A manager was called, and he agreed to give it to me at no additional charge. The company opened a case, and the final answer is: no refund. If Payless told you that you didn’t have to pay for your GPS, then you shouldn’t have paid for your GPS. [...] before we get to your navigation system, let’s talk about pricing. Payless has embraced an airline pricing model, where it offers an attractive “base” price and then adds on fees that can make your rental more expensive than a full-service car-rental agency’s vehicle. [...] some people claim that this is the free market at its finest — that you have a choice when it comes to bringing your own GPS or renting a toll transponder. If you bring your own, you can save money, and the car-rental company gets to advertise a really low, and bookable, rate. Making matters even worse: A representative said you wouldn’t be charged, then Payless charged you. A brief, polite appeal to one of the executives at Payless would have done the trick if the company didn’t agree to what it had already agreed to both in writing and verbally. Payless agreed to refund the $187 minus a hefty $50 cancellation fee. Christopher Elliott is the ombudsman for National Geographic Traveler magazine.