Parking Lot SCs

[CrazedClerk]

I've never really worked at a parking lot, though I did help for a day once at one my friend works at, he's related to the owner so it was no problem bringing me in.

But my GOD...the lengths people will go to to avoid paying a parking fee. Now I know full well some places charge high parking fees, but this was downtown in a major city, near stadiums/hotels/restaurants, etc. and we were charging $7 for parking (remember I live in Canada).

Here's some of what I saw:

- People who tried to negotiate the rate with us. The owner used to allow people to pay a half rate if they weren't going to be too long, but SCs started abusing this (leaving for over an hour, returning and claiming they'd "only been gone a few minutes" and so he had to make the rate firm). Still we had people asking us "Can I only pay for 15 minutes?" "But I'm not going to be an hour" "Don't you have a seniors rate?"

- Guy who got pissed at me because I took awhile grabbing his change and handing it to him, this was during winter and it was FREAKING COLD outside. Of course I'm in a little wooden box with no insulation and this jerk in his heated SUV is yelling at me for taking too long ("hurry up Granny!" )

- People who don't seem to understand the lot is full ("But there's room over there, let me park there." "If I did that, you'd be blocking some of the other cars" Response: "So?" Me:

- Guy who threatened to beat my ass when I tried to collect from him as he left (oh and I did I mention his young son was in the passenger seat as he is swearing and ripping me into me?) I got in a big fight with him and my friend basically told me to let him go because this jerk was causing a backlog with all the other cars. I wish I could've shot out his tires as he left.

A couple of gems I heard from my friend

- The parking lot is chained off to prevent cars from leaving any way but the exit, there are THREE rows of thick chains (like chain-link) across the front row spots.
So this person in her SUV (What is it with SUVs?) decides that rules aren't for here and drives right through the chains, and started dragging one of them with her down the road, causing sparks to fly up everywhere. I'd say she's pretty lucky she didn't cause a calamity.

- An elderly, belligerent gentleman who paid entirely in pennies (they were in a box, not rolled).

- And the legend: My friend was at the booth and he hears this engine rev, suddenly he sees a car fly past him, completely OBLITERATE the lift barrier and go tearing off down the street...

And to think all of this MADNESS was over a $7 parking fee? Unbelievable.

[CrankyPants]

Sometimes the need to get something for free is just too great to resist

[ArenaBoy]

Welcome to my world . I've heard all the excuses just working a year and a half at the arena parking lot. I've heard the whole list you have and it does suck when its cold, especially if you're standing in the middle of a blizzard. I honestly get at least one SC a day most of the time. I consider it lucky if I don't get one. Them not understanding the words the lot is full is all too familiar for me. Honestly, if it wasn't for this site I'd be a raving madman by now. One day is bad, but a year and a half will kill your brain cells.

[CrazedClerk]

Yeah I was so fuming mad after one day. I don't know how my friend can stand being there all the time.

[ThePhoneGoddess]

I used to work for a small alternative newspaper in downtown Santa Fe. Parking is at a premium down there, and we had our own parking lot. We're closed on the weekends, and next to a fancy restaurant, so on Saturday and Sunday it kind of informally becomes overflow parking for them.

Well once every few months we'd do something on Saturday afternoon, like a staff meeting or something. We had a chain across the lot entrance...on weekends we weren't using the lot we'd keep it open so the restaurant could use the lot, but when we knew we were gonna be using it we'd put the chain across on friday night when we left.

Without fail, the next morning we'd all come down to our meeting and people, seeing us opening the chain and pulling our cars in, would follow us and try to park. And then they'd get into a screaming fit when we told them it was off limits. 'But I park here every Saturday! You can't keep me outta here! I'll report this to (the restaurant) La Casa Sena!' Yeah, sure, lady. Go tell them we're using our own parking lot.

We one time had a guy try to get into a physical altercation with me and another girl when we kept him out. One of the guys came out and berated him for trying to pick a fight with two girls. So then he parked---illegally---right on the street, right in front of our front door, and called the cops to report us for not letting him use the parking lot. The cops showed up, interrupted out meeting, spoke to the publisher for a few minutes, and then went out and gave the guy a ticket for being parked illegally. He became absolutely enraged, sputtering and huffing until the cops threatened to arrest him.

