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Car Parking Detestfield

Posted:
Sun Nov 28, 2010 2:26 pm
by mal
Car Parking, something that irks me
WESTFIELD
Have just had a boom gate put in at West Lakes Shopping Centre for car parking fees
Fees are mentioned to be
FREE 3 hours
$2 per hour after the 3 hours
$20 maximum per day
Sure it aint gunna affect me as I rarely shop for those 3+ hours
But will it affect others ?
Some of the affected may be the store renters, and the staff that work there ?
What about the shoppers who spend several hours there getting thier hair done, lunch, shopping etc
Does it make sense , people who at at these shops for 3+ hours are likley to be spending $$$$$
TOWN PARKING
I always shop at Westfields, and only shop in town by neccessity
I detest finding city parks, detest spending $$$ to park in town, detest parking fines in town
At least Westfield is free b4 3 hours, and I hope they dont become like town, otherwise I will name them as Detestfields
OTHER PARKING
There are numerous other places that demand car parking fees
Any of those irk you ?
Re: Car Parking Detestfield

Posted:
Sun Nov 28, 2010 4:20 pm
by bayman
they put in a 'pay for parking' at coles glenelg & when their customers dropped down in numbers (i dare say went to woolworths) the parking ticket machines were taken away & it is back to how it was & i think they were there for no more than 10 weeks
$20.00 for the day....does that mean football parking will be $20.00 in that car park ?
Re: Car Parking Detestfield

Posted:
Sun Nov 28, 2010 4:28 pm
by Strawb
bayman wrote:they put in a 'pay for parking' at coles glenelg & when their customers dropped down in numbers (i dare say went to woolworths) the parking ticket machines were taken away & it is back to how it was & i think they were there for no more than 10 weeks
$20.00 for the day....does that mean football parking will be $20.00 in that car park ?
That is more than likely why they put in pay parking
Re: Car Parking Detestfield

Posted:
Sun Nov 28, 2010 4:34 pm
by magpie in the 80's
Re: Car Parking Detestfield

Posted:
Sun Nov 28, 2010 4:48 pm
by spell_check
Q. WHY IS WESTFIELD MAKING THESE CHANGES?
When the centre undergoes an expansion, combined with increasing residential and commercial development in the area, the centre will become busier with more shoppers and more cars.
Our experience tells us that our car parks that have this management system run more smoothly. Westfield can foresee problems emerging in the car park if we do not take proactive action now.
Q. WHEN WILL THESE CHANGES TAKE EFFECT?
The changes will only be implemented in conjunction with the intended development currently programmed for 2010.
All stakeholders will be notified well in advance as the centre will implement a detailed communications campaign.
Q. WHY DO CUSTOMERS HAVE TO PAY TO PARK AT WESTFIELD WEST LAKES?
The vast majority of customers won't pay to park because of the 3 free hour period.
Revenue collected from the minority that does pay goes towards the cost of maintaining a good quality car park.
Under the current controlled parking system, managed by the Charles Sturt Council, customers are liable to pay $20. We are proposing a significantly lesser charge.
Q. DID WESTFIELD MAKE THESE CHANGES TO RAISE REVENUE?
No. One of the most important factors in coming to a shopping centre is the ease and quality of parking.
Currently our shoppers are staying for an average of 85 minutes and research shows that 90% of people that use our car park, shop for less than 3 hours*.
It's important that we provide a good car park with plenty of available spaces to support the expanded centre. Revenue collected goes towards the cost of maintaining the required standard of the car park.
While this may well be true, you can bet your bottom dollar that it's a convenient masking excuse for their main reason.
Re: Car Parking Detestfield

Posted:
Sun Nov 28, 2010 6:13 pm
by Brucetiki
mal wrote:Car Parking, something that irks me
Sure it aint gunna affect me as I rarely shop for those 3+ hours
But will it affect others ?
Some of the affected may be the store renters, and the staff that work there ?
I believe staff will not need to pay for parking.
It's commonplace interstate, in North Adelaide and in Norwood. Surprised they picked West Lakes first. I would have thought they would have done TTP first seeing as that's on the O-Bahn, and people do park their cars in TTP's car park then bus it into town.
Also, I don't think it will impact match days at AAMI much, as they'll probably keep the current set up for that.
Re: Car Parking Detestfield

Posted:
Sun Nov 28, 2010 6:15 pm
by LMA
Surely they can't charge the workers who work at the mall, otherwise my missus will be out of pocket $100 a week which equates to 18% of her nett wage
Re: Car Parking Detestfield

Posted:
Sun Nov 28, 2010 7:47 pm
by mal
Taverner Research :
DID WESTFIELD MAKE THESE CHANGES TO RAISE REVENUE ?
No. One of the most important factors in coming to a shopping centre is the ease and quality of parking
Currently our shoppers are staying for an average of 85 minutes and research shows that 90% of people that use our carpark shop for less than 3 hours
Its important that we provide a good car park with plenty of avialable spaces to support the expanded centre. Revenue collected goes towards the cost of maintaining the required standard of the car park
______________________________________________________________________________________________
QUESTION
Im confused
IF 90% of all people are in and out within 3 hours, why are they doing this ?
As I have mentioned, the 10% mostly that stay longer than 3 hours are spending $$$$$$$$$
I have found ample parking there on my visits, its not like you have to drive 10 minutes to find a park
Re: Car Parking Detestfield

