Halifax grocer says booting cars not 'the Maritime way'

A Halifax grocery store has booted the car booters from its parking lot aftercustomers complained theirvehicleswereclamped shortly after being parked.

• Halifax drivers with booted tires question lack of regulations

"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," saidJamieWentzell, the owner of Organic Earth Market onQuinpoolRoad.

"I fired them and cancelled the service."

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

"When these two individuals approached me, I thought it was just following properproceduresand policies as the previous owners had in the past," saidWentzell.

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

Grocer refundscustomers

Wentzell spoketo the man who booted the vehicles over the weekend (he declined to identify him)anddetermined the time between when the cars werereported and the bootswent on was minimal.

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

Wentzellrefunded 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 theirtime," he said.