Parking spot arguments are becoming all too common.

This man arrived at work early and secured a shaded parking space.

But his peaceful morning was about to get ruined by an entitled old man who wanted the spot for himself.

Read on to see what happens.

“Get out of MY parking spot!”

A few months ago, I got a job as a front service clerk for [GROCERY STORE]. Essentially what that entails is pretty much bagging customers’ stuff, getting carts from the parking.

It also includes mentally swearing at the people who can’t be bothered to put said carts in the collection corrals that are put out there. I also do cashiering, and so on and so forth.

It’s not the best job in the world, but it makes ends meet for college payments, so that’s something.

Anyway, over the course of my career, both at this store and the ones before it, I’ve made it a habit to arrive at work at least fifteen minutes before the start of my shift.

It’s the result of a combination of paranoia about being late for work and getting in trouble (even though my direct superiors are often very chill about it, within reason), and the logical deduction that it is better to be early than late.

This employee was minding is business in his car when an old man tapped on his window.

So yesterday, I arrive at my store around twenty minutes before the start of my shift. Okay, awesome! I’m not going to be late today. So while I settle, park my car, relax, I played some music on the radio before I have to go and clock in.

All is good in the world for about ten minutes, until I hear someone tapping on the side‑view window.

Unfortunately I made the mistake of rolling said window down instead of ignoring him in the hopes he’d leave me alone. So this wonderful exchange occurs…

Me – M, Angry Old Man – OM

The exchange went like this.

M: Can I help yo—

OM: Get out of my parking spot.

I’m sorry, what? Did I hear that correctly?

M: Uh, what?

OM: You work here, right?

M: Yes.

OM: So that means you have to help your customers, right? So you can help me by getting the out of that parking spot. You’ve been just sitting here hogging a good parking spot while I’ve been looking for a place to park you lazy punk!

This old man had some nerve.

At this point, I’m just in silent awe and confusion at the audacity of this guy. Awe at the fact that he had the gall to demand I move my car, and confusion at the fact that he’s been looking for a place to park when the lot is pretty much empty.

My car is parked all the way at the end of the lot, so it’s not exactly as good of a parking spot as he might think.

Some clarification might be needed on that last bit. You see, as I and pretty much anyone who’s worked retail can attest, management usually requires that employees park at the end of the lot so customers don’t have to.

Customer convenience and all that stuff. Nothing really unexpected and not really a problem in my eyes.

The customer wanted the shaded parking spot.

M: Uh, sir? There are plenty of parking spaces that are closer to the store. Why don’t you try to—

OM: I don’t care about those ones! I want this one! This one has all the shade!

Oh, okay. Now I see what has this guy so worked up. For the record, I’m in Florida. As anyone can attest to, during the summer months it’s pretty brutal down here.

The humidity is outrageous on account of the frequent afternoon showers and being part of the Sunbelt doesn’t help any. And to top it off, leaving your car off for even five minutes is enough to turn it into a sauna.

When I got to work I saw a spot at the end of the lot right under a tree. So like any sane person I jumped on the opportunity and put my car there so I wouldn’t have to deal with said sauna‑mobile when I got off work.

I guess this guy didn’t like that and wanted the shade too. Well, you’re out of luck, pal!

Then this happened.

I’m not going to even bother putting on my Customer Service™ persona.

I’m not technically at work yet, and if he goes to complain to my managers he won’t have a leg to stand on, given that I’m following the rules when it comes to where and where I’m not allowed to park and he’s just being ridiculous.

M: I’m not moving.

OM: WHAT!

M: You heard me. I got here first and I’m not moving for you.

OM: I’M GOING TO HAVE YOU FIRED IF YOU DON’T MOVE RIGHT NOW!

M: You do that.

A satisfying ending.

And with that I put my window up and pretty much signal to him that I’m done with this conversation.

He sputtered in rage for a few moments before he gave up and stormed into the store in a silent rage.

Some people, am I right?

Technically, the parking lot is outside of work.

Let’s read some comments from other readers.

This person called the customer selfish.

This one liked how he handled it.

Here’s a valid question.

People are calling out the customer.

Employee deserves a pat on the back.

Some people still don’t understand that retail employees are not slaves.

If you liked this post, check out this story about an employee who got revenge on a co-worker who kept grading their work suspiciously low.