Entrance fee in malls??!?

mata hari
By mata hari

Oh, tell me this cannot be true!! I totally disagree, of course, what ab.ppl just searching for certain products or prices...What ab.the "unpaid" marketing service insured by this ppl who can recommend places/products/prices/whatever is interesting for them in malls...Anyway, does exist somewhere in the world such a tax?!?
-----------------------------------
Gulf Times-online/26Oct/Letters to the Editor
--------------------------
Let families also pay
Dear Sir,
I fully support the idea of P S Pai (‘Charge fees to enter mall’, Gulf Times October 21) that entrance fees must be introduced by shopping malls to reduce the number of visitors who do not spend anything and are there just to gape and gawk.
To get the best result, the fee should be applicable to families also.
I noticed on several occasions that shopping malls were used by some people as a place to hang out like parks or the Corniche.
But it is not our job to give advice on business tactics to malls functioning in Qatar. They know very well how to run their businesses.
Mohamed Ashraf Madiyari
P O Box 260, Doha
--------------------------------
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=250242...

By abuimad• 4 Nov 2008 00:03
Rating: 2/5
abuimad

in a couple of years they will introduce the all new skin color and ethnicity test, if you fail dont worry, you can apply to visit a mall before just one day, approval takes only 1 hour, and staff will be more than happy to accommodate you if you meet the requirements or turn you away with a no sir its a family day event remark if you dont..........make sure you get your id, passport copy, and a 3 month bank statement with a letter from your employer stating your salary...conditions apply...

By abdulrahmanwael• 30 Oct 2008 15:37
abdulrahmanwael

if u actually think of the idea would makes sense, to keep out anybody who isn,t willing to pay. but to tell u the truth, its a screwed idea in a country like qatar where there is practically nothing else to do.

By SouthLand• 30 Oct 2008 15:04
SouthLand

I read most of the comments and I have to say an entrance fee is not a good idea but I have seen malls in urban landscapes that charge for parking. Now that sounds like a way to provide for better parking services. I've seen days where you can't find good parking anywhere. Usually you can get a time credit (3 free hours) from a shop vendor provided you buy something. Valet anyone?

A fool and his money are soon parted.

-Thomas Tusser

By heero_yuy2• 30 Oct 2008 03:33
heero_yuy2

Baloney...

"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach

By SouthLand• 29 Oct 2008 23:44
SouthLand

Mata

A fool and his money are soon parted.

-Thomas Tusser

By GodFather.• 29 Oct 2008 23:02
GodFather.

Just to apprecaite the architecture and surroundins..

-----------------

HE WHO DARES WINS

By nicaq25• 29 Oct 2008 22:56
nicaq25

when I was there last year I still managed to pay 10 cents. But the amount doesn't matter, they charged bcoz of service done.

By Salmamohd• 29 Oct 2008 20:30
Salmamohd

Mascara???????

U mean MAskhara?

By chichi• 29 Oct 2008 15:39
chichi

What is this?!?! Mascara?!?!

By Salmamohd• 28 Oct 2008 08:00
Salmamohd

Hahahhaha...this was only left....lolzzzzz

By somwerNdmiddle• 28 Oct 2008 07:53
somwerNdmiddle

stupid! where on earth did you get that idea? what malls should ban are those men scratching their balls in public hahaha! and most men who pick their nose in front of the whole populace.

By chelsea_5706• 28 Oct 2008 07:37
chelsea_5706

That's rubbish!

wasted my time

Live Life free of worries

By Wanda• 27 Oct 2008 21:46
Wanda

i wonder what shop owners feel about this stupid idea. yes, not all people go to the malls to purposely shop..but once they get there they can finally have the impulse to buy. really crazy...

By Wanda• 27 Oct 2008 21:45
Wanda

i wonder what shop owners feel about this stupid idea. yes, not all people go to the malls to purposely shop..but once they get there they can finally have the impulse to buy. really crazy...

