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<title>blogTO Recent Comments: How Do You Get a Car For a Loonie?</title>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/feed/recentcomments/?10592</link>
<description>Comments recently made in this post on blogTO</description>
<copyright>Copyright 2009</copyright>
<lastBuildDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:07:55 PST</lastBuildDate>
<item>
<title>Kelli Gerrity</title>
<description><![CDATA[
This company was great when it first began (approx Sept 2008). I was signing up and using $1 a day cars regularly.  Then, as it became more popular, getting cars became quite difficult.  As a previous writer wrote, in order to get a car, you'd have to be at your computer at midnight pressing "reserve", and even then it wasn't guaranteed if someone else had faster fingers, or a faster connection.  So, my usage dropped off quite a bit, and then they replaced many of the Mini's with Smart Cars, which are great for running around by myself, but with 4 of us, it didn't work out.  And then, their prices went up.  First to $10, then $20, and some up to $45 per day.  It was cheaper for me to rent a car from my local car rental.  So, I cancelled on July 2009.  It is now Nov 4th, 2009 and I still have not gotten my refundable deposit back.  The last I heard from someone was on Oct 7th, when I was told that there was an issue with PayPal and they'd look into it.  I have repeatedly called and emailed, with no replies. At this point I am not sure where to turn for my refund.  ]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c717738</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c717738</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:45:53 PST</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Angry previous client</title>
<description><![CDATA[
THIS COMPANY IS A SHAM! Don't join, you won't ever be able to contact anyone from this company when you want to cancel. They also do not return the money they claim as "security deposit". At the moment no one is returning my emails or phone messages.
Warn anyone you think may like this car idea. 
]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c717236</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c717236</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:43:36 PST</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Walfie</title>
<description><![CDATA[
I am a member of Autoshare and decided to check out CityFlitz.  Why not?  A buck a day?  Great for those times you go somewhere and you leave the car parked for hours.    

First of all, it took 2 weeks for them to process my membership (not 48 hours as they claim on the site).  My payment and deposit had been processed earlier, of course.  I sent multiple emails before finally getting my login.  Excited to get started (finally!) I logged onto the site.  Nothing available.  You can only book 2 weeks in advance.  So I log back on the site the next day in the morning.  Again, nothing available.  The trick: really, really fast typing at the stroke of midnight.  Most cars are booked by 12:01AM.  Not all cars are $1/day.  Some are $45/day.  

So I managed to book a car (at 12:00:01 AM, of course).  2 weeks later, when it was finally my day to get the car, I realized, how do I access the keys?  My bad for not realizing this sooner.  With Autoshare, members get a key to access the lock boxes.  So I returned to the CityFlitz website.  I was supposed to get an email confirmation with an access code to the lock box.  Searched my email - nothing.  All my other emails regarding my application were there.  Maybe I didn't reserve it properly.  Nope, when I log in, I see I have an active reservation (not codes on the website).  Hmm.  So I call the office.  No answer.  Call the emergency 24/7 1-800 number.  It goes to voice mail.  Wow, what if it was a real emergency???  Sent an email.  Tried the emergency number for over an hour.  Nothing.  I ended up taking the bus to where I had to go.  VERY frustrating.  

The next day, still no news from them.

So my major complaint at this point: horrible, horrible customer service.  What if the car didn't start?  What if the keys or the car were not there?  There's no guarantee you'll get a hold of somebody at CityFlitz.  In other words, don't rely on being able to get to your destination with their cars.  Always have a plan B. CityFlitz makes it money off the advitisers and will make sure they are happy.  They don't make money off the drivers.  Why should they care if you are happy and satisfied.  They have plenty of members you will happily drive the car.

Bottom line: you get what you pay for.  Autoshare costs more, but their customer service has always been stellar.  They are reliable, usually always available, and helpful.  I imagine Zip is the same.

I have since reserved another car.  This time I did get an instant confirmation.  Could there also be something wonky with their IT?  Maybe I deleted the original confirmation my mistake.

