Thursday, April 11, 2024

Sticker Shock

Have you rented a car lately?

TBG refuses to take two trains from the suburbs to the suburbs on our next vacation.  He wants to rent a car, even though it means he has to drive on a highway he detests.  He won't have to share his space with anyone but me.  He won't have to worry about the motorman's competence.  He will be master of his own fate.

I didn't think it was a bad idea to rent a car and make the 2 hour drive.  A one day rate wouldn't be terrible, and anything is better than a grouchy travel companion.  

Then I searched.  And I gasped. The least expensive day rate was $169.  

And then I looked at the public transportation options.  Amtrak for $130 and 5 hours.  Local trains, with a 38 minute lay over over a 4 plus hour trip, clocked in between $84 and $184.

And none of them were convenient.

So we'll bite the bullet and rent a car and recognize that while on paper Joe Biden is doing a great job with the economy and jobs an infrastructure, it now costs $200 to rent a car for a day.

Easy to see how inflation is still at the top of voters' minds.

6 comments:

  1. Supply and demand...that's what makes the economy run. Too few cars and too many people wanting to rent them for vacation time creates higher costs. Also, may I suggest you use Hertz for your car rentals? They are the most reliable of all the companies, perhaps a bit pricier, but much better service. It's the company AAA recommends.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it turns out to be the right price and the right location and has all my discounts covered.
      a/b

      Delete
  2. Rental car rates are nothing more than corporate greed, period, full stop.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If only the workers received some of the benefits....
      a/b

      Delete
  3. There are many factors involved in the rising costs of many commodities and services. I am not knowledgeable enough to make a judgement, but it is easy to blame greed. i have been guilty of it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll gladly pay a bit more at the cash register if the workers reap the rewards.
      a/b

      Delete

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