Recently moved to Hoboken from the Upper East Side - I find Zipcar basically useless here. If I want a car for the weekend, nothing is available until 26th of April - 2 Months from now.

Either - purchase more cars for Hoboken or instill some sort of system that prevents the same users from hogging the cars.. Or limit number of advance bookings people can have open at any given time.... something needs to be done - otherwise I have to option but to give up on zipcar.

Daniel

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2005

Answers

I agree. I am having a horrible time renting a car any weekend. Jetta Josh is the most convenient as I am coming from Jersey City on the PATH and it is booked every single weekend for the next 2 months. I have no interest in the more expensive Volvo and the Stevens Institute cars are too far a walk from the PATH when its cold out. Obviously there is a big demand so I don't know why they won't put more cars in Hoboken - or put one in Jersey City.

I'm also thinking about having to cancel. I have the Extra 75 membership and I'm actually going to be paying money for something I can't use. I know I could go into NY and rent one there but by the time I pay the tunnel fees it just isn't worth it.

By the way - for those of you in Hoboken or Jersey City who are using ZipCar for grocery shopping - Shoprite has home delivery service. You can place your order online and for a total of $15.95 they shop for you and deliver it (even bring it right in the house for you). I was using ZipCar primarily to do grocery shopping but this is a much better deal. Unfortunately it doesn't solve the problem of wanting a car to do other errands.

Danette

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2005

I joined Zipcar around the time I moved to Hoboken, so I've always been accustomed to planning ahead if I want a Zipcar for the full weekend. It's true the Hoboken Zipcars are consistently more booked than others in Manhattan. If we Hobokeners continue to email Zipcar periodically to request more cars, they'll probably listen. They are also receptive to information about available parking spaces for rent or sale.

-Lynne

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2005

I don't mind planning ahead (even months ahead) if I want a car for the weekend. It is just starting to bug me that I can't get a car for 1/2 day to do grocery shopping and errands unless I book it months in advance.

Danette

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2005

I am another Hobokenite who is disappointed with Zipcar. When I lived in Boston, I never had an issue as there were several cars available in my area. I agree that it is almost impossible to get a car on the weekend. I can never find an available car in Hoboken when I want or even need one. I think that Zipcar should seriously consider its ability to accomodate it members. At this rate, it seems that Zipcar will eventually have too many members to accomodate. I have noticed that there have been a substantial increase in complaints about availability but I have not seen or heard of any remedy offered by Zipcar. What I do see are emails every months stating that new cars are being added to the NYC fleet as if us Hobokenites do not have deserve then same diligence and attention. As a result of the recent unavailibility, I am seriously considering cancelling my memberhip of 3 years and just buying a car. I am just fed up with this whole situation. At this point, renting a Zipcar is more cumbersome than anything.

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2005

Keep e-mailing us about this issue, but you can also copy Mayor David Roberts (at: info@hobokennj.org). Hoboken is a great partner for Zipcar, and they should get both credit for making spaces available for the cars as well as feedback about the value of the service (and need for more cars and spaces!).

The City should know how much a service like Zipcar helps you not put a car on the streets...we can tell them, and we do, it helps to get it straight from the source.

Managing the growing demand and meeting it is a challenge and we appreciate your feedback, support and patience.

-- Anonymous, March 03, 2005

I wrote about this problem to info@zipcar.com, and I received this prompt response:

"Dear Lynne,

Thank you for your email.  We are constantly looking to expand to new areas and welcome and suggestions you may have for parking locations.  I have forwarded your suggestion to our Regional Vice President, Dan Martin, for further consideration.  The best way to request a car in a specific area is to fill out our notify-me section at www.zipcar.com/ notify-me and we will let you know when we add cars to that area.  Remember it takes about 20 members to support a Zipcar so spread the word!  Please feel free to contact us with any future concerns.

melinda zipcar member services t18664947227 f 6179954300"

I suggest all Hoboken Zipcar users fill out a notify-me form so that maybe we'll have some luck in getting more Zipcars in Hoboken.

--Lynne

-- Anonymous, March 03, 2005

Zipcar might want to think of having some sort of one way rental system on Friday's and Monday's. People working in Manhattan can take the zipcar with them to Hoboken (where weekend demand is high), and bring the car back into the city Monday morning (where I presume demand is high during the week). Of course I guess the issue is more of finding parking spots.

-- Anonymous, March 03, 2005

Good luck- I have brought this issue up for MONTHS- Nothing is done. I am probably going to cancel my account because it is just not a good service for those on the other side of the hudson.

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2005