Other Car Rental Programs (ie. Alamo, Enterprise) - Essentially free car rentals?

http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s430/sh76us/rentals.jpg

A compact for $5 a day???

I know it's the second rate companies. But 5 bucks???

Am I trapped in a time warp and it's really 1955 again?

Enjoy it!

I will rain on your parade somewhat and point out that the compact is still $21/day out of pocket. Plus any ancillary revenue they may get out of you at pick-up or return, which is what they're baiting you in to get at.

As Larry David would say: Having said that, it's a solid deal.

Enjoy it!

I will rain on your parade somewhat and point out that the compact is still $21/day out of pocket. Plus any ancillary revenue they may get out of you at pick-up or return, which is what they're baiting you in to get at.

As Larry David would say: Having said that, it's a solid deal.

True, but that's Maricopa County. Between the taxes and rental center fees and whatnot, it always costs more than meets the eye.

Still, it makes you wonder how these rental car companies stay in business.

And all the cars are black with black interior and are 150 degrees inside.

Besides, I have rented from those companies and would not take a free car from them.

And all the cars are black with black interior and are 150 degrees inside.

Besides, I have rented from those companies and would not take a free car from them.

Do you mind my asking why? It's not just idle gossip. I usually rent from Thrifty, but I was thinking of trying Payless next week just because it's half the price. But if you have reason to believe they're going to try to screw me when I get back to the airport or stick me with an unauthorized charge or something, I'd rather pay the extra $60 and be safe.

I once tried Advantage in PHX and didn't have a problem. Never tried Payless though.

Do you mind my asking why? It's not just idle gossip. I usually rent from Thrifty, but I was thinking of trying Payless next week just because it's half the price. But if you have reason to believe they're going to try to screw me when I get back to the airport or stick me with an unauthorized charge or something, I'd rather pay the extra $60 and be safe.

I once tried Advantage in PHX and didn't have a problem. Never tried Payless though.

Payless in PHX has been known (not just anecdotally, either--it was reported in an industry publication (http://www.autorentalnews.com/News/Story/2009/07/Car-Rental-Firm-Admits-Charging-Multiple-Customers-for-Broken-Windshields.aspx)) to actively scam customers for damage--charging multiple times for damage they actually had on record as being prior damage. (AFAIK, that is the only time an industry player was actually engaging in fraud--many complaints about this kind of activity crop up on the consumer review sites and even here on FT, but in most cases, I think it's more due to misunderstandings or poor assumptions than outright fraud. There are a few bad-apple locations, though, of all companies, mostly franchises.)

Advantage, on the other hand, is a discount brand owned by Hertz. All locations are corporate, too, which means that Hertz should have a pretty good grip on any issues at Advantage locations. Complaints about Advantage do exist, and some of the managers that came over from the pre-Hertz Advantage (Hertz bought the whole company a few years ago to try to dip into the leisure/discount market) may not run their operations to the standards you'd expect Hertz to, but on the whole, I'd feel comfortable renting from Advantage knowing that there is potential recourse for any issues that may crop up by contacting Hertz's corporate offices.

Payless in PHX has been known (not just anecdotally, either--it was reported in an industry publication (http://www.autorentalnews.com/News/Story/2009/07/Car-Rental-Firm-Admits-Charging-Multiple-Customers-for-Broken-Windshields.aspx)) to actively scam customers for damage--charging multiple times for damage they actually had on record as being prior damage. (AFAIK, that is the only time an industry player was actually engaging in fraud--many complaints about this kind of activity crop up on the consumer review sites and even here on FT, but in most cases, I think it's more due to misunderstandings or poor assumptions than outright fraud. There are a few bad-apple locations, though, of all companies, mostly franchises.)

Advantage, on the other hand, is a discount brand owned by Hertz. All locations are corporate, too, which means that Hertz should have a pretty good grip on any issues at Advantage locations. Complaints about Advantage do exist, and some of the managers that came over from the pre-Hertz Advantage (Hertz bought the whole company a few years ago to try to dip into the leisure/discount market) may not run their operations to the standards you'd expect Hertz to, but on the whole, I'd feel comfortable renting from Advantage knowing that there is potential recourse for any issues that may crop up by contacting Hertz's corporate offices.

Thanks.

Unbelievable about Payless! What a slimy thing to do...

Anyway, I made a reservation with Advantage as well. I'll decide between it and Thrifty at the time.

I've rented from the Advantage at PHX twice and had a smooth, complaint-free experience both times. Furthermore, during my stint working for Enterprise at PHX in 2007 I worked next to Advantage and got to know a lot of them and their operation and have no complaints. I'd happily snag that $5/day compact rate.

advantage has run the $5 promo several times in different markets. its a steal and often combinable with aaa cdp.

Alamo has been doing $8-10 weekend day rentals at SEA regularly, $20/day all-in. Oh, and you can use this (https://www.alamo.com/customWebPages.do?template=TopLeftFormTemplate&custompage=alamo-usairways-dividendmiles-res&&contractid=7015171) code and this promo (http://shopping.usairways.com/promotion/dividendmiles/registration.aspx?PromoCode=HC50) to net 750 miles per rental, if you just need a day or two rental. :D

(AA and UA have 1000 mile bonuses for 3 day rentals. ;))

Well, I guess I should tell the ending. I did rent from Advantage. Kept the car a shade over 3 days and the total bill with taxes, fees and everything was $53 and change. No hard upsell or problem on return; though they tried something I consider a little sneaky: They asked "Do you want the insurance or the better insurance?" (paraphrasing) as though those were the only 2 choices. I had to introduce the 3rd choice of not buying insurance at all; but at least I didn't get a hard time about it.

Toomanybooks is a prophet because it was a black car with a black interior: a whiny little Ford Fiesta (I ordered a compact and I thought a Fiesta was economy, but whatever) with slightly squeaky brakes, a tranny that could use a little tuning and it made a little bit of a funky sound when you cut the steering wheel enough to make a right turn.

But I was perfectly happy. I only had to drive around a little inside the city and for my purposes it was totally adequate. For the pittance I paid, it was perfectly acceptable.

Still, if you're going to do some real driving like the Grand Canyon or Sendona, I think it would be smart to pony up a few extra bucks and get a real car.