Comments on: Avis bought Zipcar http://boingboing.net/2013/01/02/avis-bought-zipcar.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 23 May 2013 16:44:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Andrew Carr http://boingboing.net/2013/01/02/avis-bought-zipcar.html#comment-1621330 Andrew Carr Sun, 06 Jan 2013 08:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203583#comment-1621330 Hertz also owns a company in Australia called Flexicar which is a similar concept minus the flashy apps.  Hertz also owns a company in Australia called Flexicar which is a similar concept minus the flashy apps. 

]]> By: Matthew Holloway http://boingboing.net/2013/01/02/avis-bought-zipcar.html#comment-1620699 Matthew Holloway Fri, 04 Jan 2013 22:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203583#comment-1620699 Portlander here, and that's the end of my association with ZipCar.  Just got off the phone, canceling before my next annual fee.  ZipCar (and FlexCar before it) were great, but the fleet has steadily shrunk over the last five years - so that a general search now turns up no cars within 1/2 mile of my home.  They have never had enough cars, and this Avis move will only exacerbate that.  I doubt that they will be adding a large quantity of cars to the neighborhoods now, but pushing ZipCar users to pick up cars at an Avis lot (much like their current car sharing service).  I'll be moving to a combination of Car2Go (little Smartcars, no annual fee) and U-haul's car and truck sharing service.  Sad to see ZipCar die. Portlander here, and that’s the end of my association with ZipCar.  Just got off the phone, canceling before my next annual fee.  ZipCar (and FlexCar before it) were great, but the fleet has steadily shrunk over the last five years – so that a general search now turns up no cars within 1/2 mile of my home.  They have never had enough cars, and this Avis move will only exacerbate that.  I doubt that they will be adding a large quantity of cars to the neighborhoods now, but pushing ZipCar users to pick up cars at an Avis lot (much like their current car sharing service).  I’ll be moving to a combination of Car2Go (little Smartcars, no annual fee) and U-haul’s car and truck sharing service.  Sad to see ZipCar die.

]]> By: Wilson Afonso http://boingboing.net/2013/01/02/avis-bought-zipcar.html#comment-1619527 Wilson Afonso Thu, 03 Jan 2013 10:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203583#comment-1619527 Hertz has a similar system called Hertz On Demand, but it's only in a few cities around the world. I believe they did buy small businesses providing this kind of service in a few locations (like Flexicar in Sydney). Hertz has a similar system called Hertz On Demand, but it’s only in a few cities around the world. I believe they did buy small businesses providing this kind of service in a few locations (like Flexicar in Sydney).

]]> By: Aloisius http://boingboing.net/2013/01/02/avis-bought-zipcar.html#comment-1619095 Aloisius Wed, 02 Jan 2013 19:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203583#comment-1619095 I hope Avis/Budget adopt Zipcar's technology for renting cars. It would be incredibly convenient just to walk up to a random car in an airport parking lot, scan my zipcard and drive away without having to stand in line for 10 minutes then get pitched on gasoline refills and insurance or GPS upgrades. I hope Avis/Budget adopt Zipcar’s technology for renting cars. It would be incredibly convenient just to walk up to a random car in an airport parking lot, scan my zipcard and drive away without having to stand in line for 10 minutes then get pitched on gasoline refills and insurance or GPS upgrades.

]]> By: Awesomer http://boingboing.net/2013/01/02/avis-bought-zipcar.html#comment-1619019 Awesomer Wed, 02 Jan 2013 17:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203583#comment-1619019 Not exactly. Not exactly.

]]> By: C W http://boingboing.net/2013/01/02/avis-bought-zipcar.html#comment-1618964 C W Wed, 02 Jan 2013 17:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203583#comment-1618964 I use the service regularly, I've never heard of any "ethics" reasons touted, they just provide good customer support and convenience. I'd be concerned about that changing possibly under the new acquisition, but if they can maintain that and profitability, I'll be pleased. I use the service regularly, I’ve never heard of any “ethics” reasons touted, they just provide good customer support and convenience. I’d be concerned about that changing possibly under the new acquisition, but if they can maintain that and profitability, I’ll be pleased.

]]> By: nvlady http://boingboing.net/2013/01/02/avis-bought-zipcar.html#comment-1618956 nvlady Wed, 02 Jan 2013 16:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203583#comment-1618956 Just read the article about this. Said $500M cash. dang. What I wonder is how will this affect the ZipCar base? Isn't one of the unwritten loves of ZipCar is that it isn't a big company? Don't people use it just as much for need as they do for ethics? The friends I have who use it do so partly for that reason. Oh well, we will see... Just read the article about this. Said $500M cash. dang. What I wonder is how will this affect the ZipCar base? Isn’t one of the unwritten loves of ZipCar is that it isn’t a big company? Don’t people use it just as much for need as they do for ethics? The friends I have who use it do so partly for that reason.

Oh well, we will see…

]]>