THE RENTAL GAME CHANGE UP PITCH

The rules of the rental game go like this:

You pay someone to live in their room or drive their car.

If you’re thinking hotels and Hertz, there’s been a change.

Like a change up pitch in baseball, it’s leaves people wondering what happened.

First the change up:

A pitcher known for their fastball high and inside needs more than that.

They need a change up.

Using the same motion that delivers a 100mph ball chin high across the plate, they bring one in at 85 or 90 mpg, just enough to get the batter the swing early in anticipation.

When that happens the batter usually hates themselves for being suckered in. Again.

But, it you face someone throwing that kind of heat, you’re probably not in Little League, so calm down pro.

Rental Game Change Up

In the recent past before Uber, Airbnb, and Turo, a traveler took a big yellow taxi to a hotel tower when they flew into town.

Those were the big leagues in the rental game.

Then Uber said download an app, make a call at the airport, and a local driver in their car picks you up and drops you at a hotel.

Joining the fray, Airbnb said, “Why a hotel when you can stay in the comfort of a home?”

So call Uber and get dropped off in a neighborhood.

Call Uber when you go out, call again when you come back.

Without getting into details I don’t know and making up facts on the fly, the Uber driver and Airbnb host have safeguards and information on their customers to avoid contact with lunatics.

Not everyone wants to depend on other drivers to get them around, so they rent a car.

Turo says, “If you can rent a room or a house, why not rent someone’s car?”

2

So things changed up and look like this:

Before leaving home on a trip book a Turo car at your destination.

Fly in, take an Uber to the Turo car address agreed on and apply the procedure the owner gave to get in.

It can be a coded key box on the car, or the owner meeting you with a key.

As the smart traveler that you are, reserve a room or house with Airbnb before you leave home.

Now you get your Turo car and drive to your landing place.

Somehow you qualified for a stranger to trust you with their property.

Instead of megalithic corporations looking at you as a faceless number, personal accountability kicks in.

You contact real people, act like a real person in return, and the magic begins.

One Rental Game Example:

Let’s say you’re planning a trip to an exotic destination like Hawaii.

You book an Airbnb, a Turo, and go.

No matter what you dream, you’re not renting an airplane, so buy a ticket.

Get up at 3AM for a 7:20 flight so you won’t have to panic and run out the door forgetting things, important things.

If you’re an early bird and don’t yet trust an Uber driver to show up at 4:15, use an airport shuttle service.

Keep the excitement of anticipation high while you’re flying over the Pacific ocean.

Wear two masks and listen to fellow travelers coughing and sneezing and clearing their throats in comfort.

Get off the plane, grab your bags, and wheel on out to the transportation hub full of cars, busses, and taxis.

2

If it’s Honolulu airport, walk over to the center lanes and call an Uber.

Or, an Uber guy in a van drives up and asks if you need a ride.

Ride with him through town, look at the houses, wonder why no one is out and around, and stop at the Turo car address.

There a nice lady will drive up, give you keys to the car you booked, explain that you need to bring the car back to where you found it, and tell you they will meet you and drive you in the same car to the airport.

Everyone is happy and safe and you won’t feel like another brick in the wall.

That’s how the change up in the rental game works.

It’s not for everyone, but more than a few customers have called it a home run.

At the moment I’m getting into my trot on a Hawaiian beach.

The biggest difference is not turning blue like the chilly Oregon beach dip does you.