Hertz 24/7 (was Hertz on Demand (was Hertz Connect))
 

Apologies if old news but I just noticed this splash ad on Hertz's front page. I'd read about but had always dismissed Connect as having no real value for my purposes.

Can anyone familiar with Connect weigh in as to whether any substantive changes have been made to the HoD program?

http://www.hertzondemand.com

Hertz On Demand™ is a pay-as-you go car membership club, and it couldn't be simpler. It's the luxury of having a car, without the hassles of owning one. And with zero membership fees, you only pay for the car when you use it, so you can hit the road with savings.

Enjoy the many benefits of being a Hertz On Demand™ member:

• Free Membership, no enrollment or annual fees
• Rent by the hour or by the day
• 24/7 Vehicle Access
• Gas & Insurance Included
• 180 Miles Per 24 Hour Period
• Luxury and Green vehicle options
• One Way & Round trip Service Available (even to the airport!)
• Guaranteed weekday availability (Mon.-Thurs.)
• 24/7 In Car Member Care


Did you know? Every Hertz On Demand™ vehicle takes 14 personal cars off the road. Reduce your carbon footprint today.

Join for Free and use Promotional Code “ZEWEB25” to receive $25 in Driving Credits*.

For more information and to join for free, visit hertzondemand.com.

Some subtle differences with the product offering in the UK (well - it's London only unless you want a van).
I don't see it as competing with the mainstream operation - it's trying to tap into a different market. Presumably Hertz will have competitive advantage over streetcar/zipcar on things like fleet purchase power (though it won't make much difference on the tiny number of electric vehicles they have so far!)

UK scheme is:
•Free Membership, no enrolment or annual fees
•Rent by the hour or the day
•24/7/365 vehicle access
•Full Insurance cover included
•30 miles of fuel per day (cars) or 20 miles per day (vans) included
•Low Co2 cars and vans
•Electric vehicles
•24/7 In-vehicle Member Care

Most of the significant changes such as the free membership happened a while ago. This rebranding is just a way to bring it more in line with the traditional Hertz brand. While the 2 are still pretty distinct, we are making HOD available at more traditional RAC locations all the time.

Mike

I'm not sure how coverage is elsewhere, but I have a hard time seeing how they can compete with zipcar and igo in Chicago. HOD has a single location in Chicago, the others have dozens, maybe hundreds.

Thanks for your reply, mmcdowell!

I see HoD is touting increased 1 way rentals. Is that only in a few select locations (ala Connect) or has that feature been expanded?

For example, last I checked only 1 NYC location (somewhere in the W50s) offered 1way rentals and those were solely to the NYC=>airport.

I am curious about this too, along with how much it costs? In NYC its only $45 plus tolls for a cab to or from the airport. While you could probably do the trip in <1 hour, are you only charged the hour fee and therefore can save some money or is there a drop charge? Also is there an option to use the service returning from the airport. Here you get a problem I foresee where you want to reserve a car though your flight gets delayed and there is someone waiting on the other end for the car to arrive.

I haven't signed up yet and am slightly annoyed that HOD doesn't give you a detailed map of where their cars are available and what the costs are until after you sign up :td::td:.

Couple of observations:

1) Seems *more* expensive than a cab. I'm getting $50+ from UWS to LGA, for example. And that's not even including the toll, correct?

2) The website is clunky and difficult to use.

3) No recognition of Hertz status or ability to accrue points? Seems lame.

I've always struggled to understand the pricing. The Hertz website always uses the phrase "priced from...", which doesn't give any real indication as to what the rental will cost. I find competitors' pricing - such as Zipcar and particularly Mint - far more transparent.

If anyone's interested in Hertz On Demand for one-way rentals from NYC area to dropoff at LGA, just forget about it. I spoke to a sales person who lied to me and said they had one-way to all three major NYC airports, and they don't have any one-way dropoffs at LGA, only to Newark and JFK.

LAME.

