CompUSA parking fiasco

[tutusue]

Has anyone on HT received the email exposing the Ala Moana CompUSA's parking policy? It's quite lengthy and is being discussed in a Mac email list group I subscribe to. Someone has already checked out the story and reported it's true. Scary stuff. If anyone feels I should copy and paste it to HT I'm happy to do it. Thought I'd ask first!

[joshuatree]

Post it! Nope, I haven't heard a thing about this. :D

[Keanu]

It's been filling up the messageboard at Craigslist Honolulu for the past couple of days.

[tutusue]

Keanu...since the email is so lengthy, can you please post the Craiglist URL? I couldn't find the discussion. Thanx...

[Keanu]

Here are a couple of links....

http://honolulu.craigslist.org/rnr/

http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/7011/page/1

[tutusue]

[...]http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/7011/page/1
Thanks, Keanu. This link is the same as the email.

[scrivener]

I read all those comments, and it doesn't sound especially newsworthy to me. What is it about the story that catches your interest, sue?

[Lei Liko]

I read all those comments, and it doesn't sound especially newsworthy to me. What is it about the story that catches your interest, sue?

I can't speak for Sue, but it caught my interest because it was just another case of the "big bad corporation" picking on the little guy.

It's being posted and reposted by everyone on my friends list on MySpace :mad: and even though the author's daughter and Lily violated CompUSA's parking rules, people are being so quick to take action and get pissy because they sympathize with the regular people supposedly being screwed over.

While I do feel for her daughter and for Lily and the fact that I refuse to ever shop at that CompUSA (or any other one for that matter) because of their extremely [insert expletive here] service, they did violate the store's parking rule. Instead of "Boycott CompUSA," she should try and focus on a more realistic goal and see if she can get 24/7 Towing shut down.

I wonder if she really is in trouble because she was allegedly writing her complaints during work time?

And finally, I'm no PR expert, but considering Ms. Aldinger's profession, I thought she could have done a better job with her written complaint, sorry.

[tikiyaki]

Newsworthy or not...It's just plain rotten.

CompUSA is in some financial trouble as well. closing stores and so on, this will definitely NOT help them in the public eye.

Isn't there some sort of person keeping track of who's parking there, like a lot attendant or a tire marker or something ?

Even worse is the towing company...THEY are the real criminals here, it's sounds like to me.

[joshuatree]

Following the links, it looks like the real bad guy is the towing comp. They failed to properly follow up when a customer is there to claim their car.

[scrivener]

If you root through the comments at that complaintboard link above, you'll find a message from the GM of the tow service, and his version of the story is (predictably) different.

Lei, what about the "little guy" who actually plans to shop at CompUSA but can never get a stall there because all the other little guys are parking there to go conduct business at Restaurant Row or at Homeland Security?

I'm not defending the store; in those hours before opening, it should cut people some slack. However, it sounds like there are a lot of sides to this story and I wouldn't be quick to pick a side.

[pzarquon]

Wow. That thing needs an executive summary.

They parked in CompUSA's parking lot before the store was open, and walked to a competing retail establishment with which I am certain CompUSA already has an adversarial parking relationship.
They got their cars towed, including a rental car.
They had a hard time getting their cars back, because the tow company sucked.I love the little details... like how small and unintimidating Lily is. And the extensive testimonials from perfect strangers about how mean the tow company guy was.

All tow companies are rotten. So don't park where you shouldn't. I mean, I got towed all the time living in Waikiki, and you know what? It was my own damned fault.

CompUSA is not Manoa Marketplace. I really love that comparative detail. I'm adding it to my "People in Manoa Live in an Alternate Universe" file. GOOD NEIGHBOR POLICY! GOOD NEIGHBOR POLICY! Sheesh.

"The whole ordeal took us nearly 3 hours," writes Charlene Aldinger. I shudder to think how long it took to write that all up. (Let alone for others to read it.) Yet she seems to focus most of her ire at CompUSA, which seems in the right here, rather than the tow guy, against whom all kinds of legitimate gripes could be made (except, again, that all tow guys suck). And as someone noted, a boycott of CompUSA seems a bit silly, since the company is doing a fine job of putting itself out of business already.
If you root through the comments at that complaintboard link above, you'll find a message from the GM of the tow service, and his version of the story is (predictably) different.Wow. I hadn't even gotten to the comments. That's the best part of this whole thing. Folks affiliated with CompUSA are coming out of the woodwork, some to say "you got what you deserved" and others with an axe to grind with current management. Other supposed witnesses (claiming they went all the way down to the Federal Building, not to Restaurant Row) are surfacing. And now all manner of mention of Aldinger's employer, Bishop Museum. Dave Domzalski of 24 7 Parkinc. 24 7 Tow notes that she even invoked her employer during her rants.

Considering the overall tone of the "Complaints Board" site, I'm actually a bit impressed that most folks quickly concluded that Aldinger was in the wrong. So much for finding a sympathetic audience.

[tutusue]

I read all those comments, and it doesn't sound especially newsworthy to me. What is it about the story that catches your interest, sue?
What caught my interest the most is that the incident happened! You don't find many of those on the internet! I really just felt a discussion could be on topic here while it isn't in the Mac email list...altho' it is getting a little attention without anyone screaming "OFF TOPIC"...yet!!! Of course, the list contains Mac vendors so I'm guessing they're luvin' more negative CompUSA comments!!! A member of a neighborhood board on that list verified the story.

While I'm not a fan of that retailer I feel the "bad guy" is the towing company...but I think CompUSA should take some heat for contracting with 24/7.

