Halifax grocer says booting cars not 'the Maritime way'

A Halifax grocery store has booted the car booters from its parking lot after customers complained their vehicles were clamped shortly after being parked.

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"I determined that the policies that were being followed were not the Maritime way. Here in Halifax — in the Maritimes — we don't boot cars," said Jamie Wentzell, the owner of Organic Earth Market on Quinpool Road.

"I fired them and cancelled the service."

Wentzell and his wife bought the grocery store a little over two weeks ago. On Sunday they learned two drivers got booted in their parking lot. 

"When these two individuals approached me, I thought it was just following proper procedures and policies as the previous owners had in the past," said Wentzell.

The grocer soon found out he didn't agree with what the company had done.

Grocer refunds customers

Wentzell spoke to the man who booted the vehicles over the weekend (he declined to identify him) and determined the time between when the cars were reported and the boots went on was minimal. 

Booting companies are unregulated and set their own prices and business practices.

Wentzell refunded the customers who each had been ordered to pay $115 plus tax.

"We want to grow the business. We have very loyal customers here, we're very excited and this was not the way we wanted to be welcomed into owning a new store," he said.

Wentzell says they plan to approach drivers who have overstayed their welcome in their lot the old fashioned way, which is to have conversations and leave notes. 

"We're very happy that we have parking, we think it's a great addition to the store and we should be encouraging people to park, come into our store, browse around, grab a coffee and take their time," he said.