I will close this regrettable distraction by saying that whether or not you intend to back into a parking space, if you creep along right behind me at 3 mph as I walk through the lot, expecting to snag my space, you’re not going to get it.
It would be cool if they followed hoping to get your spot and you walk to a buggy corral and unlock your Bicycle and ride off into the sunset.
Try getting a parking spot in a large mall in a big city just before Christmas! 
Fortunately, I don’t live in such an environment any more, but in that situation, there are only two kinds of drivers – the quick and the doomed, the latter forever circling the parking lot in vain.
I don’t currently ever set out to be a parking vulture, but one of the local stores, which has ample parking, has only a very limited number of spaces directly in front of the store. I always hope for one of those – I’m not lazy, but I’m old, decrepit, and have a bad leg. So if all the spots are full and I see someone getting into their car, I’ll wait if I’m not in someone’s way.
There are two things that bug me in these scenarios. One is that the person getting in the car, with their purchases and obviously intending to leave, appears to find it necessary to read a short novel before they actually back out and leave. Or else I have no idea what the hell they’re doing in there for all that time.
The other is that when all the limited spaces are full, or I might just barely be able to squeeze into one remaining narrow one, when I leave the store 15 minutes later 80% of the spaces are empty. My ability to get timing exactly wrong really pisses me off!
I’m guessing that they are on their phone, catching up on the latest breaking events on Facebook or Instagram.
Or checking in with a spouse, yeah.
This is why Amazon exists. 
(And other online retailers, of course.)
Yes, I have been in that situation before. It’s a good thing that it’s no longer necessary for anyone.
In particular, this has been an issue at Costco. Those stores are so busy that I have had to wait for someone to leave to get a parking space.
Sometimes I can be as bad as this guy.
A little off-topic:
Once a car is parked, but horribly, I’ll slip the following under their wiper.
Ohhhh…you’re that guy.
This sort of thing is a big pet peeve of mine in a particular parking garage in my town. If they spot someone approaching their car these people will stop and put their turn signal on and wait while the people getting ready to leave load their purchase into the trunk, strap the kids into the car seat, get in, buckle up, start the engine, and finally leave. And since there’s only one path through the garage, all the other cars entering the garage are stuck waiting behind them. Trust me, there are plenty more vacant spots if you just go up another level or two. In fact, in the time you spent waiting for that one car to leave you probably could have continued driving up the ramp, found another spot, and parked, without causing a traffic backup behind you.
I hate parking in that garage. I will always look for street parking or a spot in the small nearby surface lot bafore reluctantly venturing into the garage.
Not to be overly argumentative, but ordinary parallel parking actually requires backing into traffic.
I have a ridiculously large truck as a result of having 2 dogs, & two children. My parallel parking is usually pretty good, single movement, in reverse gear.
But it is always backwards. (backing into oncoming traffic)
Our drivers license test allows three movements. Only one is forwards, ie, with traffic. The other two are reverse.
Exiting the parallel park is not at all complicated.
Technically, yes, but the setup is quite different. For parallel parking you stop forward of the parking spot, and then your backup lights come on as you put it into reverse. Your intentions are clear.
Popping out of your driveway and backing into oncoming traffic is a very different scenario. If there were to be a collision you would totally be at fault. Whereas parallel parking is normally perfectly legal and the onus is on the other driver to stop or drive around.
Angled parking is quite rare in NJ. I wish it were more common–I’d happily nose in because the turning radius is nowhere near as bad as orthogonal parking.
With regards to the second, it’s a matter of choosing the lesser of annoying behaviors. Since I can’t do the 90-degree turn nose-in without five back-and-forths, I have little choice if I want to use smaller lots. So, if I see a few cars following me, I prefer to pull over 10 feet off to the side and let them pass before I do my move. If they linger and I don’t “wave them past” they will likely be upset when I start making my parking move.
I really do try to be considerate of others.
A failed American-TV version of Peaky Blinders?
Are you suggesting gratuitous violence is the key to getting a parking space?
I don’t think it has to be gratuitous…
This is an annoyance every time I go to the local hospital, where really the only place to park close to the entrance is the parking garage. At least there’s usually room to pass, and I just go straight to the top level, where even if the garage is so full that the automated barrier only lets you in when someone else leaves, there are always empty spaces.
In some cars, not a small and maneuverable one like mine if there is sufficient room.
I used to parallel park every day at one job and it was one smooth pull in. Maybe I had to back up a bit once I was between cars to get the spacing right, but I was already at the curb.
Of course, that’s not possible with every vehicle.
Latest parking issue:
I had to check in the hospital early early Tuesday morning. Every door is locked except Emergency entrance. I’m told to go there.
No one except crickets in the small lot at that side of the Hospital.
Ivy just pulled into the first one she saw. We walk a considerable distance to the entrance. I’m worried about one thing. I see the door (a garage door like thing) opening at the morgue. Oh, crap I’m already dead, they’re expecting me.
But no, we get in the building. There’s a lady who asks can she help. Ivy tells her Dr. Dinkleman(not his real name) had me checking in. I’m Pre- screened and we’re to wait a minute til she gets a person from the surgery ward to come get me.
After a bit a uniformed, in surprisingly like tactical gear, no gun…security guard comes and tells us we couldn’t park there. WTH? No one is here.
Ivy questions where she should park, in the meantime they are tryna wrestle me in a wheelchair to go up. Poor Ivy. She was torn. Save MY car from being towed or follow me.
My daughter came in about then. Same, he turned on her. Big mistake.
No one Karen’s like her.
As the elevator doors close I hear her saying, “I need to see your supervisor”
Later I find out they need to keep those spots open for ER staff. Who were due to come on shift.
The Lil’wrekker says they should have a sign saying so. Or freaking unlock a door for early check-ins.
Anywhoo. No one got towed or trespassed. I got into my room.
Had my procedure this morning. All is well.
Nosy Parkers? How about Parking lot guard Nazis. For no sign empty lots.
Of course! I’ve never heard of reserved parking spots anywhere that didn’t say they were reserved. How TF are you supposed to know? Apparently they’re just too cheap to put up signs.
Also, I find the concept of ER staff only working certain shifts a little odd. Are you not allowed to have an emergency in Arkansas when there’s no staff in the ER?
Glad to hear!