08.12.26 One Bad Apple Deal / CDs: Opportunity And Method

“I have video from the vehicle I rented last week. And I've got the full video going around the vehicle, the whole thing before and after, because this is such a problem that we keep hearing from people.” Clark Howard opens his show with that warning, a concrete habit born from a growing pattern of rental car companies alleging damage that renters say didn't happen on their watch. A listener named Missy in Connecticut just lived through that nightmare with Budget: despite having before-and-after pictures and video showing no hail damage, the company pursued a claim against her anyway. She only got it dropped after filing complaints with multiple Better Business Bureaus. The lesson Clark drives home: take video of the roof too, because that's where hail damage shows up, and keep that footage for at least three months after the rental ends.

Apple's "Forever Lease" Trap

The first major topic of the episode is Apple's push toward leasing its devices. Clark explains that Apple faces a genuine problem: the cost of components—especially chips—has soared because AI companies are hoarding semiconductor inventory. To maintain profit margins, Apple has had to raise prices on iPhones, Macs, and other devices to the point where even its wealthier customers are hitting “price resistance.” A new Mac or iPhone at $1,799 is a hard sell.