Your car might get towed at Starbucks medical center (Spring: lease, contractor)

[wehotex]

FYI

If you drink this starbuck's overpriced coffee, please do not park in the spaces that are leased to neighboring wachovia bank. They will tow your car before you can say "triple vanilla latte". Apparently, they just started this. It will cost $160 to retrieve your vehicle from the tow yard. I heard from starbucks employees that the starbucks manager has known about this for some time now, but has failed to let her customers aware of what is happening. It is a bad situation. Better to find a coffee spot with free parking.

[ChrisSA_wxatUIW]

um, wow that's rediculous

[CelesteDF]

Hmm. Maybe that's Starbucks' strategy for closing stores.. see how far you can push the customers until they get pissed off and don't come back anymore. The last stores with any customers left get to stay open... you know, cultivate the customers that want that double latte extra hot with no foam so badly that they'll put up with anything.

[smuboy86]

Don't see how this is Starbucks fault, it looks like Wachovia is just trying to make some extra money so they don't go under. On a related note, the Starbucks on broadway shares it's parking lot with the Nix Alamo Heights, everyone knows to not park in Nix dedicated spots.

[scuba steve]

Originally Posted by smuboy86

Don't see how this is Starbucks fault, it looks like Wachovia is just trying to make some extra money so they don't go under. On a related note, the Starbucks on broadway shares it's parking lot with the Nix Alamo Heights, everyone knows to not park in Nix dedicated spots.

Wachovia doesn't make any money from this. The towing contractor that patrols the lot does.

That said, there are probably state regulations that require the towing company to wait a certain number of minutes before they can start removing the car.

[Bowie]

Originally Posted by scuba steve

That said, there are probably state regulations that require the towing company to wait a certain number of minutes before they can start removing the car.

Or city ordinances. Check with your councilmember's office if you're not up for a search of city code.

[TXRose]

I bet that Wachovia also has problems with University Hospital patients parking there too, and then walking across the street.

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by TXRose

I bet that Wachovia also has problems with University Hospital patients parking there too, and then walking across the street.

yeah, that's what i thought too. but i honestly haven't seen much evidence of that in the 2 1/2 years that i have going frequently to starbucks. i think that the bank or a bank employee is just trying to make some extra $$$, a "cut" of the towing fees. it's too bad that our banking system has come to that low level.

[wCat]

I frequented this Starbucks quite a bit in the Spring. The planning between these two buildings is really poor. The Wachovia drive thru exit forces cars right into the Starbucks drive thru line if anyone in the bank is in the far left lane.

Also....if the line to the drive thru is long enough, it snakes around between the two businesses and anyone parked on the Starbucks side is totally blocked by the drive thru traffic. I got stuck in the drive through and wanted to exit, but there was no room to go around because there is no room on the Wachovia side....and I was hemmed in by cars in front and back of me. So there I sat....and people trying to back out of parking SAT too! I can see why Wachovia would be frustrated with the Starbucks drive thru....or Starbucks patrons parking in their lot to avoid getting blocked in. It's not really Starbucks fault.....at least not the management. Not sure which was built first, but it was really a very stupid plan for traffic flow.

I don't see it as a money maker for anyone....except the towing company. It's just a plain MESS.

Here's a birds eye of the two businesses from the rear. Starbucks has virtually NO parking. The parking along the side is blocked completely when the drive thru is long.

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=...cl=1&encType=1

[scuba steve]

Originally Posted by wehotex

yeah, that's what i thought too. but i honestly haven't seen much evidence of that in the 2 1/2 years that i have going frequently to starbucks. i think that the bank or a bank employee is just trying to make some extra $$$, a "cut" of the towing fees. it's too bad that our banking system has come to that low level.

Once again, towing contracts don't work that way. There is no cut for anyone. The towing company is the only party that makes anything out of this.