[LikaNui]

I read the entire lengthy first page on that complaint link. That lady Charlene apparently has a legitimate complaint against the towing company, but her anger at CompUSA seems way overblown. I agree with one poster there who wrote that it would've been better for the store to leave a note on the windshield and wait for a couple of hours before towing, but that's as far as I go on this one, especially since other facts seem to be coming out that disprove parts of her original story.
Interesting that she apparently is the PR Director for Bishop Museum. Pretty dumb move on her part to publicize and try to take advantage of that title, since the errand to CompUSA was personal and not on museum business. Her actions have given the museum more of a black eye than it has to CompUSA.
The whole thing is much ado about nothing, with the exception being that some agency should take a hard look at the towing company.

[adrian]

I read the exact thing on another local forum.

This is why I think every car should come equipped with some deterrent to harm people who touch or come near cars. :D

[LikaNui]

This is why I think every car should come equipped with some deterrent to harm people who touch or come near cars. Adrian, I think you might've made a couple of typos in that sentence, and that you meant to write this:

"This is why I think every cart should come equipped with some deterrent to harm people who touch or come near carts."

:D

[buzz1941]

Since we're next door to CompUSA and we received the original email as a potential letter to the editor, it was widely read in the SB newsroom.

Parking is a problem down here. CompUSA's lot is so big and wide that it's tempting. However, the parking lot is chained off when the store isn't open. If it wasn't, and the folks were waiting for the store to open, then CompUSA bears some responsibility for what happened. (Also, where's that Vietnamese sandwich place?)

Beyond that, the primary jerk appears to be the tow operator. Has anyone met a tow operator who wasn't an A-hole? And why all the way to Waipahu?

You break CompUSA's rules, you get towed. But there's no excuse for the "victims" in this case to be treated that way by the tow operator. This reflects back on CompUSA, rightly or not.

[achow]

I also read it on another local forum that I belong to.

[i-hungry]

A PR director who can't afford to pay for parking that's closer to your errand?

*plays violin with tear in my eye*

[TuNnL]

Since we're next door to CompUSA and we received the original email as a potential letter to the editor, it was widely read in the SB newsroom.Correct me if I’m wrong Burl, but it looks like the Honolulu Advertiser beat you guys (http://honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070401/NEWS01/704010388/1001) to the punch. :eek:

[pzarquon]

That was a pretty thorough story. Even made Aldinger look reasonable, though her meltdown will probably reach more than the "dozens" cited. (Dozens?) Hope she has her job at Bishop Museum for a good long time, given hiring managers' Google power. Especially since the Advertiser spelled her name "Charlie," not "Charlene" (she uses both) so it might not help much. :)

Interesting that there was no mention of the $60,000 parking space down the street. It seemed a perfect exhibit to show how insane things are getting.

I wonder what Stacy Aldinger thinks of all this? Or frail little Lily, for that matter!

[scrivener]

It does make Aldinger sound more reasonable, but she's still putting all of the blame on the store, even though she got her refund. She insists that some kind of "reasonable" solution can be arrived at, since so many other customers do what her daughter was doing. Ridiculous.

For now, Elton has told 24/7 Park Inc., the tow company he contracted with, that he will request a tow if he needs one.
This sounds a lot less aggressive. Will Aldinger call off her boycott, and will she be as thorough in spreading word about her refund? Pssssh.

[tutusue]

A PR director who can't afford to pay for parking that's closer to your errand?

*plays violin with tear in my eye*
It wasn't the PR director who got towed. It was her college age daughter. Not that that makes any difference at this point! ;)

[GregLee]

It's startling how many here take the position that if what CompUSA did was legal, then it's perfectly okay.

[tutusue]

I work in a small office building a couple of blocks up South St. from CompUSA. I have a parking space in my building that I pay for monthly. Often, the lot is full and I can't park. It's incredibly frustrating. Management does nothing about it...telling tenants to park on the street til the space frees up! Yah! Right! I pull in and park in the open space perpendicular and very close to 2 cars so the owners have to go from office to office looking for the owner of the white car (me...who has the building's parking tag hanging from my rear view mirror!) to move it! I also photograph the cars with license plates in view in case there's any damage to my car. I see people park and walk off the property all the time. I tell them the lot's patrolled and cars are towed regularly!!!

I completely understand CompUSA's frustration but disagree with their tactics....including 24/7's. It appears the retailer is changing those, for the time being anyway!

[joshuatree]

It's time they start building automated parking garages, you can squeeze in so many more vehicle spots in the same given area.

[buzz1941]

Correct me if I’m wrong Burl, but it looks like the Honolulu Advertiser beat you guys (http://honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070401/NEWS01/704010388/1001) to the punch. :eek:
Yep. Sure it was a judgment call, given our limited resources.

[Hellbent]

Maybe I missed it, but how long were they parked there? Did they get there at 7am and the store didnt open til 9am?
Its sort of common sense (to me) that you dont park in someone elses lot and then go to another store. What would be a good solution that is fair to the store and to customers? A parking gate/validation/stamp system?
I talked to a friend whos sort of high up at compusa and he was familiar with the situation (before it was printed today) and said its not the store next door, in fact i've heard employees at compusa tell customers to go check personal touch (they seem to have some sort of working relationship of sorts now - if one store doesnt have an item, theyll send it to the other) but that people regurlarly park at compusa's lot to go to INS or to Bale.

[joshuatree]

Maybe I missed it, but how long were they parked there? Did they get there at 7am and the store didnt open til 9am?
Its sort of common sense (to me) that you dont park in someone elses lot and then go to another store. What would be a good solution that is fair to the store and to customers? A parking gate/validation/stamp system?
I talked to a friend whos sort of high up at compusa and he was familiar with the situation (before it was printed today) and said its not the store next door, in fact i've heard employees at compusa tell customers to go check personal touch (they seem to have some sort of working relationship of sorts now - if one store doesnt have an item, theyll send it to the other) but that people regurlarly park at compusa's lot to go to INS or to Bale.

