BEAV Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 I've been considering a 1-day car rental for either this coming Wednesday -or- Saturday from either OAK or SFO. While entering prices for all 4 scenarios (2 for OAK and 2 for SFO) the differences in taxes/fees seems quite strange. Having said that, I'm fully aware different airports/municipalities impose varying taxes on rental cars. In each scenario, I was bidding for a full-size car and always $15.OAK 24-hour rental, Wednesday pick-up:Bid price: $15.00Taxes/fees: $8.79OAK 24-hour rental, Saturday pick-up:Bid price: $15.00Taxes/fees: $16.19SFO 24-hour rental, Wednesday pick-up:Bid price: $15.00Taxes/fees: $13.43SFO 24-hour rental, Saturday pick-up:Bid price: $15.00Taxes/fees: $10.07So the question is how can the taxes/fees vary at the same airport when the bid/purchase price is the same?Also, taxes/fees appear higher in OAK for a weekend rental vs midweek, while in SFO it's just the opposite.Is it possible local taxes are only applicable certain days of the week? Link to comment
zbenye Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 Add to that the mystery of how can taxes+fees at SFO be only $13.43, when SFO imposes a $13.50 airport transit fee per rental?I rented a car last weekend and the Alamo contract clearly showed this $13.50 fee as included in the prepaid package, although Priceline did not charge me that.So it looks like Priceline pick a random number for taxes/fees... causing them a loss...! Link to comment
BEAV Posted June 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 Add to that the mystery of how can taxes+fees at SFO be only $13.43, when SFO imposes a $13.50 airport transit fee per rental?I rented a car last weekend and the Alamo contract clearly showed this $13.50 fee as included in the prepaid package, although Priceline did not charge me that.So it looks like Priceline pick a random number for taxes/fees... causing them a loss...!Or how about total taxes/fees of only $10.07!! Link to comment
thereuare Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 Looks like there may be:1) problem with the calculation the program uses to compute the tax (and service fee) or...2) rental companies providing an incentive (to Priceline) on certain slow days when they have excess cars... thus giving priceline the ability to lower/remove their fee (as they're getting paid better/enough thru the rental incentive)I'd sooner think #1 is the more likely scenario, but both are possibilities that came to mind. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
BEAV Posted June 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 I'd agree scenario #1 over #2. In the case of #2 in this particular scenario, OAK taxes/fees were higher on weekend vs midweek whereas SFO was the opposite. I would think both markets would be somewhat similar with regard to supply & demand midweek vs weekend. Link to comment
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