[Pagan]

I used to work for a small alternative newspaper in downtown Santa Fe. Parking is at a premium down there, and we had our own parking lot. We're closed on the weekends, and next to a fancy restaurant, so on Saturday and Sunday it kind of informally becomes overflow parking for them.

I didn't even need to read any further to know it was La Casa Sena! I love that restaurant. Jeez, now I wanna go. Hmmm, maybe for Thanksgiving again! Of course, none of these idiots will walk anywhere, so never mind that they can park, for free, up at the Capitol! Seriously, it's not that far a walk. Probably the same yahoos that just walk out in front of cars down at the Plaza. They seem to forget that Santa Fe's a working city, not just there for tourists.

[MadMike]

- The parking lot is chained off to prevent cars from leaving any way but the exit, there are THREE rows of thick chains (like chain-link) across the front row spots.
So this person in her SUV (What is it with SUVs?) decides that rules aren't for here and drives right through the chains, and started dragging one of them with her down the road, causing sparks to fly up everywhere. I'd say she's pretty lucky she didn't cause a calamity.

....

And to think all of this MADNESS was over a $7 parking fee? Unbelievable.

I imagine she did a helluva lot more than $7 in damage to her vehicle.

[KaeZoo]

Where I work in a car audio installation department, we have two bays. Once a grocery truck pulled up outside one of the bays where I was working on a car, completely blocking it in. There was no way the truck would have fit into the install bay anyway; they just parked right outside the closed bay door.

Two guys came in and asked about buying a radio and having it installed into their truck; we don't sell the equipment out in the bay so I directed them up to the sales floor. They asked if they could leave the truck where it was while they went and shopped; I told them, "no, I need you to move the vehicle before you go buy anything". And then they went out, LEFT THE TRUCK WHERE IT WAS, and walked around to the main entrance so they could buy their deck.

A few minutes later the sales floor guy called and asked what parts would be needed to install a new radio into the grocery truck. I said, "Tell them we aren't going to sell them anything at all until they come back out here and move their truck. They're blocking another customer in."

A moment later the two guys came back out, got in their truck and drove away.

[Becks]

We one time had a guy try to get into a physical altercation with me and another girl when we kept him out. One of the guys came out and berated him for trying to pick a fight with two girls. So then he parked---illegally---right on the street, right in front of our front door, and called the cops to report us for not letting him use the parking lot. The cops showed up, interrupted out meeting, spoke to the publisher for a few minutes, and then went out and gave the guy a ticket for being parked illegally. He became absolutely enraged, sputtering and huffing until the cops threatened to arrest him.

Oh, that's priceless!!!!!!!!!

[ArenaBoy]

But my GOD...the lengths people will go to to avoid paying a parking fee. Now I know full well some places charge high parking fees,

- People who don't seem to understand the lot is full ("But there's room over there, let me park there." "If I did that, you'd be blocking some of the other cars" Response: "So?" Me:

- The parking lot is chained off to prevent cars from leaving any way but the exit, there are THREE rows of thick chains (like chain-link) across the front row spots.
So this person in her SUV (What is it with SUVs?) decides that rules aren't for here and drives right through the chains, and started dragging one of them with her down the road, causing sparks to fly up everywhere. I'd say she's pretty lucky she didn't cause a calamity.

And to think all of this MADNESS was over a $7 parking fee? Unbelievable.

1. Ah yes, the classic "there's room over there." I posted about a guy who wanted to park in a spot that would be blocking emergency behicles from coming in and he didn't care at all. What if his kids needed help and the ambulance couldn't get in because of him blocking the entrance? Proof that some people need an intelligence test when they get their licsense.

2.We have a spot called the chains where we seperate VIP and general. The general parking is lucky because they can get to the freeway easily. VIP isn't and that is bound for complaints. One night, this pick-up truck decides to cut through a barrel line. Big mistake because A. these barrels are heavy. B. They can do a lot of damage. The genius drives through and takes the barrel with him all the way to the freeway. I actually saw the barrel on the side of the freeway the next day.

