Budget Perfect Drive Awards Program In Full Swing
16 July 1998
Budget Perfect Drive Awards Program In Full Swing -- With Over 250,000 Applicants In First Three Months--More than 800 Customers Have Redeemed Points Toward Budget's Introductory Offer Callaway Golf Bobby Jones BJ-2 Putter-- LISLE, Ill., July 15 -- Things are really swinging at Budget Rent a Car this summer. Since launching its new customer loyalty program -- Perfect Drive -- in April, Budget has scored more than 250,000 applicants. Of those, nearly 1,000 members have already redeemed Perfect Drive points for Callaway Golf merchandise, including the first Biggest Big Bertha(TM) Driver and hundreds of Bobby Jones(R) BJ-2(TM) putters, Budget's special introductory offer valued at $110. "The response to Perfect Drive continues to be phenomenal. We've been receiving over 2,000 applications per day," states Sandy Miller, chairman and CEO of Budget Group, Inc. "Acing over a quarter of a million applicants for a new frequent renter program in just three months has exceeded our own expectations. These are definitely the kinds of frequent renters we hoped to attract with the program." Customer Testimonials "It was great getting my Big Bertha(R) X-12(TM) Iron in the mail! The redemption process was really quick from start to finish," stated Michael Hayward, technical representative of Brook Sports in Bothell, Washington. "I rent from Budget 48 times a year, so Perfect Drive is an especially attractive program to me. It won't be long before I add a Callaway 7 Iron to my new collection." Jeffrey Brown, district sales manager of ICC in Cerritos, California said of Budget's relationship with Callaway Golf, "I travel on business 20 weeks a year and I play golf 52 times a year. As both a frequent renter and an avid golfer, I'll continue to rent from Budget so I can earn more Callaway Golf equipment. I've already set my sights on my next club - a Callaway(R) Lob Wedge." Perfect Drive: The Program Perfect Drive is a fully-automated, revenue-based program, which awards members with one point for every dollar they spend on qualifying rentals at participating Budget locations, including standard rental charges, fuel purchase options, optional insurance packages, waivers and taxes, etc. Budget customers can choose to earn Perfect Drive points toward free rental days or Callaway Golf merchandise, or they can choose to earn miles in the many frequent flyer programs in which Budget participates worldwide. Customers can earn Perfect Drive points at over 600 U.S. airport and local market locations. Last month, more than 150 Budget locations throughout Canada launched Perfect Drive and began awarding points to members. Next month, Perfect Drive members will begin earning points for their transactions at Budget Airport Parking facilities throughout the U.S. Budget Rent a Car Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Budget Group, Inc. , is one of the world's top three car and truck rental systems. The Budget system, which operates under the same name worldwide, has more than 3,200 airport and local market locations in over 120 countries and territories. Budget has nearly 1,000 corporate-owned and franchised locations in the United States. Budget's WorldClass Fleet is comprised of more than 30% specialty vehicles, ranging from sport utility vehicles, convertibles and luxury cars to minivans, pickups and motorcycles.