Prices are driving me crazy....
Jan 21, 2018, 6:41 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 82
Prices are driving me crazy....
So I'm a National Emerald Exec member through my credit card. I need to book a car next week from Tampa. Two weeks ago I checked and a mid size car (so I had access to the emerald lot) was $26.99 a day. I should have booked it then but I waited. On Saturday I checked again and the price for a mid size was $51 a day. Again should have booked but then today (Sunday) the price was $58 a day.
So my booking would be from Thursday to Monday. Now the interesting thing is if I put I need the car from Wednesday to Monday the price drops down to $35 a day. What is the deal with their prices. I can easily book Alamo, or Avis for a lot lower, but obviously I was trying to stick with what I had a reward program with. If I book it a day earlier to get the cheaper price even though I wont use it that day will that work?
So my booking would be from Thursday to Monday. Now the interesting thing is if I put I need the car from Wednesday to Monday the price drops down to $35 a day. What is the deal with their prices. I can easily book Alamo, or Avis for a lot lower, but obviously I was trying to stick with what I had a reward program with. If I book it a day earlier to get the cheaper price even though I wont use it that day will that work?
Jan 21, 2018, 7:44 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 781
So I'm a National Emerald Exec member through my credit card. I need to book a car next week from Tampa. Two weeks ago I checked and a mid size car (so I had access to the emerald lot) was $26.99 a day. I should have booked it then but I waited. On Saturday I checked again and the price for a mid size was $51 a day. Again should have booked but then today (Sunday) the price was $58 a day.
So my booking would be from Thursday to Monday. Now the interesting thing is if I put I need the car from Wednesday to Monday the price drops down to $35 a day. What is the deal with their prices. I can easily book Alamo, or Avis for a lot lower, but obviously I was trying to stick with what I had a reward program with. If I book it a day earlier to get the cheaper price even though I wont use it that day will that work?
So my booking would be from Thursday to Monday. Now the interesting thing is if I put I need the car from Wednesday to Monday the price drops down to $35 a day. What is the deal with their prices. I can easily book Alamo, or Avis for a lot lower, but obviously I was trying to stick with what I had a reward program with. If I book it a day earlier to get the cheaper price even though I wont use it that day will that work?
Alamo's rates yes, can be cheaper, but as you yourself noted, you don't earn points or anything else, so there is a trade off. IIRC National is geared towards business/corporate travel, while Alamo is personal/vacation.
Not sure of your final query.
If you book a reservation for say Monday, but don't pick up the car and or try to move things to another day; rates can and often will increase to whatever to current daily. Sometimes a manager *may* be able to do something and get the previous (lower) rate back, and or apply some sort of discounts to lower or negate the new rates, but shouldn't count on that always happening.
Jan 21, 2018, 8:21 pm
#3
Company Representative - AutoSlash and HotelSlash
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: autoslash.com | hotelslash.com
Posts: 5,696
Yes, prices can change multiple times a day. We tell our customers all the time, book immediately as you can always change or cancel later, not to mention re-shopping it for a better rate. Changing the dates/times (sometimes as little as 30 minutes in either direction can help).
Jan 22, 2018, 9:24 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: BOS
Programs: Marriott LTG, HHonors Diamond, Nat'l Exec
Posts: 3,582
I'm also seeing National price at a significant premium compared with Avis and even Hertz -- which is surprising given the latter has copied the Emerald Aisle at this point.
One of the main reasons I've maintained Exec / EE for 10+ years is because I've enjoyed getting nice upgrades on vacation. If I can rent a convertible or SUV from Alamo for less than National's ICAR rate, the value of that benefit decreases pretty dramatically.
For a recent trip, National was 2x Alamo for a long weekend rental. I'd wanted to use up some free days, but Alamo was still cheaper after I'd applied them! We ended up with a PCAR from Alamo for $185 when National wanted nearly $400 for an ICAR. Combined facility with combined fleet, in this case
Jan 22, 2018, 9:43 am
#6
Company Representative - AutoSlash and HotelSlash
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: autoslash.com | hotelslash.com
Posts: 5,696
National's pricing has gone up across-the-board in the past year or so. Deals can still be had, but we can confirm that it's rarer for National to be competitive.They've done well with their recent Control Enthusiast TV advertising campaign and it's likely led to increased demand from business travelers (not to mention spillover into leisure as well), and consequently less need to be aggressive on pricing.
