ULPT Request: How to deal with a guy who parks super close to my car?
Posted by Active_Ad1624@reddit | UnethicalLifeProTips | View on Reddit | 56 comments
So I live in an apartment building with assigned parking spots separated by painted lines. My neighbor has a wall on one side of his spot, and apparently he’s terrified that people walking by might scratch his car.
His solution? He parks halfway over the line into my spot every single day.
Not a little bit over either — enough that I have to squeeze sideways to get into my own car like I’m escaping a hostage situation. Some days I literally can’t open my driver door properly.
I tried talking to him like a normal human being. He basically shrugged and said he’d rather inconvenience me than risk someone brushing against his car near the wall.
Management doesn’t care because “both cars technically fit.”
So now I’m looking for creative solutions that might encourage him to rediscover the concept of parking between the lines.
E_Zekiel@reddit
Trip and accidentally drop the open can of paint thinner on his car. Then try to rub it off with the rag that has lots of sand. Pure accident. Happens all the time.
Something_McGee@reddit
Park at a slight angle. One that will give you more room to open your door, but will generally make it hard for him to squeeze as close as he normally does.
ekita079@reddit
I reckon this is the best solution here
I-om@reddit
Reckon. What is reckon mean?
The_Calarg@reddit
He'd have mysterious scratches on the wall side before I started reckon is car in other ways.
Unlucky-Outside357@reddit
Start parking on the line but back in so you have ample room to get into the drivers door.
Or if he’s truely that far over the line. Call the complex for a tow, get his shit towed since you can’t get in. Ez pz
ChefArtorias@reddit
You can't just call the tow? They're assigned seats and he's taking yours.
LOUDPACK_MASTERCHEF@reddit
Would be a real shame if you accidentally opened your door into his car a few times
Something_McGee@reddit
I would try to avoid blatant damages in case there are security cameras recording. However, I think you're on to something...
OP could line the edge of his car door with some of those foam stick-on bumpers meant to help prevent accidental dings. People use them all the time in Korea since parking is so tight there. They actually work pretty well if you position them properly and use enough of them. OP could then lightly-moderately bump his neighbor's car with his door while the neighbor is still in the car. That would be enough to spike his blood pressure for at least a brief moment. And he could repeat this as often as he wants. It seems like a reasonable accident to keep occurring considering the circumstances. If the neighbor accuses him of doing this on purpose, OP could point out that he has been as accommodating as possible and even mounted the ugly bumpers on his own vehicle as a way to peacefully deal with the neighbor's inconsiderate parking.
OP can also lean and slide against the neighbor's car whenever the space between their vehicles is particularly tight. Meaning, he should make zero effort to avoid touching the car from now on. He should rest his dirty, greasy hand on the car to support his weight as he tries to slide out through his own door. He can slide his hand to a new spot so he can support himself as he bends over to retrieve the keys that he accidentally dropped. He might even graze his unwashed, ultra greasy hair and super oily face along the side of the car as he blindly searches for the keys on the ground. He could even pretend to lose his balance while trying to side step his way out of the tight space; he could use it as an excuse to face plant his mug on the back window. (That may actually be the tipping point. 😅 Can you imagine seeing someone's face print smeared across your window?)
All of this would work even better if the neighbor has an alarm on his car. He would constantly have to check to see what's happening every time the alarm goes off. He'd see the OP clumsily doing whatever up against his car. OP could even start parking closer to the line, too - just to narrow the space and help justify his antics. I bet it would also alarm the neighbor if he caught OP looking under his car with a flashlight late at night or early in the morning. OP could claim to have dropped something, which he has a hard time seeing since the space is so tight.
Basically, the OP can frequently "hit" and touch the car in ways that don't leave any permanent damages that he'd be liable for. But the things he does will remind the neighbor that he's parked way too close.
sargepepper1@reddit
If your edging yourself in and out of your car, but would be ashame, a damn shame, if your belt buckle should accidentally scrape his car...
bugbugladybug@reddit
This is what I do..
My work keys are clipped onto my belt, and I use crutches, so if anyone parks like a nob, they get the full treatment as I slide up the side of their car to get into mine.
Active_Ad1624@reddit (OP)
I cannot do that since my car is new - I got it from the dealership last year. I believe it costs me more to repair my door than his
LOUDPACK_MASTERCHEF@reddit
I guess I would start taking up half his spot whenever he's not there
albertohall11@reddit
After you park your car leave a couple of caltrops on the floor inside the line of your space. An empty glass bottle might work equally well and would give more deniability.
New tyres are expensive.
Acceptable_Jamboree@reddit
Buy a set of cheap waterproof hiking pants or motorcycle pants or work wear pants with the useful cargo pockets. The type that won't let liquids through if you don't want a greased up butt. Charity shops can have sets. Do the same for a dark jacket or shirt.
Ensure the seat and elbows of said clothing are nicely stained with grease. Go to an automotive or industry supply shop and ask for heavy duty greases that can survive in harsh, wet environments. Also get a tool belt. To add to the story you suddenly have a DIY hobby, and it is an an additional bulky contact surface.
Make sure everyday you need to get something out of your car- squeeze by and leave a nice butt print or handprint as you pass by.
Ensure you have photo evidence of his bad parking in case of complaints.