By anonymous• 27 Oct 2008 17:49
anonymous

Arien - Game for a drink :)

Ban Spoon Feeding not Me

By anonymous• 27 Oct 2008 17:46
anonymous

Arien - Using double layers :)

Ban Spoon Feeding not Me

By Arien• 27 Oct 2008 17:39
Arien

Charan.. better use pampers man.. you will save a lot.. LOL

By anonymous• 27 Oct 2008 16:48
Rating: 3/5
anonymous

nicaq25 - "in s'pore malls, most comfort room usage charge 10cents."

Wrong - it is 20 Cents (50 Dhirams) per entry per person.

In MRT station, Bus stations & other public places it is 10 cents.

Ban Spoon Feeding not Me

By anonymous• 27 Oct 2008 16:40
anonymous

... and one day you will require a no objection certificate from carrefour to go out, cool!

**lateral thinking**

By King Edshel• 27 Oct 2008 16:19
Rating: 2/5
King Edshel

then parking fees ...

then if you stay more than 2 hours you will pay ...

If you will go out without any purchased items then you will pay ...

weekends you have to pay the double of the above ...

:(

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. (Gautama Buddha)

By anonymous• 27 Oct 2008 10:50
anonymous

yes, they should ban all those staring bachelors and yes, they should ban all those ladies in black... i can see them staring at me from under their totally cool abayas LOL

and they should ban people who just go to the malls for a stroll, and wouldn't it be a great idea to ban those who go there for shopping!! yeah! five star qatar: the dumb ideas award!!

**lateral thinking**

By Arien• 27 Oct 2008 10:46
Arien

Gyps thats a cool idea infact.. This practice is there in many places back home.. the parking ticket will be re imebrsed and deducted from your bill when you pay for the stuff you picked.

If you dont buy anything.. you loose it..

By britexpat• 27 Oct 2008 10:43
britexpat

Sorry, I'm against that too. Anyway, It will be unworkable here.

You charge a fee for parking and 'drivers" will start loitering on corners, roads waiting for the call to pick up.

By Sokks 2008• 27 Oct 2008 10:40
Sokks 2008

Gypsy

Now thats a good idea then with that money they can keep the parking lot in good condition.

By Gypsy• 27 Oct 2008 10:37
Gypsy

Yes I disagree with an entrance fee....although some kind of paid parking scheme might not be bad, if it cuts down on the amount of cars in the parking lots.

By Sokks 2008• 27 Oct 2008 10:35
Sokks 2008

I cant believe the silly things people suggest.Its reduculess

By britexpat• 27 Oct 2008 10:34
britexpat

You've digressed from the original topic. we were discussing the pros and cons of "charging" for entering malls.

I personally belive that this should not be the case. The shops are offering a service and "invite" us all to sample what they have to offer. We can then make a choice whetehr to buy or not.

Should I be charged for this ???? I think not!

By Gypsy• 27 Oct 2008 10:31
Gypsy

Brit, are there thousands of people in the group, are they all men. Do they just stand by the escalators watching women?

By britexpat• 27 Oct 2008 10:26
britexpat

Get yourself a "old dear mobile" or a golf cart and drive around the malls.

Gypsy: In the Mall of America and West Edmonton Mall, theer are actually "walking" groups , especially oldies , who come just for walking and exercising. The Malls actually encourage this, because its good PR.

By venkygoud• 27 Oct 2008 10:19
venkygoud

I dont think any damn mall will do that. Its just the thought of an idle crooked brain.

I can see that by not allowing eligible bachelors like me ;) on family days they are losing almost 20 % business. There are lot more people who have their holidays on family days, still we cant shop. So we end up shopping elsewhere.

If i buy a 1.00 QR chocolate, will i be allowed???

What if i dont find some brand couple of times, what i was looking for? My entry fees gonna be more than my item price?

By amnesia• 27 Oct 2008 10:05
Rating: 2/5
amnesia

umm, I'd pay 3 riyals to go to a Mall. It used to cost me 7 riyals an hour to park at certain malls or even 10 riyals an hour on the high street.

__________________________

Mr. Q's Blog - A Qatari's view on Qatar.

By maani• 27 Oct 2008 10:03
maani

qatarisun u r right i m with u.