Two weeks ago tried to use Hertz on Demand from 55st to JFK one way, they would only allow me to have a Mazda 3, which was to small for 4 adults and cases, when it was connect they offered XC90 etc, so I got the hotel to arrange a car (chevy suburban) with driver for $70 instead of $55 for the on demand car

Did you see this?

https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/speci...TabLink=tlink4

For future reference, go through Hertz (not HoD) for 1way rentals to NYC airports. Assuming all T&Cs are met, the rates top out at $29.99 & you get Hertz/Airline credit for the rental.

https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/speci...sp&Category=BB

I do not understand this. What is the problem exactly? I was going to book one-ways from LGA via Demand and was able to pull them up, but then I decided to do something different. They are bookable, although the website is clunky when it comes to those.

I just tried the Hertz site for a One Way JFK to NYC Downtown and it wants... wait for it.. 110 USD for ONE HOUR of rental in a COMPACT?!

A day later I have a confirmed reservation for 24 hours one way NYC to Washington DC in a Luxury for less?

Confusing.

ZipCar and iGo don't allow one ways at all, so there isn't a lot of competition for that market.

oh sweet, thanks for the link to that. i didn't know about that.

the rates aren't so good though. i click on quote and the best quote for a friday noon time ride from manhattan to LGA is at least $100.

edit: n/m, i see where it says the quoted rate is at least $99 and only charged that if you take more than 2.5 hrs to get to the airport. man, hertz is not so good at producing data that's easily consumed at a glance. some may say that's a user error, but oh well.

the problem is FROM LGA it's easy. it's drop off at LGA that was the issue.

I feel like it's now a supply issue since I just tried it for the same time, and now it's like $20 for 1 hr, whereas last week it wasn't even available.

Ok so I got the link to work but only by searching for it through Google and visiting a cached version. It uses rate code HRLYA.

If I select from Downtown to JFK it works but it gives me an estimated cost of $225 USD.

However I want to use this to get FROM JFK *to* Downtown. Says its invalid.

I guess they don't offer this deal for drives the other way round? Seems odd, I mean presumably they want cars brought back as well?

I have a few trips coming up so I thought I would poke around both the Hertz and On Demand sites for some rates.

For JFK into Manhattan next Friday night, I found a daily rate on Hertz for an Economy car that was about $60, all-in (AAA CDP). That's about how much I would pay for a cab; my only challenge will be to find a parking space overnight, but I can also park it for $14 at the Hertz near us. We also have some errands to run in New Jersey the next day so that's a plus. The On Demand rate was much more.

What is tempting is the sub-$20 hourly On Demand rates from Manhattan to the airport for some of my trips with early morning departures or late night arrivals (when the regular Hertz locations are closed). In those cases, I wouldn't do the subway/bus to the airports and the price is less than what I would pay for a cab.

Or you could do the Manhattan airport shuttle rate, pickup from EWR or LGA on Thursday night, return to Manhattan within 24 hours. Rates start at $20 plus tax for an economy car, $24 plus tax for a fullsize, with the AAA CDP. No coupon is necessary. The reverse is pick up from Manhattan on Sunday night or Monday morning, return to EWR, LGA, or JFK within 24 hours.

The folks over at Hertz on Demand saw this thread and asked me to post the following for them.
- Mike

Hertz On Demand does offer One-Way rentals to/from all three NYC airports, JFK, Newark, and Laguardia, as well as Manhattan and Hoboken. Prices start at $14/hr. Unlike the standard Hertz rental rates, this includes gas, insurance, up to 180 miles per 24 hour period, and NeverLost to help you get there. Taxes and fees do vary at each of the airports.

So why am I offered a rate of $225 if I wish to book a car from JFK to Downtown for 2 hours?

For context, thats more than the entire cost, inc drop fee, of my Hertz LCAR rental from Downtown NYC to Downtown DC a few days later!

I noticed that, too. In several markets, Hertz has raised their one-way rates to above $200/day plus tax, with the AAA CDP, for an economy car. I don't know why this is happening.

Maybe Hertz is trying to compete with National, by raising many one-way prices. National's rack rates for many one-ways start at $195/day plus tax.

But some things may not show up in competitor rate checking software: There is a 15% generic Emerald Club discount for retail customers. The final price is $146/day plus tax for a compact, and there's usually a free upgrade coupon to midsize on National's website.

Before the recent Hertz rate increases, a AAA Hertz rate of, say, $160/day plus tax, might have seemed much cheaper than National. But even then, looking further would have shown that is not necessarily the case.

