Lateral thinking

[yo yo ma]

I enrolled in uni last week and had to pay $4 for all-day parking. Unfortuately, the machines didn't accept credit card (coming soon) so I went to the shop and bought a $4 coffee to get some change from $20. The lady was quite abrupt stating,
"No, we don't give change for parking" and turned her back to make the coffee after giving me $16.

I thought about it for a while and instead of argueing, I purchased a banana for 0.90 and gave her a $5 note! The look on her face was priceless knowing she had to give me $4.10 change and knowing I could have paid with a $1 coin.

I understand that she doesn't want to give change all day but I was making a purchase, there was no-one else waiting and she had a draw full of change.

 

[samh004]

I hate how expensive parking at uni can become. Last year I started parking at the nearby mall that had free parking, because over time it all adds up.

 

[yo yo ma]

There's a Woollies that has 2 hours free... but it is at the other end of the campus so I don't think I will be bothered using it.

 

[UP4014]

Australian cities are major parking rip offs, look at Sydney airport.

And just to give it a flying theme, I did a check two weeks ago at LAX and SFO (and some other lessor ports in the US) and you could still drop off and pick up kerb side for free, try doing that at Sydney International. At McCarran International the short stay was a simple parking meter for each space in the multistory and I only needed a few quarters to pay for it. We've become so expensive they take plastic!

Matt

 

[dajop]

. At McCarran International the short stay was a simple parking meter for each space in the multistory and I only needed a few quarters to pay for it. We've become so expensive they take plastic!

At changi airport, you pay by the minute with a daily cap, much better than some Australian airports (eg MEL), where if you stay for 24hrs and 1 minute, that extra minute will cost you a full day (ie $49 for one minutes worth of parking. Ouch)

 

[drron]

Go to Tassie-Burnie and Devonport both have paid parking outside their tourist info offices.
Burnie Maccas-paid parking.
Hardly normal Launceston-paid parking.

 

[markis10]

Odd attitude from the coffee lady, stores are usually trying to get you in to get extra sales, not discourage you from visiting, Small Business 101, and people wonder why the pay at the pumps have all but dissapeared from servo's????

 

[zig]

I understand that she doesn't want to give change all day but I was making a purchase, there was no-one else waiting and she had a draw full of change.

Very unreasonable attitude on her behalf. I'd be keeping a seperate stash of coins for parking, and not making any further purchases from that particular outlet.

 

[yo yo ma]

Odd attitude from the coffee lady, stores are usually trying to get you in to get extra sales, not discourage you from visiting, Small Business 101,

Exactly right markis... I know where I will buy my future coffee from - Any other outlet on campus!

 

[anat0l]

I enrolled in uni last week and had to pay $4 for all-day parking. Unfortuately, the machines didn't accept credit card (coming soon) so I went to the shop and bought a $4 coffee to get some change from $20. The lady was quite abrupt stating,
"No, we don't give change for parking" and turned her back to make the coffee after giving me $16.

I though about it for a while and instead of argueing, I purchased a banana for 0.90 and gave her a $5 note! The look on her face was priceless knowing she had to give me $4.10 change and knowing I could have paid with a $1 coin.

I understand that she doesn't want to give change all day but I was making a purchase, there was no-one else waiting and she had a draw full of change.

No surprises there. There are plenty of businesses near parking lots or parking meters that refuse to give change to feed them. No idea why - guessing that they may not want their own supply of change to run short, or they get sick of every man, woman, child and dog constantly asking for change.

A bit rich (no pun intended) not to give you change when you are making a purchase.

In Europe, it seems to be the case that if you are to receive change, it will be given to you using a moderately high number of coins (e.g. you will usually get two EUR 1 coins rather than a single EUR 2 coin). Methinks that is to discourage you to demand change (i.e. pay with the correct amount).

In other news, at UQ the normal all-day parking is still thankfully $3 per day (6am-9pm; 9pm-6am is free and free on weekends, too). However:

• This parking usually disappears fast. You've almost got no chance of grabbing such a spot if you arrive after 9:15am.
• You can't pay by credit card (and definitely not coming soon!) and must supply exact change. For example, if you put in two $2 coins, you can kiss you extra $1 goodbye.