Put a low fence around the lot? Then it's obvious that if you're just using CompUSA's parking for other purposes, people will see in plain sight as you have to hop the fence?

[tutusue]

Maybe I missed it, but how long were they parked there? Did they get there at 7am and the store didnt open til 9am?[...]
At the link posted earlier I believe there was mention of the student parking at approx. 7:30a or so and was towed before 8a. CompUSA opens at 8a. The petite Lily parked at 8:30a and was towed at 8:34a.

I just returned to my office and there isn't a parking stall to be had.:mad: I've double parked blocking 2 cars. My car is the only one with a parking tag. Grrrr...

[DannyWilliams]

Ok so you are TIMED when parking there?
No make sense....
Let's assume that customers parking there are shopping inside the store.
If they feel that this given car has been sitting there way too long, shouldn't they be making a overhead page too make sure the customer is in the store before calling the tow company?


What is the exact wording COMP USA posts in their lot?
Unless I missed it in this thread I think they need to spell it out crystal clear.




This is why I think every car should come equipped with some deterrent to harm people who touch or come near cars. :D


You just made me think of that scene in the 1981 movie "For Your Eyes Only" where the bad guys was coming upon the nice white sports car Roger Moore parked and they were banging on the windows with their shotguns and *KA-BOOM*

[scrivener]

Ok so you are TIMED when parking there?
No make sense.
Sure it does. If the store is going to tow your vehicle, it's going to document events as they happen. When someone first notices a car being left in the lot while the driver goes elsewhere, it's going to be somebody's job to make sure that's recorded.

Let's assume that customers parking there are shopping inside the store. If they feel that this given car has been sitting there way too long, shouldn't they be making a overhead page too make sure the customer is in the store before calling the tow company?
Of course, but that doesn't have anything to do with what happened. The store was closed, remember? So there would be no point in paging the customer. Plus, these people were observed to be leaving their cars in the CompUSA lot and going elsewhere.

[DannyWilliams]

I aint talking about the ppl that got their cars towed.
If you take too long while shopping at the store

DO YOU GET YOUR CAR TOWED NO MATTER WHAT?

People do spend at least an hour or more shopping at a store like COMP USA.


It is obvious that you are being observed when you misuse and abuse their parking lot space that a tow truck is on it way to take your vehicle away.

[tvguy]

When your car gets towed, it's easy to feel like a victim. Especially since the initial fear is that you car's been stolen. I live in an area where I have to park on the street, and in the morning on one side, your car has to be moved by 6:30am and in the afternoons, by 3:30pm on the other side. Since it's near downtown, these things are strictly enforced. I've unfortunately missed the 6:30 am deadline a couple times and was very pissed off. BUT, rules are rules, and while it sucks to have to pay the towing fee on top of your parking ticket, well, it's the law.

While I can't speak for the terrible treatment these folks got at 24/7, I'd have to side with CompUSA for enforcing the regulations posted on their property. The lady can't make any excuse for not following what's posted on the signs. But their treatment at the tow company was awful.

That said, the towing company contracted by the city to remove cars in my area has acted in the past in my eyes as satisfactorily as one would expect a tow company to. Can't remember their name off-hand, but it's never been a problem getting my car back from their Sand Island lot and they've always let me know how much I needed to pay and that I had to pay cash....they have an ATM on-site. Even though the trucks are out ready to go right before the enforcement times, they follow the law and cannot and will not tow a car until it has been cited by an HPD officer. I've had two occasions where I got to my car past the time and the tow truck was waiting. But with no HPD citation, they could do nothing but drive off. Predatory? To an extent, but they gotta make a living to and if people are violating the law, then too bad for them. Of course i've never thought like that when my car was towed! As for me? I've learned my lesson. :)

[buzz1941]

The petite Lily parked at 8:30a and was towed at 8:34a.

Four minutes later? Holy cow. That's pretty aggressive. And deliberate.

[Hellbent]

So obviously an attendant or someone watches the lot.
But what if I go into compusa and buy something. Then I decide I want a Bale sandwich? I guess the black/white version says I must move my car to the street to buy my sandwich? Or having bought something at compusa, do I get a few minutes leeway?
I'm pretty sure its the former, but that sucks.

[anapuni808]

why should it suck? parking in a private lot is a privilege, not a right. If the lot has signage stating its policies and I choose to not respect that (as apparently was the case with these two ladies), then I have to take responsiblity for the consequences. The towing company was rude? so what? They don't have to be nice. They are going to get the towing business anyway. So, why should they care? I'm so tired of hearing people whining about the consequences of their actions or for assuming the rules don't apply to them.

and this whole issue has been blown WAY out of proportion. Surely there are other issues that should take precedence over this one? This was nothing more than an expensive inconvenience.

[tutusue]

Four minutes later? Holy cow. That's pretty aggressive. And deliberate.
My times were off a bit. Here's a quote from one of the links...it's from the general manager of 24/7:

CompUSA opens at 8am.
Violator Aldinger arrived @ 7:45am in a Dodge PJR-xxx walked directly across Ala Manoa Blvd. towards Homeland Security Bldg.
HPD cleared vehicle for tow @ 7:58am
Towed @ 8:18am
_______________________
Violator Lilly Chou arrived @ 8:30am in a Ford GVV xxx walked directly to Restaurant Row
HPD cleared vehicle for tow @ 8:34am
Towed at 8:45am

[TuNnL]

why should it suck? Regardless of who had the legal upper hand, it sucks when a paying customer of a store gets her car towed, just because the store wasn’t open at the time she parked. It’s a customer courtesy thing. Rules are created to serve a purpose. That purpose wasn’t being served if the store wasn’t serving customers.

