2 rentals, same car, dates, codes but $300 difference

[iskyfly]

G'day all!

My father and I are about to embark on our annual month long Xmas trip to Perth. This will be the 4th time using Hertz at the downtown location. The past 3 years we have received great rates booking online and great service at the downtown location.

He booked back in June at got 1 month @ $851.21 AUD.
I booked a couple of weeks ago and got 1 month @ 1228.8 AUD.

Both Gold members. Both Group H cars. Same RQ for unlimited miles. Same CDP codes.

I called the international line and they said it was because I booked when the rates changed. I asked if they could make an exception considering loyalty, etc etc. They said no.

Failing trying to get satisfaction from Hertz on the phone or by email. Do you think the staff at the rental location could do something at pickup time? The assistant manager knows of us from our previous trips and is pretty friendly towards us.

Incidentally, I made a backup booking at Avis and received a slightly less expensive price. I do have a sense of loyalty towards Hertz though.

Thanks!

 

[Mal]

You can always ask when you arrive in Perth, but I doubt they will change it.

It's no difference to hotel rooms/airfares and everything else. Prices fluctuate based on demand and what the provider's standard rate is. Booking early can save money (or sometimes does cost more money).

Your best option is to keep monitoring the Hertz website and seeing if the price drops again and rebook, or if any 'specials' come out that you can use.

However, people (including myself) have noticed Hertz slowly increasing prices in Australia, so I'm not sure you will see them drop.

 

[pyffii]

Hertz have really become much more expensive...And I too, are a No.1 Gold member...tried a booking for 2 weeks in December until the 28th from brisbane airport and then another 4 weeks ( ex Brisbane domestic ) from new years eve and was quoted $4000.00 !!!!...Could have bought an old used car for that price !!!...But when I made the booking for 6 weeks with leaving the car at Brisbane domestic for 3 days whilst travelling to Perth & return, the quote came to $1750.00 !!!...That was nearly the same as last year so booked the car...Incidentally the one hire from Brisbane to the Gold Coast has increased by nearly $20 to circa $70 for an auto compact.

 

[Dave Noble]

Hertz have really become much more expensive...And I too, are a No.1 Gold member...tried a booking for 2 weeks in December until the 28th from brisbane airport and then another 4 weeks ( ex Brisbane domestic ) from new years eve and was quoted $4000.00 !!!!...Could have bought an old used car for that price !!!...But when I made the booking for 6 weeks with leaving the car at Brisbane domestic for 3 days whilst travelling to Perth & return, the quote came to $1750.00 !!!...That was nearly the same as last year so booked the car...Incidentally the one hire from Brisbane to the Gold Coast has increased by nearly $20 to circa $70 for an auto compact.

Being a Gold member makes no difference to the rates as such , it is only there to reduce the time spent doing paperwork

You can make a large saving by not renting from the airport but getting a cab to the city and renting from the downtown location. There is a 12% surcharge for picking up from the airport which over 6 weeks adds up to a lot more than a cab fare

Dave

 

[Dave Noble]

Failing trying to get satisfaction from Hertz on the phone or by email. Do you think the staff at the rental location could do something at pickup time? The assistant manager knows of us from our previous trips and is pretty friendly towards us.

I would very much doubt it; if the rental rates have increased, then c'est la vie ; if another company can give you what you need for a lower rate then the best thing to do is go to the other company.

Dave

 

[straitman]

iskyfly,

Have a look at this web site (Netflights) and see what rates come up. They have been suggested on the forum as being good to deal with though I have not actually used them yet. I have three bookings with them in the USA in Sept & Oct. They use the regular car hire companies and are a lot cheaper than going directly via the car company sites.

 

[BAM1748]

G'day all!


Incidentally, I made a backup booking at Avis and received a slightly less expensive price. I do have a sense of loyalty towards Hertz though.

Thanks!

Sense of loyalty, like Hertz loyalty to you.

The car rental business has little loyalty to its customers because the industry is price driven.

 

[iskyfly]

Thanks all for the replies!