Parking lot etiquette and vent.

[Disneyland1084]

Yesterday I went to Costco. Anyone who goes there on a Saturday knows how crowded it can be, and finding a parking spot can be a challenge. I noticed someone getting in their car, so I immediately put my blinker on. A couple seconds later someone honks at me from behind. I didn't move, so the car goes around me. Was I being rude? As that car goes around me, a couple of very inappropriate words come out of my mouth. My window was up, so the driver didn't see or hear me. There's been multiple times I've been stuck behind a car waiting for a spot, and I don't do anything. I just patiently wait until there's room to move. So the car that honks at me never waits for a spot when he sees one coming up? Yeah right. Have you ever been in a similar situation?

 

[mjkacmom]

I would 100% go around you, not mad, just don’t want to waste time. I do not go to Costco on the weekends, and I’m one who parks as far away as possible to not only get a spot, but not be rushed by those waiting for a spot.

 

[Disneyland1084]

and I’m one who parks as far away as possible to not only get a spot, but not be rushed by those waiting for a spot.

I'll do that when I can't find a spot. This just happened to be when I drove in the parking lot.

 

[leebee]

I never stop to wait for a spot. It just backs up the rest of the vehicles, making a crazy parking lot even more congested and crazier.

 

[fla4fun]

I would not go around you, for fear that the car you are waiting for would begin to move and hit me. However, I do not stop and wait for a space unless the car is already moving out of it. Sometimes it can be a long wait for a person to get settled in their car and leave the parking space, and sometimes they delay it deliberately when they see a person waiting. I can understand why you stopped, but I can also understand why the person behind you honked and then went around. It’s a dog eat dog world in the parking lots when shopping Thanksgiving weekend.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

If talking about other places IMO it's about how long you anticipate someone taking for you to take their spot along with the conditions of the day meaning how busy is the parking lot. Without a doubt people do stop far too early like when people are still loading their cars up and it's creating a traffic problem.

The lane you're in matters, our closest Costco you would be creating a huge traffic mess if you stopped for any length of time waiting for a car to pull out on the main lane, the one you enter after turning into the Costco parking lot.

BUT bottom line is we go to Costco frequently on weekends and it's simply too busy to sit there waiting for a parking spot, it doesn't matter what weekend it is it's just too busy. You're in the wrong, the other driver while impatient was not the one causing the overall problem.

 

[CynBeth]

Not at that store but for any in my area people are always when a parking lot is packed when they see someone going to a car wait for the spot with a blinker and usually people in another car behind that car wait patiently. The car who went around could have caused an accident and it was rude to honk at you.

 

[shh]

so the car that honks at me never waits for a spot when he sees one coming up? Yeah right.

Actually that's me (but minus the honking.) I never look for open parking spaces...I immediately drive to the boonies - the far end of the lot where no one parks and walk.

My pet peeve is that some lots (not all, I know) actually have enough room for a waiting driver to steer to the left or right so smaller cars/suvs can pass by if the person in the spot is slow to leave. But often, waiting drivers sit smack in the middle so everyone must wait.

Don't get me started on people who sit in their cars after getting in: talking on the phone digging into purses or opening purchases when they see everyone waiting.

Aggravating parking lots and rude shoppers are 1 big reason I buy online now - including groceries. So many accidents happen in busy parking lots - a sure way to ruin one's day.

 

[WorldWacky]

It happens a lot around here. I just wait behind the person. This time of year, especially, it’s tough to find a spot. Even if I’m in a rush and annoyed in the moment, I try to remind myself that being patient is extending a kindness. Again, something we all need a little more of these days.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Anyone who goes there on a Saturday knows how crowded it can be, and finding a parking spot can be a challenge.

That's why waiting causes the issue because people can't make their ways through the parking lot to find an open slot if someone is parked waiting for someone to pull out and then it is like a domino effect with the cars that go down that lane behind you. I understand the impulse to grab that spot but unless that driver was actively backing out and realistically already at least halfway out you should have bypass that parking spot and drove around to find another. It's kinda the only way to keep the traffic flow at least somewhat going in the Costco parking lots most especially on the weekend.

 

[_19disnA]

Some people are always in a hurry (to do what I have NO idea) and it seems like they expect the waters to magically part so they don't waste their precise time which is apparently FAR more valuable than anyone else out shopping............LOL. IF the person is about to exit their spot, I see nothing wrong with stopping and letting them backup so you can take that spot. If someone doesn't like that, let them zoom around you. That to me is true in ANY parking lot and not specific to any one store.

 

[georgina]

Yesterday I went to Costco. Anyone who goes there on a Saturday knows how crowded it can be, and finding a parking spot can be a challenge. I noticed someone getting in their car, so I immediately put my blinker on. A couple seconds later someone honks at me from behind. I didn't move, so the car goes around me. Was I being rude? As that car goes around me, a couple of very inappropriate words come out of my mouth. My window was up, so the driver didn't see or hear me. There's been multiple times I've been stuck behind a car waiting for a spot, and I don't do anything. I just patiently wait until there's room to move. So the car that honks at me never waits for a spot when he sees one coming up? Yeah right. Have you ever been in a similar situation?

So how long did you end up sitting there waiting? Sometimes it can be a long time. I would definitely have gone around you if the car wasn't moving out of the space yet. Most newer cars these days have a warning if a car is passing behind them.

 

[disneychrista]

IMO, yes it was rude to stop in the middle of the aisle. I would have honked & gone around as well. As to your "he never waits for a spot" it is very likely that he doesn't. I have never waited for a spot. If a parking lot is that full that there is no spot available, I would just leave because that means the store is crazy busy and that is a big NO for me.

 

[sam_gordon]

Very possible the car behind you didn't realize the spot was going to open. Having your signal on doesn't necessarily mean you're getting ready to occupy a spot (it should, but doesn't always).

Not sure what you're upset at the other driver for, honking or going around you. If it was me, when the honked, I'd try to point to the spot I'm waiting for and/or wave them to go around.

Not sure they deserved some "very inappropriate words", even if they couldn't hear them.

 

[barb969]

I don’t have an objection to your waiting for a space as long there is room for cars to pass. He probably honked so you would knew he was passing you.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Not sure of the etiquette - I would probably be the driver in the spot you were waiting for, now completely paralyzed and going nowhere because I would be afraid of hitting your car or the car going around you as I tried to back out of the space.

 

[disneychrista]

Not sure of the etiquette - I would probably be the driver in the spot you were waiting for, now completely paralyzed and going nowhere because I would be afraid of hitting your car or the car going around you as I tried to back out of the space.

YES! Exactly. I hate people waiting for this reason alone. How am I supposed to back out with right there?

 

[disykat]

Sometimes you have to wait for a spot, even in the far edges of the parking lot. It's just reality. You can only do the best you can with the circumstances. Yes, it's obnoxious to wait for the very best parking spot right in front of the store, but the reality is that at this time of year parking is at a premium even on the far edges I always aim for. Our Costco has a huge lot and the last time I went I wasn't even technically in their lot and people were having to wait for people to pull out to park.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I would've went around you too, but wouldn't have honked. It really does clog up the parking lot to have people wait for others to back out of a spot. Happens all the time at the Wegmans near me and that's in a tight parking garage.

 

[barkley]

Don't get me started on people who sit in their cars after getting in: talking on the phone digging into purses or opening purchases when they see everyone waiting.

my dh would drive you mad. I do very limited driving and none that involves highways/freeways so he drives me to Walmart/Costco and the like. it's not uncommon for him to walk in with me to snag some items he needs and then return to the car to wait for me to finish shopping (he does take care not to turn the car on so it does not appear he's ready to leave our parking spot).