[hekiliko'olau]

As a former ERACer and current RSA for one of ERAC’s competitors, I offer the following:

The purpose of operating a business is to make a profit, RIGHT? Maximizing that profit is the goal of every business on the planet, RIGHT? So why is it so difficult to understand the concept of supply and demand? Car rental companies are not the devil because of their walk up practices. It is a smart business tactic. Hotels and airlines operate the same way. When demand is low and supply is high – good for the customer. When supply is low and demand is high – good for the business. Supply and demand influence the cost of goods and services in every industry. It may seem a little more brutal in the travel industry because of its on-the-spot nature, but it’s really no different than other types of businesses. Interest rates and gas prices, for example, fluctuate… and he who shops around and plans ahead gets the best deal. There are many resources available to customers who want to save money – reservation lines, the internet, travel agents, etc. If a customer is smart enough to plan ahead, shop around, and make use of these resources he/she will help the business forecast and maximize its utilization of cars, rooms, seats, etc. In return, the customer gets the best deal. Occupied parking lots, empty rooms, and empty airline seats DO NOT GENERATE INCOME. The customer who shows up at the airport car rental counter with no RESERVATION should expect to pay more. When you want to save money at the grocery store, you shop around, read the sale ads, and clip coupons, right? You don’t go to the register and bitch about how expensive it is, do you? When you are in a hurry, you stop at the convenience store for that gallon of milk on your way home from work, and you pay dearly. Let’s not forget that renting a car is a CONVENIENCE, and the company you choose to rent it from (and the price you pay, to some extent) is a choice.
Hertz is the most expensive car rental company on earth, yet they have plenty of customers. Why? CHOICES. Every day, walk up customers choke when I quote them a price, then walk 10 steps over to the Hertz counter, and sheepishly return 30 seconds later and say “I’ll take it”. When I ask them what rate they got at Hertz they usually say “$150/day for a convertible”. I think to myself - makes my $89 minivan sound like a bargain, doesn’t it? If you can’t afford to rent a car, then hitch a ride, borrow a friend’s car, ride the bus, take a cab, ride a bike, walk, or STAY HOME. If you CAN afford the CONVENIENCE of renting a car and want to save money, make use of the resources that are available to save yourself some money. Otherwise, shut up and give me your license and credit card so I can rent you a compact car for $59.99 a day. That’s the beauty of democracy and capitalism – CHOICES.
This post should not be misinterpreted to support ERAC in any way.