Punish Me, But Only When I'm Bad

Several car rental firms have enacted new punishments for no-show customers (WSJ, 7/12/05, D4). If you reserve a car, but don't show up or cancel less than 24-hours before pickup, you get spanked with a $10 to $25 penalty.

But Vanguard Car Rental (Alamo and National brands) has added a twist. Customers can earn a 10% discount on car rental fees if they pay in advance. Furthermore, Alamo now allows online check-in -- another way to enhance the committment of customers.