Posted:
Sun Nov 28, 2010 8:08 pm
by Strawb
mal wrote:Taverner Research :
DID WESTFIELD MAKE THESE CHANGES TO RAISE REVENUE ?
No. One of the most important factors in coming to a shopping centre is the ease and quality of parking
Currently our shoppers are staying for an average of 85 minutes and research shows that 90% of people that use our carpark shop for less than 3 hours
Its important that we provide a good car park with plenty of avialable spaces to support the expanded centre. Revenue collected goes towards the cost of maintaining the required standard of the car park
______________________________________________________________________________________________
QUESTION
Im confused
IF 90% of all people are in and out within 3 hours, why are they doing this ?
As I have mentioned, the 10% mostly that stay longer than 3 hours are spending $$$$$$$$$
I have found ample parking there on my visits, its not like you have to drive 10 minutes to find a park
Because they have found out that Saturday or anytime the Crows or Power are playing people are parking in their carpark for three. Average Football game is about 2 to 3 hours depending. They are just using it to gain more money out of the Football going public.
Re: Car Parking Detestfield

Posted:
Mon Nov 29, 2010 1:23 am
by cje
i work in the centre i have been told no staff will have to pay and will be issued a card
after speaking with westfields security staff their are many people that park then catch busses to the city it is those people that this will affect.
my take on all of this is they are about to do a massive revamp of the whole complex
this extra revenue will partly pay for.
Re: Car Parking Detestfield

Posted:
Mon Nov 29, 2010 3:12 am
by Gozu
Bloody Charles Sturt council, adios Harold.
Re: Car Parking Detestfield

Posted:
Mon Nov 29, 2010 10:01 am
by Psyber
I've never stayed in a shopping centre car park more than 2 hours in my life, let alone 3 - I dislike the places.
I would simply stop using any shopping centre where I had to pay for parking, and that's why I rarely go to the CBD to shop.
I can understand them wanting to introduce something to catch out the people who misuse shopping centre car parks for other purposes, like attending football or catching the O-bahn.
PS: I'm just a bit puzzled about why Westfield are not open about the fact that it is only aimed at the non-shoppers who use the car park inappropriately.
One would expect that would help them retain shopper good will and trust...
Re: Car Parking Detestfield

Posted:
Mon Nov 29, 2010 10:03 am
by Booney
Agreed. Why would you stay at any shopping complec for 3 hours or more?
My last visit to West Lakes, to buy some new jeans. In, try them on, pay, out. 15 minutes. I wasted 5 looking for the Just Jeans store.

Re: Car Parking Detestfield

Posted:
Mon Nov 29, 2010 10:50 am
by Gingernuts
Booney wrote:Agreed. Why would you stay at any shopping complec for 3 hours or more?
My last visit to West Lakes, to buy some new jeans. In, try them on, pay, out. 15 minutes. I wasted 5 looking for the Just Jeans store.

There is a cinema there though. Many people (including myself) combine a shopping trip with an arvo/evening movie quite often.
Re: Car Parking Detestfield

Posted:
Mon Nov 29, 2010 4:48 pm
by Dog_ger
Vote with your feet/Car.
Go elsewhere.
Shopping Centre Carparking should really pay the customer to come to there venue, don't you think.....
Listen up Coles/Woolies
Re: Car Parking Detestfield

Posted:
Mon Nov 29, 2010 6:43 pm
by fish
Gozu wrote:Bloody Charles Sturt council, adios Harold.
I'm not sure if the Council is to blame Gozu. I reckon I read somewhere that the Council tried to block it but had to eventually approve it after an appeal or legal advice...
Re: Car Parking Detestfield

Posted:
Mon Nov 29, 2010 6:47 pm
by fish
Dog_ger wrote:Shopping Centre Carparking should really pay the customer to come to there venue, don't you think...
Agreed Dog_ger. I think the intent of the charges is to discourage non-shoppers such as those who park and ride the bus.
The unintended victims of the parking fees may be the elderly who head to the shops on hot days to enjoy the free air-conditioning.
Re: Car Parking Detestfield

Posted:
Mon Nov 29, 2010 6:49 pm
by Gozu
fish wrote:Gozu wrote:Bloody Charles Sturt council, adios Harold.
I'm not sure if the Council is to blame Gozu. I reckon I read somewhere that the Council tried to block it but had to eventually approve it after an appeal or legal advice...
Okay I thought I read somewhere they rolled over. Still an absolute cesspit of a council though.
Re: Car Parking Detestfield

Posted:
Mon Nov 29, 2010 6:52 pm
by Gozu
fish wrote:The unintended victims of the parking fees may be the elderly who head to the shops on hot days to enjoy the free air-conditioning.
Oh I think it was very much intended. They know very well a lot of old and frail people either won't use or can't afford to use their air-conditioners at home and spend all day during the summer soaking up the air-conditioning at West Lakes mall.
Re: Car Parking Detestfield

Posted:
Mon Nov 29, 2010 6:57 pm
by fish
Gozu wrote:fish wrote:The unintended victims of the parking fees may be the elderly who head to the shops on hot days to enjoy the free air-conditioning.
Oh I think it was very much intended. They know very well a lot of old and frail people either won't use or can't afford to use their air-conditioners at home and spend all day during the summer soaking up the air-conditioning at West Lakes mall.
I sometimes head to my local shopping centre with my kids on hot days, and I sit and watch them play on the escalators for hours enjoying the cool air.