Self-Serve Car Rental 143
abb_road writes "Claiming 'Web2.0 values meet Brick and Mortar,' BusinessWeek is reporting on an entirely self service car rental company. Zipcar customers make all reservations online or using a cell phone, then use a card-key to pick up their car from the parking garage--no attendants needed. According to the article, one of the other important attractions of the system is transparency; the reservations system allows you to see exactly what cars in the area will be available at what times, and then reserve or adjust your plans accordingly. From the article: 'If the nearest Mini convertible is booked until 3 p.m., the customer might postpone plans by an hour to get it -- or decide the Mazda with a sunroof on another lot will do.'"
old news (Score:3, Informative)
This is new??! (Score:4, Informative)
Though in the early days, you were given a key to open a box at the parking space, which in turn contained the car keys. Nowadays, you are handed out a near-range wireless SmartCard which you use to open the car and activate it (there's some in-car computer). This new system has been implemented at around 2001. And it's nation-wide. (For the curious, it's www.mobility.ch [mobility.ch]).
City Car Share (Score:3, Informative)
If you return the car late you get charged a pretty hefty late fee. You ca extend a reservation over the phone, provided that no-one else has reserved that car after you already. If you're running late and notify the office, you get a smaller late fee than you would have if you were just "missing".
It's cost effective if you just need a car for a couple hours, or an evening. If you need it for a day or more, go to a car rental place.
That article (if the summary is correct, which is a dangerous assumption to make on
zipcar technology ok, company not (Score:2, Informative)
Handy for quick jaunts, $$$ for longer trips (Score:1, Informative)
It is *much* more expensive than even Hertz if you are going to take a long trip: the first 100 miles are free, but the per-mile charge thereafter is very high.
I signed up, thinking I would use it for my 1-week-a-month in Boston, but turns out to be cheaper to rent a car from Hertz for the week, especially after you factor in the savings of the $25 each-way cab fare.
Re:Buncha crap (Score:5, Informative)
There is a whole flock of bicycle dudes [boston.com] who go out (in all weather, all year long) and take care of the cars. As well, Zipcar members are encouraged to inspect the car when they go to get it, and to immediately report any problems - dents, out of washer fluid, whatever.
If it's something dumb like washer fluid, you can even buy more and they'll reimburse if you can't charge it on the (provided in the car) fleet gasoline charge card.
Far as I know, the concept is flying and has been for like 6 years now. I am a very happy Zipcar customer. I've been able to get rid of my car altogether, saving many $thousands a year... and in exchange, I pay a few $hundreds per year for use of a practically new car, with insurance, maintenance and fuel provided, whenever I need one.
As far as "whenever I need one" they seem to add cars pretty aggressively to follow demand. I've never been totally closed out... maybe you have to walk an extra 2 or 3 blocks to get to one at a specific time, but that's not really a big deal. It does require some adjustments to how you think about getting around, but the only reason I had a car in the past was for those trips that totally don't work on a bike (and taxis - just forget it, they're miserable and expensive)... this provides it.
Re:This is new??! (Score:3, Informative)
Zipcar's been in the US since 2000 as well. Business Week's a little slow on the draw.
Re:Huge security problems... (Score:3, Informative)
Oh, wait.
To address your moronic "points", please note that, although the key is in the car, the car's ignition system is tied to an electronic key-card access system. So busting into the car to grab the key nets you nothing at all.
And the "no human in the loop" ignores all those humans in the loop. If you show up to take a car and it's damaged, you just note it in the log book. The car service figures out who was responsible later. And, the cars are inspected, serviced, and cleaned weekly by - surprise! - a human.
Re:One-Way Rentals? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:But... (Score:3, Informative)
Nope. I saw the remains of the car and talked to the owner. I was there renting a Cooper Mini S--I like to rent cars I'm considering buying to see if I'm really going to like them and it's tough to get the 'S' version from the neighborhood Hertz or Avis.
The person he rented it to did have insurance sufficient to cover the Lambo. The problem is that he wasn't the guy who was driving. The guy who was driving's insurance wouldn't cover the Lambo and the insurance company for the guy who rented the car wouldn't pay because the accident wasn't his fault--he was just a passenger. So the guy who rented the car was on the hook for the money.