So, at this point I don't trust them.  Is the business in trouble?  Starting to worry about my $350 deposit... Let's see how long it takes to get that back.

Let's see if they charge me, after my multiple messages and email, for not having driven 30km!!]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c714638</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c714638</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Roger</title>
<description><![CDATA[
If you've got a dollar to spend and don't want to spend it "in a snazzy, souped-up ad-mobile plastered with obnoxious slogans for a day," as The Toronto Star suggests, check out <a href="http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/484884" target="_blank"> some other ways to spend a dollar</a>.

Any better ideas?]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c303717</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c303717</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:12:22 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>rek</title>
<description><![CDATA[
Thank goodness there are fine companies like CityFritz to make sure advertising is *absolutely everywhere you look* or the economy would certainly collapse and we'd all be slaves in some Chinese-owned Export Zone.

(Yahoo is still around? Why?)]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302960</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302960</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Sat, 23 Aug 2008 01:08:27 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Roger</title>
<description><![CDATA[
@Kevin:  CityFlitz calls itself an auto-sharing company. If you've got a problem with that, take it up with them. It's car sharing or car renting, no matter how you slice it. Without getting into a debate over semantics, I think this city has room enough for all types of business plans, including your own.

I'm not merely reiterating what's on their press release. I hope to encourage discussion and provide a forum where our readers can judge for themselves how useful this new service is to them, what ever it's called.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302890</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302890</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:44:11 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Kevin McLaughlin</title>
<description><![CDATA[
@Tim > Publisher's note: Are you saying this because we wrote about CityFlitz? Or is it because Roger's review wasn't negative enough?

Tim, what I am saying is that the story was incomplete at best, if not misleading (to call cityflitz "Toronto's newest auto-sharing company", so clearly a cut & paste from their press release. In fact, yes, it is bordering on a shill.)

I have invested my life into building AutoShare over the last 10 years, and before that the Co-operative Auto Network in Vancouver, to establish an alternative to owning a car in our city (and, to create a living for myself and my team). I take exception to the use of "auto-sharing" to describe something that is not car sharing, not yet operational enough to answer critical questions - and quite frankly, ya didn't fricken call me to discuss this either, so no wonder you cut & paste from their press release (check out the other stories online).

You react to my note, yet fail to address my points.

I am not against more competition, or someone doing something new & innovative - I'm just saying that cityflitz is not providing a similar service to that of AutoShare, nor Zipcar. They are renting cars by the day, like Budget (but for very little money). And you are helping them to appropriate the term car sharing, which they are not.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302706</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302706</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:32:59 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Carrie</title>
<description><![CDATA[
<i>People tend to rent cars when they need them. Not just for going to the grocery store and back.</i>

Umm. That's exactly what people rent Zipcar or Autoshare cars for.

And Wifi in the car = more idiots on the road not paying attention. Fabulous.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302635</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302635</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:37:14 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>stef</title>
<description><![CDATA[
I don't think it's a dumb idea. I am a driver as well. 

If you are driving a vehicle with a brand name/company logo, you are representing that name. If you drive like an asshole on the road, you represent that company in a negative way.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302619</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302619</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:59:48 PDT</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>SCREWFACE</title>
<description><![CDATA[
@ stef - good idea. Judge a company by their drivers. As a bicyclist who drives, and has a realistic perspective, that was just dumb.

@m6j 416 - BlogTO is a blog. They can do whatever the fuck they want. Go comment at the Toronto Star.

<i>To rent a car, CityFlitz members must be at least 23 years old and have a valid "G" driver's license as well as a credit card that includes rental car insurance coverage.</i> Damn! Not even Craigslist has Cars for a Loonie.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302608</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302608</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:58:25 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>jack</title>
<description><![CDATA[
or maybe you can drive around in circle in loblaw's parking lot to hit the 3okm requirement]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302603</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302603</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:30:18 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Roger</title>
<description><![CDATA[
If you don't hit the 30 kilometer minimum requirement per day, you get a warning. The $1/day price still stands.

