The Pinay Shoppingera

This incident happened yesterday at the SM North Edsa - The Block Valet Parking. My family would usually avail of the valet parking service because of it's convenience. Yesterday, upon arriving at the valet parking area, I went down the car, and I think 2-3 car owners were hurrying to get their tickets so I just waited for them to finish. My cousin, who was driving our car, went down to give the car keys to the valet parking personnel, while I was giving the car details to that same personnel as well. She (valet parking personnel) tear off the ticket, gave us our claim stub, and kept the other half with our car keys. I immediately placed the parking ticket inside my bag, and I even noticed an old and used valet parking ticket inside. I am always tasked to keep the parking tickets and would usually keep it in a compartment in my bag which I don't normally open.

After spending a couple of hours inside the mall, we went back to the valet parking area. I opened my bag, unzipped the compartment, and found 2 tickets. To my surprise, the 2 tickets were dated 6/7 (Thursday) and 6/9 (Saturday), and the panic started. The 6/9 ticket was worn-out and with ballpen markings, which shows that it was already claimed/used, while the 6/7 tickets was only folded in half and no ballpen markings. All of these happened in front of the valet parking personnel on duty. The valet parking personnel who assisted us was sitting behind her and was doing other stuff. We removed every single thing inside my bag and found no ticket dated 7/8.

Valet Parking Personnel: Ma'am hindi po talaga ito kasi may date po eh.

Me: Pero paano nangyari 'yun? Paki-check naman dyan oh.

And the search goes on...

Me: Miss, nasan na 'yung kaputol nito? Paki-check nga kasi baka nag-kamali kayo ng date.

Valet Parking Personnel: Ma'am nasa loob na po eh. Nasa admin na.

Me: Ha?

My cousin: Sige na hayaan na. Magkano ba fee?

And from this moment, a lot of questions kept popping my mind. My tita kept on making parinig to them. Saying "Ano 'yan, racket niyo 'yata 'yan ha?".

So why are we thinking that it was all probably their fault and not ours and there is something fishy going on with that service.

1. The 2 tickets were dated 6/7 (Thursday) and 6/9 (Saturday). That 6/9 ticket is valid and we know that we really went there on that day since I was able to keep a receipt dated 6/9/12. The 6/7 ticket is questionable since we don't really go out on weekdays, because I have work from Monday-Friday, and if it happens that they went out on that day, why was the ticket inside my bag?

2. The tickets' serial number were as follows: 6/7 (-----100) and 6/9 (------98). So how did that happen?

3. The personnel told me that the other half of the ticket was already submitted inside...to their bosses/admin. How would they know which car keys are ours if they don't have the ticket with them/if the ticket is not attached to our car keys? I was asking for that copy to check the serial numbers. They don't want to give us that copy and giving us that lame reason.

We were thinking that they took advantage of the situation when they saw that we were panicking already and they saw that I have 2 tickets with me.

I know that it was partly our fault since I wasn't able to double check the ticket before keeping it inside my bag. I was also thinking if I accidentally pulled out the ticket from the compartment, but again, I never opened/unzipped that part of my bag while inside the mall. So this serves as a lesson learned for us, and also, a warning for those who avails of the valet parking service, not only at the SM North Edsa but also in all other malls/establishments.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

July 13-15: The Great Northern Sale 2012 - SM North Edsa

Monday, July 9, 2012

SM North Edsa Valet Parking Incident

Sunday, July 8, 2012

New TriNoma Mall Mass Schedule 2012

SM Ladies Fashion Corporate Wear Sale

July 6-27: The Greenbelt Sale