Dundrum Town Centre increased parking fee

xaforb

I very rarely go there as I have an aversion to being asked to pay to park for the privilege of making purchases in a shopping centre. Like Ticketmaster it's a licence to print money. When I went to the machine it asked for €3 instead of €2, an increase of 50%. Classic rip-off. Luckily I had 30 of my 10 cent parking coin collection with me. I won't be going there again.

DrumSteve

Literally just noticed this myself, came out here today and seen the same thing.

Bloody 50% increase!

Mantis Toboggan

Shameful.

ted1

Noticed that last week , cost me 12 euro in parking.
I reckon they'll make an extra 3.6 million per year out of it.

The sale went though in July, the new owners must be trying to maximise their return. I reckon it'll be the coffee shops that are most affected by the increase.

Mantis Toboggan

I emailed them looking for an explanation.

Another reason to do all my shopping with lidl Aldi and online.

First Up

Neither is in the Dundrum Town Centre.

ted1

Tyson Fury wrote: »

I emailed them looking for an explanation.

Another reason to do all my shopping with lidl Aldi and online.

It's got new owners ..

Mantis Toboggan

First Up wrote: »

Neither is in the Dundrum Town Centre.

Exactly

Pat Mustard

I parked in the Tesco car park in Dundrum, recently. Tesco validated my ticket and I don't think that I had to pay anything.

VincePP

Its €3 for up to 3 hours - so it disincentives those just going in for an hour. Its €3 an hour thereafter.

€3 flat rate from 6pm to 11pm


Compared to city centre its quite good value.

Compared to Liffey Valley, its bad value.

Dinging

Pat Mustard wrote: »

I parked in the Tesco car park in Dundrum, recently. Tesco validated my ticket and I don't think that I had to pay anything.

Which is great because back in November 2015 Tesco dropped their free parking if you spent over €30 and charged the €2 for the carpark. http://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/tesco-parks-its-dundrum-discount-1.2436924 so hopefully this is back and parking is free again (terms and conditions apply)

intheclouds

Shocking level of increase.

I can't stand the place myself and if I ever do go I try to nip in and out as early in the day as possible, this is just another reason to go less often.

Rackstar

I also stay away due to the pay parking

Idbatterim

paid parking was a condition of planning permission AFAIK. Imagine how much more traffic there would be without it and using it for luas park and ride etc...

ted1

VincePP wrote: »

Its €3 for up to 3 hours - so it disincentives those just going in for an hour. Its €3 an hour thereafter.

€3 flat rate from 6pm to 11pm


Compared to city centre its quite good value.

Compared to Liffey Valley, its bad value.

On street parking is free after 7 in town

DrumSteve

Idbatterim wrote: »

paid parking was a condition of planning permission AFAIK. Imagine how much more traffic there would be without it and using it for luas park and ride etc...

I don't mind paying for it,its the increase that I have a problem with

GrumpyMe

It used to be €2 for first 2 hours. Now €3 for first 3 hours. Technically not an increase - actually a decrease if you normally stayed longer than two hours. But definitely an increase if you normally stay less than 2 hours - a 50% increase.

However they are selling the new charging structure as "€3 for first hour and two extra free hours" - yeh right!

VincePP

ted1 wrote: »

On street parking is free after 7 in town

On street parking in dundrum is free after 6 - not much of it though.

First Up

If you are in short stay mode tou can park in the old centre and get your ticket validated by Aldi or Lidl (whichever it is) for a modest purchase. (Or use a meter on the street.)

Wouldn't see the point of "popping in" to DTC anyway. Not exactly designed for that. But we usually get our business done in two hours so the increase is unwelcome, although hardly a disaster. Still cheaper than city centre.

GrumpyMe

VincePP wrote: »

On street parking in dundrum is free after 6 - not much of it though.

No - like most other areas it is pay and display till 19:00 hrs Mon to Sat - at least Main Street is!
https://www.google.ie/maps/@53.2900438,-6.2444132,3a,37.5y,68.75h,93.01t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1slZ3ENMPkXX0DevR31cFy8Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

VincePP

GrumpyMe wrote: »

No - like most other areas it is pay and display till 19:00 hrs Mon to Sat - at least Main Street is!
https://www.google.ie/maps/@53.2900438,-6.2444132,3a,37.5y,68.75h,93.01t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1slZ3ENMPkXX0DevR31cFy8Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Obviously tis a while since I was parking in dundrum.

xaforb

GrumpyMe wrote: »

It used to be €2 for first 2 hours. Now €3 for first 3 hours. Technically not an increase - actually a decrease if you normally stayed longer than two hours. But definitely an increase if you normally stay less than 2 hours - a 50% increase.

It used to be €2 for up to THREE hours. I went to the cinema once and, having checked the length of the film programme, I timed my entrance so that my exit would be within the three hours. (by about 5 minutes). It would now cost €3 for that.