The towing company was rude? so what? They don't have to be nice. They are going to get the towing business anyway. So, why should they care?Because if they want any chance at landing such lucrative contracts as city and state towing, they will have to demonstrate they have better service then the current vendors who hold those deals. This company it seems, didn’t even have the respect of HPD. :rolleyes:

[tutusue]

The towing company was rude? so what? They don't have to be nice. They are going to get the towing business anyway. So, why should they care?[...]
Because they're human beings, that's why. I hope I never get to the point of expecting people to be rude and uncaring. I know when my 2 competitors are busy on features or episodics that I'm going to get all the commercials. That's no excuse for me to mistreat my clients by being rude, unkind and uncaring.

That said...it's gotta suck to be a towing company employee and be on the receiving end of endless verbal ca-ca every working day.

[joshuatree]

So obviously an attendant or someone watches the lot.
But what if I go into compusa and buy something. Then I decide I want a Bale sandwich? I guess the black/white version says I must move my car to the street to buy my sandwich? Or having bought something at compusa, do I get a few minutes leeway?
I'm pretty sure its the former, but that sucks.

The answer would be the former, since the parking lot belongs entirely to Comp USA. And the courts would see it in black and white. In the real world, most of us probably play russian roulette so if we get caught, we just need to bite the bullet because we know what we were doing.

This complaint from the two ladies quite honestly has no merit with the exception of the tow company because the tow company did do things wrong, bad attitude, and more importantly, not releasing the cars in an appropriate time frame. If the two ladies focused their complaint on the tow company, I think they would make more progress.

So what can Comp USA do to remedy the bad PR? Perhaps switch tow companies to show their disdain for tow companies that mistreat clients. Maybe convert the parking lot into a paid parking lot so people can use it for other purposes. Those that end up shopping at Comp USA can then get a validation for free parking.

[buzz1941]

Sounds like the towing was very aggressive, happening just minutes after parking. But if you get there before the store opens, where are you supposed to go? Should be amnesty there.
If you get there AFTER the store opens, and head immediately away from the lot to elsewhere, then you're a fair target.
I wonder how many people have left CompUSA to find their car gone.
BTW, I've never seen CompUSA's parking lot completely full.

[Hellbent]

why should it suck?
and this whole issue has been blown WAY out of proportion. Surely there are other issues that should take precedence over this one? This was nothing more than an expensive inconvenience.

Why should it suck? Well, I feel that if I bought something at compusa, I should have a little bit of leeway (say 15 minutes) to hop over to Bale to get a quick bite to eat. Of course, legally it doesnt work this way.
I think I agree tho, front page news? not really.

...BTW, I've never seen CompUSA's parking lot completely full.

When they first opened, parking was tough. But now that its more like TVusa now (30% of the store is now TVs) and the fact that best buy opened up, its rarely full. I am guessing, as i go to best buy now =p

[tutusue]

[...]
I wonder how many people have left CompUSA to find their car gone.
According to yesterday's article in the Advertiser, 100 cars in 2 weeks. Let's see...$195. x 100! And, that's just one parking lot. BTW, I've never seen CompUSA's parking lot completely full.
Nor have I! Just yesterday there was a bunch of parking available between 12n & 1p when I passed by. Then, again, maybe people are now parking at Restaurant Row while they shop at CompUSA or, maybe, Best Buy is reaping the rewards of the competitor's bad press! ;)

[Hellbent]

OT but I go wherever the price is lowest AND doesnt have a mail in rebate. For now its BB or online.

[1stwahine]

I went to Best Buy yesterday. I didn't get the email till this morning. I didn't check this thread till today.:D

As for the parking at CompUSA ~ I've had no problems. Go in. Come out. Dey try tow my Leimomi!:rolleyes:

Auntie Lynn

[pzarquon]

I thought this was an interesting item in the tow lot's log:HPD cleared vehicle for tow @ 7:58amDoes a private property owner still have to consult HPD before towing a vehicle? What does this mean?

I feel for the woman's frustration (again, any Waikiki resident who oversleeps past the 6:30 a.m. Ala Wai cutoff knows her pain), but her vendetta and name-dropping just annoys me. I feel like shopping at CompUSA just to spite her.

I've tried to shop there before and wondered why the lot was so full when it wasn't very busy inside. Now I know why, and I know why CompUSA felt they had to step things up a bit.

[joshuatree]

I thought this was an interesting item in the tow lot's log:Does a private property owner still have to consult HPD before towing a vehicle? What does this mean?

I believe all tow companies log the cars they tow with the police so should an owner call in saying car is stolen, police runs a quick check to see if car is towed and then merely lets the owner know it's at a tow lot.

[pzarquon]

Ah, that makes sense. I recall conversations in the past as to whether parking enforcement really was the best use of police dispatch resources.

I got the e-mail forwarded to me by two acquaintences today. I told them to read the comments on the original link and that I was going to shop at CompUSA in honor of Charlie and Stacy Aldinger.

[808shooter]

I told them to read the comments on the original link and that I was going to shop at CompUSA in honor of Charlie and Stacy Aldinger.
I went and bought a computer game from Compusa yesterday in honor of the Manoa elitist who doesn't think laws/rules apply to her.

No problems with parking btw...

[Hellbent]

I went and bought a computer game from Compusa yesterday in honor of the Manoa elitist who doesn't think laws/rules apply to her.

No problems with parking btw...

what computer game? c&c3?

[808shooter]

what computer game? c&c3?

no some educational game for my oldest daughter. When you've got three kids < 4 = no time for games... the last game I bought for myself was civ4, old school.

edit: sorry for the derail. as an fyi, I forwarded that transcript of the tow guy's logs to everyone in the email chain that sent me the CompUSA parking whine of the year.

Too bad we can't give Bishop museum feedback on the negative publicity this has generated for them :-P

[craigwatanabe]

I used to work at the Gas Company on Kamakee Street. Kona street that runs between Kamakee and Kapiolani is owned by The Gas Company for the distance between the two boundry points: one being the HECO transformer and the other being the corner of Kona and Kamakee street. Employee parking was along the building on Kona street with signage clearly indicating employee parking only.

