Why car booked at Herz via third party costs less than at Hetz itself?
May 9, 2019, 10:53 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
Why car booked at Herz via third party costs less than at Hetz itself?
Story - I am President's Circle member, residing outside of US and have non-US DL. All this information is listed at my Hertz profile.
In June I am coming to US for five days road trip - picking up car at at Reno and dropping off at Bay Area. At Hertz website I could not find a rate for compact/standard car cheaper than $350 - I tried to use different CDPs and other options, but result was the same.
Then I went to rentalcars.com and got a car for these five days for $266. It supposed to include all fees and charges, including (if there is such) - one way charges. I called both rentalcars.com and Hertz and both told me that what I got in my email, it is all the charges and I should not be charged more.
OK, great, but I do understand that because reservation was made by third part and it is prepaid, than it won't be listed/counted towards my Hertz rental. I called PC number and asked - I would be very happy if they can match the rental rate from rentalcars.com so I can have a car booked directly at Hertz. But the rep is telling me that cheapest rate they can give me is $340 for this rental.
Could anyone explain why is such? And while I might like Hertz, money talks and I have absolutely zero desire for the same rental pay 30% more.
In June I am coming to US for five days road trip - picking up car at at Reno and dropping off at Bay Area. At Hertz website I could not find a rate for compact/standard car cheaper than $350 - I tried to use different CDPs and other options, but result was the same.
Then I went to rentalcars.com and got a car for these five days for $266. It supposed to include all fees and charges, including (if there is such) - one way charges. I called both rentalcars.com and Hertz and both told me that what I got in my email, it is all the charges and I should not be charged more.
OK, great, but I do understand that because reservation was made by third part and it is prepaid, than it won't be listed/counted towards my Hertz rental. I called PC number and asked - I would be very happy if they can match the rental rate from rentalcars.com so I can have a car booked directly at Hertz. But the rep is telling me that cheapest rate they can give me is $340 for this rental.
Could anyone explain why is such? And while I might like Hertz, money talks and I have absolutely zero desire for the same rental pay 30% more.
May 9, 2019, 2:07 pm
#3
Company Representative - AutoSlash and HotelSlash
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: autoslash.com | hotelslash.com
Posts: 5,666
The answer is that different rates are offered depending on your point-of-sale location (i.e. country), booking site, and whether you are willing to prepay or not. Rental companies segment their customers in various ways, and it's not uncommon at all to find different rates in different channels.
Usually, you cannot apply frequent renter numbers (like Hertz Gold) to prepaid reservations that are booked anywhere other than the rental company's own website. For pay-later (pay at the counter) reservations you can almost always add your Gold# if you like.
You can try using the link below to get a quote as you might find a lower rate. Just keep in mind that the same rules apply--you can only add your Gold# to non-prepaid deals.
BRGs do not apply to discounted rates or prepaid rates. From the Hertz BRG page:
Usually, you cannot apply frequent renter numbers (like Hertz Gold) to prepaid reservations that are booked anywhere other than the rental company's own website. For pay-later (pay at the counter) reservations you can almost always add your Gold# if you like.
You can try using the link below to get a quote as you might find a lower rate. Just keep in mind that the same rules apply--you can only add your Gold# to non-prepaid deals.
The following exclusions apply:
- Rate from other car rental companies.
- Rates obtained through use of discounts, coupons, upgrade offers, pre-negotiated (e.g. group, government, corporate, tour, insurance replacement rental or in some cases online travel agencies)or similar rates.
- Car rental components of inclusive, package or other bulk, bundled or similar non-retail rates.
- Pre-paid, discounted rates (whether found on or outside of Hertz.com) cannot be compared to non-pre-paid (“pay later”) or pre-paid, discounted (“pay now”) rates obtained from Hertz.com.
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; May 10, 2019 at 3:54 am Reason: consecutive posts merged
May 9, 2019, 5:41 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 1,351
Where do you live? Are you using the US Hertz website or that of your home country? The latter should provide a quote that includes insurance and it's often cheaper than booking on the US website.
May 9, 2019, 8:27 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
So, do I understand correctly that BRG is not applicable in my case?
May 13, 2019, 5:29 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DTW
Programs: Alaska, Delta, Southwest
Posts: 1,663
...
BRGs do not apply to discounted rates or prepaid rates. From the Hertz BRG page:
...
BRGs do not apply to discounted rates or prepaid rates. From the Hertz BRG page:
...
- Pre-paid, discounted rates (whether found on or outside of Hertz.com) cannot be compared to non-pre-paid (“pay later”) or pre-paid, discounted (“pay now”) rates obtained from Hertz.com.
Last edited by strickerj; May 13, 2019 at 5:34 am
May 13, 2019, 7:39 am
#7
Company Representative - AutoSlash and HotelSlash
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: autoslash.com | hotelslash.com
Posts: 5,666
I read that last restriction as saying terms have to be comparable to claim BRG, not that prepaid rates are all excluded, though it isn’t really clear what “discounted” means. If it just means “lower than the rate we’re offering”, then that wouldn’t that mean BRG doesn’t apply ever?
May 13, 2019, 8:19 am
#8
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DTW
Programs: Alaska, Delta, Southwest
Posts: 1,663