BRISBANE, Calif. -- Mega-retailer Wal-Mart Stores and Thrifty Car
Rental signed an agreement to provide a "flat rate" for Thrifty
cars booked through Walmart.com.
Under the agreement, Thrifty will provide nationwide flat rates
of $29.95 a day for compact cars and $39.95 a day for intermediate
vehicles without mileage restrictions through Walmart.com, which
will redirect customers to a co-branded toll-free number.
The agreement applies to airport and nonairport locations.
Thrifty said that if a lower rate is available at the time of
booking, the customer will be guaranteed the lower price. In
addition, Wal-Mart customers will be able to charge their rentals
to their Wal-Mart credit cards.
A Thrifty spokesman said the car rental prices on Walmart.com
are not exclusive prices for the site.
A survey by AAA of Northern California of the major car rental
companies found that the difference between the most expensive and
cheapest car prices nationwide can vary between 18% and 190%, with
an overall average of 77%.
The quotes were for a compact car for the weekend of July 26 to
28 with unlimited mileage.
Thrifty, for example, offered the lowest prices in Las Vegas
($43.37), Los Angeles ($54.10) and Phoenix ($81.26); it charged the
most in Washington ($105.68).
Wal-Mart began offering shoppers full-service Vacation Centers
in stores nationwide in 1995.
Only agents working for the retailer's Vacation Centers earn
commissions.