The article discusses the psychology behind scoring a car park during the busy holiday shopping season, particularly at large shopping centers such as Melbourne’s Chadstone. Behavioural science expert Dan Monheit explains that shoppers’ confidence levels can be influenced by past experiences of finding the perfect parking spot. Monheit suggests that the most effective way to secure a parking space is to employ the wait-and-follow method, where one follows another shopper to their car and waits for them to leave before taking the spot. However, Mardi Ashkine, who works at Chadstone, finds this method uncomfortable and recommends heading straight to the rooftop of the parking garage as it is usually the last place to fill up.
Ashkine advises last-minute shoppers to plan ahead and remain calm while searching for a parking spot. She suggests that the time it takes to walk to the shop from a further parking space is often equivalent to waiting for a closer spot to open up. Monheit encourages shoppers to use a self-anchoring technique, where they mentally prepare themselves to allocate a certain amount of time for finding a parking spot. By setting an anchor of, for example, 20 minutes, shoppers can feel like they have succeeded even if it takes slightly less time to find a spot. Monheit also suggests making a mental list of things to do while waiting for a parking space, such as making phone calls or catching up on podcasts.
While the wait-and-follow method can be effective, Monheit acknowledges that it may not be the most comfortable strategy for all shoppers and advises against getting too stressed about finding the perfect spot. He humorously suggests that one alternative to eliminating car park stress is to shop online, as it typically involves very little parking-related stress. With half a million last-minute shoppers expected at Chadstone in the week before Christmas, staying calm and adopting a strategic approach to securing a parking spot could help shoppers navigate the holiday shopping rush more smoothly. By planning ahead, being flexible in their approach, and staying relaxed, shoppers can minimize the stress of finding a parking spot during the busy holiday season.
