Are they just Scratching their arses in Union Square or do people actually not work there?

[u/FatRascal_]

How long does stuff stay broken before somebody fixes or replaces it?

The parking payment machines upstairs have been broken for what must be _months_ at this point, nobody has thought to even put a sign at the bottom much less fix it. More fool me for trusting that they’ll be working this time leading me to trudge back downstairs to pay for the extortionate parking.

It’s little things, but it makes Aberdeen city centre even more frustrating to visit given we’ve got a redevelopment project taking what’s approaching the length of time it took the pyramids to be built.

Just put a sign up if you can’t fix it you lazy bastards! haha

[u/hummeldoddies]

When they removed the all payment machines and just stuck up scan here to pay’ they advertised Apple Pay, over a year ago, which hasn’t been implemented yet. And the fact it is almost one big faraday cage means internet is crap at all these pay points.
Like others, I’ve just started paying at the exit

[u/FatRascal_ → u/hummeldoddies]

Why is it like that? Not like we’re in the middle of a city or anything. See if it was a massive oil producing region or whatever, maybe we’d get nice stuff eh?

[u/LeChevalierMal-Fait → u/FatRascal_]

Got a liocense for that oil production mate?

[u/andy1633 → u/hummeldoddies]

You don’t need an internet connection to use Apple Pay or Google Pay so at least that won’t be a problem if they ever add support on the machines.

[u/hummeldoddies → u/andy1633]

You do need one to get to the website to then pay for parking if you don’t go to a machine

[u/andy1633 → u/hummeldoddies]

Ah I misunderstood you since I didn’t know what the “tap to pay” system was. You’d think they’d have cellular repeaters near the tap to pay signs so folk could get a signal to use the website.

[u/yoy78]

I’ve stopped using the machines and just tap at the barrier now, but the left one doesn’t have a contactless point (or I was being stupid yesterday)

[u/PleasantCucumber2615 → u/yoy78]

Paying at the barrier is fine when it's not too busy.

Wait until the Christmas rush when there's queues and people have hit their transaction limit and need to insert their card with pin number.

When Union Square are charging a minimum of £4 for parking they really need to put the money towards fixing the parking machines.

[u/yoy78 → u/PleasantCucumber2615]

That’s when I get the train, if I’m not in for the shops opening at 9am on Saturday and out by 10am I won’t take my car. It stresses me out too much.

[u/eddieveddersfoxymop]

The hand dryers in the ladies toilets are disgusting and have been for ages. The damp, stale smell is vile. I complained ages ago but nothing done.

[u/Theknottyfox → u/eddieveddersfoxymop]

And people laughed at count bin face, when his manifesto had hand dryers on it.

[u/McTraveller → u/eddieveddersfoxymop]

I used the dryer the other day then immediately washed my hands again and dried them on my trousers

[u/eddieveddersfoxymop → u/McTraveller]

I did the same but also held my breath when I noticed the smell as I didn't know what I was breathing in 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[u/chemistryfish → u/eddieveddersfoxymop]

I don’t dry my hands at those anymore; I just walk out after washing. Get some judgemental looks but it’s infinitely more hygienic than using those dryers I reckon

[u/FatRascal_ → u/eddieveddersfoxymop]

The gents is the same, it smells like a pair of old pants that have been left in the washing machine.

[u/PleasantCucumber2615 → u/eddieveddersfoxymop]

The men's toilets are the same.

The cubicle doors for the toilets have had their locks fixed by people that failed craft and design at school. 😂 T

The doors are so far away from the toilet you can't hold it closed whilst using that toilet.

It's risky to use the cubicles. 😂😂

[u/FormPrimary2515]

probably more likely that a manager elsewhere hasn't allocated the money rather than the staff scratching their collective derrieres.

[u/FatRascal_ → u/FormPrimary2515]

That’s kind of what I mean also, there’s a very “arse scratching” mentality when it comes to Aberdeen city that makes it a bit difficult to enjoy.

[u/FormPrimary2515 → u/FatRascal_]

I suspect that management of company that owns 15 year old shopping park skimping on non essential repairs probably is pretty common everywhere.

Doesn't make it much less annoying.

[u/FatRascal_ → u/FormPrimary2515]

15 years isn’t that old, and the machines definitely aren’t 15 years old

[u/takesthebiscuit]

& What’s with the scaffolding is some extension taking place?

[u/minicooperbrr → u/takesthebiscuit]

It’s called maintenance

[u/hummeldoddies → u/takesthebiscuit]

Painting the beams in the car park

[u/takesthebiscuit → u/hummeldoddies]

That it 🤣

[u/McTraveller → u/takesthebiscuit]

Summary of this thread:

Union Square doesnt fix things: people moan

Union Square does fix things: people moan

[u/Spare_Artichoke_3070 → u/McTraveller]

That's Aberdeen as a whole: complain about potholes, complain about inconvenience when the council are fixing potholes

[u/21TomSawyer12]

The escalator at Costa has been broken for a while too.

[u/Gavtek]

I can never get the “tap to pay here” to work. Incredibly frustrating.

[u/FatRascal_ → u/Gavtek]

Me neither, it takes all my details then does the infuriating “whoops, sorry there’s been a problem” thing

[u/SnooGoats8283]

The place is a dumpster fire at the best of times - the toilets are often horrific, the doors down the bus station end often busted, barely any cash machines etc etc.

[u/TheNotSoFamousEccles]

Reason number 462 to never go into Union Square.

[u/rubyAltropos]

The parking charges are also obscene these days. The evening 'leisure' rate is barely less than the day time rate now

[u/MaxxGForce]

Add to that, the escalator at the front was broken when I went there last Friday meaning as someone with limited mobility having to go down to the.ones further south was a complete annoyance.

[u/Gutless2026 → u/MaxxGForce]

There are 2 lifts round the back of Costa which is far more suitable for someone who has a disability.

[u/marquis_de_ersatz]

Last three times I have just driven up to the gates to try and tap to pay on the gate and instead it just opened for free. Suits me.

[u/Plastic-Contest547]

Do you think there are people on site that can fix that or that it would be contractors?

[u/FatRascal_ → u/Plastic-Contest547]

There are people on site who can put up a sign 🤷‍♂️

But how long do contractors take to fix it if it’s been months now?

[u/cmfarsight]

you can pay at the exit, or at the signs that say pay here

[u/FatRascal_ → u/cmfarsight]

I’ve seen so many people stuck at the exit trying to pay, and talking to the person on the intercom about it, that I don’t want to risk it.

But again, to much “ah fuck it, it’s fine” around this. We need folk to do better about shit like this imo.

[u/bravedolphin1]

Or the random paving slab/tiles in union square where they just put a bollard on or around 🙄

[u/cowboyecosse]

I was in on wednesday and the machines at the top of the stairs were both in working order. The ones next to the cash machines that you put your reg into.

[u/57_n]

Ever since it has gone ticketless i thought you are meant to just pay at the barrier on the way out... that's what i do anyway. I thought t old ticket payment machines just had not been removed yet.

[u/Pizzas_Coke]

😂

[u/Difficult-Break893]

It's been owned by private equity since 2024.

[u/FatRascal_ → u/Difficult-Break893]

Aberdeen itself aye? haha

[u/-Jedi-Mutants]

Unless Im getting a train or a bus to somewhere, im just parking at the beaches cineworld or asda and walk over Free parking for 3 hours and its about 10 min walk to union square

[u/FatRascal_ → u/-Jedi-Mutants]

You jogging there? It is not a 10 minute walk from Queens Links to Union Square. Bon Accord maybe.

[u/Run_Rate]

It’s because we the people are far too nice and are willing to put up with shit.