A recent change to free parking rules at an undisclosed Tesco supermarket has ignited a wave of backlash from customers, particularly those who prefer to shop at night. The new regulations, implemented at the store, specify that shoppers can enjoy up to three hours of free parking between 6 am and 8 pm. However, the rules take a sharp turn for nighttime shoppers, limiting them to just one hour of free parking between 8 pm and midnight. Shoppers arriving after midnight and before 6 am are allowed only a meager 30 minutes of free parking.
This change has been met with fierce disapproval from a segment of the customer base. One disgruntled shopper on X, a social media platform, expressed their frustration, stating, “Hey @Tesco I do my shopping at night so I can wander round without my kids and buy nice things that I can hide and eat by myself. It’s a couple of hours to myself once a week. This new policy sucks.” They further elaborated, “I know to a lot of people this probably seems petty and not a big deal, but to anyone who either has kids or works weird hours and has to shop in the evening, or for anyone neurodivergent, it’s absolutely not okay. I’m aware the store is shut 12-6am, I’m talking about when I like to go at 9pm for a couple of hours when it’s nice and quiet and I can shop in peace.”
The sentiment echoed across other social media platforms, with many shoppers sharing similar frustrations. One shopper, expressing solidarity with the original poster, said, “I second that @Tesco. I know people who suffer with anxiety do their shops at night as it’s quiet and a much more calm atmosphere.” Another shopper highlighted the benefits of nighttime shopping, stating, “I hear you. Shopping for groceries in the evening is bliss! No crowds, no screaming kids, barely any queues, what’s not to like? Poor decision making, Tesco.”
Some shoppers have also theorized about a possible underlying motive behind the supermarket’s decision, suggesting it could be a tactic to deter late-night gatherings in the parking lot. One shopper speculated, “It might be because a lot of Tesco car parks get used as boy racer car meets late at night.” Another shopper, reflecting on the community’s response to the change, observed, “I saw this in the community group yesterday. Very odd decision by Tesco. I agree with the person who said it should be a blanket 3 hours while the store is open and 30 minutes at all other times.”
In response to the mounting backlash, a Tesco spokesperson offered an explanation for the new policy, stating it aims to address “anti-social behaviour” during the night. The spokesperson said, “It is important to us that all our customers can find a space when they visit our stores and, where we have parking limits in place, this is to allow us to better manage spaces, and to deter anti-social behaviour in the car park at night, especially outside of opening hours.” This explanation, however, hasn’t appeased disgruntled shoppers who argue that the policy disproportionately affects a specific group of customers, ultimately impacting their shopping experience.
