Why do people wait to get a parking spot near the front of a shopping center?

Question

While inside they will spend an hour pushing a cart up and down isles?

Answer 1

cause they are scared of walking a few extra feet if they would just park further back.

Answer 2

Hi,

Yes, i noticed people do it also.

The reasons can be multiple, but i believe they do not want to spend more time pushing their cart, especially that some can be very full and heavy carts if they have a big family (several kids) or an imminent party.

I also noticed that some people are doing the same my Husband and i used to do. One or the other of us was leaving before and was waiting for the other in front of the store, in an area it doesn't bother any other cars, while the other one was checking out. Like that, the one who left in advance to drive the car nearby took the kid(s) with (for our case or the case of people i noticed they were doing the same as us both) and the other one has less difficulties to check out (without to have kids to watch out). Also, when the cart is real full, it evoids to bring the cart too far and to be waiting other cars to leave before to access ours.

All depends of your free time also, if you go shopping by your own, what goes quicker than if the whole family is there. And it depends when you go to shop, how much time you have to spend wasting time with your cart walking a long distance.Some persons want a quick in and out visit at the supermarket and don't want to spend more time walking their cart after they stayed stuck at the cashier's.

Honestly, by myself, it never bothered me to walk much even with a big cart, but as i said, with the whole family and tired children, the things can be very different. And, my Husband and i always felt it is much nicer to do the way we were doing, because we were sharing the work between each other and then placing the groceries together (one given the bags to the other or taking the bags together) in the trunk.

Also, some persons want to park close to the shops because they have some disabilities but do not have a disability sign attached to their car, just because they don't want one, i already saw it several times.

Hope it answers the question.

Answer 3

Doesn't make sense to me either. I really don't care where I park. But some people are just lazy and think that they must have a parking space thats close. Its like when taking their things from the store to their car using a shopping cart. Then they leave the cart in the parking lot. Just plain lazy and inconsiderate.

Answer 4

That is precisely why. After an hour of pushing a cart up and down isles, nobody wants to walk a long distance back to their cars with purchases.

Answer 5

Because walking through shopping aisles is rewarded enough (buy purchasing an attractive item, or by even checking out a cool item) for this to be considered an "entertaining" activity. Walking through aisles isn't really part of a long adventure... The activity in itself, in every moment, becomes entertaining.

When people park outside, they want to park closer because there are no instantaneous rewards while actually walking through a parking lot (unless one likes to look at different cars, which is possible).

Also, I suppose if a person has parked closer before, it was rewarded (and thus reinforced) by getting into the car/ out of the weather in a very quick manner. When it comes to shopping, walking around longer probably rewards the shopper more (by selling them more items that they want).

There are no rewards for taking a long stroll through the parking lot. There are rewards for spending time walking through aisles, because people like to look at items, like to select which items to purchase (the more they walk, the more they will buy, the "happier" they will be).

Answer 6

Often it's lazyness but sometimes it's competitiveness.
That's my take on it, anyway. I see young, athletic-looking people 'cruising' 'til they can beat somebody else out of a close-in slot...and it amazes me.
They don't get near the chuckles out of me, though as those space-hogs who park diagonally using two spots as if someone might dent their chariot.
I for, for one, park at the back of the lot because I like the excersize...something a lot of those 'cruisers' could use a bit more of.

Answer 7

I know that a lot of ladies like to park close to other in case they get attacked (which is why they dont like to park in remote areas of the parking lot). Some others have disabilities, or are lazy or have little ones to take care of.

Answer 8

Well it should be clear that the walking and purchasing they plan to do inside is exactly the reason. First, they don't want to walk any further than necessary in the cold (or rain or heat...) to get inside... then they don't want to carry 30 bags of goods too far after they leave the store.

Answer 9

Maybe because by the time they get done with all that cart pushing, and people dodging, and checkout lines, they want to be ready to get out of there quickly!

Answer 10

Oh that frustrates me I am thin so I park out back just to walk its the lazy people who park in front a

Answer 11

Because they don't want to walk a long distance through the parking lot, especially if it's cold outside.