Wellpark car park

Shelflife

I was up at the connacht match last night, we usually park in the wellpark and go to eddie rockets after the game.

last night i noticed signs on the entrance with parking for customers only , non customers will be clamped release fee €120.

i chanced it and wasnt clamped, but we didnt go to eddie rockets as i didnt want to chance my arm any more with the clampers.

Now i understand the logic behind not wanting their carpark filled by non customers but sure they are losing people like my self who would usually be customers after the match.

also whats the definition of a customer? what if you are just browsing and dont actually buy anything?

biko

This is just a guess since I don't know the signs but since you asked here instead of the parking company - the definition is probably 2 hours parking time (in case you've gone to the movies).
The same problem happens on Saturdays at Tesco and across the road at Woodies. People park there and walk into town, taking spaces away from customers at the shopping centre but not shopping there.
I fully understand they're trying to open up spaces for people that park there and then shop there.
So my guess is 2 hours. You won't really know until you're clamped and challenge the clampers.

westgolf

In this day and age and in the quietest businness month of the year you would think they would be glad of anything that brought people in to the place. Do they not think of the pre match coffees etc and looking around the shops and the possible return visit

hard to understand it

Westgolf

Shelflife

Biko the problem with challanging the clampers is you have to pay the fine then go through an appeal process.

i would say that im a customer as my intention was to dine in eddie rockets afterwards (as we always do) and as a lot of match goers do as well.

trying to argue that would be very hard.

as westgolf said they lost out on prematch coffees and browsing as well as after match food and drinks.

also how do they ascertain if youre in the cinema or having a long dinner in the g rather then at the match.?

biko

But they are glad of "anything", the sign says "customers only" so if you're a customer everything is alright?
If I was a shop owner and saw the carpark (that I assume the shops pay a share to maintain/clean) filling up just before big games but no-one seems to come into the shops I'd be peeved too.
Saying that, if I noticed a big money increase after the game I'd probably wouldn't mind, but that doesn't seem to be the case since a sign was put up.

A rugby match with 80 mins play and half time break and walk to the field and bacl is probably just over two hours.
OP, is the car park usually jammers for match days?

Shelflife

Biko it here was full at the last HC game (gloucester) and there was spaces when i parked there last night. normally id park up have a coffee and then ER afterwards so they lost that business, I can understand them not wanting their customers space taken up , but i would have considered myself a customer and I felt that i may be clamped so i went else where.

hard to say that i was going to be a customer after youre clamped even though your intentions are honourable.

biko

We go for Eddies and a cinema after all the time there but usually hang on to receipts anyway so would be able to challenge a clamper, I hope.

Tesco and Argos both have clampers hired to jump on anyone parking and leaving the locality. This mean there's usually a space when you want to go shopping there.
I don't think Woodies have clampers but then again many a time I've circled their carpark for a long time and every single spot is taken and I had to go somewhere else.

snubbleste

I think it's a woeful state or affairs that retail carparks have to resort to clamping to ensure that people don't abuse the free parking provided.

Diabhal Beag

If you're stuck in this situation again then use the Galwegians pitch. It's a bit of a walk but there's no chance you'll get clamped.

Shelflife

I just think its ott, as a result of this new policy they lost business from me, we have parked there before for games and my wife browsed in the shopping centre while we went to the match.

what happens if you browse for a few hours, dont see anything you like/want and come back to a clamped car?

as i said i would have been a customer but their new policy put me off.

they should be looking to use this increase in potential customers rather then trying to screw them over.

kabakuyu

Clampers! don't you love them? about 10 years ago I went to Woodies on Headford road, bought some bits and pieces(£50 worth) and then went across the road to Atlantic Homecare for an item that Woodoies did not have(a particular shade of paint),was about 10 mins and my car was clamped when I got back to Woodies, clamper informed me that he observrd me leaving the Woodies car park and was quite justified in clamping me, I went through the appeal process without success(Woodies management were not interested in helping me)and I have never shopped in headford road retail park since.

ben.schlomo

kabakuyu wrote: »

Clampers! don't you love them? about 10 years ago I went to Woodies on Headford road, bought some bits and pieces(£50 worth) and then went across the road to Atlantic Homecare for an item that Woodoies did not have(a particular shade of paint),was about 10 mins and my car was clamped when I got back to Woodies, clamper informed me that he observrd me leaving the Woodies car park and was quite justified in clamping me, I went through the appeal process without success(Woodies management were not interested in helping me)and I have never shopped in headford road retail park since.

but you knew the rules i assume as they are plastered everywhere down there and yet you still appealed it. They were right, you were in the wrong. Dont see the issue.

kabakuyu

ben.schlomo wrote: »

but you knew the rules i assume as they are plastered everywhere down there and yet you still appealed it. They were right, you were in the wrong. Dont see the issue.