I'd go to lunch only to come back with a car parked in my stall from a customer at one of the auto repair shops across our building. I tell our facilities manager and he'd call the cops and a tow wagon. No notes on the window or nothing.

At CompUSA, they don't need to post notes on the windshields at all. Signage indicating the limitations for parking should be quite clear and by law the only warning indicating the consequences for unauthorized parking.

Same as the no parking signs you'd find on City streets. You park in a no parking zone, the car get's tagged and towed.

If you bought a product at CompUSA then walked off the premises to get a drink from a nearby business, technically your authorization to park there has ended.

If you bought a product at CompUSA but sat in your car to relax for a moment, technically you are authorized to park there because you haven't left the premises yet making you still a customer.

If you intended to by a product at CompUSA but walked off the premises to get a drink from a nearby business, technically you never had any authorization to park there in the first place because you haven't established yourself as a customer. You're actually trespassing.

If the store was closed for business and you parked there, technically you cannot be a customer because the business hasn't opened yet, once again you're trespassing.

Whether the tow guys were rude or not the fact remains...a car can be towed if the driver isn't a customer (or employee). Their job is to tow cars...not to take the verbal crap from upset "victims". You can yell, bitch, scream bloody murder at CompUSA or the Tow company but legally they are correct and can do exactly what they want because parking at their lot is a privledge. Parking on their lot is basically agreeing to their terms thus breaking that agreement is like breaching a contract.

Now sure there is such a thing called leeway and it's probably exercised at the manager's discretion. As for this woman's car being towed, this is probably her only experience and would think it doesn't warrant that extreme level of retribution, however to CompUSA her one single violation is one of MANY that CompUSA must see everyday. She can't use that excuse, "well everybody does it so why can't I".

Nobody really knows what went on that day, so it's easy to come up with any kind of excuse for parking there and not heeding the parking signs. All we can go by is the fact that she parked there and wasn't technically a customer, hence her car was towed. There was no signage indicating a "grace period" for unauthorized parking.

Now let's put this in a more personal perspective. You live near the UH/Manoa. You leave in the morning to go to work and come back early to pick up a document for the afternoon meeting with your boss only to find some UH student has parked in your driveway. Not only can you not park at home but you can't even park on the street because this is Vancouver Drive in Manoa and there is no available street parking and you can't even double park on that narrow street.

It is your right to have that car towed away so you can park your car at your own home.

In this case who should be more upset? You the homeowner or the person who parked their car in your driveway?

CompUSA is the owner of that parking lot just as you are the owner of your driveway and when there is an unauthorized car parking in either place, the owner of that property usually is the one that will be more upset NOT the violator.

If the violator is the one more upset then that person needs to get their priorities checked. You park there illegally, you get towed and then you get upset? I don't think so.

Someone parks in your driveway illegally and you get upset? Damned right, the next think you'll be doing is calling the tow wagon...same thing with CompUSA. They're just exercising their rights as a property owner as anyone would when someone imposes their will on your rights.

If it were your driveway or parking lot...what would you do? Hmmm?

Tow that bastard and teach em a lesson that's what. And that's exactly what CompUSA did...and they had every right to do so.

[mel]

I've read over all of the posts in this thread for the past few days.

Personally I make myself aware of whatever the parking policies and prices are at different places I go to. For all the years Comp USA has been in HNL, I have never strayed off the property to go somewhere else to shop. I park in Comp USA's lot I make sure I am shopping there (well often walking around the store and mostly buying nothing)... but it is a good place to just look around and perhaps get that small item you need like blank CDs or something.

But I sure as heck won't go to Restaurant Row or the store across the street or anywhere except to Comp USA while I am parking there.

Ditto for when I go to BestBuy, WalMart, MacMouse, City Mill, Foodland, McDonalds or any other business that has a parking lot for just that business. Most businesses have signage that mention towing. For me just the thought of being towed away is horrible. Reading these posts, the initial emails that triggered the newspaper article and this thread just cements my fear... of great inconvenience and losing plenty money all at once.

$195 can go a long way around the state on a Go! flight.....

[lavagal]

I took some Dreamweaver classes at CompUSA. Got there 7:30 or so, went in for the morning session, went to Restaurant Row for some lunch, came back to finish the afternoon for classes. So our vehicle was there the entire time, but I guess they knew whose was whose. I cannot help but think if ever there were an opportunity to be towed, that would have been it. This was about two years ago. This store has some rigid policies, but I guess it has to guard against shoplifting, etc. I just don't like the bait and switch I sometimes encounter.

[Leo Lakio]

No problems with parking btw...That's because of the incredibly successful boycott, I'd wager, keeping throngs of people away from the store.:D

[Honoruru]

I took some Dreamweaver classes at CompUSA. Got there 7:30 or so, went in for the morning session, went to Restaurant Row for some lunch, came back to finish the afternoon for classes. So our vehicle was there the entire time, but I guess they knew whose was whose.

I've also taken a bunch of classes at CompUSA and did the same thing. I used to come early, take a walk around the neighborhood, go back to my car, studied, went to classes, then wandered off for lunch before I came back to finish classes. No problem. But then, I think they knew me and my car. I was there so often.

As far as shopping there, they suck. I could never get any help. Always had to go somewhere else to get what I wanted.

[i-hungry]

As far as a full parking lot, yeah I have seen it full or nearly full a lot of times before. But when you go in the store, it doesn't look like there's as many customers as there were cars.

I went to CompUSA today. Lots of parking. People must be scared now.

[Keanu]

That's because of the incredibly successful boycott, I'd wager, keeping throngs of people away from the store.:D

I boycotted COMPUSA for a day but then I actually needed to get something from the store. Now that I've completed my purchase, I've gone back to my boycott.