In saying that, if you're lucky to drive into the car park when someone is exiting, if they're nice they will give their parking permit-ticket to you! It's happened to me a couple of times, and I've also handed my tickets to people a few times, too.

At changi airport, you pay by the minute with a daily cap, much better than some Australian airports (eg MEL), where if you stay for 24hrs and 1 minute, that extra minute will cost you a full day (ie $49 for one minutes worth of parking. Ouch)

Well, they need some sort of break considering the back-breaking costs required to purchase and run a car in Singapore.

 

[yo yo ma]

A bit rich (no pun intended) not to give you change when you are making a purchase.

That's what I thought... I wouldn't expect them to give change without making a purchase.

In other news, at UQ the normal all-day parking is still thankfully $3 per day (6am-9pm; 9pm-6am is free and free on weekends, too)..

I'm at QUT and paying $4 per day isn't too bad in the Brisbane CBD - You can get undercover parking for $6.

 

[albatross710]

Odd attitude from the coffee lady, stores are usually trying to get you in to get extra sales, not discourage you from visiting, Small Business 101, and people wonder why the pay at the pumps have all but dissapeared from servo's????

She probably started out so fresh and ambitious until uni student/mature aged/external student No 203 walks in by 10 am asking for parking money. Hate to think what she would be like by 4pm when the next person is the 865th asking for change that day.

And she probably sells a lot more bananas!

 

[Mal]

And she probably sells a lot more bananas!

Or packs of chewing gum, or ...

I also think it's a little rich to not supply change when an item is purchased. (It's not like there is no purchase being made!), but agree that after the Xth person of the day wanting change you'd be getting sick of the requests.

 

[tuppaware]

That's what I thought... I wouldn't expect them to give change without making a purchase.


I'm at QUT and paying $4 per day isn't too bad in the Brisbane CBD - You can get undercover parking for $6.

Much worse at Kelvin Grove - but then I rather catch public transport- half the cost and the busway is much quicker.

 

[Mal]

Much worse at Kelvin Grove - but then I rather catch public transport- half the cost and the busway is much quicker.

And a better mix of students seeing Nursing and Teaching are both based there compared to the Engineering/IT etc students at GP

 

[PaulC83]

I enrolled in uni last week and had to pay $4 for all-day parking. Unfortuately, the machines didn't accept credit card

A trick I had a Uni was there where a series of long term "free" car parks along the back of the Uni but were obviously snapped up very early.

I had "obtained" some genuine witches hats, and used to place them around my park when I left, and removed them when I got there in the morning.

Believe it or not I lasted the whole semester I had to goto that Campus (inner city) without a problem!

 

[medhead]

Well I think I understand her reasoning. The issue is not the number of people asking for change. the problem is she is going to run out of change by about 915. She does have a business to run, but not for much longer given her attitude.

QUT GP hey. I spent 10 years there on and off. Nursing and teachers are ok at KG. But you mustn't realise that part of engineering is Design. GP used to have the interior designers! and probably still do have them. A great group of people. And of course GP also has the radiographers. Collectively both these groups of people are if you get to know them

 

[anat0l]

A trick I had a Uni was there where a series of long term "free" car parks along the back of the Uni but were obviously snapped up very early.

I had "obtained" some genuine witches hats, and used to place them around my park when I left, and removed them when I got there in the morning.

Believe it or not I lasted the whole semester I had to goto that Campus (inner city) without a problem!

I'll believe you, but gee you're a cheeky one!

 

[straitman]

A trick I had a Uni was there where a series of long term "free" car parks along the back of the Uni but were obviously snapped up very early.

I had "obtained" some genuine witches hats, and used to place them around my park when I left, and removed them when I got there in the morning.

Believe it or not I lasted the whole semester I had to goto that Campus (inner city) without a problem!

I like your style :!:

Well done PaulC83.