It was approx ten years ago and there were no signs at the time.I would not expect you to see the issue but I think they were over zealous in the application of their rules.

Shelflife

ben.schlomo wrote: »

but you knew the rules i assume as they are plastered everywhere down there and yet you still appealed it. They were right, you were in the wrong. Dont see the issue.

Yes ben they were "technically" correct but as a result they have lost one of their shops a customer for life and maybe a few other customers as a result.

this clearly defeats the pupose of the idea behind the clamping in the first place.

ben.schlomo

Shelflife wrote: »

Yes ben they were "technically" correct but as a result they have lost one of their shops a customer for life and maybe a few other customers as a result.

this clearly defeats the pupose of the idea behind the clamping in the first place.

That may well be but at the end of the day its not just a technicality, its their rule, im sure all the stores have signed up to it and are aware that some people no matter the rules will then take exception and never return as they feel hard done by. You would think if there was a large scale problem with losing customers they would attempt to change the rules but it obviously doesnt exist as they have been doing it for years now and works so well that the GSC also adopted the policy.

kabakuyu

Like I said,there were no signs at the time but I do believe that the management company did later erect signs in prominent locations, the management company were courteous in their dealings with me and the owner of the Company/site (a Galway based motor dealer)was aware of the issue regarding the then lack of signage and corrected it.With regards to being hard done by, I am from the old school whereby I do not frequent businesses where I have had a bad experience or endured bad customer service.

ben.schlomo

kabakuyu wrote: »

Like I said,there were no signs at the time but I do believe that the management company did later erect signs in prominent locations, the management company were courteous in their dealings with me and the owner of the Company/site (a Galway based motor dealer)was aware of the issue regarding the then lack of signage and corrected it.With regards to being hard done by, I am from the old school whereby I do not frequent businesses where I have had a bad experience or endured bad customer service.

No offence meant now but it sounds like its your loss more than theirs in a way, you didnt receive bad service by the sounds of it. So you not using the retail park is the outcome. Unless you were a regular customer spending large amounts of money then i dont think they'd miss you to be honest. Again, not having a go, just how i see it.

Shelflife

Personally i believe that screwing over customers who have honourable intentions as opposed to those who abuse the situation is never a good idea.

Its in the clamping companys interests to clamp as many as possible, as opposed to ensuring that there is enough parking space for customers, so theres a conflict there straight away.

pissing off patrons over pedantic rules is never a good idea imo.

confuseddotcom

Shelflife wrote: »

I was up at the connacht match last night, we usually park in the wellpark and go to eddie rockets after the game.

last night i noticed signs on the entrance with parking for customers only , non customers will be clamped release fee €120.

i chanced it and wasnt clamped, but we didnt go to eddie rockets as i didnt want to chance my arm any more with the clampers.

Now i understand the logic behind not wanting their carpark filled by non customers but sure they are losing people like my self who would usually be customers after the match.

also whats the definition of a customer? what if you are just browsing and dont actually buy anything?

Firstly I was under the impression we're allowed to browse, what about - "Invitation to treat?!" [Can't believe I actually remembered that lol, have surpassed myself there, good old Mercy Bus. Org. Days! An entire class of innocently trying to get the teacher to chat academically about businessy stuff and do no work in the process! ]

Secondly ya now have to pay to pee, so I wouldn't be a bit surprised that ya have to pay to park!!! Plus aren't they talking about bringing in some gate-charge for when ya bring yer stuff to the Recycling Centre too! So, it's unfortunately probably just a waste of your energy writing about the feicers charging for it! We're paying before we leave the house at all now! Place is feiced .......

factual lies

Some of the parking for the connaught matches around wellpark is disgraceful. I seen one person park there car in my mates driveway and leg it down to the match. He couldn't even get his own car out of his own driveway!

Back on topic, i have seen them clamp cars in there before, for what reason I don't know but in the past year or so I haven't seen any carpark attendants there at all, so you might get away with it nowadays. Those signs have been up though since the place opened so it hasn't got anything to do with the matches.

dinneenp

snubbleste wrote: »

I think it's a woeful state or affairs that retail carparks have to resort to clamping to ensure that people don't abuse the free parking provided.

It's not really. I parked there too and wasn't clamped either. Guessing it's to put people off parking there for entire day/totally anusing free parking.

Argues car park is very strict.

kabakuyu

ben.schlomo wrote: »

No offence meant now but it sounds like its your loss more than theirs in a way, you didnt receive bad service by the sounds of it. So you not using the retail park is the outcome. Unless you were a regular customer spending large amounts of money then i dont think they'd miss you to be honest. Again, not having a go, just how i see it.

