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Dubai: Customers are avoiding going to coffee shops and restaurants in malls, leading to a drop in business, because of the hourly parking fee introduced by the management.
Regular visitors to outlets like Starbucks and Dome cafe at BurJuman Centre complained that it is unfair to charge them parking fees although they use the facility in the mall.
Jean Bellumat, Managing Director of Globcom general trading, said he will not return to BurJuman to have a cup of coffee and pay an extra Dh20 on parking. "I have been a regular to BurJuman for the past 10 years. My office is just 300 metres away and I would drop in very often to have a coffee and read newspapers. But not anymore," said Bellumat.
He said he will start looking for other options as it is ridiculous to spend Dh100 to sip a coffee and go through newspapers.
Ben Edwards, another businessman, said people prefer BurJuman out of convenience and not always necessity. "Two days ago, I had to spend nearly three hours at the mall to do some banking. And I did shopping for Dh150 out of compulsion as I did not want to shell out Dh60 on parking," said Edwards.
However, people like Kamel Al Sayed and Abdul Fattah Al Marzouqi, both businessmen said that Dh20 is way too high a charge though it ensures enough parking space for shoppers.
Outlets within the shopping centre told Gulf News that their business is adversely affected by at least 30 per cent since June 4 after a fee of Dh20 per hour was levied on customers who use the parking.
Vishal Bhavnani who owns the 3Degree cafe on the ground floor of BurJuman said in the first week itself, business has been down by 30 per cent.
"I feel that in the coming weeks it will further affect our business. I myself would not be ready to pay Dh20 for parking when my coffee bills would be less than that. Today, one customer complained that he had to cough up the one hour parking fee for having a coffee for Dh22," said Bhavnani, who owns a chain of coffee shops in Dubai.
Ramesh Kumar, outlet manager at Dome said business has been affected, especially during the morning hours because of the new fee levied on parking.
A Starbucks staff said some regular customers who come in the morning hours have already told them that they will not be coming again because of the new rule.
Shoppers
BurJuman management explained that they have introduced the parking fee with the interest of shoppers in mind.
"The fee is implemented because non-shoppers were taking advantage of the free parking. Many customers were complaining that they are not able to find parking because of this misuse," said Deena Musharbasi, Corporate Relations Executive at BurJuman Centre.
She added that the management was forced to address the issue as they were losing out on genuine shoppers. "And we are giving free parking for others during lunch time from 12.30pm to 2.30pm, and also later in the evening after 6pm," she added. A resident, Ali, who frequents Al Khaleej Centre in Bur Dubai, said the mall charges Dh5 every hour. "It is unfair to charge the same fee even on Fridays when usually people like to spend time in the malls. The fee is bad for cafes they have been hit hard by the smoking ban," Ali said.
Hanan Kamal, Leasing and Marketing Manager, Al Khaleej Centre, said they introduced a parking fee more than 10 years ago. It used to be Dh3 per hour, which was raised to Dh5 last year. She said the mall management is now considering following BurJuman Centre's example and increase the fee to Dh10 per hour.
A staff at Brewster's Cafe said business has been slow ever since the fee was raised because customers keep an eye on the clock when they come to the cafe.
Costs
Burjuman
- Hourly rate: Dh20 applicable from 6am to 12.30pm and 2.30pm to 6pm
- Parking is free on Fridays and public holidays
- Free parking for shoppers and diners who spend Dh100 or more
- 15-minute free parking for those who enter for pick up and drop off
Al Khaleej Centre
- Hourly rate: Dh5
- Two hours free parking for those who spend Dh50 or above in shopping
- One hour free parking for those who spend Dh20 or above in any eating outlets
- Same rate applicable from 6am to 12pm, seven days a week
Will this reduce the time spent by you in shopping malls? Why? Do you think levying parking fees for purchases below a certain limit is forced expenditure? Tell us at letter2editor@gulfnews.com or fill in the form bellow to send your comments.
Your comments
This is a serious issue. For people, who work there do so for at least 8 hours. It is not fair at all to make them pay for working in the business tower. This is absolutely ridiculous. Special cards should be implemented for those who at least work in the Business Tower. I am sure the management can do a better job in dealing with this situation.
Bond
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2008, 11:19
There are plenty of malls with free parking and that is where we go to shop or have coffee.
Maryam
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2008, 10:53
I think the Burjuman Center Management is just right to charge a fee for parking, as I noticed in the morning when the gate opens, most of the people who go in just leave their cars and go to their offices adjacent to Burjuman. I don't think Dhs20 is much when you enjoy long hours of sitting in a coffee shop using the facilities.
Ben
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2008, 10:09
Not the smartest move, this will greatly affect the mall. Because a mall is there not only for shoppers but also for coffee goers. What about people who want to watch a movie? Pay 25 for the ticket and 50+ for the parking ? Does that make sense? Mall parking should be free, or low in charge.
Walid
abu dhabi,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2008, 10:07
It is not fair at all for the customer.
If this is happening in Khaleej Centre how can people reach the etisalat and du offices? They should just charge Dhs 1 or 2.
Sudheer
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2008, 10:05
Nothing unusual. I guess every thing is charged for in Dubai. Probably you would be charged for speaking too.
Shahed
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2008, 08:34
I'm in favour of the management of Burjuman to implement the Dhs 20 parking fee. However, what if I just want to window shop? What if I bought an item or ate at the restaurants for less than Dhs 100.00? Would they charge me for a Dhs 20 parking fee? This should be clarified as it does not state in the pamplet they're issuing to drivers parking in Burjuman Centre.
Ian
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2008, 08:13
Its funny how they say 'they were losing out on genuine shoppers'. It is common logic. I work next to Burjuman, I take my coffee in Burjuman, I eat in Burjuman and Shop in Burjuman. Doesn't that make me a genuine shopper?
I have a question for Burjman Centre, where are those so-called GENUINE SHOPPERS? The mall the other day was like ghost town.
Zaina
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2008, 08:02
Its not fair to charge the customer for the car parking. The simplest way to avoid non-customers is to return the parking fee to those who produce the original purchase bill on returning after shopping.
Zacharia
Abu dhabi,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2008, 07:15
If you think the plight of the shopper is bad, think about the people working in the office tower for a 10 hour day who find themselves with a AED160 charge to park their cars!
Jeymer
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2008, 06:21
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