Parking Tips 101

[Arioch]

I always use the curbing technique when possible. Find an end spot so you only have to protect one side and whenever possible I make sure that the empty space is on my drivers side. Meaning that if the typical parking flow for people is to pull straight in then the person that parks next to me will end up with their passenger side towards my car. I figure there is a 50/50 chance that the person might not have a passenger and therefore I've just increased the odds of no one opening a door towards my car.

However in the end you just have to accept the fact that a lot of people, unfortunately, are very inconsiderate these days. Use common sense, do the best you can, but just accept from the beginning that you may end up with some door dings some day. Its no fun being paranoid everywhere you go about your car getting messed up. Even though you shouldnt have to pay for others stupidity/laziness/unethical behavior, it is what is and stressing out over it wont change that, instead its just going to shorten your life and impact your happiness.

[Rogue Leader]

Originally Posted by rez333

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2) Therefore control the people who park next to you. Strategy 1 is to park next to a nice car. This is the best strategy. The car needn't be expensive - it just needs to be brand new. All people, regardless of pay grade, love their car - especially when it's new.

I've seen people with the nicest cars give door dings, unfortunately this is an inconsistent strategy.

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4) Park on the line if there is a car two spots over on the same side as the line you've parked close to. This is called the "squeezing out the competition" strategy or SOC. It works especially if the the car two spots over is a junk car, commercial car, or intimidating truck. Nobody likes to park next to those types of cars either, and the fact that you've made that spot even smaller makes it less attractive. And since you are so far to one side, chances are that the car on the other side of you is far enough that you won't get a door ding.
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This is the stupidest idea I have ever read. It is guaranteed that someone will jam their car into that spot AND hit your door especially if the spot is close to the front door of the place you're parking.

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7) This only works for WalMart parking lots, as WalMart is the only place I know with "free" carts. Simply park the cart in the parking spot next to you (and position it so it won't roll into your car). Most shoppers when driving around looking for a spot, frankly can't be bothered getting out of their car to move the cart. The constraint is that there must be more attractive parking spots than the one next to yours.
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until they just hit the cart with their car and push it out of the way. And yes I have seen this happen. AND I saw it get pushed into the back of a guys corvette.

[Lor5150]

Originally Posted by SSOOCH

Insurance. That's my tip. If your going to get a door ding, nothing can stop it.

BINGO...that's what I'm saying...you can do the best you can, but if it happens...deal with it!!

[Bond]

Originally Posted by rez333

4) Park on the line if there is a car two spots over on the same side as the line you've parked close to. This is called the "squeezing out the competition" strategy or SOC. It works especially if the the car two spots over is a junk car, commercial car, or intimidating truck. Nobody likes to park next to those types of cars either, and the fact that you've made that spot even smaller makes it less attractive. And since you are so far to one side, chances are that the car on the other side of you is far enough that you won't get a door ding.

So what happens when the other guy who's parked on the line leaves?
Then you're getting someone pull in, parking a few inches away from your shiny Camaro because YOU parked on the line. And who's parking next to you? It's mom in the minivan full of Bumblebee lovin 8 year old boys who are swingin doors open as fast as they can so they can jump out and maul your "precious gem"!

Good luck with that!

[firestone_ss]

i always try to park next to an island in the parking lot,that lowers the chance of some douche bags parking on both sides by 50%

[Griffstar]

Two words: orange cones

Park along a curb and put an orange cone in the spot next to you. They sell them at most sporting goods stores.