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My E320 Was Held Hostage Today!
So, I was out on sales calls today in Chicago. I stop at a strip mall to introduce my product to a local vitamin store I found on the internet. So I parked and got out of my car I then walked to the supposed location in the strip mall. As it turns out the store went out of business and was no longer there,,, Oh well... So, I was about to get back in my vehicle and drive to my next call when I notice a restaurant about 50 feet outside the strip mall. So I walked over there and made a "pit stop". I walk out no more than three minutes later and see a guy attaching one of these to my rear wheel!
I was like, "Excuse me! What the hell are you doing to my car!" He told me that the parking lot was for patrons only and if I don't want my car towed and impounded I had to pay him $115.00! Oh man, I was so pissed! I told him my story, he didn't care. He looked and dressed like a bum and had some old and rusty caddy. I kept arguing with him, BLA, BLA, BLA. Nothing worked. So I paid the guy with a bank card and left. Maybe I was wrong by not just leaving but I didn't know the parking lot was under surveillance by cons. If I knew they had a sign posted that I couldn't park there I wouldn't have. This just seems like total BS to me. Your opinions, please. Thanks! Adam
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Current Stable: 01 ML55 AMG 92 500E (a few mods) 87 300E (lots of mods) 00 Chevy 3500HD Diesel Box Truck 68 18' Donzi Marine 06 GT i-Drive7 1.0 Mountain Bike (with GPS!) PREVIOUSLY OWNED:83 300SD, 87 420SEL, 88 420SEL, 90 420SEL, 86 560SEL, 86 190E 2.3-16V AMG, 94 E320 |
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I would have gotten the police involved in that one.
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To what end? The area was for store patrons only. You may argue all you want till you are blue in the face but they have you on a technicality.
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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke 99 E300 Turbodiesel 91 Vette with 383 motor 05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI 06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI 03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red 03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow 04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler 11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow |
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Your best course of action might be to talk to the restaurant about what happened to you......that you were unaware of the parking policy, and how upset you are about paying the $110 fee.
I'd explain that while you were not going to eat at that restaurant that day, that by holding "potential future customers" hostage with the tire handcuff, they are going to lose your patronage forever.
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Paul S. 2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior. 79,200 miles. 1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron". |
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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke 99 E300 Turbodiesel 91 Vette with 383 motor 05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI 06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI 03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red 03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow 04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler 11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow |
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I disagree.
I think without a posted sign where you can see it, this guy had nothing on you! If you weren't parked in a red or had lots of parking tickets, they wouldn't use those yellow boots. I feel like it was a con. I'm sorry that happened to you. Next time call the cops! |
#7
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I don't know about IL but here they could lock it whether you had parking tickets or not.
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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke 99 E300 Turbodiesel 91 Vette with 383 motor 05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI 06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI 03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red 03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow 04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler 11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow |
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I saw a thread a while back where a guy got his car booted, checked the law and found that in his area it is illegal to remove a company's boot from your car, however it's not illegal to remove the car with the boot still installed. He got it up on dollies and put it in his garage, then called the company and offered to let them take their boot back. After considerable back and forth, this is what they did. He paid nothing, but the hassle in time spent was probably more than just paying.
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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar. 83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles 08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles 88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress. |
#9
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He had me on leaving the premises of the strip mall but I think for the time spent and the fact that I was actually planning on visiting a business there gives me some sort of benefit. I'm sure he gets some sort of commission for his victims. The guy obviously saw the opportunity when I walked into the IHOP and figured he'd make a quick buck. What a S#!tty job, Wow! I'd hate to be that guy. Oh well, Hopefully I don't have my card number sold on the black market.
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Current Stable: 01 ML55 AMG 92 500E (a few mods) 87 300E (lots of mods) 00 Chevy 3500HD Diesel Box Truck 68 18' Donzi Marine 06 GT i-Drive7 1.0 Mountain Bike (with GPS!) PREVIOUSLY OWNED:83 300SD, 87 420SEL, 88 420SEL, 90 420SEL, 86 560SEL, 86 190E 2.3-16V AMG, 94 E320 |
#10
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Yes you were planning on visiting a store. However, after that, you went to IHOP which was something else altogether. Yes, I agree he was probably watching you and when you left the strip mall to go to IHOP he swooped in. All in all, I agree it was a crummy thing but he does have you on a technicality. Why don't you give me your card numbers so I can check.
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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke 99 E300 Turbodiesel 91 Vette with 383 motor 05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI 06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI 03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red 03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow 04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler 11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow |
#11
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On a side note,,, Their are lots of signs in Chicago. You'd have to drive at 2mph to read them all. I am a very alert driver but it's still impossible for me to take note of them all. I have never even considered this could possibly take place. I guess I'll have to shudder in fear every time I park my car!
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Current Stable: 01 ML55 AMG 92 500E (a few mods) 87 300E (lots of mods) 00 Chevy 3500HD Diesel Box Truck 68 18' Donzi Marine 06 GT i-Drive7 1.0 Mountain Bike (with GPS!) PREVIOUSLY OWNED:83 300SD, 87 420SEL, 88 420SEL, 90 420SEL, 86 560SEL, 86 190E 2.3-16V AMG, 94 E320 |
#12
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I would go to each and every store in that sorry mall, tell them what happened, and tell them that you will not ever, spend one red cent in that mall, since they are the ones who condone such actions.
Oh....before you visit them, call the property owner, and tell him the same thing. You may find out that it is the property owner making a few bucks on the side, or giving his retarded son in law a job - either way, he needs to be told that such low form of terrorism will not be tolerated. Hopefully a few hours later, he will get an earfull from the store owners as well. Good Luck
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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein 09 Jetta TDI 1985 300D |
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You got off light.
A few yrs ago my SE was towed from the Chick-Fil-A parking lot on lower Greenville. I ate there earlier then walked across the road to a club to see a good friend perform. Taxi driver who gave me a ride home tells me they watch you leave the lot on foot and radio the tow driver who's standing just around the corner. Big money maker. Next day when I went to get the car I find all the gas gone and several nicks and scratches. Talking to the thugs there got me nowhere so, the next weekend I parked in the same spot and watched the action. As soon as I saw someone parking and walking off the lot I got their attention and informed them they would be towed. I made the conversation as obvious as possible to the "lookouts" while pointing them out. After a couple of hours a big black caddy pulls up across the street. Two lookouts walk up and talk to the big guy in the back seat and then come over to me and take my picture and ask what I'm doing. I told 'em I'm getting a very large chicken order together, may take me a while. They ask if I was telling people not to park here. Maybe... I must have cost them a couple of grand that night based on the number of 'tows' I prevented. |
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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out 1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out) 1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481) "The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care." |
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