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The parking app I use in Berlin, easy park, works in the sense that I pre-select a timeframe I think im going to park which then gives me an estimate for how mu

by svelle 2y ago

The parking app I use in Berlin, easy park, works in the sense that I pre-select a timeframe I think im going to park which then gives me an estimate for how much it'll cost and reserve that amount using my CC. When I end the parking before that timer ends, the actual time I've parked will be taken and only that amount is charged. It used to be even better in the sense that you'd only start and then end parking without having to pre select a time. But I think too many people, me included, forgot to end the parking when taking off and paid way more than they actually parked for.

SoftTalker 2y ago
Of course the apps could easily detect that parking has ended. They could note your location when you park. When the phone returns to that location, and then moves at driving speed, parking has ended. But they don't because they make more money by profiting from people who forget to "clock out" when they are done parking.
- rad_gruchalski 2y ago
  Yes, that’s what we need, parking apps tracking user’s location 24/7.
- pohuing 2y ago
  Don't android and IOS try to prevent background location tracking? The location permission dialogs don't even have that option
- svelle 2y ago
  > Of course the apps could easily detect that parking has ended. They could note your location when you park. When the phone returns to that location, and then moves at driving speed, parking has ended. They could at least start with adding proper CarPlay and Android Auto support so you can just end the parking from the infotainment. But I think there can be at most a single engineer working on this app if at all. Up until a couple months ago it didn't even have the option for a persistent notification to remind you that you had an ongoing parking... > But they don't because they make more money by profiting from people who forget to "clock out" when they are done parking. fwiw, at least in this case, the app that profited from you not clocking out got shut down and bought out by the app that asks you to pre-set your parking time. Which I guess is still not great, but at least somewhat of a step up.
  - Marsymars 2y ago
    > But I think there can be at most a single engineer working on this app if at all. I assume they’re contracted out to the lowest bidder. In my city the payment schedule on the app significantly lags the meters/official rates. Fine when prices go up, but pretty annoying to app-users when the app charges more than the official parking rates. Maybe if they get their merchant account sanctioned for too many chargebacks someone will take notice.
- def13 2y ago
  All of the parking apps I’ve used offer this “drive away detection” optionally. One of them wanted me to sign up to a parking subscription of some sort to be able to access it which was a bit insane. I just don’t turn on the feature because I don’t really think its worth sending my precise location for the next however many hours to some random small time app developer.

by svelle 2y ago

SoftTalker 2y ago

Of course the apps could easily detect that parking has ended. They could note your location when you park. When the phone returns to that location, and then moves at driving speed, parking has ended. But they don't because they make more money by profiting from people who forget to "clock out" when they are done parking.

rad_gruchalski 2y ago
Yes, that’s what we need, parking apps tracking user’s location 24/7.
pohuing 2y ago
Don't android and IOS try to prevent background location tracking? The location permission dialogs don't even have that option
svelle 2y ago
> Of course the apps could easily detect that parking has ended. They could note your location when you park. When the phone returns to that location, and then moves at driving speed, parking has ended. They could at least start with adding proper CarPlay and Android Auto support so you can just end the parking from the infotainment. But I think there can be at most a single engineer working on this app if at all. Up until a couple months ago it didn't even have the option for a persistent notification to remind you that you had an ongoing parking... > But they don't because they make more money by profiting from people who forget to "clock out" when they are done parking. fwiw, at least in this case, the app that profited from you not clocking out got shut down and bought out by the app that asks you to pre-set your parking time. Which I guess is still not great, but at least somewhat of a step up.
- Marsymars 2y ago
  > But I think there can be at most a single engineer working on this app if at all. I assume they’re contracted out to the lowest bidder. In my city the payment schedule on the app significantly lags the meters/official rates. Fine when prices go up, but pretty annoying to app-users when the app charges more than the official parking rates. Maybe if they get their merchant account sanctioned for too many chargebacks someone will take notice.
def13 2y ago
All of the parking apps I’ve used offer this “drive away detection” optionally. One of them wanted me to sign up to a parking subscription of some sort to be able to access it which was a bit insane. I just don’t turn on the feature because I don’t really think its worth sending my precise location for the next however many hours to some random small time app developer.