[Hellbent]

As far as shopping there, they suck. I could never get any help. Always had to go somewhere else to get what I wanted.

OMG, I went there last night to buy the $400 BFG 8800 video card (which was out of stock). They didnt want to help me it seemed, told me it was sold out and that the 2 boxes in the display cabinet were dummies (!) Why have dummies if youre sold out? They looked like theyd rather stand around checking out chicks then help me. My wife decided to buy a DS and we stood around for 10 minutes before someone came by to 'help' us. They tried to sell us TAP and looked so dissapproving that we didnt buy it. >_<

[craigwatanabe]

OMG, I went there last night to buy the $400 BFG 8800 video card (which was out of stock). They didnt want to help me it seemed, told me it was sold out and that the 2 boxes in the display cabinet were dummies (!) Why have dummies if youre sold out? They looked like theyd rather stand around checking out chicks then help me. My wife decided to buy a DS and we stood around for 10 minutes before someone came by to 'help' us. They tried to sell us TAP and looked so dissapproving that we didnt buy it. >_<

They have dummies because although the product is sold out, it's not inactive, meaning it will be restocked.

As for help, I applied for work there and nowhere in the online application does it ask if you have any computer or electronic knowledge...only prior sales experience. So if you worked at Hello Kitty for five years, you'd get the nod over somebody who had five years of electronics experience bot no sales experience.

I'd love to work at CompUSA because I've gotten three years of retail sales experience and over 30-years experience in electronics. But so far no response from the Ala Moana store yet. And yes I did apply.

[tutusue]

[...]I'd love to work at CompUSA because I've gotten three years of retail sales experience and over 30-years experience in electronics. But so far no response from the Ala Moana store yet. And yes I did apply.
With your wife currently working on Oahu, if you got a job at the Ala Moana store, would you be moving back?

[pzarquon]

Dammit! I am still getting this damned woman's melodramatic rant forwarded to me from all corners. I've started sending back my own thoughts on her idiocy, my plan to shop at CompUSA in honor of the Aldingers, and with links to the Complaints Board site, this thread, and the Advertiser story. It most definitely won't be as widely read as the original diatribe, but I've got to do my small part to stop stupid from spreading.

[Hellbent]

They have dummies because although the product is sold out, it's not inactive, meaning it will be restocked.

As for help, I applied for work there and nowhere in the online application does it ask if you have any computer or electronic knowledge...only prior sales experience. So if you worked at Hello Kitty for five years, you'd get the nod over somebody who had five years of electronics experience bot no sales experience.

I'd love to work at CompUSA because I've gotten three years of retail sales experience and over 30-years experience in electronics. But so far no response from the Ala Moana store yet. And yes I did apply.

I wouldnt do it... top pay for sales is about $10. no commissoin, only spiffs on selling TAP. You yourself are probably a diligent worker, but it seems alot of people slack there. Would you want to do alot of work while others do squat? A good friend works there, he knows about the BS that goes one and is trying to fix it...

[scrivener]

I wouldnt do it... top pay for sales is about $10. no commissoin, only spiffs on selling TAP.
You're relatively new here, so someone should probably tell you that Craig is a self-made, independently wealthy, retired-at-45 man. He works at Home Depot not because he needs the money, but because he's insane.

[Leo Lakio]

I've got to do my small part to stop stupid from spreading.Uh-oh...how much longer before I get banned from HT? :D

[buzz1941]

I'm boycotting the store until I need to get something. Like a hot dog.

[Hellbent]

You're relatively new here, so someone should probably tell you that Craig is a self-made, independently wealthy, retired-at-45 man. He works at Home Depot not because he needs the money, but because he's insane.

hey, i registered in aug 2004! i was just afk for about 2 years =p

i could think of better jobs. just giggles try working at a bar or restaurant. see who else tips 50/50... :)

[craigwatanabe]

Well I wouldn't call myself rich but I guess I can be a bit insane.

As for coming back to Honolulu, yes it is true, with my wife working for PATCH and flying back and forth several times a month it's hard on the family. Eventually I will have to come back to Honolulu with the family or she'll have to come back to the Big Island where pay scales suck.

At $10 an hour that would be a lateral for me as that's about what I make at Home Depot. And yes I just work there for the benefits. At least at CompUSA you get employee discounts right? No discounts for HD employees.

Actually what I prefer to do is to come back to Clear Channel and work there full time and then walk across the parking lot to Home Depot Iwilei and work part time. PATCH's office is on the second floor of the Dole Cannery Building with CC at the top floor and HD right next door.

I was just back in Honolulu during the last half of the Spring Break staying at my sister in law's condo in Mililani. I was really surprized that the drive from Mililani to Downtown Honolulu via the zipper lane took only 22-minutes. We left the condo at 7:30am. That's actually pretty good time considering the traffic. It takes me that long to get from my home in HPP to Hilo Home Depot.

[MixedPlateBroker]

Where mistakes were made, the responsibility lies with ... ?


Sounds to me like all parties involved get a piece of the blameberry pie:
* The CompUSA mgr for advocating a shock-and-awe campaign against alien vehicles
* The 24/7 Towing rep for allegedly having questionable business practices and definitely using poor judgement in posting the full license numbers of the subject vehicles
* The Honolulu Advertiser for allowing the license plate numbers to remain on the reader response portion of their site (going on one week now)
* Charlene who, in my opinion, as a director of PR for Bishop probably spun the story in her e-mail to best suit her cause -- she's a horrible, rambling writer in any case and deserves jeers for just that fact :rolleyes:

[Miulang]

Where mistakes were made, the responsibility lies with ... ?