The reason they introduced the €2 for up to 3 hours was that they opened with €2 per hour and people decided to either not go or park all over adjacent housing estates instead. It was absolute bedlam for local residents.

ted1

First Up wrote: »

If you are in short stay mode tou can park in the old centre and get your ticket validated by Aldi or Lidl (whichever it is) for a modest purchase. (Or use a meter on the street.)

Wouldn't see the point of "popping in" to DTC anyway. Not exactly designed for that. But we usually get our business done in two hours so the increase is unwelcome, although hardly a disaster. Still cheaper than city centre.

My misses manages to pop in about 3 times a week..,

sdanseo

They're the only out of town centre that charge for parking, despite none of them having alternative parking nearby.

Blanch has a free multi-storey among others
Liffey Valley is free
The Square is free for 2hrs
Pavilions SC free for 2hrs

vote with feet / wheels

GrumpyMe

xaforb wrote: »

It used to be €2 for up to THREE hours. I went to the cinema once and, having checked the length of the film programme, I timed my entrance so that my exit would be within the three hours. (by about 5 minutes). It would now cost €3 for that.

The reason they introduced the €2 for up to 3 hours was that they opened with €2 per hour and people decided to either not go or park all over adjacent housing estates instead. It was absolute bedlam for local residents.

Checked with waybackmachine and you are correct - I stand corrected...
Plain and simple 50% increase across the board!:mad:

xaforb

sdanseo wrote: »

vote with feet / wheels

You would hope that would happen but I feel that most people who go there don't stop to even think that they're being ripped off and will just pay it anyway.

coylemj

Got caught for the increase this week, knew it had gone up as I had €2 at the ready when I went to the machine and had to dig in for the extra euro. They will clean up in the next few weeks with the back to school business, a lot of the mummies won't know about the increase.

Agree with earlier poster that the coffee shops are likely to suffer most from the increase. With all the eateries there, it is a surprising increase considering it applies even if you're only there for an hour or less to have lunch.

First Up

I'm curious about what people do in DTC for 2-3 hours and how much they spend, if they can get upset about an extra euro for parking. Does that mean it represents a significant part of their total outlay?

intheclouds

First Up wrote: »

I'm curious about what people do in DTC for 2-3 hours and how much they spend, if they can get upset about an extra euro for parking. Does that mean it represents a significant part of their total outlay?

I sometimes go to the cinema there for 2+ hours.

markpb

First Up wrote:

I'm curious about what people do in DTC for 2-3 hours and how much they spend, if they can get upset about an extra euro for parking. Does that mean it represents a significant part of their total outlay?

I regularly drop in for milk, baby formula, nappies, etc. When I do that, I go when it's quiet and get in and out inside the free parking allowance. Paying an extra €3 would be a significant extra.

On the other hand, if I'm going to the cinema or shopping with my family, the €2 or €3 isn't going to bother me at all.

xaforb

ted1 wrote: »

My misses manages to pop in about 3 times a week..,

Before:
52 x 3 = 156 x €2 = €312

After:
52 x 3 = 156 x €3 = €468 (an increase of €156)

...and that's before a cent is spent on purchases. I could think of a lot of things I could use that kind of money for .

First Up

markpb wrote: »

I regularly drop in for milk, baby formula, nappies, etc. When I do that, I go when it's quiet and get in and out inside the free parking allowance. Paying an extra €3 would be a significant extra.

On the other hand, if I'm going to the cinema or shopping with my family, the €2 or €3 isn't going to bother me at all.

You can buy milk, baby formula and nappies just about anywhere. Why go to DTC for them?

First Up

xaforb wrote: »

Before:
52 x 3 = 156 x €2 = €312

After:
52 x 3 = 156 x €3 = €468 (an increase of €156)

...and that's before a cent is spent on purchases. I could think of a lot of things I could use that kind of money for .

Popping in three times a week at €2 a pop is already wasting €4 a week. Do it all in one longer visit at €3 and you SAVE €3!

ted1

xaforb wrote: »

Before:
52 x 3 = 156 x €2 = €312

After:
52 x 3 = 156 x €3 = €468 (an increase of €156)

...and that's before a cent is spent on purchases. I could think of a lot of things I could use that kind of money for .

It keeps her out if the house so there's a saving on heating .... Full time mums have a lot of spare time

First Up

ted1 wrote: »

It keeps her out if the house so there's a saving on heating .... Full time mums have a lot of spare time

Point her towards Marlay Park. Cheaper and healthier.

coylemj

markpb wrote: »

.... I go when it's quiet and get in and out inside the free parking allowance. Paying an extra €3 would be a significant extra.

How many minutes in the free allowance?

I notice that the revised parking charges are now listed on the DTC homepage, not sure if they were there yesterday .... http://www.dundrum.ie/

markpb

coylemj wrote:

I notice that the revised parking charges are now listed on the DTC homepage, not sure if they were there yesterday ....