By Arien• 27 Oct 2008 10:02
Arien

Ther is a point that many gets in to kill time. But its part of the system.There no choice..If its a counter sale where the sales man take your order and supplies its different, you get only genuine buyers. so malls got to live with it..

Entry fee is crap idea. This will help the small grossery and supermaket guys for sure. Malls will loose..

By qatarisun• 27 Oct 2008 09:53
qatarisun

i don't like walking, i prefer driving..can we drive in the mall?

*********************

“You become responsible forever for what you have tamed”. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

By Gypsy• 27 Oct 2008 09:51
Gypsy

I totally don't agree with the souks being families only Mr. P, but I understand why the malls do it and I support it. The same way, when I was working in a mall in Canada I supported kicking out all the teenagers that were just "hanging out."

By anonymous• 27 Oct 2008 09:49
anonymous

cos of the prices, they shop in the souk.But they have that choice if they want it.

The Saudis are usually the ones perving over the women, making crass comments, especially at the way some Bahraini ladies dress.

[img_assist|nid=103941|title=.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]

NIL ILLEGITIMI CARBORUNDUM

By anonymous• 27 Oct 2008 09:47
anonymous

You could always come over my Confession Booth, so I could stare you down nicely in the Papal ways of priesthood.

“Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful,”

By Gypsy• 27 Oct 2008 09:46
Gypsy

Is that really a good thing?? Even with the family days I don't go to the malls on Fridays cause there's too many bachelors wandering around and staring.

By anonymous• 27 Oct 2008 09:45
anonymous

Qatarisum

Would you like to walk with me every Saturday? I meant to said, all the malls in one day. I have done three times already and it is exhausting.

“Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful,”

By anonymous• 27 Oct 2008 09:44
Rating: 4/5
anonymous

try Seef mall on a Thursday night...Full of saudis !

At least here, Anyone is allowed to enter malls, single or families.

[img_assist|nid=103941|title=.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]

NIL ILLEGITIMI CARBORUNDUM

By Gypsy• 27 Oct 2008 09:36
Gypsy

Brit, the most you'll ever see doing the mall walks is a max of maybe 2 or 3 people at any given time, that's very different from thousands of men wandering aimlessly.

By qatarisun• 26 Oct 2008 16:35
qatarisun

i don't say they should be banned, brit.. i say, i don't understand what type of entertainment is that...

*********************

“You become responsible forever for what you have tamed”. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

By britexpat• 26 Oct 2008 16:02
britexpat

If someone wants to wander round a mall to spend some time, then why not ?

In Canada and the USA, there are malls where people go just to walk. Should they be banned ?

By nadt• 26 Oct 2008 14:26
nadt

In Australia, the markets(souqs) impose a small fee to shop there, people complain but they still shop there.

Ironically, because when i go shopping with the intent of buying, i never find what i want, but when im browsing, its when i seem to purchase a lot. On the bright side, if this was to happen, we could all probably save more money and stop buying crap we dont really need.

By anonymous• 26 Oct 2008 14:10
anonymous

too much exposure to the desert, too much sand in the brain for some people! i hope the time when i find this and other similar bizarre ideas acceptable will never come...

**lateral thinking**

By qatarisun• 26 Oct 2008 13:35
qatarisun

There is a practice in Can, when you can get a free parking in case you buy something in the mall/shop. Any store in the mall stamps your Parking ticket, and then you are free of parking charge. they can do something similar with the entering the Mall. You pay kind of deposit on the entrance and get a ticket. Once this ticket is stamped by any shop/ food place/bank/ movie, etc, you get your deposit back.

*********************

“You become responsible forever for what you have tamed”. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

By nicaq25• 26 Oct 2008 13:26
Rating: 2/5
nicaq25

the mall is a commercial & public place. Restrictions & entrance fees do not bring income to mall owners. Some fast foods are located inside malls. So if I want to eat at any of them, I still need to pay the entrance??And oh, some banks are located inside the malls too!What a service!

By qatarisun• 26 Oct 2008 12:59
qatarisun

I don’t understand, is visiting the Mall “just because” could be a real entertainment for someone??