In short, they feel they have a premium product (which they admittedly do), and can price it accordingly.
In short, they feel they have a premium product (which they admittedly do), and can price it accordingly.
Jan 22, 2018, 4:58 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Des Moines, IA, United States
Posts: 246
I've found National's prices to be extremely high the past 6 months to a year. So much so that I've stopped renting from National and switched to Enterprise. I'd been accumulating Enterprise points with my National rentals anyway, so I'm not out anything from that perspective. I do miss walking right to the car though. For every rental, I check both National and Enterprise. I'm finding large differences for the same rentals. That's made worse by the really good Costco discount for Enterprise.
Burbank in a couple of weeks, National was over $70 / day for the aisle. I'm renting a "premier elite SUV" with Enterprise for $53 / day. In Orlando in two weeks Silvercar was cheaper than National by over $200 for the week! Enterprise was the same price as SIlvercar so I figured I'd go for the Audi for fun.
I suppose it makes sense for National to be at this price level since they have three brands to price.
Burbank in a couple of weeks, National was over $70 / day for the aisle. I'm renting a "premier elite SUV" with Enterprise for $53 / day. In Orlando in two weeks Silvercar was cheaper than National by over $200 for the week! Enterprise was the same price as SIlvercar so I figured I'd go for the Audi for fun.
I suppose it makes sense for National to be at this price level since they have three brands to price.
Jan 22, 2018, 6:01 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 781
If am being honest have noticed for nearly two years now National's prices across the board have increased; weekends, weekdays, etc.... With few if any good "deals" to be had, and if you find one better book it *NOW*. Major holiday rates are easily $92 as a starting point and only go up. Since they are closed Christmas and Thanksgiving day you are locked into at least a two day rental off the bat.
At least here in NYC area, Alamo's rates aren't that much less than National. This may be because NYS forced Alamo and National to share locations. Going back several years Alamo once often usually less to much more than National. Just did a quick "test" reservation and rates were nearly same for both (weekday rental at $65/day for economy car).
Enterprise leaves me with sort of a *Meh* feeling.
Don't know if it is because many of the locations locally are franchises or what, but their vehicles tend to be older than National's, and often not as well maintained (not quite but near busted), this or are dirty (inside and out), and so forth.
Also whereas National will routinely give out upgrades even on an economy or compact reservation, Enterprise in my experiences won't give up off nothing unless you agree to pay. They will happily put you into an economy or compact car with an mid-sized reservation. But don't ask for a SUV if they don't have your ICAR.
Also Enterprise's hard upsells on insurance and other extras gets on my nerves. How many times does one have to say "no"? Then comes "well if you use your credit card's insurance......"
IMHO Enterprise seems best dealing with their target customer base; providing insurance and other loaner vehicles.
At least here in NYC area, Alamo's rates aren't that much less than National. This may be because NYS forced Alamo and National to share locations. Going back several years Alamo once often usually less to much more than National. Just did a quick "test" reservation and rates were nearly same for both (weekday rental at $65/day for economy car).
Enterprise leaves me with sort of a *Meh* feeling.
Don't know if it is because many of the locations locally are franchises or what, but their vehicles tend to be older than National's, and often not as well maintained (not quite but near busted), this or are dirty (inside and out), and so forth.
Also whereas National will routinely give out upgrades even on an economy or compact reservation, Enterprise in my experiences won't give up off nothing unless you agree to pay. They will happily put you into an economy or compact car with an mid-sized reservation. But don't ask for a SUV if they don't have your ICAR.
Also Enterprise's hard upsells on insurance and other extras gets on my nerves. How many times does one have to say "no"? Then comes "well if you use your credit card's insurance......"
IMHO Enterprise seems best dealing with their target customer base; providing insurance and other loaner vehicles.
