Another Tesco Parking Initiative!!

beamerguy

peter_the_piper wrote: »

For most of us 2 hours in a supermarket is more than enough, however I do understand their reasoning due to the locals abusing the free parking. I see St Stephens is a shopping centre in middle of town so any free parking in the centre would be abused. At least they can justify it by increasing sales due to customers being able to park.

I understand what you are saying but it really is a catch 22 for Tesco.

Tesco, like other supermarkets have turned shopping into a social event with their own cafe and you see mum's with their kids getting together with their friends. No doubt kills an hour and then they shop ..... wait to go though check out .. so it is reasonable to assume that many will exceed 2 hrs and once the £70 invoices pop through the letter box, that is the time the local press will blast Tesco

Tesco already has the bad reputation for using Horizon. I am not sure such a system will increase sales but it will increase the revenue for Horizon.

Bad move especially when Tesco are seeking ways to increase their sagging turnover.

Time will tell and it is now out of principal that many will stop using Tesco because Tesco created a rod for their own back by employing the likes of Horizon.

Christmas would be a good time to stay clear of Tesco's employing these tactics

peter_the_piper

"People have been able to park better and the difference that has made to turnover in the store has been phenomenal. There has been a massive increase – we have taken tens of thousands of pounds a week more, so much so that we are taking on more staff."

"The feedback from customers has been overwhelmingly positive and the only people who are upset are not shopping at Tesco and weren't using the car park correctly.

Whilst it would not necessarily apply to other stores in this one its doing the trick.

ps. I don't shop at tesco.

DollyDee_2

peter_the_piper wrote: »

For most of us 2 hours in a supermarket is more than enough, however I do understand their reasoning due to the locals abusing the free parking. I see St Stephens is a shopping centre in middle of town so any free parking in the centre would be abused. At least they can justify it by increasing sales due to customers being able to park.

I think that's the reason it has been introduced at the Walsall Store. We don't shop there regularly and have never had a problem parking. Having said that, we've always parked on the rooftop car park.

There is one instance where I think people will fall foul of the 30 minute rule - if you are returning something. We had to take something electrical back which we had purchased online, click & collect, using tesco vouchers during the "boost" period. We must have been there more than 30 minutes. First we went to the wrong customer services, had to go upstairs to the correct one, queued then had to wait for someone who knew what they were doing because all of the vouchers had to be reversed (we only paid £1 for a £100+ item), there was a fault with the computer system and so on. Can't remember if we actually shopped on the day. I think we were that fed up by the time we got a replacement we just left.

Wouldn't think that happens very often though, well hopefully not.

Marktheshark

How did we get this dependent on Supermarkets that they can treat paying customers like this.

What next ? random medieval physical punishments for shoppers ?
An hour in the stocks.

Money_maker

peter_the_piper wrote: »

For most of us 2 hours in a supermarket is more than enough, however I do understand their reasoning due to the locals abusing the free parking. I see St Stephens is a shopping centre in middle of town so any free parking in the centre would be abused. At least they can justify it by increasing sales due to customers being able to park.

But what about towns where there is free parking anyway? Just a lack of sufficient car parks due to excessive housebuilding. No one is trying to avoid paying but Tesco are charging in a town where there is no car park that you need to pay to use. Their car park is never full. It is only used by non Tesco shoppers as their is insufficient parking elsewhere. Poor planning by the council and a fat wedge in someones back pocket.

worried_jim

Don't like it, don't shop there. Simples.

peter_the_piper

I think that if "you" had a car park for your business, that "you" owned and paid for and your customers could not get to you because of inconsiderate parkers then I suspect you would do something similar or the business could fold. In that circumstance its justified.

beamerguy

Marktheshark wrote: »

How did we get this dependent on Supermarkets that they can treat paying customers like this.

What next ? random medieval physical punishments for shoppers ?
An hour in the stocks.

About sums it up

Have car, can drive to supermarkets with no vermin, lots in my area, toodle pip Tesco

Coupon-mad

peter_the_piper wrote: »

I think that if "you" had a car park for your business, that "you" owned and paid for and your customers could not get to you because of inconsiderate parkers then I suspect you would do something similar or the business could fold. In that circumstance its justified.

But why not add an extra hour on the parking limit, it would still put people off parking there all day (therefore the deterrent value is not lost) but your slower customers and those held up are far less likely to be penalised.

Oh wait, then Highview wouldn't make any money. That is what drives the limit down to 2 hours, then maybe 1.5 hours if not enough PCNs are lining the PPC's pockets. As we know, PPCs look only at the income generated from sites.

Umkomaas

There are always ways around these things. If necessary, buy a £5 non-food item, then on the next visit, return it for refund. Never questions asked.