Talory09@reddit
Make sure ~~everyday~~ every day. Two words.
Acceptable_Jamboree@reddit
Or just ensure you have an oily rag in your back pocket.
willisreed@reddit
Something something piss disc something.
mister-ferguson@reddit
Then fuck his dad
Compulawyer@reddit
To assert dominance.
GuitarHair@reddit
As a couple of people have said already, you need to back into the parking space as close as you can get to him.This will take some time and careful attention; you might have a friend help you if they're available. I did it once when I was back in college and by God you couldn't have got a damn toothpick in between there.
When you're done, be sure to take a picture of before during and after.
booksandcheesedip@reddit
Park facing backwards and as close to his car as possible.
optigrabz@reddit
Invite a “friend” to check on your apartment the next time you get out of town. Make sure they drive their rusty old Monte Carlo with 8 foot long doors. Maybe there is an accident opening the door.
Azby504@reddit
Can you offer to swap parking spots with him?
Quirky-Invite7664@reddit
Do this, then park over the line
shadow8555@reddit
😅
NoGoat3930@reddit
this is brilliance
NoGoat3930@reddit
this is wisdom
No_Educator_6376@reddit
Pour a bag of bird seed all around the car and go somewhere where you have people to verify your location. In an hour or two hundreds of birds will be feeding on the seeds and they will fly up and rest on the hood and top of the car and poop his car will be completely covered with bird shit it will take days to clean up the mess.
Herrrrrmione@reddit
Doubtful that the birds would conveniently ignore her car.
No_Educator_6376@reddit
It will make a huge mess.
bcardin221@reddit
If protecting his car is his primary concern, perhaps he needs to be taught that parking too close to someone could lead to door dings and scratches on the side facing your car.
YoteViking@reddit
I would just be opening my car door and accessing my vehicle without any consideration of his.
If he asks you about reply; “We often meet our fate On the road we take to avoid it”. (ht Kung Fu Panda)
superduperhosts@reddit
caltrops
Impossible_Volume811@reddit
Parking bay bollard screwed or epoxied onto the front end of the dividing line.
Heavy duty red or yellow plastic with a reflective sleeve.
Epoxy fix would be quickest and silent but remember to clean the floor surface first with some alcohol and wait a couple of minutes for it to dry. Wear a hoody and a mask and gloves in case of cameras.
Prudent-Poetry-2718@reddit
Oooo I like this one!
Active_Ad1624@reddit (OP)
This is a brilliant idea actually. Do you know if the epoxy would stick to some sort of pavement? I believe it is some concrete material
YouArentReallyThere@reddit
3M 5200 series marine sealant will stick juuuuust about anything to anything else in a most permanent fashion
Quirky-Invite7664@reddit
I think it will. I used epoxy to fix a concrete flower pot that broke.
YouArentReallyThere@reddit
Stick a few bits of tungsten carbide on their neighbor’s side of the post. One little brush up against that and it defines won’t ‘buff out’
WloveW@reddit
Doxx him.
Affix a big sign on the back window of your car when you're parked with an arrow pointing at his car letting the whole complex know that he is an inconsiderate person who makes it hard for you to park because he's scared of his car getting scratched.
Put his name on the sign and his unit number.
Herrrrrmione@reddit
INFO: if you back in, is there space to get into your car easily?
Ok_Knee1216@reddit
Accidentally brush his car.
myusername1111111@reddit
Get yourself a set of these dollies . You can get them from tool hire shops.
If you move his car to the back of the 2 parking spaces and park yours across the 2 spots next to it. If they want to "share" parking spaces, then so be it. If you can find a tight space to put their car in between, that would be hilarious.
RiddyReddit333@reddit
He literally said, "he’d rather inconvenience me than risk someone brushing against his car near the wall"? WOW.
So it's time for a little inconvenience to him as well! If you get there first, park over his line a little. If he gets there first, paint his tires the same color as the line itself. Nice bright yellow!
NoTumbleweed2417@reddit
Time to become a goth and start wearing spiky belts and arm bands and whatever else you can find. Also sharpen them so it takes the paint back to bare metal.
TaxTheRichEndTheWar@reddit
Since Management doesn’t care, back into your spot, a little bit on his side of line
SubjectOrganic@reddit
Obviously now you scratch his car with your door
Key-Candle8141@reddit
Sounds like its time to start scratching that paint?
CandidInfluence4312@reddit
beat his fucking ass
kevinh456@reddit
Well he told you what he cares about—himself and his car. That’s fine. Exploit it.
Make it so that parking in your spot is not safe for his car. Whatever that means. You have to make proper parking feel safer.
Something_McGee@reddit
It would be awesome if you could find a way to discreetly move the painted line over by a few inches. Then do it again in a couple months. And again... lol
Active_Ad1624@reddit (OP)
Would be nice but it is actually impossible. The painted line is actually made of different color pavement
Something_McGee@reddit
☹️ So much for what would have been an epic experiment. I would have requested you document and even record his reactions periodically.
caliphis@reddit
Back into your parking spot, and park your car on the line first. I am sure he would rather move over some than scrape his car against yours.
a0lmasterfender@reddit
maybe park even closer, so his rear view mirror would hit yours when he tries to back out. then he’ll have to get out and fold his mirror to back out. and don’t worry so much if his car gets a ding.