Rentacheapie Car Hire

In November 2006, my German neighbor approached me, requesting if he could “borrow” my old Golf for a few days. He offered to pay me R100 per day. I phoned my insurance company and they gave me the thumbs up, with only one condition: “We will not cover you if you make a profit”. I assured them my intention with the R100 per day would only cover expenses. With this news, I handed over the keys.
My friend returned a few weeks later, inquiring for “The Cheapie …for R100/day.” I thought, “Hmmmmm….Cheapie” . He carried on talking, but I couldn’t hear a word he said. My mind was blurred, in slow motion, in the zone. I was wondering, “Is this a business?” The words, “Cheapie, Cheapie, Cheapie” seemed to echo. Right in front of me, an opportunity was knocking. And then, I saw it. I could rent out cars!

My friend was still negotiating the next deal in German and broken English. And I, with blank stare and half a smile, was dazed with the blur of seeing tomorrow. We shook hands, and my neighbor (and first client) whizzed off in the blue golf with his windsurfing board and equipment loaded on the roof.

I think it was the next day, and I phoned Chris, a German national who co-owned ‘The Surf Hostel’, a guesthouse catering mostly to German wind-surfers. “Hey Chris, can I come over?” We spent an hour talking about his clients and what they needed when it came to car hire. Then the big question. “So Chris, you presently receive 10 % commission on all the rentals you arrange for your clients. If I give your clients cars to rent, pick them up from the airport, treat them fairly and give you 15 %, will you give me ALL your business?” Now, Chris is no fool. He asked me some hard questions and after a longer than normal stare into my eyes, he reached out his hand. Bang! We had a deal. I enthusiastically shared my new ideas with Lorna AND that I had a deal with Chris. Being the responsible one, and a Canadian, she was not initially keen to invest our small pension.