If you fail to meet the minimum requirements after three times, you aren't allowed to continue to use the service.

This makes sense. At least from an advertiser's point of view. People tend to rent cars when they need them. Not just for going to the grocery store and back. That's what taxis are for. :)]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302589</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302589</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:08:47 PDT</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Roger</title>
<description><![CDATA[
Driving 30 kilometers in the city isn't that hard. A trip to Ikea on The Queensway in Etobicoke from Toronto Eaton Centre is 16 km, so you'd easily exceed 30 km in a day with one such return trip.

A similar distance and another likely scenario is a return trip from downtown to York University.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302587</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302587</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:03:43 PDT</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>x_the_x</title>
<description><![CDATA[
Presumably if you don't hit the 30km limit you don't get the $1 price.  If you choose to drive around aimlessly to hit it, it is you who is being environmentally irresponsible, not the company.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302585</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302585</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:57:57 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>MattAlexander</title>
<description><![CDATA[
I think this idea is wrong for a dense city like Toronto. I think it would be better recieved and more effective in the suburbs.

The people I know who use zipcars or autoshare use it to buy groceries or to go to ikea. Not 30 kms of travel. 

Relocate to Oshawa, Mississauga, Brampton, Guelph, Kitchener, and open it up to younger people with six months of G2 driving, then you'll have a real success.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302583</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302583</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:44:13 PDT</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Bernard</title>
<description><![CDATA[
This isn't new and not exactly a good offer! Forget about a $1 a day rental fees as there have been companies for YEARS that pay people to place ads on their own private cars, which is a much better deal if you ask me. I have an ad on my car that was attached by a company named BoldCar (www.boldcar.com) and they pay me a few hundred bucks a month to drive around with the ad. But that's not the only company out there.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302553</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302553</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:02:29 PDT</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Greg Smith</title>
<description><![CDATA[
"Not sure I understand the rationale around the 30km minimum."

@Darlene: Cityflitz's rentals are subsidized by the advertising that envelops their cars.  The 30km minimum is presumably to ensure that that the advertiser's message is out and about for long enough for that subsidy to provide a minimum value (in terms of exposure) to the sponsor.  Make no mistake, this is first and foremost an advertising platform, not an environmental initiative.

@Tim: Starting the conversation is good, but providing more grist for the mill (e.g. getting comments from other services into the main article, or suggesting a basis for comparison) would make it seem less like a perfunctory gesture or a shortcut to avoid rounding out the article by assembling a broader perspective on the subject.  Without this, the post is vulnerable to complaints (like m6j 416's above) of cheerleading.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302544</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302544</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:35:23 PDT</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Go Toronto Card</title>
<description><![CDATA[
This is a great idea for those who live in teh city and don't really have vehicles and you can't really beat the price but I bet there are many people waiting to get on a list to rent one of these cars?]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302535</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302535</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:48:12 PDT</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Tim</title>
<description><![CDATA[
@Greg - Fair enough. But I suspect Roger wasn't aiming to finish the conversation, but rather provide enough info to start it....which by the looks of it seems like he's done.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302532</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302532</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:37:34 PDT</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Darlene</title>
<description><![CDATA[
I was a member of a similar service in Spain where they had a fleet of ad-plastered Smart cars available for 9 euros per day. The advertisers were mostly small, local businesses (landscaping and real estate outfits mostly) who benefited from having their ads parked in high traffic residential areas.

Not sure I understand the rationale around the 30km minimum. Doesn't this really just promote driving for the sake of driving? Not sure that really helps the environment in any way, nor does it help to get people to click on Yahoo! ads. Would you even notice a Yahoo! car zipping by on the 401?]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302524</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/08/how_do_you_get_a_car_for_a_loonie/#c302524</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:29:54 PDT</pubDate>
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