I sure hope I guessed wrong. Retail paid one-ways have traditionally been one of Hertz's strongest points. If Hertz prices become equal to or even higher than National, and National more easily gives away free days, more customers will leave.

Are you comparing a Hertz on Demand rate quote or a regular Hertz Rent-a-Car rate quote. It sounds like it's regular Hertz you're looking at.

It's probably a regular rate, but why is it so much?

HOD confusion
 

Mr. or Ms. MMcdowell:

I received an email solicitation (with a $25.00 free usage teaser) from HOD. I filled out the information and submitted it on August 16, 2011. There was no room for me to put my Gold account #. The response indicated I would hear from them in a few days.

Three weeks have passed and no response whatsoever. Today, September 6, 2011, I called Hertz Gold. Of course, they could not help and switched me over to HOD. The very helpful agent showed that "they are still working on it."

Yes, I would like to use this service but I am mystified that I am unable to do so as whatever needs to be verified is not yet done. Of course, all of the information that they need it available through my Gold account.

I am sure this makes sense to someone but in this economy, when people are begging for jobs that pay $8.00 an hour, I cannot understand why it is taking so long.

I guess I will just stick w/the companies I now use.

End of rant!

Just realised it's a regular rate (Though I still dont get why it's more to One Way for 2 hours from JFK to Downtown in a Mid Size than I've paid to One Way for 24 hours from Downtown to Washington DC in a Luxury 2 days later), but although I signed up for Hertz On Demand I never got 'authorised'.

Probably because my billing address is incorrect - which I had no choice but to do because it wouldnt let me proceed without entering my State even after selecting country of residence as United Kingdom.

I applied for Hertz On Demand over two weeks ago. It was much better than Zipcar with no annual fee and airport one way rentals. I have not heard back and there is no place that I can see on the website to check the status of my application.

My last speeding ticket (moving violation) was way back in 1995 so my driving record should not be an issue. Even though AFIAK the application had no request for a credit check, my credit is fine so that should not be an issue. Any idea of what could be holding it up?

Just realised it's a regular rate (Though I still dont get why it's more to One Way for 2 hours from JFK to Downtown in a Mid Size than I've paid to One Way for 24 hours from Downtown to Washington DC in a Luxury 2 days later)

Be careful what you wish for. :rolleyes:

HOD delays
 

On Friday, 9.9.11, I received the following email:
"You have been approved as a Hertz On Demand Member. Your Hertz On Demand vehicle entry device should arrive in the mail shortly. Once received, you will be able to reserve vehicles online and get on the road."

As of yesterday's snail mail, I have not yet received the "device."

Mr. McDowell very kindly offered assistance but I had already received the email.

I will keep you posted. Good luck on your endeavor. Are there HOD parking lots in Brooklyn? I have yet to find out where they are in NYC or the rates but, hopefully, all will be revealed when I receive the "device."

Looks like there are at least two: one at the LIU campus on DeKalb and one on North 5th and Kent.

I think it took less than a week for me to get the HOD credentials after the confirmation letter.

Only two locations in brooklyn as mentioned previously but lots of locations (at least 30) in Manhattan. That said, zipcar has many times the number of locations as HOD but HOD has a more interesting selection of vehicles (like Mercedes GLK, Dodge Challenger, Volvo C30, Nissan Leaf, and Caddy Escalade just to name a few)

I have now received all of the information and have gone online twice in hopes of arranging a 1-way rental from LGA into NYC. The website is "challenging." Yes, I was able to set up what I wanted but it took more time than I was willing to invest.

I will probably continue but am hoping that the website will become more user-friendly.

The mobile app is slightly better IMO. It's still branded as "Hertz Connect" though.

I was recently approved. I would likely use the service the first time for an early morning flight departure. I understand the web site is a bit difficult but my concern would be the first time I actually went to pick up a vehicle. Anything I should know. Needless to say, with a flight to catch I would have little time to try to figure something out or be on the phone to a CSR.

I did (well, kinda, but we'll get to that in a bit) my first on Demand rental; it was a one way from LGA into Manhattan.

I decided to give on Demand a try as I was arriving into LGA pretty late and I'm not keen on doing the bus/subway at that hour. The rate for one hour is cheaper than a taxi, so it seems like a good deal if you don't mind doing the driving and can find a drop lot close to your destination.

