Comments on: Repo Men, Shady Charges, And Mass Confusion: Philly Car Share’s Season In Hell

By: peetah

peetah — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:32:55 +0000

For what its worth it does seem like some of the higher-cost cars have disappeared from PCS’ fleet. Try finding a BMW, Lexus, Scion TC or Smart in their inventory and you’ll get dumped out to this mysterious new page on PCS’ site that I’ve never seen before of “sold” cars: http://www.phillycarshare.org/408/pod/pcs-sold-vehicles.php

By: C. The Impaler

C. The Impaler — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:03:32 +0000

There’s a typo in my comment there, but I actually like it better than my intended phrase.

By: C. The Impaler

C. The Impaler — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:02:18 +0000

30 cars is a sizeable chunk of PCS’s 500 car fleet and no one has any news, accounts, witnessing, etc. of these alleged repossessions besides your “source?” Anyone see anything missing in the PCS reservation system? The org’s down and you kick ‘em in the nuts with that allegation? Lame. That is not how you pick up the ball after sucking a flu tracker.

By: tips

tips — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:25:16 +0000

@slosh: We cannot. But we await comments from both PCS and McMahon Leasing.

By: slosh

slosh — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:58:36 +0000

Um, hi Philebrity? Could you please share a little of your sourcing for the repo reports? That seems like a lot bigger issue with regard to PCS’s continued viability than a dicky email.

By: amanda718

amanda718 — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:29:08 +0000

Your exactly right. Zipcar is predatory and will jack up their rates if Phillycarshare fails. That is their goal and then the money you spend won’t stay in Philly it will go to west coast investors. They claim parking in Philly is cheaper, hence their cheaper rates, but it’s not at all. It’s a scam. No other carshare service offers free membership and I agree, the wording didn’t have to be condescending but it’s a tight market and Phillycarshare needs to compete with predatory, for-profit corporations…free membership just isn’t sustainable.

By: John Lightstone

John Lightstone — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:09:43 +0000

I’ll probably stick it out as well, but word of repossessions is making me seriously reconsider the 30% discount, pay annual fee at one time offer.

Also, PCS made what I think is a bad decision to have very few of the low-rate cars (Fits, etc.), which means that the few in the fleet are overused and absolutely trashed. Too many different types of cars. They could cut it down to 3-4 models with more small and cheap options.

By: rainingxdown

rainingxdown — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:28:49 +0000

yea, this email totally sucked, and I wish they’d given me more notice, but I’m also gonna stick it out. Zipcar does not have nearly the number of cars that PCS does AND, PCS is non-prof. I’d much rather support a local business over a predatory international corporation. If you haven’t noticed, Zipcar’s rates in Philly are about half of what they charge in all their other markets. What’s gonna happen if they force carshare out of business? are they gonnna go back up to $9-$11 an hour like they do in pittsburgh, new york, dc, chicago and more?

By: BDeluxe

BDeluxe — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:14:49 +0000

I was also surprised by the email. it just seemed so unlike their usual style to send the email like that, with such plain language, and sort of a “if you don’t like it, click here to cancel” ending.
Even though i rarely even reserve a car anymore (maybe 4 times a year?) I decided to stay with PCS for a while longer. Even at a higher premium, its still worth it for me to have the option available.

By: samus

samus — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:15:57 +0000

They are schizophrenic over there. Exhibit B:

You have to mail your keyfob back or pay $30.
http://twitter.com/phillycarshare/statuses/1629997886

10 minutes later…

Just kidding!
http://twitter.com/phillycarshare/statuses/1630075144