Southern, I think you are my twin! My wife hates it too. “you should be spending time with me, not out washing that damn Camaro”.
I’m gonna one-up ya here, ChrisP!
For years my gf/wife has gotten into my vehicle where the carpet was always clean, you could see out the windows, I didn’t have to move stuff from the seat for her to get in, you could actually see yourself in a reflection off the paint/wax, etc. The result was that I actually shamed my wife into taking care of her own car!
Now didn’t somebody need help with something easy… like world peace? 
You’re a genius Southern. My wife also now keeps the inside immaculate as well. She loves the way our look when I’m done with them. She just doesn’t like the time I spend with them.
SoMoMom, the part that upsets me most is that you were at Old Navy, which you KNOW is right across the street from Best Buy, and you DIDN’T EVEN COME IN TO SEE IF I WAS WORKING!
–Tim
No, Tim. I live in the Northland. I was at Barry Woods. 
Yikes! Y’all are scaring me with your tales of vengence! Especially xizor. I hope I don’t meet you on the highway or in a parking lot. While I can see wanting to protect your brand spanking new car - the only way to ensure no damage is to leave the thing in your garage and never drive it. A new car depreciates (20-25%) too much when you drive it off the lot anyway.
I’ve never bought a new car for the simple reason that it will only stay new for a very short time (and the depreciation thing). Something will happen to it sooner or later - hail, tree branches, road debris, rocks, shopping carts, evil mean-spirited car-keying people, neighborhood kids, dogs/cats, etc.
Now I do take care of the new-to-me car that I do have. I wash it and wax it and keep it clean on the inside. But I’m not going to have a freaking heart attack over my car if someone scratches the paint or dings it. It’s an object that can be replaced (vintage cars are a little different though - but those people usually don’t take them to Wal-Mart). If y’all are that worried about it - get one of those huge canvas car covers and cover the damned thing up when you go inside to shop or hire someone out as a guard. I have had 2 people in the past month back in to me with their huge diesel powered trucks because they didn’t look. I didn’t get all pissy, just got their insurance info so I could have the huge dents fixed. Shit happens. You deal with it. No sense wasting energy getting all pissy about it.
I hate those people in the brand new cars that take up 2-3 parking spaces because they don’t want anyone parking next to them. (Not a problem if they are parked way out at the end of the parking lot, but a big problem if they are parked right next to the store.) Maybe some cart scratches are in order there.
Well, I don’t have a new car either. It’s a 3 year old Taurus. Nothing special, but I don’t see why it’s Ok for people to be careless and inconsiderate.
My last car was bought brand new (with my dad’s Z plan discount so it didn’t depreciate so much as soon as it left the lot). I had it for many years and I worked at a mall where one might expect door dings and nothing happened to it. I think it has to do with the area. Then I lived in a smaller city, Springfield where people are kind to others most of the time and considerate of others’ property. Now I live in KC and it’s completely different here.
Oh, poo, SoMoMom, I was just teasing you!
–Tim
I get a little annoyed with people that take up 1.25 parking places right near the front door, but the guy that deliberately takes up 2 places I’ll tolerate. He’s just looking out for his investment by clearly taking up enough room to ensure safety. Most parking lots cram the vehicles so closely together that door damage is likely to occur.
Personally, I take up two full parking places whenever possible, but I go to the end of the lot furthest from the door and trek whatever distance is required.
The guy that I don’t understand is the one that will sit in his car for 5 to 10 minutes to get a parking place 40 feet closer than the one that’s already available.
Tim, you don’t want my kids in the store while you’re working anyway. (They are not as bad as some of the kids that I witnessed while working retail, but annoying still. I see the looks on sales clerks faces.)
Had a friend who loved two lane parkers. He’d slip his beat up Golf in on the drivers side (And still be in only one lane, barely) and get out via the sunroof or hatchback.