I hate malls. I go there exceptionally if I MUST buy something. Even in this case I postpone it as much as I can.

..cannot see any kind of pleasure in roaming the malls unintentionally.

*********************

“You become responsible forever for what you have tamed”. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

By Gypsy• 26 Oct 2008 12:47
Gypsy

Sorry, but if I got to the mall it's to buy something. I may browse till I find exactly what I want, but I don't go to the mall to just walk around in circles and "hang out"

By anonymous• 26 Oct 2008 11:58
anonymous

that's why I love Qatar.

By Scarlett• 26 Oct 2008 11:32
Scarlett

browsing is a precurser to buying. I know I always browse before making up my mind on what I want when I am buying presents or clothing...

Grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked,the good fortune to run into the ones I do,and the eyesight to tell the difference.

By Scarlett• 26 Oct 2008 11:30
Scarlett

advantage...less people go to malls...

disadvantage...less people go to malls...

its a lose /lose situation.

Grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked,the good fortune to run into the ones I do,and the eyesight to tell the difference.

By anonymous• 26 Oct 2008 11:30
anonymous

I suppose charging a mere QR50 for a good ole peep show is good value!

By Flammable• 26 Oct 2008 11:28
Flammable

well said brit.. i guess u mean to say that "you are NOT forced to do so"

-- F L A M M A B L E --

By Gypsy• 26 Oct 2008 11:27
Gypsy

It's actually London that I first saw the concept, Harrods actually enforces it.

Still Brit, you are browsing with the idea that you MAY buy something, not just wandering around the mall as a form of entertainment with no intentions of buying anything at all, but rather just Hanging out and staring at women.

By britexpat• 26 Oct 2008 11:16
britexpat

It's the first time I have heard of such a practice.

The shops / Malls "invite" people to come in and browse their offerings. Their should not be a compulsion to buy..

In London, I like to walk down oxford street and just bowse the shops. If I like someting, I MAY buy it, but I am forced to do so..

By kietsmark• 26 Oct 2008 10:48
kietsmark

wahahaha!!! lol!!! now i am thinking what "mall" means?

By Andrews• 26 Oct 2008 10:39
Andrews

Mata hari...why you guys are making so much hue n cry for a comment made by a stupid Gulft times reader...?

By mjamille28• 26 Oct 2008 10:35
mjamille28

some establishments charge toilet fee, but it isn't even clean,... there are staff tasked to do the maintenance, but i guess they did a piss poor job of maintaining the cleanliness... :P

By Gypsy• 26 Oct 2008 10:35
Gypsy

I know of individual stores in the West that, while not charging an entrance fee, will ban browsing between certain hours, so that if you go in you HAVE to buy something.

I see nothing wrong with this, malls and stores are places of business, they're purpose is to sell goods, not entertain bored people.

By anonymous• 26 Oct 2008 10:35
anonymous

it's absurd. But that's his view, let us argue it civilly and objectively.

"dgoodrebel will always be the rebellious good one"

By greentea• 26 Oct 2008 10:29
greentea

but MALL FEE ENTRANCE???

By Rizks• 26 Oct 2008 10:17
Rizks

Mata Hari.............

Dont argue with Androos ....lol

By mata hari• 26 Oct 2008 10:16
mata hari

Hey Andrews, don't kill the messenger! Far away from me this intention...just wondering,that's all!

By anonymous• 26 Oct 2008 10:14
anonymous

amount in using specific toilets. If you don't want to pay, you will be directed to other toilets.

Most public toilets in some tourist destinations are also charging minimal amount. It's fair, I think, considering the maintenance.

"dgoodrebel will always be the rebellious good one"

By Rizks• 26 Oct 2008 10:13
Rizks

Androos !!!

M fine Thank Ku. R V Arguing on something, waz not knowing tat ?? :)

By mjamille28• 26 Oct 2008 10:08
mjamille28

it is a MUST to have watchers/cleaners at all comfort rooms especially in public places like the malls, whether they have usage charges or not...no arguments.

