People can be such... You know what I want to say!

[Y33TREKker]

I have to say I think the flyers/fake tickets are the way to go. Those at least leave no doubt as to why they were received. When all the other tactics that have been listed are employed, there's no guarantee that the offender is going to realize why it happened, and as a matter of fact will probably drive off wondering why someone ELSE just behaved like an @$$hole "for no good reason".

I see it all the time when confronted with tailgaters. When speeding up or slowing down doesn't work to get someone (usually talking on a cell phone) off my rear bumper, I just wait for an opening in oncoming traffic, move into the other lane, hit my brakes, and MAKE the tailgater move in front of me. But almost invariably, it's the tailgater who watches what I do, then drives on with a look on his/her face like they've just witnessed the actions of someone who has no idea how to drive correctly.

I just think some of these more subtly employed tactics are lost on the types of individuals in question, whether it be tailgaters on cell phones who probably can't walk and chew gum at the same time, or parking lot morons who apparently think their name is painted on every space.

[Riff Raff]

I have to say I think the flyers/fake tickets are the way to go. Those at least leave no doubt as to why they were received. When all the other tactics that have been listed are employed, there's no guarantee that the offender is going to realize why it happened, and as a matter of fact will probably drive off wondering why someone ELSE just behaved like an @$$hole "for no good reason".

Hmmm, good point. Ok, I guess it's two(2) snipped-off valve stems "AND" a flyer under the windshield wiper. Lesson learned.

[vt_maverick]

It's frustrating but you're playing with fire when you retaliate. As Trek said, chances are they won't even learn anything anyway, and if you're unlucky enough to get caught in the act, you may find yourself on the receiving end of don's dad's fist or in a police report. Plus there's always the chance that the offender gets back to his car before you do, finds your smart *** note, and drags a pocket knife down the length of your cladding to make HIS point. And let's face it, chances are that the body panels are more readily available on his Tahoe than your VX.

So you may as well park as defensively as possible (not across two spots, that's just making yourself a target), take a deep breath when you see something stupid, and be thankful you have cladding where most cars have paint. Someone turns 16 every 8 seconds in the US, so unless you're prepared to get yourself a costume and cape and make this a full-time endeavor, you're wasting your time.

[Jolly Roger VX'er]

WOW...what a great idea for a thread topic...long time coming and wish I'd have thought of it!

Back when I was 18 yrs old and just got my first car (1969 Plymouth Roadrunner 383 V8 4speed) a brand new paint job and took my Mom to Giant Eagle to grocery shop...while sitting out in my car a big ole Bonneville pulls in beside me with the person shoulder blocking their sticking door open and into the side of my passenger door...denting the door & scraping the new paint. I leaped out and confronted them and they just smiled and weakly said sorry without much meaning. The longer I sat there the madder I got! As my Mom was returning out to the car....she had to witness me caving-in the side of their door with my hiking boots and then I powerjacked out of the lot.

I'm with Billy on the Handicap parking topic.

Before I started daily driving my VX to work...I recently (during winter) had a altercation with someone who pulled in beside me while I was sitting in the VX engine off listening to the radio. This guy in a 2X2 s-10 kept trying (and failing) to back into a spot next to my driver's side due to the 1.5 ft of snow in the lot. Finally he took a banzai run and made it cockeyed into the spot with his passenger door too close to my VX. Then, he gets out of the driver's side..walks around to his passenger side...throws open his door (without holding on) to get out a snow brush & scraper and hits my VX pretty solidly with me sitting right there. I put down the window (thank god they work...lol) and laid into him pretty hard and when he put his stuff back in his truck and went to walk around the front of my VX; I started her up (she was still in low-range and starts @ the touch of the key ) and blocked his way while telling him I treat ignorance WITH ignorance...you get what you give....haven't seen him since :bgwg: I inspected for damage & found none...now I feel pretty confident in the cladding's ability to protect unless you're parked next to a jacked up rig!

Now I have to witness idiots around my Mustang GT I parked @ an ice cream stand waaaaay off to the side in an empty lot with me being the only customer, only to have this J.A. (hint...a 4-legged animal that bray's kinda like eeeeeee-awwwww) park his like 15 year old Grand Cherrokee 10 inches away from my passenger side door with his vehicle not having a panel devoid of dentations & missing paint I stood in disbelief as he worked to get out of his jeep but managed to not hit my car....with 50 yards of other parking spots available MUCH CLOSER to the order window!

I've always done the LDub maneuver parking way out in the lot and getting both piece of mind & exercise to boot!


rant over....blood pressure reduced....thanks for listening!

[Ldub]

It's frustrating but you're playing with fire when you retaliate. As Trek said, chances are they won't even learn anything anyway, and if you're unlucky enough to get caught in the act, you may find yourself on the receiving end of don's dad's fist or in a police report. Plus there's always the chance that the offender gets back to his car before you do, finds your smart *** note, and drags a pocket knife down the length of your cladding to make HIS point. And let's face it, chances are that the body panels are more readily available on his Tahoe than your VX.

I care not if they learn anything...my mission with the roofing nails is co$t & inconvenience.
The increasing severity of the infraction causes the nail(s) to be placed closer to the sidewall. (possible new tire, as opposed to a flat repair)
Makes me feel better, gives them a "bad day"...

Win-win in my book.

[VehiGAZ]

It's frustrating but you're playing with fire when you retaliate. As Trek said, chances are they won't even learn anything anyway, and if you're unlucky enough to get caught in the act, you may find yourself on the receiving end of don's dad's fist or in a police report. Plus there's always the chance that the offender gets back to his car before you do, finds your smart *** note, and drags a pocket knife down the length of your cladding to make HIS point. And let's face it, chances are that the body panels are more readily available on his Tahoe than your VX.

So you may as well park as defensively as possible (not across two spots, that's just making yourself a target), take a deep breath when you see something stupid, and be thankful you have cladding where most cars have paint. Someone turns 16 every 8 seconds in the US, so unless you're prepared to get yourself a costume and cape and make this a full-time endeavor, you're wasting your time.

Wisest post of the year...