ericball Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 I used Priceline for the first time to book a car rental (MIA fullsize 11/19/09-11/23/19).10/03 lowball $16/day taxes & fees $51.29 total $115.2910/04 $19/day taxes & fees $47.76 total $123.76 the taxes & fees went down!10/05 $24/day taxes & fees $56.46 total $152.4610/06 $26/day taxes & fees $55.94 total $159.94, but it rejected as I was less than 24 hours10/06 $26/day taxes & fees $58.78 total $162.78 - accepted, but the taxes & fees changed from the earlier attempt!Okay, this is whacked out. Now, I can understand that the taxes (being a percentage of the price) will go up as I increase the bid. But then why did it go down that one bid and then change for the same bid on the same day? Is there a penalty being worked into the price so the more I bid the higher the fees go?I don't begrudge Priceline making some money off the deal - the fees give them a minimum amount they will make when the bid & ask are close. (I also appreciate that they cover all of the taxes and rental co's fees which they may not know 100%.) But you'd think it would be a fixed amount or percentage. This sniffs of them playing the system in their favour. (i.e. hike the fees if the spread is too small).I also would have preferred to be able to bid a flat dollar amount rather than a price per day which then gets taxes & fees tacked on. I appreciate it looks better on a comparison chart, but it's made worse because the variance in taxes & fees. Link to comment
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