We're really not beating around the bush here. We could sing it, or do a little dance, but the bottom line is this: your Zipcar should be nestled snug in its spot when your reservation is over. Starting soon, not returning your Zipcar when you say you will could put your membership in jeopardy. (And no one wants to have a carload of presents to haul and no Zipcar to haul them in.)

The good news is that you now have an online snapshot of your recent reservations. Check to see when you've been on time (thank you), and when you've been late. View your reservations here.

And don't forget about text alerts, the easiest way to know when it's time to head back or whether or not you can extend your reservation. Learn more and sign up here.

No matter what, always call Member Services at 866.494.7227 if you're going to be late. It gives us the opportunity to make other arrangements for the next member.

We're sprucing up zipcar.com! As we grow, car sharing becomes available to more and more people. When new people come to our site, we want to make sure that they feel welcome. We also want to be sure they're getting the best information and a feel for who we are.

As it turns out, who we are is you. It sounds really deep, but all we mean is that the Zipcar community is made up of real people who use Zipcars to do real things. If you've got a story or photo to share, we'd love for you to do just that. We'd like to do more than tell people about the benefits of Zipcar; we'd like to show them. (Or rather, we'd like for you to show them.) Send your stuff (in .gif or .jpg format) to share@zipcar.com and we'll send you some driving credit if we use it on our website.

You'll soon see that the member website is also getting a little makeover. Don't worry, everything (i.e. making a reservation, checking your invoice, etc.) will still work exactly the same way. We're just doing this to create a more consistent experience across the site as a whole. Very soon we'll be reaching out for your ideas on how we can continue to make things better. If you have something you want to tell us now, just email share@zipcar.com.

Stay tuned for next month's newsletter where we're planning to give you a sneak preview of the website before anyone else (shhhhhh...).

Say what? Gotanother. If you've "got another" family member or housemate who mooches rides in your Zipcar, you should know that it's a cinch to add people to your household account. Send them here to begin the application process. We'll walk them through it.

When it's that easy to add new peeps to your account, there is no reason for anyone but you to ever be using your Zipcard or driving your Zipcar. Think of it like a sacred experience that should only be shared between you and your chosen Zipcars. Break the covenant and you could lose your membership forever. Not worth it for a mooch!

Important note: adding someone to your account means liking them enough to be responsible for THEIR charges on YOUR credit card bill. If you don't like them that much, you can always refer them instead and earn some driving credit.

• 10th Ave E/Thomas St—xB Blakely, S40 Salsa

Come cheer on the Zipcar team as we sweat it out for a great cause at Magnuson Park on Sunday, November 16. Then join in on the fun at an indoor luau—complete with a pig roast, beer garden, beach volleyball, and plenty of sand. Sign up a friend at the party and receive $50 in driving credit. All funds raised through the event support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's work. Interested in sponsoring the Zipcar team? Shoot a quick note to team captain Jessica at jrobinson@zipcar.com.

Stop by REI's Seattle Flagship store this Saturday (November 15) for the Peak 2 Peak Gondola Tour. Check out Whistler Blackcomb's new pride and joy, a sky cabin from their gondola connector line which opens in December. We'll be hanging out with the Whistler crew getting psyched for the slopes. Enter to win a $200 gift card to Whistler Blackcomb or other great prizes.

Why are we so excited about skiing this season? You'll just have to stop by to see what we're up to. But, let's just say that we'll be making it easier than ever this winter to zip to the mountains.

Taste and mingle with top Washington winemakers and sample savory fare from some of Seattle's exciting young chefs this Saturday (November 15) at the Fremont Studios at 20Something—The New Vintage as they introduce wine classics to the masses. Whether you're a member of the new vintage of wine lovers or you've mellowed nicely with age, it's sure to be a great evening. Flash your Zipcard to the Zipcar folks at the event and receive $25 in driving credit just for saying hi.

We're also giving away 2 VIP passes to one hip Zipster. Interested? Email Ben at bkuhl@zipcar.com to be entered into the drawing. We'll notify the winner on Friday, November 14.


















moving on up
Clicking through to the very last of your latest edition of Under the Hood? We thought we'd reward your dedication by letting you in on a little secret. Our offices are moving on up, downtown style. Seen the new banners peeking out from a certain storefront? Wondering what that was about? We can't share all of the details yet, but stay tuned. It's happening soon.