Happened to me today someone hit my "other" baby in the parking lot. pics of damage.

[Terry M.]

Re: Happened to me today someone hit my "other" baby in the parking lot. pics of dama

Sorry to hear it Brandon, but all is not lost. There are people who can "work" the dent/crease out with a series of picks from the inside. They may have to cut a hole in the inner bed/fender wall to get at it, but it will not affect the paint on the outside and the hole is an easy repair. Talk to some body shops or some insurance people about it. I've only heard a description of how it is done, but the two who have had this done swear by it.

As for Don's comments, I have to respectfully disagree. I've parked in parking lots for 38 years and I've only had three door dings, and no creases or deliberate scratches. There is a trick to parking in parking lots. I'll explain it if anyone is interested.

Paul

[Brandon T.]

Re: Happened to me today someone hit my "other" baby in the parking lot. pics of dama

Been online looking for one around my area in SC. Looks like dent wizard is an outfit of ding repair around here but when you click location it just gives the location of local dealerships.

I assume thats because they work out of a van and are at these places a good bit..I'll keep looking into who to go with around my area.

I watched some youtube videos of it if you get someone who is GOOD wow it's amazing what they can do.

[Paul J.]

Re: Happened to me today someone hit my "other" baby in the parking lot. pics of dama

Paul,
Now there is a pregnant question if ever. I have parked out on the ends of a lot, a distance from everyone only to find a school bus and a cement truck on either side of me when I returned.

Share please, I am interested. Thanks.

Ken

OK. I'm sure that you're probably already aware of most of this. These are observations that I and three other DOT traffic engineers made a long time ago. They're based on traffic control and psychology, and they vary from place to place. Nothing's fool proof, but these seem to reduce the chance of getting damage.

The Cardinal rule: Never, ever, ever, ever take two spaces. That's the best way to get some wacko riled up and your car keyed.

Mall parking lots and Big box parking lots like Wal-Mart are similar in design and traffic flow, so I'll address those first. Near the mall and larger store entrances are where the majority of cars park. There are effectively no available spaces in this area, and those that come available are quickly taken. This is Zone 1. It continues out from the beginning spaces to where there will be one or two empty spaces on one side of the cars parked. This is where Zone 2 begins. There are cars parked more sparsely in this area with an increasing number of open spaces. Zone 3 starts where there are a lot of spaces around the cars and many are parked out by themselves. Zone 3 goes to the end of the parking lot.

For the most part people parking in Zone 1 are either old, lazy, decrepid, in a big hurry, or have kids with them. Stay out of Zone 1. These people are careless and inattentive for any number of reasons.

People who park in Zone 3 tend to care more about thier car. However, parking at the far edge of a parking lot brings unnecessary attention to your car, and some A______ (capital A) will park very close to you or possibly even damage the car. This is also where large vehicles that don't fit into spaces tend to park. Parking out by yourself in the middle of Zone 3 puts the car in the path of people cutting across the parking lot to the exits, as well as also bringing attention to the car. Don't park in Zone 3.

Park only in Zone 2, but close to the transition area where there are a lot of open spaces. You want cars close to you, but not beside of you. You also don't want to be the last car.

These zones are concentric around the entrances, so you don't necessarily have to go out away from the building to find them.

There are a couple of other things but they're harder to predict. Most cars will have only one occupant, the driver. Park on the passenger side if you park beside of a car. Even though passengers tend to be more careless with thier doors, you don't see those people parking that far out. Also if you can predict which way the person beside of you is going to back out, you can eliminate the chance of any creases. If you look at where the exits are located, they usually take the shortest path to them. You want to try to park on the side that they're not turning toward. For example, if they are going to turn their steering wheel left when they back out, park on their left side. However, as I said before this is very difficult to predict.

Strip mall and shopping center parking lots are similar to the larger lots in design and function and the same rules apply, although the zones are smaller and Zone 3 almost does'nt exist.

Restaurants, particlualy chains with a ring of parking around the building, a traffic lane, and then another ring of parking around the perimeter are the worst. These lots are tight and it's difficult to manuever. The best that you can do is find a corner space and crowd the curb, otherwise search around back or possibly a neighboring parking lot. If you can, get a seat that lets you watch the car.

These rules have worked for me personally because I pay attention to them and now they're automatic in my selection of a parking space. My wife now thinks about it too and she has'nt had any damage in many years. However, my children are untrainable.

Paul

[Michael M.]

Re: Happened to me today someone hit my "other" baby in the parking lot. pics of dama

I used Dent Wizard here in Marietta, GA for hail damage to my minivan. They did a great job and my insurance company waived the deductible since I used them instead of a traditional body shop.

[Kenneth T.]

Re: Happened to me today someone hit my "other" baby in the parking lot. pics of dama

OK. I'm sure that you're probably already aware of most of this. These are observations that I and three other DOT traffic engineers made a long time ago. They're based on traffic control and psychology, and they vary from place to place. Nothing's fool proof, but these seem to reduce the chance of getting damage.

The Cardinal rule: Never, ever, ever, ever take two spaces. That's the best way to get some wacko riled up and your car keyed.

