This is an interesting thread. I have a couple of questions for the "conspiracy" folks:
1. Why would you expect a 10-20% rate hike versus any other amount? What is that based on?
2. If there truly so many cars just sitting on rental car lots, then wouldn't it make sense that the revenue management system of those companies would lower the rates at the last minute to sell it, like some have noted?
It makes good business sense to charge the highest prices people are willing to pay. Sometimes that means renting less vehicles at higher margins. And like some FTers have said, if the prices are truly higher than the consumers will pay, either a new company will come in and undercut the majors or the majors will see such a large decline in business that they will re-adjust their pricing. No?
I'm not trying to be rudely argumentative, just a little conversational.