Not bad service as you say but a distasteful encounter that I would not like to endure again.I do believe that they do need to contol parking with regard to the people who park all day in these car parks and abuse the sutuation but the clamper/attendant told me he saw me leave Woodies,put the purchased goods in my car ,walk less than 100metres to Atlantic /Homecare across the road and he had the clamp on my car before I had crossed the road, the only sign was an a4 notice on the gable end of a portacabin at the entrance to the car park.BTW Its no loss to me, woodies are a tad expensive and there is much better value in the other building supply shops, but I would add the caveat that no business can afford to lose customers.

Shelflife

Spoke to the mgmt company involved, had a very civil conversation with the guy and told him of my concerns.

Basically if you leave the car park, you are no longer a customer so you are liable to be clamped.

As he said its hard to please everyone, pity really as i enjoyed my eddie rocket meal/discussion/ winddown after the game and the car park was very handy.

Cest la vie.

liveyourlife

I have twice tried to go to the cinema and not gotten a space in the car park when Connacht games are on. While I fully support people watching the games and encourage it, its simply unfair because I'm not the only one who couldn't get a parking space and had to forget about going to the cinema.


So I can only assume that the cinema in Wellpark is losing business on this, I always avoid going there anymore at rugby match nights. I can't see why you don't realise that you're wrong on this one... clearly a purposely built customer carpark is built solely for the customers, not the ones going to a match up the road.

I highly doubt it was the proprietor's objective to provide free parking for rugby matches when they were paying for and developing the site. Surely you can see that every time a match is on, it can only but take a lot from the stores in Wellpark?

Shelflife

liveyourlife wrote: »

I have twice tried to go to the cinema and not gotten a space in the car park when Connacht games are on. While I fully support people watching the games and encourage it, its simply unfair because I'm not the only one who couldn't get a parking space and had to forget about going to the cinema.


So I can only assume that the cinema in Wellpark is losing business on this, I always avoid going there anymore at rugby match nights. I can't see why you don't realise that you're wrong on this one... clearly a purposely built customer carpark is built solely for the customers, not the ones going to a match up the road.

I highly doubt it was the proprietor's objective to provide free parking for rugby matches when they were paying for and developing the site. Surely you can see that every time a match is on, it can only but take a lot from the stores in Wellpark?

Now i understand the logic behind not wanting their carpark filled by non customers but sure they are losing people like my self who would usually be customers after the match.


This is what i said in my first post, I was basically wondering where i stood in relation to being a customer after the match as opposed to being a non customer just free loading the free parking.

factual lies

Shelflife wrote: »

This is what i said in my first post, I was basically wondering where i stood in relation to being a customer after the match as opposed to being a non customer just free loading the free parking.

But there is a designated car park across the road in the Galway Community College for the rugby supporters. Why couldn't you use this instead?

Shelflife

Because it was handy, free and beside the restaurant that we were going to after the match.

factual lies

Shelflife wrote: »

Because it was handy, free and beside the restaurant that we were going to after the match.

but the other car park is the same distance from the grounds (actually probably closer), only costs E2 (seriously, would you not pay that?) and less than a minute of a walk from the restaurant. It would save a lot of money if you took this option rather than running the risk of getting clamped.

TerrorFirmer

Shelflife wrote: »

Because it was handy, free and beside the restaurant that we were going to after the match.

In fairness, that is a ludicrous argument. Customer, after the event? It simply doesn't work that way. Sure, if that were the norm, customers could argue, that, after their days shopping in Galway City, they were going to return to the native car park to indulge in whatever services said park had to protect. Sorry, but if fairness, you're wrong. Regardless if you feel hard done by, parking in an area, disappearing for several hours, with the intention of possibly returning, can hardly be construed as a customer. If you wish to attend games, park in the school, which is designated parking, then simply move across, or walk across, to ED's for refreshments. Not complicated, as far as I can see...

zarquon

If you can walk from the stadium to wellpark then you can walk from the school to eddies considering you only have to cross the road. The fact is not the handiness but your stinginess in not wanting to pay €2. The school is beside the restaurant so the real point you wanted to say is it is free! I'm fed up of going there to the cinema when there are games on as parking is a pain to get. I stick to the omniplex during match days. People like you cost that retail park more business than you give to it.

Hyperbullet

The Wellpark car park is not the designated car park for the Sportsground. Simple as.

Shelflife

Jasus settle lads , i never said that i was right or entitled to park there, i felt that i had a reasonable justification in parking there as i was using their facilities, i wasnt freeloading.

I wanted to see what the definition of a customer was and i found out. I wont chance parking there again as i dont want to be clamped.

I'm fed up of going there to the cinema when there are games on as parking is a pain to get. I stick to the omniplex during match days. People like you cost that retail park more business than you give to it.

Zarquon out of couriousity whats the difference between you parking there for 2 hours and spending €20 in the cinema and me parking there for two hours and spending €20 in ER ?

Or for that matter what of the person who spends 4 hours browsing and buys nothing?

