LIDL/Athena Parking PCN at Barking, Essex.

yotmon

Parking is an issue that the main supermarkets should be aware of. Most of them charge if based in town centres to discourage 'vehicle dumping' whilst shopping elsewhere. Over 10 years ago, I used to call in Asda after work to collect a loaf of bread and maybe something for my supper. But they then introduced a 50p 'charge' refunded if u spent over £2.00 in store, plus 2 hour restrictions. I voted with my feet and simply stopped shopping there. Simple maths showed that a loaf of bread was around 80p at the time, so why should it cost me another 50p for the privilege, or spend the £2.00 on items I didn't want just to avoid the 'charge' ? Within the last couple of years, the same store has changed policy to free parking for 3 hours. Now I can park there without fear of being charged and feel free to browse their store and buy whatever takes my fancy. It's taken over 10 years for them to entice me back in to spend money. I am just one shopper, - how many others have done the same ?

beamerguy

yotmon wrote: »

Parking is an issue that the main supermarkets should be aware of. Most of them charge if based in town centres to discourage 'vehicle dumping' whilst shopping elsewhere. Over 10 years ago, I used to call in Asda after work to collect a loaf of bread and maybe something for my supper. But they then introduced a 50p 'charge' refunded if u spent over £2.00 in store, plus 2 hour restrictions. I voted with my feet and simply stopped shopping there. Simple maths showed that a loaf of bread was around 80p at the time, so why should it cost me another 50p for the privilege, or spend the £2.00 on items I didn't want just to avoid the 'charge' ? Within the last couple of years, the same store has changed policy to free parking for 3 hours. Now I can park there without fear of being charged and feel free to browse their store and buy whatever takes my fancy. It's taken over 10 years for them to entice me back in to spend money. I am just one shopper, - how many others have done the same ?

You are so right, whilst you stay within the free time allowed many can spend longer shopping and with a big shop, check out can takes ages if there is a lack of staff, multiply that by 20--30 people trying to check out, it is easy to go over the time. Even for 5 mins and then you face a parking ticket of £70 or more.

Shoppers have got wise because they and there friends have been burned. Therefore, people just pop in and out, we all know where to shop to our advantage and that is what we are doing.
Also remember, the parking donkeys don't just ticket people after the free period, they ticket cars if they are slightly over the white line in the bay, as already known they can also fake the time period etc. This is all to make money for the PPC's and sadly a lot of people just pay up, its just a huge money making machine but for the supermarkets the PPC's are now losing supermarkets money.
All the supermarkets are losing money, closing 100's of mini stores around the UK, If only they would wake up and realise the sheer damage these PPC's are doing to them.

It is disgusting that PPC's offer a commission to the supermarket to patrol the car park. Sooner or later one of these giant supermarkets will be exposed probably by a whistle blower, then the press will have a field day. It will happen.

The government should act now to clip the wings of these PPC's and investigate the rake off the supermarkets get as it is unfair trading.

The common excuse from supermarkets is to stop abuse but as so many are out of town now, one wonders where the so called abusers go to whilst parking, maybe the surrounding fields ???

Don73

Hi, not sure how to post a new thread, but I need help with Athena parking fine, 2 actually ( long story) do I pay or ignore it??:(

Quentin

Don't keep hijacking other threads with your question


Click the "new thread" button and start your own thread


(Read the newbies faq thread at the top of the forum first!)