Originally Posted by
MSPeconomist
I disagree. It's important to be able to secure luggage properly. To be forced to the rental location not once but twice is a serious inconvenience, although of course it depends somewhat on the OP's planned itinerary. I think the rental location should have offered something. Since they didn't, reporting the issue to corporate is appropriate.
FWIW, most rental cars in the USA that could have cargo covers (i.e., SUVs)
don't have them. A cargo cover or similar feature is not listed with anything in the
vehicle guide for New Zealand (in any of the categories).
To the OP: why couldn't you just call them instead of going back to the location to show them the issue?
In my honest opinion, the fact that they went and found a cargo cover that would fit your vehicle was enough on their part. They never guaranteed such a feature, so it should not have been expected in the first place. I would chalk this up to the equivalent of getting a car with expired Sirius; assuming you didn't pay extra for it, it's nice if they fix it or make it right, but it should not be expected.
In regards to the original question: if you worded it right, you might be able to get something (perhaps a $50 voucher as already suggested). From what I can tell, many locations in NZ are actually corporate locations, so Hertz can't blame a rogue franchise or something of that effect. Don't get your hopes up, but YMMV.
-J.