All Cars, All the Time

Spot Scout: Ca$h for Your Parking Spot


Would you pay cash money for the knowledge of when someone is going to vacate a parking spot? What if you were a garage owner, how would you like to promote your spaces to interested drivers? A service called Spot Scout is hoping to become the middleman in the new marketplace of parking spaces. Currently you can reserve private parking spaces, but coming soon you'll be able to be informed of the exact time that someone plans to vacate a public parking space. You'll register on the website with your PC, but then use your cell phone to find and reserve spots.

The street parking is only going to be as valuable as the participants are timely. How many times have you "thought" that you were about to leave, only to be delayed for one reason or another? Now you've got someone waiting for you car to move and you're not ready. Most of the time they'll probably just drive off in frustration and the fee will be returned to them, but sometimes folks might be mad enough to leave a calling card. Spot Scout's answer? "Both the SpotScout and SpotCaster must rate each other on punctuality, location quality and ease of transaction. Your rating will affect the willingness of others to do business with you in the future. Much like any of the auction websites, SpotScout is a virtual marketplace where an informed decision and trust are necessary."

Since this service is most valuable when the spots are most saught after, you can be sure that there will be lots of other folks vying for your "reserved" parking space. Are you going to explain to the person who just pulled in front of you that "reserved" the parking space? Most hardended urban drivers will give you a piece of their mind if you try that stunt. Spot Scout's advice for drivers trying to save their parking space for a particular individual? "The short answer is wave them on, they can’t force you to leave."

You can find out all about the service by clicking here.