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Discuss this article (4 Comments)Shopping malls start free trial of new parking plan
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Sunday, 09 August 2009
PARKING PLAN: Shopping centres are starting a free trial period of new parking rules which will begin on Sept 10. (Getty Images)
Two Dubai shopping malls will start a free trial period on Sunday of the new parking management system, prior to charges being introduced on Sept 10.
Mall of the Emirates and Deira City Centre are launching the trial to ensure customers understand the new plan.
The parking management system was announced last month to make sure that customers have adequate parking places once the Dubai Metro service begins on September 9, UAE daily Gulf News reported.
The move is designed to deter park-and-ride Metro users who may use the malls’ parking facilities.
During the free trial period which runs until Sept 9, customers will need to collect a ticket at one of the parking entry stations.
Once their visit to the mall is over, the ticket will be assessed at one of the Automatic Pay Machines and finally swiped at the exit barrier.
Courtesy parking crews will be stationed around both the malls to help customers adapt to the new system.
Starting September 10, visitors to Mall of the Emirates and Deira City Centre will be provided with three hours free parking on weekdays and fours hours on Fridays and Saturdays.
For customers wanting to watch a movie, an extra free hour will be allowed.
Visitors parking their cars for longer than three hours on weekdays will be charged AED20 ($5.40) for every additional hour for the next three hours.
During weekends, the first and second extra hours above the first four hours will be charged at AED40 and AED60, respectively.
READERS' COMMENTS
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Users are quite pathetic!
Posted by DaNgErBoY, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Monday 10 August 2009 at 15:11 UAE time
I was watching the news last night and there was a story on the new ticket system and video footage of 'helpers' going about their duties.
How hard is it for a person to read what's written on the machine and follow the instructions which cannot be more complicated than the ones on the streets of dubai now can they?
And, to top it all off, there a poor guys standing in the heat to put the ticket into the machine for you as you leave the car park!!!!!!!!! what is wrong with people here!!!!!!!!!!
Theres nothing to get used to or need help with - its a pay parking system! this is really pathetic.
Next we will have someone carry you from your car into a pushchair an push to the front door of the mall while someone else parks your car for you and when you finish shopping, you call them, and they will pay at the machine and put the ticket in the machine while you are pushed back to your car in a push chair!
Posted by DaNgErBoY, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Monday 10 August 2009 at 15:11 UAE time
I was watching the news last night and there was a story on the new ticket system and video footage of 'helpers' going about their duties.
How hard is it for a person to read what's written on the machine and follow the instructions which cannot be more complicated than the ones on the streets of dubai now can they?
And, to top it all off, there a poor guys standing in the heat to put the ticket into the machine for you as you leave the car park!!!!!!!!! what is wrong with people here!!!!!!!!!!
Theres nothing to get used to or need help with - its a pay parking system! this is really pathetic.
Next we will have someone carry you from your car into a pushchair an push to the front door of the mall while someone else parks your car for you and when you finish shopping, you call them, and they will pay at the machine and put the ticket in the machine while you are pushed back to your car in a push chair!
Could work even better...
Posted by Edward, Riyadh on Monday 10 August 2009 at 09:32 UAE time
If the malls were to take into account the interest of their retailers as well, they would opt for a system that awards mall visitors free parking if they have spend money during their. This system is f.i. applied at Burjuman.
For me as a visitor it works perfectly fine. It just requires me to go to one of the customer service counters, show my receipts and if the amount spend is over Dhs. 100, I get a get-out-of-the-parking-for-free card. Yes, it does require extra effort from my side, but so those the current system in MOE and DCC.
This methodology encourages people to spend money, does not decrease their dwell time and might even be used for promotional activities (spend Dhs. 1,000 and get free valet parking next time you visit! Spend Dhs. 500 and get your car washed). The new parking system might then even increase the footfall...
Posted by Edward, Riyadh on Monday 10 August 2009 at 09:32 UAE time
If the malls were to take into account the interest of their retailers as well, they would opt for a system that awards mall visitors free parking if they have spend money during their. This system is f.i. applied at Burjuman.
For me as a visitor it works perfectly fine. It just requires me to go to one of the customer service counters, show my receipts and if the amount spend is over Dhs. 100, I get a get-out-of-the-parking-for-free card. Yes, it does require extra effort from my side, but so those the current system in MOE and DCC.
This methodology encourages people to spend money, does not decrease their dwell time and might even be used for promotional activities (spend Dhs. 1,000 and get free valet parking next time you visit! Spend Dhs. 500 and get your car washed). The new parking system might then even increase the footfall...
Does It Really Work Great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by RealityCheck, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 9 August 2009 at 21:40 UAE time
My Dear Friend i just visited MOE too and it caused traffic on the entrance ......don't forget that many tourist from GCC drive in and they have no clue whats going on............. besides three hours free is great but what if you are there for some coffee, shopping and having a nice dinner or movie that can sure go way beyond three or four hours, now after paying all this money i really wouldn't feel its fair to pay for parking .........so unless they validate more free time for serious mall shoppers with shopping reciepts who like to take thier time shopping and spend money........thanks but no thanks.........i might as well go to any other mall specially nowadays that they all look alike.......
Posted by RealityCheck, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 9 August 2009 at 21:40 UAE time
My Dear Friend i just visited MOE too and it caused traffic on the entrance ......don't forget that many tourist from GCC drive in and they have no clue whats going on............. besides three hours free is great but what if you are there for some coffee, shopping and having a nice dinner or movie that can sure go way beyond three or four hours, now after paying all this money i really wouldn't feel its fair to pay for parking .........so unless they validate more free time for serious mall shoppers with shopping reciepts who like to take thier time shopping and spend money........thanks but no thanks.........i might as well go to any other mall specially nowadays that they all look alike.......
Works great
Posted by Jebel Ali Baba, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 9 August 2009 at 15:36 UAE time
Just visited the Mall of the Emirates and the new parking system works great. A lot of friendly helpers were standing around at the entrances and exits of the parking levels and everything is running smoothly. Made me feel a little bit like back home...
Posted by Jebel Ali Baba, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 9 August 2009 at 15:36 UAE time
Just visited the Mall of the Emirates and the new parking system works great. A lot of friendly helpers were standing around at the entrances and exits of the parking levels and everything is running smoothly. Made me feel a little bit like back home...
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