If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#21
|
|||
|
|||
Car Rental at Heathrow SUCKS!
On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 00:13:23 +0000, Hilary wrote:
So I say again, you need to compare the price inclusive of insurance. You are comparing the USA base price which doesn't include insurance with the UK price that does! It's not uncommon for US rental companies insurance to more than double the base price. If you compare the real cost, inclusive of everything, and excepting one off special deals, I doubt you would see much difference at all, despite motoring being considerably more expensive in the UK. But compare with Germany for instance. Why do rentals cost twice as much in the UK, and why do they often try to trick you into buying insurance that you don't need? This is a common complaint from UK tourists hiring in the USA. They prebook carhire and then get semi-forcefed the extra insurance that they don't need. Some people, particularly older couples (and people renting in FL, I've noticed) tend to have more trouble with pushy rental people trying to get them to take more insurance. I have seen that happen. But usually not at first line outfits such as Hertz/Avis. |
#22
|
|||
|
|||
Car Rental at Heathrow SUCKS!
"Howard Long" wrote in message ... Errol said: Ok. As of now the Philly base price has gone down to $15.99 + Taxes and Surcharges of 4.49 and 1.24 + Insurance of Loss damage waiver at 20.99 + Personal Accident of 3.00 + Personal effects protection 1.59 + Additional Liability of 11.95 (This is way more cover than you need btw) you get to $59.61 Now for Thiefrow: all in with the same options for 73.91 quid which is $132.55 at the interbank rate. $59.61 vs $132.55 - I rest my case m'lud. I don't know how you're calculating the costs and what days you're after, using but a very quick Travelocity search gives prices from GBP11 per day picking up and dropping off at LHR. Even Hertz is GBP19. I picked Avis at random for the 10-11th for Philly and LHR, and added in all the insurance options, thats all. I think you need to read the whole thread first to see what it's about. Errol |
#23
|
|||
|
|||
Car Rental at Heathrow SUCKS!
On Sat, 3 Jan 2004 19:33:11 -0000, Mark Hewitt wrote:
[SNIP] So I say again, you need to compare the price inclusive of insurance. You are comparing the USA base price which doesn't include insurance with the UK price that does! It's not uncommon for US rental companies insurance to more than double the base price. If you compare the real cost, inclusive of everything, and excepting one off special deals, I doubt you would see much difference at all, despite motoring being considerably more expensive in the UK. I agree entirely about having to include the US insurance, which can easily more than double the price and make the old 'free car hire' with plane tickets thing worthless. BUT -- you really need to compare renting a car through a travel agency or through something like Holiday Rentals, not directly through a US web site. They have much better deals. Doug |
#24
|
|||
|
|||
Car Rental at Heathrow SUCKS!
On Sun, 4 Jan 2004 00:13:23 +0000, Hilary wrote:
So I say again, you need to compare the price inclusive of insurance. You are comparing the USA base price which doesn't include insurance with the UK price that does! It's not uncommon for US rental companies insurance to more than double the base price. If you compare the real cost, inclusive of everything, and excepting one off special deals, I doubt you would see much difference at all, despite motoring being considerably more expensive in the UK. But compare with Germany for instance. Why do rentals cost twice as much in the UK, and why do they often try to trick you into buying insurance that you don't need? This is a common complaint from UK tourists hiring in the USA. They prebook carhire and then get semi-forcefed the extra insurance that they don't need. What insurance do you figure you don't need? Doug |
#25
|
|||
|
|||
Car Rental at Heathrow SUCKS!
"Errol" wrote in message ... I picked Avis at random for the 10-11th for Philly and LHR, and added in all the insurance options, thats all. I think you need to read the whole thread first to see what it's about. There's your problem. I've found Avis to be at least twice the price of every other car hire company in my local area. Expect the same is true elsewhere in the UK. |
#26
|
|||
|
|||
Car Rental at Heathrow SUCKS!
