Why There's No Rental Cars (Anchorage, Metlakatla: hotels, attorney, to buy)

[ketchikanite]

Originally Posted by roadwarrior101

So, you're all for screwing the consumers? Nice.

So you want a governmental organization to dictate what price private industry may charge for their goods and services. Leave it up to the government cause they’re just here to protect us.

[EllieKay56]

We have some friends that are flying up for vacation. Avis called them and said they have to cancel their reservation as no cars are available. They have their vacation booked and could not cancel. They are renting from TOURO but it is not cheap. We always fly up for 2 weeks in August and rent a car for part of it. Not this year. We stay with our daughter so we will be doing things with them.
I live in Wisconsin and it is the same here. Sometimes we rent a car for the weekends when we take trips. Not this year, they are expensive here too.

[roadwarrior101]

Originally Posted by ketchikanite

So you want a governmental organization to dictate what price private industry may charge for their goods and services. Leave it up to the government cause they’re just here to protect us.

When private industries take advantage of consumers, yes.

[zerp]

Originally Posted by roadwarrior101

When private industries take advantage of consumers, yes.

The car rental companies held a gun to your head and forced you to pay them?

Or, are there just people that are paying those prices.

Go be poor somewhere else!

[Arktikos]

Originally Posted by EllieKay56

We have some friends that are flying up for vacation. Avis called them and said they have to cancel their reservation as no cars are available. They have their vacation booked and could not cancel. They are renting from TOURO but it is not cheap. We always fly up for 2 weeks in August and rent a car for part of it. Not this year. We stay with our daughter so we will be doing things with them.
I live in Wisconsin and it is the same here. Sometimes we rent a car for the weekends when we take trips. Not this year, they are expensive here too.

Perhaps Alaskans will take to doing what some Hawaiians are, namely renting out their second cars to tourists. Hawaii rates are even more ridiculous than in Alaska, when you can actually find a car that is.

[pnwguy2]

Covid is mostly to blame. Rentals were sold off due to lack of demand. Now they need vehicles but everything is now more expensive. The inflation result of covid is just getting started. Get ready for higher prices for almost everything.

[roadwarrior101]

Originally Posted by pnwguy2

Covid is mostly to blame. Rentals were sold off due to lack of demand. Now they need vehicles but everything is now more expensive. The inflation result of covid is just getting started. Get ready for higher prices for almost everything.

Yep. Obviously, many folks on this board don't care about rental car prices as they're residents and it doesn't directly impact them. Let's see how they feel when the inflation goes up for consumer staples and other items that they depend upon regularly. Human nature though. It's all about self reliance when the person getting screwed over is not you.

[pnwguy2]

It is generally a supply change problem caused by the pandemic. The solution will take time. In the meantime expect inflation in almost every segment of the economy. This will hit lower income individuals and families the hardest and may result in a deep recession. Politically could be bad for dems, but really is no politcal party’s fault.

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by roadwarrior101

Yep. Obviously, many folks on this board don't care about rental car prices as they're residents and it doesn't directly impact them. Let's see how they feel when the inflation goes up for consumer staples and other items that they depend upon regularly. Human nature though. It's all about self reliance when the person getting screwed over is not you.

Like others have said, the rental car situation isn't specific to Alaska. If it's beyond your means, don't go. Simple as that. And conflating consumer staples with luxury items such as rental cars in an expensive tourist destination is a weak analogy.

I suppose that when the government is willing to completely reimburse these businesses for the money they lost during the pandemic, maybe they should have something to say about what they charge.

Hell, I want a bottle of 2K Bordeaux but can't justify the cost, so I'll live with something else rather than expecting the government to swoop in and force the price to go down.

See how that works?

ETA I can assure you that plenty of Alaska residents have taken serious financial hits because of the pandemic. But again, you're complaining about a temporary issue concerning a luxury service that's hardly specific to Alaska.

[roadwarrior101]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

Like others have said, the rental car situation isn't specific to Alaska. If it's beyond your means, don't go. Simple as that. And conflating consumer staples with luxury items such as rental cars in an expensive tourist destination is a weak analogy.

I suppose that when the government is willing to completely reimburse these businesses for the money they lost during the pandemic, maybe they should have something to say about what they charge.

Hell, I want a bottle of 2K Bordeaux but can't justify the cost, so I'll live with something else rather than expecting the government to swoop in and force the price to go down.

See how that works?

ETA I don't think anyone in this thread is particularly unsympathetic toward you, and I can assure you that plenty of Alaska residents have taken serious financial hits because of the pandemic. But again, you're complaining about a temporary issue concerning a luxury service that's hardly specific to Alaska.

Never said this was specific to Alaska. I know it's occurring in Hawaii, Montana and elsewhere. I wouldn't consider a rental car a luxury item, but to each their own. I do think companies need to be profitable, but I also believe in consumer protections. I can afford it and I'll be helping to contribute to your economy next month, gladly so.