‘This is insane’: Fury as pair ‘reserve’ shopping centre car park

Two women have been filmed attempting to “reserve” a space in a packed shopping centre car park in Melbourne - despite torrents of abuse from other drivers.

A fed-up passenger has filmed the moment two women attempted to “reserve” a shopping centre parking space by standing in it.

The short clip, understood to have been taken at a packed Chadstone Shopping Centre in Melbourne earlier this week, begins with the women refusing to move.

“You can’t block off a park like that,” the driver shouts.

“Well bad luck, we’re not moving,” one of the women shoots back with her hands on her hips.

“Well no, you’re not allowed to,” the driver continues, before his passenger with the camera interrupts to scream “get out of the f***ing way.”

The pair in the car repeatedly shout “move” as another car with red P-Plates approaches and begins honking at the women.

“This is insane,” the passenger continues before the clip abruptly ends.

Two women tried to save a car spot in Chadstone shopping centre, and two cars told them off for it. Source: @lehenny_king/Tik Tok

One social media user who witnessed the incident claimed the two vehicles eventually gave up and let the women secure the parking spot near the entrance to retailer Zara.

“I was there,” they wrote.

“So what happened was there was (another lady) behind the red Kia and the two ladies were saving it for their mum.

“It went on for like 5-10 mins until the guy who is recording and the red car left them and the mum got the parking space.”

The women held their ground, gestured and yelled back at the drivers, and eventually won the dispute. Source: @lehenny_king/Tik Tok

Many were frustrated by the clip, taking to TikTok to share stories about their own parking nightmares.

“This happened to me at Balmoral Beach,” one person wrote.

“The lady stood in front of the parking saying she was reserving for a friend. We approached and beeped and told her she can’t do that until she moved and walked away with her fingers up.”

“It’s crazy to think they’re that important that they think they can save a car spot at a busy car park,” added another.

Some users did criticise the men in the vehicle as well.

“Men like this are absolute icks. Revolting. It’s a car park ffs, as if you wouldn’t just giggle and move on,” wrote one.

Commenters called the women out, and voiced similar situations where pedestrians tried to save car spots.

In NSW, it is an offence to “cause a traffic hazard by moving into the path of a driver” or “unreasonably obstruct the path of any driver or another pedestrian.”

The maximum penalty for these offences is a fine of $72, or $2,200 if contested in court.

This comes as the beach cabana trend, and people saving car spots at beaches has become a huge etiquette debate. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Earlier this year, etiquette expert Anna Musson weighed in on the debate.

“With all matters of etiquette, we have to apply context and ask ourselves if it passes the pub test. In this case, I think we can all agree the answer is no,” she told news.com.au.

“You cannot reserve a parking spot without a car or motorbike.”

“The ‘first in, best dressed’ rule applies here, just as it does for booths at the pub, views, seats at the cricket, the footy, and clothing sales! Remember, we’re all in the same situation, and a space will become available.”

However, Ms Musson also advised against confronting a spot saver, as it could escalate the situation.

“Drive on, take a breath, and know they are having a worse day than you. Be the bigger person – your blood pressure and the example you set for your children will thank you.”