On the subject of SUV's, I see plenty of them at work. The SUV SC's are the worst when it comes to entitlement just because they happen to drive an escalade. They have a lot of ego problems.

[protege]

On the subject of SUV's, I see plenty of them at work. The SUV SC's are the worst when it comes to entitlement just because they happen to drive an escalade. They have a lot of ego problems.

Are you sure that the Escalade drivers don't have problems, um, "downstairs" and are trying to compensate?

I don't go for the "bling bling" look myself...unless it's on something that really needs it, like a 1958 Chevy, '59 Cadillac, etc.

What is it about snow and parking lots that bring out the idiots? Several times at the mall, I've seen people park in the aisle (boxing in other cars, and blocking the aisle) simply because they're too stupid to park correctly. Of course many of those vehicles get vandalized, or get interesting messages, usually "learn to park asshole" left on the windshield.

[Anakah]

I don't really work in a parking lot but I've seen my share of stupid things...

I really hate it when people go out the entrance of our casino's parking garage because they're too lazy to go down one isle to the real exit. They're usually doing this when I am entering the entrance and I'm in a big truck, so it compeletly freaks me out.

Or they'll just stop on the side in the parking garage and they're usually a big car and try to wave the other cars on... Again, these are ONE way and not built to let two cars side by side followed by a full parking lot to let two get through...

The ones who like to back up to get into the spot they missed full knowing that there are at least ten other cars behind them.

The ones that are convinced that if they don't go at least 2 miles an hour over the bump they'll just launch themselves 100 feet. At least go 10mph please!

Or the famous: RIGHT TURN ONLY. And... They turn left!

I've had cars come at me and its scary. They're lucky I have good reflexes. I would prefer NOT to smash into anybody.

Or when the pedistrians assume they have the right away and just walk RIGHT IN FRONT OF your car... Not a good thing to do.

Sorry I don't know if this is related but its been driving me insane EVERY time I go to work.

[wagegoth]

Or the famous: RIGHT TURN ONLY. And... They turn left!

They do that at my sons' school. Drives me crazy. It's an elementary school, and the parking lot is u-shaped to allow parents to drive in and drop the kids by the door, off the street. Huge sign at the exit, with the left turn arrow crossed with the big don't do it red line, and NO LEFT TURN During School Hours on it.

Still get people trying to turn left, onto a busy street, just before an intersection, illegally across a divided line (more than three feet apart).

It's ridiculous. It's faster to turn right, make a u-turn and come back.

Every now and then the sheriff's department of the highway patrol park there and hand out tickets. Great for making quota.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I chewed out a guy once for blocking AN ENTIRE LOT with his car. The Kinko's lot is inadequate, but that Kinko's will never move because the location is golden. But the lot really sucks. It consists of one small lot on the side of the building, and another one in the back.

There is a narrow bottleneck in the back of the side lot leading to the back. It's all painted up with yellow stripes, and a big NO PARKING sign there. It should be obvious even without that not to park there.

We had a couple nimrods park there anyway, of course. I had to find them and tell them to move their car IMMEDIATELY. One or two I ended up having towed.

Why oh why oh why would anyone think that it was okay to block 25 or so cars in?????

[ArenaBoy]

Are you sure that the Escalade drivers don't have problems, um, "downstairs" and are trying to compensate?

I can't believe I forgot about that. I've always been tempted to do that Mrs. Doutbfire line on the Escalade drivers. I also think that the driver's significant other is with them just for their money.

What is it about snow and parking lots that bring out the idiots?

I've wondered that myself, trying to drive a truck in a lot full of idiots during the winter is tough. These people would tailgate me or my personal favorite take up two spots and of course we would call the tow truck for that idiot. What my supervisor would do if people were idiots while he was plowing snow would to lower the snow plow on his truck, shift to neutral, and rev his engine. That ended any idea of complaint from an SC quick.