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Econwatch
August 18, 2009 8:46 AM

For Hertz, the Proof Is in the Pictures

By
Daniel Carty
Topics
In The News
(AP Photo)
A picture might be worth a thousand words, but Hertz is hoping that if they take enough of them, they might be worth closer to $170 million.

The car rental company will be employing high-resolution digital cameras to snap before and after shots of their vehicles to more efficiently scan for dents, according to a Bloomberg report Tuesday. The move is aimed at saving time and, of course, boosting customers' damage payments.

The company says it loses $170 million a year under the current system, which involves an employee doing a visual check on the car and requires the customer to sign off on the report.

The new system, aside from saving time, would theoretically eliminate those nasty squabbles over dings and dents. Customers would sign a waiver acknowledging the process and would be billed for any damages.


Add a Comment See all 22 Comments
by PLS8395 November 24, 2009 1:36 PM EST
The general rule for renting anything out is to charge 1% of the replacement cost per day. That means the little $15,000 el cheapo compact should rent for about $150 per day. As I recall, the car rental guys don't do that. They will charge somewhere around 0.5% and then collect from insurance, if needed. Also, let's not forget that the majority of car rental companies are owned by auto manufactures. So, did the rental company actually buy them from their parent company? Sounds a little like a shell game. Also, after the rental cars amass a certain mileage or use, they are sold as ?lease returns?.

The only national renter that is independent is Enterprise.
Reply to this comment
by cdegolier August 19, 2009 2:36 PM EDT
by PLS8395 August 18, 2009 10:02 AM EDT
That's why you should pay the extra money for the insurance... Well worth it!

Before you waste the extra money at the rental company, check with your own insurance company, a lot of polices cover what ever vehicle the insured is driving.
Reply to this comment
by rwspas August 19, 2009 9:51 AM EDT
You people are really amazing. Take some responsibility for your actions. You pay Hertz to rent a car, not to rent and damage a car. All Hertz is doing is protecting themselves and you (you have proof you did not damage a car with before and after pictures). If your own car gets hit and run in a parking lot, your responsible to fix, that's just life, which by the way is not fair - in case your mother never told you that. Why should Hertz have to pay to fix a car under your control - even if it was not your fault it got hit, you rented it, you?re responsible for it. I love the comment about it's the cost of doing business, yea right, I'm sure that's the same guy that expects to pay $20 a day for $30,000 car and will complain that anything over that is ?Outrageous?! Normal wear and tear is the cost of doing business, which includes road dings, etc ? you?re not going to be charged for that ? damage, is not the cost of doing business ? as a renter, it is your responsibility. Take the insurance if you don?t want any responsibility.
Reply to this comment
by PLS8395 November 24, 2009 1:25 PM EST
If my car gets hit and the perpetrator runs, my uninsured motorist policy covers the damage. Also, you are mixing up responsibility and liability. They are two different animals!
by rational_1 August 18, 2009 3:39 PM EDT
It would be expensive but imagine how much fun you could have if you had the rental car painted a different color. Here's the clerk looking his little snapshots of the red car you rented and comparing it to the blue car you just returned. Oh the head games you could play.
Reply to this comment
by ddaryl1 August 18, 2009 2:55 PM EDT
well then I will never rent from hertz again... Sorry things happen, unless its a big accident they should accept the damage.

Is it my fault the person who parked next to me decided ot open there door and ding the car.. NO...

but yet another company looking for ways to take more money frmo the people, because lets face it corporation are more importnat then anyone
Reply to this comment
by TheMasses2016 August 18, 2009 1:15 PM EDT
I'll never buy Heintz ketchup again!
Reply to this comment
by Hosheen August 18, 2009 1:10 PM EDT
You have to admire American ingenuity. They lead the world in finding new and better ways to cheat their customers. You can not rent from Hertz, I never do, but how long before the rest use the same scam?
Reply to this comment
by Benton09 August 18, 2009 1:07 PM EDT
Is that Bonnie & Clyde's car?.....I thought it was old car that spent a Friday night in East L. A. or Tijuana or maybe Juarez, however there are no fuzzy dice hanging from the rearview mirror.
Reply to this comment
by bytheway59 August 18, 2009 12:40 PM EDT
a recent article detailed Enterprise car rental ording vehicles without the standard side air bags and then sold the cars at the end of program stating all standard equipment had been installed, it is costing them millions to settle. and yes hertz is now off my list of rental companies as well.
Reply to this comment
by Sloughfoot August 18, 2009 12:40 PM EDT
There are other car rental services!
Reply to this comment
See all 22 Comments
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