First of all, I like to say that I think Zipcar is awesome, they are providing a great service for the city dwellers. I've been a Zipcar member for over 2 years now, lately I’ve been experiencing difficulty reserving a car for the weekend. Despite the doubling the number of fleets since I first joined.

I’ve seen similar problem posted by other members. I like to propose some suggestions. I’ve find that many fleets have already been reserve way (months) in advanced. I doubt that many people will have plans way in advanced. I feel that perhaps they are taking advantage of the reservation system; they’re just blocking other from accessing to the vehicle reservation in case they’ll need the car in the future. Here are some thoughts on solving this problem.

1) Limit the number of weekend outstanding reservation per person. For example, each member can have up to 2 or 3 outstanding weekend reservations.

2) Limit the time frame of the future reservation. For example, each member can reserve future reservation ups 1 or 2 month in advance, but not unlimited like right now.

3) Set a designated reservation period for a certain popular vehicles. For example, S40 can only be reserved 1 week before the reservation date; popular vehicles cannot be reserve way in advanced like now.

4) Have a waitlist for already reserved car. For example each member cans waitlist up to 3 or 4 cars that's already been reserved. Once that car has been cancel, the waitlist member will automatically be given that reservation.

-- Anonymous, October 17, 2004

Answers

I like the idea of a waitlist. Tie it back to my 'reserve by time' idea and I think it might work. For example, let's say you need a car for Sunday afternoon. You enter the time and limit by car type/price/location and if something becomes available it automatically reserves it for you and sends out an email notice. With a waitlist it becomes first-come-first-served.

Today I find myself checking the site multiple times a day on Thurs/Fri. to see if anyone cancelled. So far I have been lucky, but I am sure this will not always be the case.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2004

It sounds like a matter of supply and demand. Since the price drop, the demand has gone up, so people who really need a car for specific days are defensively reserving as soon as they know they'll need it.

If Zipcar is making money with the new rates, the answer is to buy more cars. If they're not making money, the answer is to raise the rates - enough to make money, then buy more cars.

People need to feel comfortable that a car will be available when it's important to them. Obviously there will be a few peaks when a few people are disappointed. But if the situation you describe is happening frequently the answer is not rationing, it's to buy more cars.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2004

All good ideas - my problem with them is that, to some degree they penalize drivers who play by the rules. I get the sense that there are only a few "bad apples" who are taking advantage of the system and that to deter them how about giving only a driving credit for a cancelled reservation? As for the term during which the credit could be used: it could vary as long as the Zipcar makes it clear at the time a reservation is made. For example: Say someone blocks off weekend months of the BMW's - instead of being able to cancel with relative impunity (as they can now) this person would be charged in full for the reservation and only get a credit good for one month after the cancelled reservation period. Another example: if someone thought they might need a Winter weekday Jetta and winds up cancelling, let them have 6 months to use the credit.

This is definitely a problem that needs to be addressed right away!

-- Anonymous, November 05, 2004