Comments on: Did You Notice What You Can Rent By The Hour? Hey…It Might Actually Be A Good Idea. http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2007/05/25/did-you-notice-what-you-can-rent-by-the-hour-heyit-might-actually-be-a-good-idea/ The thoughts and experiences of Merrill Dubrow Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:44:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Matt Gershner http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2007/05/25/did-you-notice-what-you-can-rent-by-the-hour-heyit-might-actually-be-a-good-idea/#comment-12886 Matt Gershner Fri, 01 Jun 2007 14:19:19 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2007/05/25/did-you-notice-what-you-can-rent-by-the-hour-heyit-might-actually-be-a-good-idea/#comment-12886 As a New Yorker that doesn't own a car, I've followed this trend since day one. Hertz's new entry, however, cannot be booked online, only through a speech recognition system and then you have to get a call back. Luckily (or unluckily), I travel a lot for work, so with Hertz's great loyalty program, I usually have a free day/weekend voucher for personal use when I need one. I do have a number of friends that use zipcar and swear by it, as it includes parking and gas. It's a pretty ingenious system. As a New Yorker that doesn’t own a car, I’ve followed this trend since day one. Hertz’s new entry, however, cannot be booked online, only through a speech recognition system and then you have to get a call back. Luckily (or unluckily), I travel a lot for work, so with Hertz’s great loyalty program, I usually have a free day/weekend voucher for personal use when I need one.

I do have a number of friends that use zipcar and swear by it, as it includes parking and gas. It’s a pretty ingenious system.

]]> By: Keven Lofty http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2007/05/25/did-you-notice-what-you-can-rent-by-the-hour-heyit-might-actually-be-a-good-idea/#comment-11763 Keven Lofty Fri, 25 May 2007 20:06:26 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2007/05/25/did-you-notice-what-you-can-rent-by-the-hour-heyit-might-actually-be-a-good-idea/#comment-11763 Community Car (www.communitycar.com) has the same kind of scheme in Madison. I considered using it, but didn't in the end. I still think it's a good idea, but they really need to do a better job at targeting the service at people who NEED it rather than who think it's cool. Funnily enough the one time I would have really used the service was from an airport. I didn't want to rent a car the whole time I was in Phoenix, but the taxi to and from the airport cost nearly as much as a rental car would have cost. Community Car (www.communitycar.com) has the same kind of scheme in Madison. I considered using it, but didn’t in the end. I still think it’s a good idea, but they really need to do a better job at targeting the service at people who NEED it rather than who think it’s cool. Funnily enough the one time I would have really used the service was from an airport. I didn’t want to rent a car the whole time I was in Phoenix, but the taxi to and from the airport cost nearly as much as a rental car would have cost.

]]> By: Christine Farber-Cook http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2007/05/25/did-you-notice-what-you-can-rent-by-the-hour-heyit-might-actually-be-a-good-idea/#comment-11749 Christine Farber-Cook Fri, 25 May 2007 15:51:51 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2007/05/25/did-you-notice-what-you-can-rent-by-the-hour-heyit-might-actually-be-a-good-idea/#comment-11749 I have heard of zipcar in Chicago however I have not used it yet. I do not have a car so I plan to try it this summer. I will let you know. I have heard of zipcar in Chicago however I have not used it yet. I do not have a car so I plan to try it this summer. I will let you know.

]]> By: Paul Kirch http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2007/05/25/did-you-notice-what-you-can-rent-by-the-hour-heyit-might-actually-be-a-good-idea/#comment-11744 Paul Kirch Fri, 25 May 2007 14:35:52 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2007/05/25/did-you-notice-what-you-can-rent-by-the-hour-heyit-might-actually-be-a-good-idea/#comment-11744 When I lived in Seattle, I knew several people who took advantage of Flexcar. There were pick up locations all over the city, so it was truly convenient if you worked or lived downtown. Once you factor in the annual membership, daily (or hourly) rate, it's not cheaper than renting from a car rental place, but you can't beat the convenience of finding cars located all throughout the Seattle metro area. I think it's great the the agencies are figuring out there's a market for this, but they could learn some lessons from Flexcar. When I lived in Seattle, I knew several people who took advantage of Flexcar. There were pick up locations all over the city, so it was truly convenient if you worked or lived downtown. Once you factor in the annual membership, daily (or hourly) rate, it’s not cheaper than renting from a car rental place, but you can’t beat the convenience of finding cars located all throughout the Seattle metro area. I think it’s great the the agencies are figuring out there’s a market for this, but they could learn some lessons from Flexcar.

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