Jan 22, 2018, 7:17 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 82
So I called National a few times today but they basically told me the prices are what they are. Well tonight I checked my same car rental needs and now the price was $47.99 instead of $58 a day. So I booked it and canceled the first booking. Its amazing that they would rather me constantly waste my time refreshing their webpage then offer me a good deal.
Jan 22, 2018, 8:41 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 781
So I called National a few times today but they basically told me the prices are what they are. Well tonight I checked my same car rental needs and now the price was $47.99 instead of $58 a day. So I booked it and canceled the first booking. Its amazing that they would rather me constantly waste my time refreshing their webpage then offer me a good deal.
Truth to tell not even counter reps can do anything with rates, they are what they are about covers things. Again maybe the branch manager or maybe even a divisional can offer assistance.
Cannot be stressed enough that since National has moved over to demand pricing model and some other tweaks much of the flexibility lower level customer service once had now seems to be gone. Everything seems to be geared from corporate to increasing revenue, which seems to mean keeping a tight lead on offering discounts or whatever unless warranted and or sanctioned as in a promotion.
Jan 23, 2018, 6:50 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,673
So I called National a few times today but they basically told me the prices are what they are. Well tonight I checked my same car rental needs and now the price was $47.99 instead of $58 a day. So I booked it and canceled the first booking. Its amazing that they would rather me constantly waste my time refreshing their webpage then offer me a good deal.
Jan 23, 2018, 6:57 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,673
If am being honest have noticed for nearly two years now National's prices across the board have increased; weekends, weekdays, etc.... With few if any good "deals" to be had, and if you find one better book it *NOW*. Major holiday rates are easily $92 as a starting point and only go up. Since they are closed Christmas and Thanksgiving day you are locked into at least a two day rental off the bat.
At least here in NYC area, Alamo's rates aren't that much less than National. This may be because NYS forced Alamo and National to share locations. Going back several years Alamo once often usually less to much more than National. Just did a quick "test" reservation and rates were nearly same for both (weekday rental at $65/day for economy car).
Enterprise leaves me with sort of a *Meh* feeling.
Don't know if it is because many of the locations locally are franchises or what, but their vehicles tend to be older than National's, and often not as well maintained (not quite but near busted), this or are dirty (inside and out), and so forth.
Also whereas National will routinely give out upgrades even on an economy or compact reservation, Enterprise in my experiences won't give up off nothing unless you agree to pay. They will happily put you into an economy or compact car with an mid-sized reservation. But don't ask for a SUV if they don't have your ICAR.
Also Enterprise's hard upsells on insurance and other extras gets on my nerves. How many times does one have to say "no"? Then comes "well if you use your credit card's insurance......"
IMHO Enterprise seems best dealing with their target customer base; providing insurance and other loaner vehicles.
At least here in NYC area, Alamo's rates aren't that much less than National. This may be because NYS forced Alamo and National to share locations. Going back several years Alamo once often usually less to much more than National. Just did a quick "test" reservation and rates were nearly same for both (weekday rental at $65/day for economy car).
Enterprise leaves me with sort of a *Meh* feeling.
Don't know if it is because many of the locations locally are franchises or what, but their vehicles tend to be older than National's, and often not as well maintained (not quite but near busted), this or are dirty (inside and out), and so forth.
Also whereas National will routinely give out upgrades even on an economy or compact reservation, Enterprise in my experiences won't give up off nothing unless you agree to pay. They will happily put you into an economy or compact car with an mid-sized reservation. But don't ask for a SUV if they don't have your ICAR.
Also Enterprise's hard upsells on insurance and other extras gets on my nerves. How many times does one have to say "no"? Then comes "well if you use your credit card's insurance......"
IMHO Enterprise seems best dealing with their target customer base; providing insurance and other loaner vehicles.
Jan 24, 2018, 9:15 am
#14
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: City of Angels
Programs: DL Kettle| HH Pot
Posts: 525
Jan 24, 2018, 9:22 am
#15
Company Representative - AutoSlash and HotelSlash
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: autoslash.com | hotelslash.com
Posts: 5,696
