Walmart.com Features Exclusive Flat Rate Pricing on Thrifty Vehicles Nationwide

Topics:  Thrify Car Rental

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
July 22, 2002

Walmart.com is revving up its online travel offerings, this time reaching out to business and vacationing travelers in the market with a unique pricing plan on rental cars - anytime, anywhere flat rate pricing.

Walmart.com and Thrifty Car Rental, one of the world’s largest car rental franchise networks and a subsidiary of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: DTG), have entered into an exclusive marketing and sales agreement to provide anytime, anywhere flat rate pricing for Thrifty’s compact and intermediate rental cars.

Walmart.com will serve as the exclusive provider of Thrifty nationwide flat rates of $29.95 per day for compact size vehicles and $39.95 per day for intermediate size vehicles. Customers will be offered a lower rate if one is available at the time of booking. (These rates include unlimited mileage in the state of the rental location and contiguous states. Please note that all rates are subject to applicable airport, state and local taxes.)

"The world’s largest retailer is partnering with one of the world’s largest rental car agencies to provide every day low prices and convenience to the millions of travelers in the market for affordable transportation," said Duane Futch, director of global travel services for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. "As the exclusive provider of Thrifty’s flat rate pricing, we are in a unique position to deliver both quality and savings. Customers can rest assured there are no coupons, gimmicks or hidden costs involved."

Through Walmart.com, travelers in need of a rental car will be directed to a co-branded 800 number to make reservations. Advance reservations are required to get these special Wal-Mart rates. And only with Thrifty do Wal-Mart customers have the option of paying with their Wal-Mart credit cards.

"The convenience of knowing you will receive a low-price flat rate when you reserve through Walmart.com and Thrifty is the peace of mind we know travelers, both business and leisure, will appreciate," said Brian Carpenter, vice president of sales, marketing and advertising for Thrifty. "Through this exclusive partnership and flat rate offering, Walmart.com is able to offer its customers a unique deal unlike any in the industry. With rental rates varying in some cases by 70 percent between providers, it’s a comfort to know when shopping on Walmart.com, you are getting the best value."

In addition to its new rental car offerings, Wal-Mart’s travel services also include hotel specials and dream cruises at every day low prices. Customers can now choose, and book online, extraordinary specials on the World’s Leading Cruise Lines - including Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, and Windstar Cruises - by logging on to Walmart.com. There, they’ll see specials ranging from a three-day Bahamas getaway for $299 to a seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruise for $499.

With annual sales of $218 billion, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates more than 2,780 discount stores, Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets, and more than 510 SAM’S CLUBS in the United States. Internationally, the company operates more than 1,170 units. Wal-Mart employs 1.3 million associates worldwide. The company’s securities are listed on the New York and Pacific stock exchanges under the symbol WMT. More information about Wal-Mart can be located online at www.walmartstores.com and www.walmart.com. The SAM’S CLUB Web site can be accessed at www.samsclub.com.

Thrifty Car Rental is one of the world’s largest car rental franchise networks consisting of more than 1,200 locations in 62 countries around the world. Thrifty operates 87 in-terminal rental counters and provides service to 67 other U.S. airports in addition to operating at all major Canadian airports.