Advantage Rent-a-Car Sun & Ski deals....

Advantage Rent-a-Car Sun & Ski deals....

October 15, 2006

I received an email from Advantage Rent-A-Car on 10/13/06 advertising various "Sun & Ski" "Deals in the Sun" and "Deals in the Snow". I clicked on the link and was brought to the following site: http://www.arac.com/discount_rental_cars_sun_ski.htm

This site promised various deals, the condition being to reserve before Dec. 15, 2006 and complete before Dec. 31, 2006. One of the deals was for Denver, CO offering various size cars, including a standard SUV for $199.99 per week.

Denver, CO - Reno, NV - Albuquerque, NM - Salt Lake City, UT Car Type Daily Weekly Compact $30.99 $139.99 Minivan $38.99 $175.99 Standard SUV $44.99 $199.99

I immediately tried to reserve such an SUV or any other car in the ad for the 6 day period, Dec. 24-30, 2006 in Denver. The SUV price came up at $999.40 + taxes or over $1200 for the week. I called Advantage to get the benefit of the ad and was told in clear, definite terms that it had no cars in any class in Denver that would be available at less than their usual holiday premium rates. When I asked if they had any cars as advertised on the very day they sent me the advertisement, they said "no". Basically, they kept asking if I wanted to rent at $999.40 for the week (as it turns out, about 3 times as much as Avis charges without any special deal?).

This seems like a classic bait and switch promotion.

Roger

Wilton, CT