Shelflife

Shelflife wrote: »

Zarquon out of couriousity whats the difference between you parking there for 2 hours and spending €20 in the cinema and me parking there for two hours and spending €20 in ER ?

In the two hour that you were parked there and were gone the spaces could have been used by people who were actively looking or spending.

Friday evening is prime retail / cinema / dining out time - why would they give you a space for two to three hours with the chance of earning €20 when they could have used it for two or more cars with the chance of earning €20 from each.

In your opinion how many of those who did park there and went to the match came back and shopped or browsed there?

Shelflife

pg633 ive no idea how many use the centre that go to the game and im in agreement that it is a problem, i do know that ER is full of supporters afterwards and ive no idea how many go to the g hotel but im sure that some do.

also on occasion in the past my family have browsed shopped there while i went to a match and have used the cinema while i did the same.

you however didntnt answer the question that you quoted though.

Zarquon out of couriousity whats the difference between you parking there for 2 hours and spending €20 in the cinema and me parking there for two hours and spending €20 in ER ?

pg633 whats the difference?

Shelflife

Shelflife wrote: »

pg633 ive no idea how many use the centre that go to the game and im in agreement that it is a problem, i do know that ER is full of supporters afterwards and ive no idea how many go to the g hotel but im sure that some do.

also on occasion in the past my family have browsed shopped there while i went to a match and have used the cinema while i did the same.

you however didntnt answer the question that you quoted though.

Zarquon out of couriousity whats the difference between you parking there for 2 hours and spending €20 in the cinema and me parking there for two hours and spending €20 in ER ?

pg633 whats the difference?

The difference is that you acknowledge that it is a problem.

You took the space from say 19:30 till 21:30 without spending a penny.

Even if you had returned and had spent an hour in ER spending money you are continuing to occupy a space. The Wellpark Retail Park doesn't benefit in any way from your occupying a space for those two hours - it does benefit when a cinema goer is occupying them or when you are in ER.

Shelflife

But the net result for each of us parking for 2 hours is €20 spent by both of us. only difference is one person remains on site, the other doesnt.

zarquon

Shelflife wrote: »

Zarquon out of couriousity whats the difference between you parking there for 2 hours and spending €20 in the cinema and me parking there for two hours and spending €20 in ER ?

The difference is the eye could have got my €20 and then when i left you could take my space after the game and still get your €20 for eddies or alternatively you just walk an extra 150m across the road for considering you are able to walk up and down the college road with no problems and give your €20 patronage so that the retail park gets my money and yours.

Also for the record if i go to the eye with my mates then that usually entails a trip to eddies afterwards. If i go to the omniplex that means either mcdonalds or usually supermacs across the road afterwards, so i promise you the retail park is losing a lot more than €20 from me. In fairness for the sake of you not wanting to walk another 150m and to save €2 people with your mentality are costing that retail park a lot of money on match days.

Shelflife

I think your missing my point, if you park your car for say 2 hours and go to the cinema and spend a total of €20 in the retail centre , whats the difference if i do the same? ie park there for 2 hours and spend €20.

btw if you go to the omniplex and go across the road to supermacs, you are in effect leaving the retail centre that you are parked in and you could get clamped

Shelflife

Shelflife wrote: »

But the net result for each of us parking for 2 hours is €20 spent by both of us. only difference is one person remains on site, the other doesnt.

But it isn't. The time you are away your space could be used by someone like liveyourlife:

liveyourlife wrote: »

I have twice tried to go to the cinema and not gotten a space in the car park when Connacht games are on. While I fully support people watching the games and encourage it, its simply unfair because I'm not the only one who couldn't get a parking space and had to forget about going to the cinema.

Instead liveyourlife is actively avoiding it.
You could still go to ER afterwards and spend your money.

The short answer is you are taking spaces from others who do want to stay in the retail park.

Shelflife

The short answer is you are taking spaces from others who do want to stay in the retail park.

I suppose that this is effectively the answer to the problem and i understand why they brought in the ruling in the end.

My original query was what did the mgmt company define as a customer, and ultimately it ends up that once you leave the retail park you are no longer a customer, regardless of how much you have spent or intend to spend.

zarquon

Shelflife wrote: »

I think your missing my point, if you park your car for say 2 hours and go to the cinema and spend a total of €20 in the retail centre , whats the difference if i do the same? ie park there for 2 hours and spend €20.

btw if you go to the omniplex and go across the road to supermacs, you are in effect leaving the retail centre that you are parked in and you could get clamped

No, you are missing a very simple point. If you pay for the school car park, wellpark gets my money and yours betweeen us as i can park at wellpark. Your usual method means they only get your money as i won't go near wellpark. It's a simple point that you cannot seem to comprehend. You cost businesses money so you can save €2!!! Also who said anything about leaving the car park. At night there is plenty of parking at supermacs too and i would drive across rather than walk.