Goodwill or Good Profits?
There’s a crackdown going on in New York. Last week the NYPD started a wave of ticketing and towing illegally parked scooters. Many scooter owners park their rides on the sidewalk to avoid getting hit by drivers who “touch” park or getting moved by drivers who are desperate for a space.
Scooter manufacturer Vespa has stepped in, pushing for a policy change for parking two-wheel vehicles in the city. The company is circulating a “Vespatition” to pressure lawmakers; about 5,000 people have signed it so far. According to Aaron Peterson, manager of Vespa’s SOHO dealership, who was quoted in the newspaper Metro, better parking options could help spur scooter sales, but the “result would be a more efficient city” because scooter riding is better for traffic and the environment than cars and SUVs are.
Oddly, some scooter riders don’t want Vespa to improve their parking situation. Some riders who park on sidewalks remove their license plates so they don’t get ticketed; many of those same riders don’t want to have to start to pay for proper parking.
Regardless, what struck me about this is that it seems to me that Vespa is working to create a win-win-win situation for its customers (at least the ones who do want a proper place to park), the city, and itself. It’s another case of a company potentially benefiting from increased loyalty and sales by looking out not only for its customers, but also for its community.
What’s your opinion of Vespa’s approach?
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