Sounds to me like all parties involved get a piece of the blameberry pie:
* The CompUSA mgr for advocating a shock-and-awe campaign against alien vehicles
* The 24/7 Towing rep for allegedly having questionable business practices and definitely using poor judgement in posting the full license numbers of the subject vehicles
* The Honolulu Advertiser for allowing the license plate numbers to remain on the reader response portion of their site (going on one week now)
* Charlene who, in my opinion, as a director of PR for Bishop probably spun the story in her e-mail to best suit her cause -- she's a horrible, rambling writer in any case and deserves jeers for just that fact :rolleyes:
I think you can probably add the scofflaws who parked in the lot illegally, who knowingly had no intention of patronizing CompUSA but still took up a parking space. There: have we left anybody out of this blame game now?:) One sure way to eliminate the problem is to put up a gate and allow validated parking only.

Miulang

[cynsaligia]

I think you can probably add the scofflaws who parked in the lot illegally, who knowingly had no intention of patronizing CompUSA but still took up a parking space. There: have we left anybody out of this blame game now?:) One sure way to eliminate the problem is to put up a gate and allow validated parking only.

Miulang

you and eric forgot the people who kept forwarding the annoying email. bleh! a pox on their kind!

*pets the very cute mac mini eric bought for her at....compusa!*

[pzarquon]

Finally got to do my small part in the name of common sense today:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/232/460454759_2e7ec11a95_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hawaii/460454759/)

As you can see, you can walk off the lot with your car...

[Pomai]

Finally got to do my small part in the name of common sense today:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/232/460454759_2e7ec11a95_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hawaii/460454759/)

As you can see, you can walk off the lot with your car...That is just too funny! So, how would would you walk off the lot WITH your vehicle? Push it? Tow it by rope?

The sign should read...
PARKING FOR
CompUSA CUSTOMERS ONLY
Do not leave property
without your vehicle
or it will be immediately
towed

[Keanu]

Finally got to do my small part in the name of common sense today:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/232/460454759_2e7ec11a95_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hawaii/460454759/)

As you can see, you can walk off the lot with your car...

You should send this pic to Leno.

[Miulang]

Forget the sign; just put up a gate and make it validated parking only. There is no need for explanation then.;)

Miulang

[joshuatree]

That is just too funny! So, how would would you walk off the lot WITH your vehicle? Push it? Tow it by rope?

The sign should read...
PARKING FOR
CompUSA CUSTOMERS ONLY
Do not leave property
without your vehicle
or it will be immediately
towed

Maybe it's a Tonka truck? :D

[craigwatanabe]

So if you run off the property without your vehicle that's okay? How about skipping, roller blades, heely's, hmmm....

I think management better reword that sign before it gets out of hand.

[pzarquon]

Gah. LikaNui brought this mess up in another thread (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=13262) and got me all grumpy again. I ended up back at Charlene Aldinger's lovely letter to CompUSA (http://www.complaints.com/2007/march/19/__21772.htm). I have already begun to distribute this horrible story via the internet and have posted the account on FACEBOOK which was distributed to an additional 400+ recipients most of which are computer supply-using college students. It was distributed to all the members of the Pearl Harbor Rotary Club. (See attached email responses.) I do not intend to stop with my campaign against COMP USA until you refund the money to Lily Chou and Stacy Aldinger and discontinue your tow service with 24-7 Towing. The Rotary Club has offered to send it out nationally for a national boycott of COMP USA (see attached email).

I intend to alert the local Media, members of the House of Representatives, members of the State Senate, all Hawai?i Rotarians, Tourism offices, Consumer Protection Agencies, Better Business Bureaus, Complaints.com and every other avenue and source of consumer complaints available to me. [...]

I look forward to hearing from you today. I am available to pick up our reimbursement checks at noon today. Please call me when they are ready for pick up.

Sincerely,

Charlene Aldinger
Director of Public Relations
Bishop Museum
(808) 847-8271Gods! Her ridiculous (both in concept and in ultimate execution) publicity campaign, and blatant extortion-ish threat of ruining CompUSA's business (!), just makes me want to go out and buy a stack of CompUSA CDRs that I don't need.

I hope and pray that in the final analysis, her stupidity is all that people remember about the fiasco. Indeed, several months later, I take small satisfaction from the fact that most Google results for her name (http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Charlene+Aldinger%22) now relate to her silly stunt, and that most of the adjacent commentary is... not complimentary. Though some of the sources of those results look kinda familiar. Heh. Smart people can "spread the word" online, too.

[GeckoGeek]

You want to have fun? Call/write a letter to Bishop Museum. Say you are a neighbor that's going to have a big party and can your guests park at the museum. (Pick a busy day.) If they say "no" keep pushing. What's the odds it will come down to her to defend the museum? :D

Seriously, the thing that gets me is her job is in PR. Now maybe I'm wrong, but isn't one of a PR person's tasks to represent a company? To defend a business from community complaints? And here she is mouthing off about how wrong CompUSA is. It's clear from anyone who's been at the site that the parking belongs to CompUSA.

Oh, and if I was in charge of the museum, I'd be writing a letter of reprimand for signing the letter with her position. This is her personal vendetta. Don't go dragging the museum into this.

[LikaNui]

Gah. LikaNui brought this mess up in another thread (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=13262) and got me all grumpy again. Awww, I'm sorry if my joke to the newbie brought up bad memories, Ryan. But look how well it turned out -- this thread got revived, and Charlene will get more bad raps!
:D

[Menehune Man]

You want to have fun? (1) Call/write a letter to Bishop Museum. Say you are a neighbor that's going to have a big party and can your guests park at the museum. (Pick a busy day.) If they say "no" keep pushing. What's the odds it will come down to her to defend the museum? :D

(2)Oh, and if I was in charge of the museum, I'd be writing a letter of reprimand for signing the letter with her position. This is her personal vendetta. Don't go dragging the museum into this.

(1) Please don't. The museum had nothing to do with her problem.

