So’s I caught wind of a tale of woe the other day, regarding what should have been a really fun slash amazing party fun time courtesy of Baltimore’s Living Social bureau. It was a $60 ziplining slash open bar special, in which purchasers of the excursion would park their vehicle at the Port Covington Walmart (RED FLAG) and be provided transportation to Sandy Spring Friends School where frolicking, ziplining and climbing would ensue for two hours. Following that, an hour of libations at Federal Hill’s own Muggsy’s Mug House – sounds like a pretty rad time, doesn’t it? Of course it does!
Being the responsible fun-time arrangers that they are, Living Social did their due diligence in clearing the whole parking lot situation with the Port Covington facilities, and everything looked as though the good times were rolling.
…unfortunately, once the buses had been loaded and the trek had begun, phone calls came issuing that every single person’s car at the Port Covington Walmart was in the process of being towed. Whether via a dumb manager who didn’t know about the deal or whatever excuse Walmart came up with, dozens of cars were towed within minutes, leaving a bunch of really pissed off people sitting on a bus without a car. And we all know how understanding those tow companies are, very courteous and kind-hearted folk who would gladly take part in owning up to the mistake and return everyone’s car without hesitation, yes? Yeah well not really. The Living Social rep I spoke with referred to it as “an awful mess” and essentially they’re on the hook paying for all of the headaches generated by the snafu, despite the fact that Walmart is essentially to blame. I smell lawsuit! Or maybe not, hopefully the two enterprises can work out the issue and Living Social will have a parking lot to use for their future expeditions.
Speaking of the Port Covington Walmart, I’m going to go right ahead and make a wild guess that it will close its doors riiiiiight around the same time as the Remington Walmart opens, for a myriad of excuses which are all bullshit, leaving the destroyed wetlands of Port Covington with their very own gigantic wasteland of empty warehouse buildings and sprawling parking lots. Perfect place to hang out after dark! (and then the inevitable redevelopment featuring mixed-use retail/condos, amirite?)
I was there that night, and yes it was a huge mess. Many of the Living Social event staff members had their cars towed as well, so they were in the same bind as the rest of us. We were all escorted via charter bus to the towing place (which was located in a less than savory area) around 11:30 pm where we had to withdraw $300 cash from the towing company’s ATM (which charges $3 per person) in order to have our vehicles released to us. While waiting in line, some tempers began flaring at the sheer ignorance exhibited by the towing company’s manager, at which point the single policeman present turned into 5 policemen/women and 2 Baltimore PD Homicide Detectives. The police all seemed to know the towing company’s manager, which I’m guessing was because they have had to deal with him before. I will say that Living Social handled this matter as best they could, and assured everyone a full refund on their excursions as well as reimbursement for towing fees.
Gadzooks.
Not Living Socials fault… Glad to hear they are doing the right thing. There is an awesome group buying site that is launching… Checkout http://www.dailyreferral.com/32177 ENJOY….
I always believe in extreme violence. 5 officers, 10 officers, 50, doesn’t matter. If the deal said you can park there, then park there. No offense to those who can’t handle it, but the continual abuse of companies, the store managers, the towing companies, what are you going to do? Sue? Suing takes years, costs thousands and the possibility of the companies winning due to overwhelming lawyers and stupid legal maneuvers gets you no where. A good old fashioned violent beating, maybe a shooting of the manger in the head will help the rest of the crooked companies realize that screwing over the general public is not a good idea. As a potential juror, I say this will all honesty, “If a case came before me with the shooting killing of the manager from this situation, instant acquittal.”
internet bravery rears its head once again.
Got anger issues? I understand the refusal to be abused by the system, but killing over it seems a little — PSYCHO! Please get help. (P.S. I’m not some anti-violence idiot saying peace and love solves everything. I’m just saying there are definitely other options out there — you just have to be smart enough to work them.) Let the inane rebuttle begin…
not sure if trolling or very stupid.
Blaming Walmart for towing cars parked on their property is the sign of gross stupidity. Just because someone told these fools they could park there does not mean that Walmart signed off on the deal.
Never underestimate the power of stupidity in large groups, kiddies.
Walmart is a leaser of the site it occupies the company that owns Port Covington Shopping Center owns the parking lot.
If you read the article living social did get permission from the Port Covington Shopping Center to park there. So Walmart overstepped its bounds as leaser having the cars towed.
How did Walmart distinguish between cars owned by the Living Social crowd and their own shoppers?
I’m betting the tow company has a contract with whoever owns that property to tow unauthorized cars. They probably saw cars parked away from the entrance and took it upon themselves to make some big money. More than likely, if walmart agreed to let people park there, they didn’t tell the tow company, and thus hilarity ensued. Tow companies are shady as hell anyways, my ex got towed in fed hill and the driver said, pay me $200 and i’ll bring your car back right now. of course we did it, and of course he pocketed it.
I don’t want to say too much about this because the litigation might still be pending, but I am familiar with a similar Walmart real estate situation, and Evan is dead on about the PC Walmart probably closing as soon as the Remington location opens. They did the same thing elsewhere in the area in the last 10 years.