By Andrews• 26 Oct 2008 10:07
Andrews

You guys desperately need some thing to argue..

Rizks............how are you

By Rizks• 26 Oct 2008 10:04
Rizks

WELCOME TO QATAR ....:)

By nicaq25• 26 Oct 2008 10:02
Rating: 2/5
nicaq25

you can find malls charging for entrance fee????What the heck!

mjamille28, in s'pore malls, most comfort room usage charge 10cents. However, they have watchers/cleaners standing by inside and keeping the toilets clean.

By Rizks• 26 Oct 2008 10:01
Rizks

Will they accept Credit Cards or Postdated Cheques :(

By chef_leo• 26 Oct 2008 09:58
chef_leo

why do Gulftimes tolerate and post this kind of letters in a daily news paper.??? its pretty F* UP!

By mjamille28• 26 Oct 2008 09:58
mjamille28

lame lame lame... soon people will also suggest charging entrance fees in comfort rooms inside malls.... :P

By owen• 26 Oct 2008 09:56
owen

is this the brilliant idea they can come up with?...geeezzz...

[img_assist|nid=12867|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.

By mjamille28• 26 Oct 2008 09:48
mjamille28

this is by far, the stupidest suggestion i've heard to date...

By greentea• 26 Oct 2008 09:46
greentea

CHECK RECEIPT of PURCHASE upon exit

if you didnt buy anything or patronize at least one shop or restaurant you should be banned coming in next time... LOL

By Paul R• 26 Oct 2008 09:40
Rating: 4/5
Paul R

Why not introduce credit checks as well, just to ensure everyone has sufficient funds to shop at the mall. Also the car parking spaces should be pre-booked and have a maximum stay of 3 hours, the parking fee is QR15 per hour including free car wash, oh and no car under 3 years old allowed.

Also in the food court, maximum stay 20 minutes and minimum spend QR30 per person.

Now for the cinema, All mobile phones to be handed in before going into theatre.

Smoking - Non smoking policy enforced in all areas.

.......who said British sarcasm was dead !!!!!

By anonymous• 26 Oct 2008 09:18
anonymous

there is always advantage and disadvantage...

advantage: less people will go to malls...

disadvantage: market of the stores inside the mall will also go less...

advantage: families can go roam around the malls more...

disadvantage: so, what do you think about what you noticed?(I noticed on several occasions that shopping malls were used by some people as a place to hang out like parks or the Corniche.) what i mean is, is it because they were family you don't notice them same like what you see...

my opinion is don't just look on one side... also look on the effect... also one time i went in villagio... lots of nepalies were waiting outside... ok family day is given that's why they can't go inside but how come this white people can go inside freely even when they are alone...

By who.am.i• 26 Oct 2008 09:12
who.am.i

such a waste of time.. geez, i wasted like seconds of my life in reading this stupid article. ha-ha! non~sense!

cheers,

paul

By smartbuddy• 26 Oct 2008 09:05
smartbuddy

now people argue/get annoyed even for comments from individual users, its NOT news, its comments like we have so many non-sense comments on QL also.

By greentea• 26 Oct 2008 08:56
greentea

where in the world have you seen a mall with entrance fees??? is there any??? back home there ain't one either

By Andrews• 26 Oct 2008 08:53
Andrews

cooldown guys.I think this is a comment made by a stupid reader.....

By qatarisun• 26 Oct 2008 08:48
qatarisun

*********************

“You become responsible forever for what you have tamed”. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

By britexpat• 26 Oct 2008 08:37
britexpat

Stupid idea.

The best answer if a mall introduces this system, is to vote with your feet..

By onemanshow• 26 Oct 2008 08:36
onemanshow

well said dude

By smoke• 26 Oct 2008 08:34
smoke

Oh get a life!! If they knew how to run a business we wouldnt have stupid "family days" and racist a$$holes running the malls. I hope they all f'ing run out of business soon then they will know the value of customers...paying, non paying, bachelor or family. dumb F's...pardon moi still no coffee yet.

Good Fortune always comes knocking at your door...when you are sh*tting in the toilet!! :)

_[]~SMoKE~[]_

 

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