Mall parking lots and Big box parking lots like Wal-Mart are similar in design and traffic flow, so I'll address those first. Near the mall and larger store entrances are where the majority of cars park. There are effectively no available spaces in this area, and those that come available are quickly taken. This is Zone 1. It continues out from the beginning spaces to where there will be one or two empty spaces on one side of the cars parked. This is where Zone 2 begins. There are cars parked more sparsely in this area with an increasing number of open spaces. Zone 3 starts where there are a lot of spaces around the cars and many are parked out by themselves. Zone 3 goes to the end of the parking lot.

For the most part people parking in Zone 1 are either old, lazy, decrepid, in a big hurry, or have kids with them. Stay out of Zone 1. These people are careless and inattentive for any number of reasons.

People who park in Zone 3 tend to care more about thier car. However, parking at the far edge of a parking lot brings unnecessary attention to your car, and some A______ (capital A) will park very close to you or possibly even damage the car. This is also where large vehicles that don't fit into spaces tend to park. Parking out by yourself in the middle of Zone 3 puts the car in the path of people cutting across the parking lot to the exits, as well as also bringing attention to the car. Don't park in Zone 3.

Park only in Zone 2, but close to the transition area where there are a lot of open spaces. You want cars close to you, but not beside of you. You also don't want to be the last car.

These zones are concentric around the entrances, so you don't necessarily have to go out away from the building to find them.

There are a couple of other things but they're harder to predict. Most cars will have only one occupant, the driver. Park on the passenger side if you park beside of a car. Even though passengers tend to be more careless with thier doors, you don't see those people parking that far out. Also if you can predict which way the person beside of you is going to back out, you can eliminate the chance of any creases. If you look at where the exits are located, they usually take the shortest path to them. You want to try to park on the side that they're not turning toward. For example, if they are going to turn their steering wheel left when they back out, park on their left side. However, as I said before this is very difficult to predict.

Strip mall and shopping center parking lots are similar to the larger lots in design and function and the same rules apply, although the zones are smaller and Zone 3 almost does'nt exist.

Restaurants, particlualy chains with a ring of parking around the building, a traffic lane, and then another ring of parking around the perimeter are the worst. These lots are tight and it's difficult to manuever. The best that you can do is find a corner space and crowd the curb, otherwise search around back or possibly a neighboring parking lot. If you can, get a seat that lets you watch the car.

These rules have worked for me personally because I pay attention to them and now they're automatic in my selection of a parking space. My wife now thinks about it too and she has'nt had any damage in many years. However, my children are untrainable.

Paul

Paul,

Thanks for taking the time to enlighten everyone.

Ken

[Jim S.]

Re: Happened to me today someone hit my "other" baby in the parking lot. pics of dama

Paul,

You omitted the one I use most effectively. Whenever possible , parallel park!

Jim

[Paul J.]

Re: Happened to me today someone hit my "other" baby in the parking lot. pics of dama

Been online looking for one around my area in SC. Looks like dent wizard is an outfit of ding repair around here but when you click location it just gives the location of local dealerships.

I assume thats because they work out of a van and are at these places a good bit..I'll keep looking into who to go with around my area.

I watched some youtube videos of it if you get someone who is GOOD wow it's amazing what they can do.

Brandon:

As I recall, both of my friends stated that the repair people came to them. They also mentioned something about attaching mirrors to the car. I'd love to see it done.

Paul

[William D.]

Re: Happened to me today someone hit my "other" baby in the parking lot. pics of dama

First of all, take nothing you care about to a Walmart parking lot!!!!! Second thank you Paul for the zone designation, I agree totally. Dent Doctor up here in Mass, have used them and they do a great job. The guy that did my car had his TOOLS in a golf bag, and you couldn't tell when he was done.

Bill

[John H.]

Re: Happened to me today someone hit my "other" baby in the parking lot. pics of dama

I had a door repaired by a Dent Doctor here in our area a few years ago and it was a great cost saver with fine results. A number of years ago, I was sitting in my car at the post office, when a guy pulls in next to me and opened his door into mine. A nice dent. He said he was sorry and was shocked when I asked him for his insurance companies phone number. I am sure that from that time on he was more careful.

[Brandon T.]

Re: Happened to me today someone hit my "other" baby in the parking lot. pics of dama

I had a door repaired by a Dent Doctor here in our area a few years ago and it was a great cost saver with fine results. A number of years ago, I was sitting in my car at the post office, when a guy pulls in next to me and opened his door into mine. A nice dent. He said he was sorry and was shocked when I asked him for his insurance companies phone number. I am sure that from that time on he was more careful.

Thats the way to do it.

Years ago in the my uncle bought a brand new 87 red nissan 300zx turbo. He had it maybe 2 months and someone hit him in the parking lot while he was in the car. He got out and said excuse me but you just hit my car, the guy that hit him was a redneck and replied "you must be one quare sob"

My uncle simple popped him and said the guy ran back around hopped in his car and drove away screaming "you'll be hearing from me"

The guy you delt with was a different story atleast he wasn't some ole redneck but I do like that story when my uncle tells it..and he's a big guy too I'd hate to get popped by him!

anyway I plan to have a PDR shop do the work on my truck I watched some youtube videos on it and wow they really do some amazing work.