(2) She was "spoken" to officially concerning the involving of the museum through her association.
And has been chided by many also. Definitely improper behavior.

Then again... we all lose it sometimes. :o

[dyasu]

Does anyone else find it ironic that someone who's email signature reads "Director of Public Relations" is effectively ruining her own public image, along with the image of the Bishop Museum by writing such inane comments using her work-related email signature?

I chuckled when I first read it!

[scrivener]

(2) She was "spoken" to officially concerning the involving of the museum through her association.
And has been chided by many also. Definitely improper behavior.
If Ryan's long quote is very recent, she's still using Bishop Museum's name in her communications about this. So maybe someone SHOULD call the museum just to give it the heads-up, at least.

[TuNnL]

If Ryan's long quote is very recent, she's still using Bishop Museum's name in her communications about this. So maybe someone SHOULD call the museum just to give it the heads-up, at least.Nah, as you can see here (http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/7011/page/6), Ryan’s long quote is from her original letter to Ken Elton. She has probably moved on, but I think Ryan’s point is her legacy will be her stupidity. :rolleyes:

[Frankie's Market]

(1) Please don't. The museum had nothing to do with her problem.

(2) She was "spoken" to officially concerning the involving of the museum through her association.
And has been chided by many also. Definitely improper behavior.

Then again... we all lose it sometimes. :o

You think that lady "lost it?" I say she went off the deep end into psycho land. :p

[GeckoGeek]

(1) Please don't. The museum had nothing to do with her problem.

Oh, I understand that. But if you play your cards right, you could have forced her to be on the other side of the argument. That was what I was really trying to get at. ;)

[Fritz]

I have already decided to not shop at Compusa because of their return policy. It saves time when reading the Sunday Ad. to just toss the Compusa flyer on the "read already" pile. After reading this, it makes me want to go there and buy something.

[Star of Gladness]

Being a tow truck driver is a rough life. I have known a few repo men and tow truck driver owners. I have nothing but respect for these guys who do a real DIRTY JOB. They are right up there on the list of dangerous jobs just like Alaska crab fishermen and ice road truckers.

24/7 is probably a regular guy just trying to feed his family and pay his bills like everybody else and is sick and tired of being threatened (by lawbreakers who think they deserve special treatment) with fists, knives, guns, and political contacts in the State of Hawaii.

I also heard that tow truck drivers have a code that if/when they ever get towed by another rival company, they never ask for any discounts, they just pay the fine and move on with life.

I hope 24/7 sues Bishop Estate for harassment and as a direct result Ms Aldinger loses her job.

[LikaNui]

They are right up there on the list of dangerous jobs just like Alaska crab fishermen and ice road truckers. Yeah, if you believe those two "reality TV" shows you're watching. Personally, I think the really dangerous jobs belong to cops and firemen and soldiers, like that.

24/7 is probably a regular guy Or, maybe, "probably" not? You've got a 50-50 chance of being right, since you're guessing.

I also heard that tow truck drivers have a code And a secret handshake too!

:p

[Star of Gladness]

Yeah, if you believe those two "reality TV" shows you're watching. Personally, I think the really dangerous jobs belong to cops and firemen and soldiers, like that.

Or, maybe, "probably" not? You've got a 50-50 chance of being right, since you're guessing.

And a secret handshake too!

:p

Alaska Crab fishermen actually do have the highest fatality rate of any occupation. (Maybe not ice road truckers but I couldnt think of anything else). Yanking cars from anywhere is dangerous work.

At least cops, firemen and soldiers get State and Federal pensions and retirements. Can't say the same for Crab fishermen or repo men.

[GeckoGeek]

I have already decided to not shop at Compusa because of their return policy.

It's not the most generous, but it works for me. What's the problem?

[Fritz]

It's not the most generous, but it works for me. What's the problem?

Sorry to take so long to reply,
I bought a mouse there, took it home and it worked about 6 months. On the package it said,"Guaranteed forever". I dug up the receipt, took it back and stood in line. I was shown their return policy and told this is a manufacturer's guarantee and I had to contact the manufacturer. They didn't have a problem displaying that guarantee in their store.

Costco, Sears, and The Mart's would have taken care of it on the spot. I didn't care for their service and decided to vote with my feet. Haven't needed to go back since. I may some day. I don't browse there or look at their ads. It was a cheap mouse and they could have garnered much good-will taking care of a customer. That's the way they choose to do business and I don't choose to do business with them. Did I hear they are closing stores? I'm not the only dissatisfied customer. Google "Compusa sucks" sometime.

[GeckoGeek]

Costco, Sears, and The Mart's would have taken care of it on the spot.

A few stores might have. Most don't.

In the case of Sears, they'd do it if it was a store brand (like Craftsman). I don't think they do it for general merchandise.

[TuNnL]

Alaska Crab fishermen actually do have the highest fatality rate of any occupation.Seriously, though, this is not just false, it’s absurd! Here are the statistics that PROVE you are wrong...

All fisherman and fishing workers combined:

(118.4 deaths per 100,000 (http://money.cnn.com/2006/08/16/pf/2005_most_dangerous_jobs/index.htm) in 2005)

Soldiers in Iraq:

(705 deaths per 100,000 (http://icasualties.org/oif/US_chart.aspx) in 2005)

Maybe you have a source that says different? :rolleyes:

[Fritz]

A few stores might have. Most don't.

In the case of Sears, they'd do it if it was a store brand (like Craftsman). I don't think they do it for general merchandise.

IF they had taken back the returns more liberally they may have thrived. I for one would have been a loyal customer. But, "NO!", they made me stand in a line and then kicked me in the teeth. I could have been a loyal customer but they didn't want to make good on a defective hardware item less than a year old, less than 20 bucks. Thought they were effin smart, now they are history! Good riddance. Cheap pricks.