Parking at a Walmart and taking Uber to airport to save money
Dec 27, 2017, 3:52 pm
#31
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: MSP
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This doesn't help the OP, but there are businesses who have used this as an advertising tool. There is a Mercedes dealer in Minneapolis, located close to MSP, who will give you free shuttle ride to MSP, service and store your car, and then pick you up again when you return. Of course you need to buy/own the right kind of car...
Dec 27, 2017, 5:37 pm
#32
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
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This doesn't help the OP, but there are businesses who have used this as an advertising tool. There is a Mercedes dealer in Minneapolis, located close to MSP, who will give you free shuttle ride to MSP, service and store your car, and then pick you up again when you return. Of course you need to buy/own the right kind of car...
Dec 27, 2017, 7:05 pm
#34
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 6
In many cities in the US, parking on the street for more than 72 hours can potentially lead to a parking ticket, especially if anyone nearby notices. It also increases the risk of the car being noticed by a potential car thief -- of course depending on how much the car is worth, how easy it is to steal, etc.
Dec 27, 2017, 7:07 pm
#35
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 1,602
“His name was Bubba, he was from Texas and he needed a loan, so he walked into a bank in New York City and asked for the loan officer. He told the loan officer that he was going to Paris for an International Redneck Festival for two weeks and needed to borrow $5,000, and that he was not a depositor of the bank.
The bank officer told him that the bank would need some form of security for the loan, so the Redneck handed over the keys to a new Ferrari. The car was parked on the street in front of the bank.
The Redneck produced the title and everything checked out. The loan officer agreed to hold the car as collateral for the loan and apologized for having to charge 12% interest.
Later, the bank’s president and its officers all enjoyed a good laugh at the Redneck from the Texas for using a $250,000 Ferrari as collateral for a $5,000 loan. An employee of the bank then drove the Ferrari into the bank’s private underground garage and parked it.
Two weeks later, the Redneck returned, repaid the $5,000 and the interest of 23.07. The loan officer said, “Sir, we are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a little puzzled.
While you were away, we checked you out on Dunn & Bradstreet and found that you are a distinguished alumni from Texas A & M, a highly sophisticated investor and multi-millionaire with real estate and financial interests all over the world. Your investments include a large number of wind turbines around Sweetwater, Texas. What puzzles us is, why would you bother to borrow $5,000?”
The good ‘ole boy replied, “Where else in New York City can I park my car for two weeks for only $23.07 and expect it to be there when I return?”
The bank officer told him that the bank would need some form of security for the loan, so the Redneck handed over the keys to a new Ferrari. The car was parked on the street in front of the bank.
The Redneck produced the title and everything checked out. The loan officer agreed to hold the car as collateral for the loan and apologized for having to charge 12% interest.
Later, the bank’s president and its officers all enjoyed a good laugh at the Redneck from the Texas for using a $250,000 Ferrari as collateral for a $5,000 loan. An employee of the bank then drove the Ferrari into the bank’s private underground garage and parked it.
Two weeks later, the Redneck returned, repaid the $5,000 and the interest of 23.07. The loan officer said, “Sir, we are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a little puzzled.
While you were away, we checked you out on Dunn & Bradstreet and found that you are a distinguished alumni from Texas A & M, a highly sophisticated investor and multi-millionaire with real estate and financial interests all over the world. Your investments include a large number of wind turbines around Sweetwater, Texas. What puzzles us is, why would you bother to borrow $5,000?”
The good ‘ole boy replied, “Where else in New York City can I park my car for two weeks for only $23.07 and expect it to be there when I return?”
Dec 27, 2017, 8:04 pm
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
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In that case you should also be concerned about the check-in agent, the baggage handlers, the hotel employees at your destination, and probably twenty or so other people who will have a combination of (i) your name, (ii) your address, (iii) other contact details, (iv) your dates of travel, etc.
Dec 28, 2017, 7:50 am
#37
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: BUF
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Posts: 155
If I lived in an apartment building, I'd call a cab without a second thought. But we live in a house. And it was drilled into my head from a very young age that you never call a cab to the house when going to the train station/airport. I'm sure that will be overly cautious for many people, but that's the rationale.
Dec 28, 2017, 8:41 am
#38
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Dec 30, 2017, 5:26 pm
#39
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
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Just chit chat with the driver..."I hope my husband doesn't get drunk and decide to do home repair while I'm gone again. The window trim from last time is all crooked, plus he cut the tip of his finger off with that stupid saw of his!" or "Last time my cousin house sat his great dane peed all over the place - my house smelled like a zoo when I got back."
Dec 31, 2017, 11:14 pm
#40
Join Date: May 2006
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If I lived in an apartment building, I'd call a cab without a second thought. But we live in a house. And it was drilled into my head from a very young age that you never call a cab to the house when going to the train station/airport. I'm sure that will be overly cautious for many people, but that's the rationale.
I'd say if you are worried, just say you are leaving your brother's house after a visit, and he is a police officer on duty at the moment... problem solved.
Jan 1, 2018, 8:42 am
#41
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
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Posts: 166
I've never heard that before. I guess I understand the concern, but seems a little paranoid. It's quite common for more than one person or even family to live in the same house. Or you could be a visiting relative on your way back home. It seems a stretch to think a taxi driver will automatically think they can rob your home just because you are riding to the airport.
I'd say if you are worried, just say you are leaving your brother's house after a visit, and he is a police officer on duty at the moment... problem solved.
I'd say if you are worried, just say you are leaving your brother's house after a visit, and he is a police officer on duty at the moment... problem solved.
I'd say if you're that worried about leaving your house in a cab, maybe you shouldn't.
Feb 4, 2018, 11:28 pm
#42
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 3
That’s a very cool idea, I guess you’ve done your studying and found that walmart allows this (not surprising if they do since they allow people to sleep in their cars in their parking lot, at least I heard that not 100% if it’s true or still true). Although I’d park in the back corner to avoid getting your car dinged and obviously clean the car out
Feb 12, 2018, 10:16 pm
#43
Join Date: Nov 2013
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Posts: 4,421
I wouldn't do it. How much do you save? If it's the security issue, then hail it from a block away.
We Uber to the airport from my wife's work, but it's $12 vs $40 and secured/private.
We Uber to the airport from my wife's work, but it's $12 vs $40 and secured/private.
Feb 24, 2018, 9:59 pm
#44
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 1
There are many practical and cheap off-site parking options in most downtowns. I'm assuming you don't mind a small fee in exchange for a 100% guarantee of not getting towed? Only downside is there is no guarantee that it's safe from someone breaking your window, but if you don't leave things in plain sight it should be fine.
Feb 25, 2018, 3:16 am
#45
Join Date: May 2006
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Maybe you can give an example? I would expect parking at the airport would be around the same price as parking in downtowns (if there is an option downtown).