Grand Larceny
In May 1999, my Airport Business column was written about renting a car in Boston, Taxachusetts. The fees and taxes added 49.55%—repeat, 49.55%—to the price of the rental car, and I was mad about it.
Earlier this year, I included that column in my book, “Ground Clutter, The Book,” and it made me mad all over again.
Today, I reserved a rental car at Boston Logan Airport. Now I’m really mad.
Today, folks, the taxes/fees added 57.7% to the price of the rental car. 57.7%. That is highway robbery. They should be ashamed. Hell, King George himself would have been ashamed.
In 1999 and again today, $10 of that was for a “Convention Center Charge.” They are charging me to pay for their convention center. (In 1999 the rental car lady told me they had been collecting that $10 for more than a year but had not started work on the convention center. I wonder if they have started since.)
Now, I guess, they want me to pay for their failed Big Dig, too.
There is one reason why they charge such rapacious fees/taxes: The local politicians figured out long ago that I—and others from out of town—can’t kick them out of office. It’s as simple as that.
There is some trace of hope. Just recently the largest rental car companies banned together and swore to stop or reduce this larcenous greed all over the country. More power to them, and may they succeed.
55.7%. Can you believe it?
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Ben–
Good. Wish I could come up there and vote for them.
My son lives in Brighton, so maybe he’ll vote for them.
Thanks for writing.
Ralph Hood
This is, by the way, the rant the candidates using to win the gubernatirial seat which will be vacant here in January.
nice randy
Hi Ralph:
I’m sorry that our state is giving it to you in the wallet. Our current adminstration seems bent on looking for all sorts of fees to help pay for the Big Dig, health and human services, and just about anything else we’re famous for. (Not that helping people that can’t help themselves, is a bad thing. It just that many argue that doing it for illeal aliens, is quite another matter. This is, by the way, the rant the candidates using to win the gubernatirial seat which will be vacant here in January.
But don’t fret.
The new regime promises to tighten our budget, look for and attract new businesses, and institute of fresh change in the political culture at the state capitol. Who knows? Maybe we’ll institute a few tax holidays in 2007 which might make life a bit easier for you out-of-staters when you come to visit!
Keep your car-rental reservations’ numbers handy. There may be hope in future. But given the way our drivers sometimes drive, I’d take the collision waiver. Unfortunately, some things will never change.
Al–
Yep. You got a great argument there. Only thing is, so many of my customers want me to speak in downtown Megalopolis (and let’s make it quite clear–I greatly appreciate the business).
Thanks again for your comments,
Ralph Hood
From: Al Beckwith
TO: Ralph Hood
At our General Aviation Airport the cost of the Rental Car delivered to our customer that flys in is $10.00 to cover part of our airport Fee to operate.
The only other fee is 6.75% Sales Tax.
Park your airplane overnite for free if you buy fuel at the curent Rate of $3.77/gal including Tax.
That’s how it is at ( 1G3 ) The Airport in Stow, Ohio.
The moral of the story is “Fly Yourself” and stay away from the “City Slickers”.
Best Regards,
Al Beckwith
Al–
NOTE TO ALL: This comment is really from Al Beckwith. Somehow it got put under the wrong BLOG. When I changed it, it came out as being from me. I don’t have enough sense to correct it.
Al–
Thanks for the comment.
Sounds like a good idea to me. You could charter Air Force One cheaper than you can park a car at some downtown hotels.
Ralph Hood
Ralph
I’m going to Loveland, CO on Tuesday via Frontier Airlines from CAK (Akron Canton Airport) to DENver.
Instead of a rental Car: I’m taking the door to door shuttle.
It’s like flying General aviation “No Hassle”
Al Beckwith
Stow, Ohio
Hi, Capn Randy–
Unfortunately, most every state in the union has politicians looking for non-locals to tax. So far, though, Taxachusetts leads the way in high-dollar larceny.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Ralph Hood
Sir Ralfus - Yup, and the state of Minnesnowta heard about it and “monkey see, monkey do!”
best, randy