"Errol" wrote
Don't want to get into the details because I might get someone fired. The rate was an internet special given by the company that she worked for, not a 3rd party consolidator. It was a large and well-known rental agency headquartered in the US. The rate was a good one but still somewhat higher than the US rates. Errol I cannot say I agree with your approach. Firstly you must "expect abroad to be different". Personally I cannot stand those shops where you have to pay more that the displayed price. The price shown should be the price you pay imho. Equally it would be unwise to drive in the UK on the left side of the road Secondly It sounds like distant "head office" had made a special offer without the agreement of the local franchisees who would have to take the saving out of their own pockets. The lady behind the counter was probably on strict instructions from her direct superiors to refuse to accept deals which the local company had not agreed to. Eventually somebody higher up the line gave her authorisation to accept your voucher. She might have lost her job if she had not found somebody able to take responsibility for accepting the deal. Inter company warfare should not backfire on the customer. These things should all be sorted out BEFORE offers are made and accepted. It really would help you avoid future difficulty if you complained both to head office and the local franchisee, especially if you say you get problems with other companies too. (Just my opinion of course) |
#27
|
|||
|
|||
Car Rental at Heathrow SUCKS!
wrote in message om... "Errol" wrote Don't want to get into the details because I might get someone fired. The rate was an internet special given by the company that she worked for, not a 3rd party consolidator. It was a large and well-known rental agency headquartered in the US. The rate was a good one but still somewhat higher than the US rates. Errol I cannot say I agree with your approach. Firstly you must "expect abroad to be different". Personally I cannot stand those shops where you have to pay more that the displayed price. The price shown should be the price you pay imho. Equally it would be unwise to drive in the UK on the left side of the road Really? I have been driving on the left in the UK since 1957 without any serious problems! JohnT |
#28
|
|||
|
|||
Car Rental at Heathrow SUCKS!
"Mark Hewitt" wrote in message ... "Errol" wrote in message ... I picked Avis at random for the 10-11th for Philly and LHR, and added in all the insurance options, thats all. I think you need to read the whole thread first to see what it's about. There's your problem. I've found Avis to be at least twice the price of every other car hire company in my local area. Expect the same is true elsewhere in the UK. I doubt it. I have used all of them since 1995 and it's been the same miserable over-priced and inefficient service all along. I picked Avis at random and could equally well have picked Hertz or National. Are you connected in some way with British tourist or car rental agencies? Errol |
#29
|
|||
|
|||
Car Rental at Heathrow SUCKS!
"Hilary" wrote in message ... So I say again, you need to compare the price inclusive of insurance. You are comparing the USA base price which doesn't include insurance with the UK price that does! It's not uncommon for US rental companies insurance to more than double the base price. If you compare the real cost, inclusive of everything, and excepting one off special deals, I doubt you would see much difference at all, despite motoring being considerably more expensive in the UK. But compare with Germany for instance. Why do rentals cost twice as much in the UK, and why do they often try to trick you into buying insurance that you don't need? This is a common complaint from UK tourists hiring in the USA. They prebook carhire and then get semi-forcefed the extra insurance that they don't need. What insurance do you figure you don't need? Lots of top-up insurance. Most have the basic cover (equivalent to third party, fire and theft) and some companies (incl the one we use) also offer damage/theft waiver and a few other things. Either salespeople don't know their agreements or they figure the customer doesn't - there have been people sold insurance they already had, or scared into buying the full works. If they *want* the full works that's fine, but it can add a substantial amount to their hire. Well if you look at my previous posts, you'll see that the UK rental was more than double for a random rental at London vs Philadelphia which is also a fairly large hub. So looking at National for the weekend of the 10th at JFK in NYC its $77.87 vs LHR $163 (with all options)- so quite frankly I think this discussion is over for me. It's exactly the crock I made it out to be. Errol |
#30
|
|||
|
|||
Car Rental at Heathrow SUCKS!
wrote in message om... "Errol" wrote Don't want to get into the details because I might get someone fired. The rate was an internet special given by the company that she worked for, not a 3rd party consolidator. It was a large and well-known rental agency headquartered in the US. The rate was a good one but still somewhat higher than the US rates. Errol I cannot say I agree with your approach. Firstly you must "expect abroad to be different". Er, I am running at about 30 countries so far and have spent extensive time in Africa where conditions are not optimal. Probably about a million FF miles over the years. I know abroad. Errol |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Ethiopia - Car Rental ? | Thomas Kunz | Africa | 2 | June 8th, 2004 12:05 PM |
Transferring from London Heathrow to Dover. | Bill Duet | Air travel | 9 | December 3rd, 2003 03:45 PM |
fastest and most convenient way from London Heathrow to Gatwick | Lil | Air travel | 59 | October 23rd, 2003 08:45 AM |
T1 showers for fee [was: Public showers in Heathrow T1 and T3 -- experiences] | David Ing | Air travel | 0 | October 12th, 2003 09:01 AM |
Public showers in Heathrow T1 and T3 -- experiences? | David Ing | Air travel | 2 | October 10th, 2003 12:07 PM |