To get the car at LGA, you take the Hertz shuttle and get off at the Gold Canopy stop. There are two stalls in the canopy area for on Demand; they are right by the display board and are hard to miss.

Now for the details of my rental experience...

My reservation was for 11:45 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. Because my flight into LGA was delayed, I used the mobile app to move the rental to 12:15 a.m. to 1:15 a.m. We made up some time in route so when we landed, I changed the time to 12:05 a.m. to 1:05 a.m. I was expecting an SMS or email from Hertz to let me know which car I should take, but didn't receive one so I tried my card on the readers of both cars. It unlocked one (Ford Fiesta) but not the other (Jeep Patriot). However, when I tried the ignition key on the Ford, the car would not start. I called the 800 help number and was able to speak to a rep right away. She determined that I was supposed to use the Jeep but was unable to send a signal to unlock it. She also tried to send a signal to the Ford to allow it to start but that didn't work. We tried for at least 10 minutes. It was getting late, it was cold and raining, and I had been up since 5 a.m. The agent could tell I was tired and offered me a a refund of my fare if I took a taxi. I didn't feel like taking the shuttle back to the terminal, so asked if I could just rent a regular car from the lot. The agent agreed and it took about five minutes for her to enter a reservation for me. She used a Hertz corporate account for the charges and said that I would only be charged for the cost of the on Demand rental. When that was done, I went into the LGA office and worked with the agent to complete my rental.

I asked for a midsize with NeverLost and they were able to produce a Corolla. The LDW was added to the rate along with the charge for the NL. Since the Local Edition office didn't open until later today, they also gave me until 7 p.m. today to return the car.

So, overall, my first on Demand rental is an incomplete. I have a few more late evening flights this month so might try it again. At least I understand how the process is supposed to work.

Things I liked:

• The mobile app works good for locating cars and modifying reservations; I think it's a better interface than the website.
  
• Customer support is really good. I was impressed on the quality of agent I got on a Saturday night after midnight. She was very helpful, showed empathy, and worked with me on an acceptable solution.

Things I didn't like:

• The technology seems a little buggy and unreliable. I was expecting a message to tell me which car to take that I never received and then the cars at the lot didn't work.
  
• The Hertz shuttle driver wasn't aware of what on Demand was and directed me to the main office in LGA where I had to wait in line for about 10 minutes only to be told the cars were outside and I had to do was use my entry card and drive off.
• With all of the problems in getting my car, I'd say I was delayed about 45 min in getting on the road. That's bad enough, but when you are tired and cranky, it gets worse.
• We'll see how the billing goes for my rental. I was told that I was responsible for the fuel driven (I was charged the a la carte prices for all of the things that are included in an on Demand rental, the LDW, NL, and fuel) but could get a refund if I sent the receipt in.

Got my Hertz On Demand credentials yesterday. I love how is much professional Hertz Connect are! :p

First impression: window of the envelope. Apparently I live in Anchorage, AL. I know there is an Anchorage, KY; they're only a couple states off from there. (I logged into my account online to check, and it's a mail merge fail: my address online correctly shows AK with my ZIP+4, whereas the envelope just had the 5-digit ZIP.)

Second impression: open up the envelope and look at the pretty card. Flip the card over: my member ID is stuck on the card with an adhesive label...about 10 degrees off from level.

Umm, product rushed too quickly to market, anyone? ;)

One-Way to Airport - Don't book it online!
 

If you want a one-way rental to the airport, book a regular single day at your HLE as cheap as you can. This is often a very good use for one-day points redemption.

Then call the HLE and let them know you want to return it at the airport. I've done this a dozen+ times and never been charged.

I also tell them I'm OK with cars that are not perfect: engine light on, maintenance required, dinged windshield, even cars that are dirty and need special cleaning.

Basically, they help me by giving me an easy ride to airport, and I help them by taking a car they have to get to the airport anyway.

While I have done this as well, a glitch-free Hertz on Demand would seemingly be a better option for only $14 dollars if the airport is under an hour away...

I plan on using on Demand to the airport if I have an early morning flight; most of the HLE in Manhattan don't open before 630, so if you have a flight any earlier than 8, that's not going to work. Anytime later than 8, I will probably take the subway/bus/airtrain or use the normal Hertz one-way to the airport and get the points.