https://www.carscoops.com/2022/04/two-arizona-nissan-dealers...
FWIW, more of the same; same as it ever was.
Turo Requires a Driver's License Number and Credit Card to Show Full Price
51–60 of 136 posts
Re: Turo Requires a Driver's License Number and Credit Card to Show Full Price
#52FWIW, same as it ever was:
https://www.carscoops.com/2022/04/two-arizona-nissan-dealers...
Re: Turo Requires a Driver's License Number and Credit Card to Show Full Price
#53Earlier quoted context omitted.
Maybe I just haven't had enough coffee this morning, but I don't understand the scenario you're describing. Could you elaborate?
> Maybe I just haven't had enough coffee this morning, but I don't understand the scenario you're describing. Could you elaborate? Beth has dirty money. Bob, a friend of Beth’s, “rents” her car. (There is no car. Maybe Bob pays Beth over Turo and then Beth gives Bob the dirty cash.) Beth now has the appearance of legitimate income.
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Re: Turo Requires a Driver's License Number and Credit Card to Show Full Price
#54Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Maybe I just haven't had enough coffee this morning, but I don't understand the scenario you're describing. Could you elaborate? Beth has dirty money. Bob, a friend of Beth’s, “rents” her car. (There is no car. Maybe Bob pays Beth over Turo and then Beth gives Bob the dirty cash.) Beth now has the appearance of legitimate income.
But Bob will have to deposit this dirty cash at some point. With enough cash, it’ll raise alarm bells unless Beth has A LOT of friends who can deposit $600 each.
> Bob will have to deposit this dirty cash at some point
This is a layering mechanism, designed to obfuscate and distribute dirty cash. There may be many Bobs. Or Bob may be fine running cash to Mexico whereas Beth is not; this lets Bob sell that service to Beth.
(I’m also not sure how much Turo requires rentals be settled through its platform. If it allows off-platform billing and settling, there is no need to reimburse with dirty cash.)
Re: Turo Requires a Driver's License Number and Credit Card to Show Full Price
#55Earlier quoted context omitted.
My trick with their system is to just look at every car, click through to the final receipt screen and then go back to find the cheapest one. It's a bit tedious and deceptive to the customer to present variable fee at the last part of the checkout process. Probably the worst modern "dark pattern" that I hope regulators take a look at.
The same happens with hotels and "resort fees", especially in places like Las Vegas.
This is one area America needs to legislate which I am usually against.
There is no excuse but sleezy marketing to not show what something costs.
I'd go far even to make sure every price sticker is regulated and should include final sales price. That means, all taxes, all tips, everything. There is only one problem I see – sales taxes are state dependent so it puts a lot of burden on ecommerce/online stores to 1) Determine where the customer is from 2) Have a database of sales taxes for all states. But it can be done, I am sure.
Tips should be made illegal and employers should fairly compensate their workers.
Re: Turo Requires a Driver's License Number and Credit Card to Show Full Price
#56Earlier quoted context omitted.
I share your sentiment, but I'm not sure there are any legislators I trust to understand or regulate dark patterns effectively.
Really? They sure successfully nailed airlines on the practice a decade ago. [1] It doesn't take a world-leading regulator to say "it is an unfair and deceptive business practice not to list the total price in a search result." I think a regulator may be able to handle this one. [1] https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/aviation-consumer...
For all the (somewhat legitimate) cracks about airline add-on fees for things like checked baggage (for non-status flyers), airlines are actually one of the better travel categories in terms of fully disclosing costs up front. Hotels and car rentals generally will before you press the confirm button but often don't up-front--and this makes comparison shopping difficult because the patterns aren't consistent.
Re: Turo Requires a Driver's License Number and Credit Card to Show Full Price
#57Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Maybe I just haven't had enough coffee this morning, but I don't understand the scenario you're describing. Could you elaborate? Beth has dirty money. Bob, a friend of Beth’s, “rents” her car. (There is no car. Maybe Bob pays Beth over Turo and then Beth gives Bob the dirty cash.) Beth now has the appearance of legitimate income.
But Bob will have to deposit this dirty cash at some point. With enough cash, it’ll raise alarm bells unless Beth has A LOT of friends who can deposit $600 each.
Who said anything about it being physical cash?
Re: Turo Requires a Driver's License Number and Credit Card to Show Full Price
#58While I absolutely loathe dark patterns, I just wanted to share one thought.
They may have to "add" you to their insurance plan or carrier before renting you the car. That infuriating service fee might actually be personalized for your driving record.
As for the credit card, it is user-hostile at best to demand this before being able to see a price. I wish there was an easier way to complain about businesses that openly violate terms of the standard merchant agreements. Imagine a physical store requiring you to swipe a credit card before being able to enter. Amazon had to allow for customers without phones or credit cards at their "Go" stores for compliance reasons.
Re: Turo Requires a Driver's License Number and Credit Card to Show Full Price
#59Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Maybe I just haven't had enough coffee this morning, but I don't understand the scenario you're describing. Could you elaborate? Beth has dirty money. Bob, a friend of Beth’s, “rents” her car. (There is no car. Maybe Bob pays Beth over Turo and then Beth gives Bob the dirty cash.) Beth now has the appearance of legitimate income.
Still not detailed enough and doesn't make any sense. Does Beth have cash? Is it in a bank account? You can't use cash on Turo from what I understand. If money is in bank account, it won't be "dirty". So, how can Beth pay for a rental on Turo? As someone already commented, there is nothing special about Turo, you could just set up an ecommerce store and ship rocks around. Can you please expand?
> there is nothing special about Turo, you could just set up an ecommerce store and ship rocks around
Your analogy is correct. These serve similar functions. It’s just easier to pretend to rent a car than it is to ship rocks. (I disagree with OP about there being massive money laundering on Turo.)
Re: Turo Requires a Driver's License Number and Credit Card to Show Full Price
#60Earlier quoted context omitted.
But Bob will have to deposit this dirty cash at some point. With enough cash, it’ll raise alarm bells unless Beth has A LOT of friends who can deposit $600 each.
> Bob will have to deposit this dirty cash at some point This is a layering mechanism, designed to obfuscate and distribute dirty cash. There may be many Bobs. Or Bob may be fine running cash to Mexico whereas Beth is not; this lets Bob sell that service to Beth. (I’m also not sure how much Turo requires rentals be settled through its platform. If it allows off-platform billing and settling, there is no need to reimb…
They must otherwise how would Turo make money? It’s not a charity…