Rent-a-Bike Ripoff

[Arrowfoot]

Could you detail these. Typically the car rental companies will perform no maintenance other than a valet. The cars are moved on long before they need servicing. I could see overheads being larger, but then they will typically be dealing with many more rentals on a daily basis. Plus as noted before, there are many ways to add extras, from insane fuel prices, insurance rip offs, charging the for child seats, ridiculous charges for minor damage, additional charges on top of speeding/parking tickets etc.

Let me give you you a few which typically takes up the most cost

1. Premises and garage space - which one do you think cost more - for the car or bike rental
2. Labour charges - front office, back office , mechanic, valet - car or bike
3. Reservation system / contact centre - Bike or car
4. Depreciation cost in absolute value - car or bike

 

[screenman]

I reckon that, if you are hiring cars at an airport, it is in the interests of the airport operator to facilitate your being there on site and would provide accommodation relatively cheaply. If, on the other hand, you are renting bikes in a resort town, you need a shop.

I think you may find that rental space on airports is extremely high, as what car rental company would not want to be there.

 

[Arrowfoot]

I reckon that, if you are hiring cars at an airport, it is in the interests of the airport operator to facilitate your being there on site and would provide accommodation relatively cheaply. If, on the other hand, you are renting bikes in a resort town, you need a shop.

Airports are now run on a profit basis or taken over by the private sector. They have one of the highest rental regimes. Its the reason why car rentals firms now operate from booths and these booths are also very expensive as they know that the car hire industry needs them more than airport needs them.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

A reminder again. It costs 14e a day to rent a car value ~ 8,000e. It costs 12e a day to rent a bike value ~ 250e. The overheads and other costs will be very much higher for the car rental company than the bike shop. Both are seeking a profit. The bike shops are either grossly profiteering or are extremely inefficient or a combination of both. That's the issue that with respect I haven't seen an answer for here.

Happy at flying? I never said that, I don't think that.

You'd be surprised at how low the overheads for a car rental company are. Especially the big chains with tie-ins to the manufacturers.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

No extras, second driver included, free baby seats if you want them. I've given the links and reviews so 14e is real if you check. But you didn't did you? Why, oh why am I having a problem getting people to accept there is an issue. Namely in some places shops can hire out bikes economically yet profitably. Other places it is a rip-off. And it will remain a rip-off if people are willing to pay it.
Are you part of the problem?

In one pub the ale is £3.50 a pint. In another hostelry half the quantity of lager is twice the price of that pint. No one forces you to pay more than you are happy with. You could fly your own bike out. But that would be "expensive" and also a little risky. So the local bike hire place takes advantage of two dynamics

Most bikes are hired by non-cyclists, an impulse hire as a treat for part of their holiday.*
Most cyclists are desperate to ride bikes when on non-cycling holidays.**

Caveat Emptor.

*People rent bikes, and use city hire e-bikes. in cph who can scarcely stay upright. But cycling in cph is safe, and ery much a must do thing when you are there, so nearly everyone rents a bike.
**I bought a bike in supermarket in Portugalone hols for less than the cost of hiring something of similar quality for two weeks. At the end of the trip I asked the landlord to tell me the words for Free. Please take. wrote them on a sign and attached sign to said bike in road outside villa. Two hours later there was a knock at the door and a very happy man had a, nearly new, ok quality for the intended use, bike.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Car rental companies also sell their cars on regularly too, so the cost of the car is even lower.

I used to have a company car that was rented from Thrifty Car Hire. I had to give it back and get a new/replacement one every three months. Long time ago mind. Was gutted when the MD decided to give me his wife's two year old "company" Cavalier SRi instead.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Airports are now run on a profit basis or taken over by the private sector. They have one of the highest rental regimes. Its the reason why car rentals firms now operate from booths and these booths are also very expensive as they know that the car hire industry needs them more than airport needs them.

The car hire parking spaces at Barcelona Airport cost the hire company a miniscule fraction of the cost to Joe Driver of using public parking spaces within the self same same car parks. Fact.

I doubt Barca is unique in that regard.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Really? I would have thought they have a symbiotic relationship.

Comes in here, using fancy words.

 

[Arrowfoot]

Manufacturers don't control office, garage, labour costs, and outgoings. The cost of cars yes for the few big names. For the rest, intermediaries like GE auto will handle manufacturers and fleet finance.

Just don't see how all these make bike rental a more expensive running option compared to car rental.

You'd be surprised at how low the overheads for a car rental company are. Especially the big chains with tie-ins to the manufacturers.[/QUOT

 

[StuartG]

The good car rental companies are very slick operations. A real issue is the brand recognition of the majors mean that most people look no further when looking for an airport rental. Whereas, if you are careful, and here I really do recommend using Tripadvisor comments to separate the sheep from the wolves, you can get much better service for less from a local company without the scam risks so many people (including me) have had with the bad boys. As one review of a good company recently said "it was even more satisfying that it took 5 mins to collect keys against a 45 minute wait in queue for Avis" Hmmm I remember it took only 60 seconds to get the keys from Avis but ages to decline all the waivers, extras and be lectured how otherwise you would personally bankrupted. Not a way to build customer loyalty I thought.

Whereas when it comes to economical bike hire it isn't the specialist bike rental company or local bike shop. They tend to be road bike orientated which almost by definition is not price sensitive. We tend to pay, even when buying, the maximum we can afford. So 20/24e for a refined and tuned ride bike would not seem unreasonable. I guess if they were renting utility bikes for less than their 10/12e prices it might rot their premium trade.

I find the general merchandise shop is more likely to have 4/6e bikes for hire. And not bad ones if you check (when they spot you are checking they soon find their 'best' bike!). Its obviously a marginal trade for them but one they wouldn't be doing if they couldn't turn a profit. But it is hit and miss. Some places you find a choice. Other places not one. Its unpredictable.

But an intense trawl of the web and reviews has revealed none so far in my bit of Fuertaventura. I really hope I may find one when I get there and will come back with photos and recommendations.

 

[screenman]

A very simple example which ignores the lease / ROI / depreciation aspect of the vehicles themselves....

View attachment 116609

The cars are not depreciating though.

 

[screenman]

Thats why ive ignored it.

Sorry I pushed the button a tad quick, I like your post, but many will not understand it.

 

[Leaway2]

The Scandic chain of hotels in Norway have free bicycles. I will be in Stavanger next month and have already checked if the hotel has them, they do .
Sorry OP.

 

[StuartG]

The Scandic chain of hotels in Norway have free bicycles. I will be in Stavanger next month and have already checked if the hotel has them, they do .
Sorry OP.

Its OK. I'm a bit of a wimp. Even a bike for free in freezing (or worse) Stavanger in February is not going to get me to change my plans for sharpening up my tan lines. Plus you haven't factored in the quantity and cost of Akvavit that will be required to return feeling to your limbs ... enjoy!

 

[Arrowfoot]

As previous.... a) because the marginal (i.e difference) actual cost between car and bike hire is minimal and b) A lot more cars are hired than bikes.

Yes, its the volume but the majority of folks renting a car would not hire a bike as an alternative even if its offered to them rent free.