I'm not sure if they're published but I think it's about 15 minutes.

First Up wrote:

You can buy milk, baby formula and nappies just about anywhere. Why go to DTC for them?

It's about five minutes away from me and Tesco is open till midnight.

First Up

markpb wrote:

It's about five minutes away from me and Tesco is open till midnight.

Still plenty of choice in the area. Tesco Stillorgan is open until 10. Free parking and five minutes from DTC.

markpb

First Up wrote:

Still plenty of choice in the area. Tesco Stillorgan is open until 10. Free parking and five minutes from DTC.

10pm is not midnight though. And my shopping in Dundrum is done quickly enough that I'm not paying for parking.

First Up

markpb wrote:

10pm is not midnight though. And my shopping in Dundrum is done quickly enough that I'm not paying for parking.

Is the 15 minute free parking being stopped?

Tabnabs

Some people would argue with their shadow...

shootermacg

Why would anyone bother going there at all? I live in dundrum and I'm never there. I go to the cinema occasionally, that is all. Plenty of cheaper options all round, and if you are in a car, then, drive there instead...vote with your...ahem wheels!

ted1

shootermacg wrote: »

Why would anyone bother going there at all? I live in dundrum and I'm never there. I go to the cinema occasionally, that is all. Plenty of cheaper options all round, and if you are in a car, then, drive there instead...vote with your...ahem wheels!

It's sheltered, on a rainy day it beats going to the park. Some people actually like going shopping , browsing the stores looking at the latest fashion etc . I personally don't , but the misses loves it, it'd go as far as saying shopping is a hobby of hers.

intheclouds

ted1 wrote: »

It's sheltered, on a rainy day it beats going to the park. Some people actually like going shopping , browsing the stores looking at the latest fashion etc . I personally don't , but the misses loves it, it'd go as far as saying shopping is a hobby of hers.

OMG - a shopping centre beats the park? For who? Really? How!

Jellybaby1

When Dundrum SC opened first we went to see what the hype was all about. I can't remember how much we paid for parking but we stayed for lunch and were so shocked at the parking fees we didn't go back. There were so many complaints that they reduced the parking fees so I felt occasionally it was ok to pop in now and again but certainly less than once a month. It's not designed for people like me, it was designed for the wealthy who they believe don't notice if they are being ripped off. With this recent hike they won't be seeing me any more but I doubt they will miss me. When the recession hit some shopping centres did away with parking fees for the first two hours, but notice they kept their barriers so when things got better they could reintroduce fees. Things must be on the up if this is happening again. We must fight back by changing our shopping habits. They feed off our habits.

ted1

intheclouds wrote: »

OMG - a shopping centre beats the park? For who? Really? How!

In a rainy day it sure does. As I said Wifey is a stay at home mum, she gets to the park plenty of times during the week.

Your username is quite appropriate ..

miezekatze

I also noticed the increase the other day, it's a bit much! I didn't mind paying 2 €, but a 50% increase is a bit cheeky! It's a handy location for me and I like going there, but I'll be going less often now.

intheclouds

ted1 wrote: »

In a rainy day it sure does. As I said Wifey is a stay at home mum, she gets to the park plenty of times during the week.

One of the greatest pleasures in life is to walk through a park on a rainy day and smell the scents released by the rain.

I just cant conceive of anyone actually ENJOYING a place like DSC. I can understand having to go there to go to a particular shop or get something specific or go to the cinema etc.

But the notion of going to it "for something to do" baffles me. Its mindless and a LOT of the shops in there cater to the most shallow of fashionistas. I just dont get it.

There are so many pleasant things one could be doing that would enrich ones life and well being.

testicles

This post has been deleted.

ted1

intheclouds wrote: »

One of the greatest pleasures in life is to walk through a park on a rainy day and smell the scents released by the rain.

I just cant conceive of anyone actually ENJOYING a place like DSC. I can understand having to go there to go to a particular shop or get something specific or go to the cinema etc.

But the notion of going to it "for something to do" baffles me. Its mindless and a LOT of the shops in there cater to the most shallow of fashionistas. I just dont get it.

There are so many pleasant things one could be doing that would enrich ones life and well being.

Dragging three kids to the park on a wet day wouldn't be my idea of fun.... But each to their own.
I think there may be a parks forum that you may be more suited too as this topic is about parking in a underground car park in a shopping centre

intheclouds

ted1 wrote: »

Dragging three kids to the park on a wet day wouldn't be my idea of fun.... But each to their own.
I think there may be a parks forum that you may be more suited too as this topic is about parking in a underground car park in a shopping centre

Indeed and I have and continue to maintain that the increased fee will totally put off people like myself who only pop in for short periods when absolutely necessary.

For people who get their pleasure from aimlessly wandering corridors of shops for hours on end it may not bother them so much. I guess it depends on how much money they are spending as part of the "something to do" event that is "going to the shopping centre for fun".