car rental websites. There are the major travel websites that will pull up most of the info for you to let you know what the going rates are (Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity) but going to the rental agency online directly will help you get some good deals too (last minute, discounts, codes).

Of course there is another avenue that we can take and that is playing the bidding games. Bidding for cars is a whole other subject which has it's benefits as wells as it's downsides.

Sooooo, if anyone has a solution to the Car Rental Circus that we must play, please let me know. Isn't there anyone out there that can help smooth out this conspiracy to keep the average consumer confused? LOL



Happy Trails!!!!

 

[safetymom]

I don't see it as being any different than any other business. Compare it to the airlines. Also the law of supply and demand. No different than Disney. If you ran a rental agency wouldn't you raise the price when you knew the demand was high?

I consider it to be smart shopping but time after time I go back to Hertz when I rent at MCO and other cities.

They are always within dollars of the other companies. I always have a nice new car, and am out of there very quickly. Being preferred with them since I rent so much helps also.

I don't look at just the cost I look at all the the other things when I rent a car.

IMHO

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by wdisneelvr
Why oh why do the rental car agencies play the games they do?

They continously keep us hopping around from one rental site to another desperately punching in discount codes, dates and the completely crazy scale of car sizes.

Does anyone else think this is nuts?

I've been getting discount rental rates for years now doing this, and it doesn't seem to be getting any better.

Why must the consumer jump thru hoops to get a "good deal"?

In order to get good deals this is what I've found works the best.

* Book at least 6 months to a year or more in advance.
* Then as your time gets closer, keep checking those rates.
* Scour the internet for discount codes and try each one.
* Rates will go up unbelievably about 1-2 months before your date of travel.
* Try at least two weeks before you leave to see if your rental has gone down.
* Check again just before you leave and right up to the last minute to see if rates went down (usually to go sky high at this time)


This invovles a great deal of time checking and rechecking the major car rental websites. There are the major travel websites that will pull up most of the info for you to let you know what the going rates are (Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity) but going to the rental agency online directly will help you get some good deals too (last minute, discounts, codes).

Of course there is another avenue that we can take and that is playing the bidding games. Bidding for cars is a whole other subject which has it's benefits as wells as it's downsides.

Sooooo, if anyone has a solution to the Car Rental Circus that we must play, please let me know. Isn't there anyone out there that can help smooth out this conspiracy to keep the average consumer confused? LOL



Happy Trails!!!!

It is called business. It is no different that KMart and WalMart doing the I can better your price. You don't have to do it, it is your choice. Besides, it can be fun.

 

[seashoreCM]

Would you rather save time?

If so, go to just one car rental site (or Travelocity.com) and you can book your car within fifteen minutes.

Or would you rather save money?

If so, follow the advice at the top of this thread.

More "Would you rather":
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/save.htm

I, too, wish that Travelocity.com would reveal all of the lowest coupon or code rental rates all on one page.