Seems amazing that 'any' commercial company trying to sell to the retail market would not ensure there is adequate and/or 'more than sufficient' parking'? Reminds one that many years ago a well known down-town company put 'free parking' on their roof because customers were objecting to then recently introduced parking meters. Suppose the customer decides to buy at Lidl's then go next door (or within the store) for a cuppa/coffee and then next door again to look at some shoes?
Any super market here with inadequate parking would lose business to one of their competitors; in fact there is one where parking is more congested so we don't go there! Except to occasionally compare prices or if it's early morning and the lot is relatively empty. The problem seems to be that there are several resident businesses in the same buildings whose employees are there all day, including a 24 hour call- centre!
I have no connection with Wal mart except as an occasional customer ................. but go to our local WM, for example; their parking lot is huge. Probably some 30 to 50 times the size of the store itself?
The only problem have had with WM was; one Saturday night needing an auto battery I called up their 'Store opening Hours' number (a free local call) which said "Open till 9.30 PM," or summat. Arriving there found auto dept. unstaffed. (Something to do with auto-mechanics union hours!). So grabbed a battery off the rack, having confirmed the type number for vehicle, and checked it out. Small overnight top-up charge and then installed it in the driveway the following morning. Had more trouble with hooking the hold down bolts more than anything else. And the vehicle started right up .......... checked the charging voltage at a bit over 14 volts, about 2.3 to 2.4 volts per cell, and it's worked fine ever since.
I must take back the old battery and get my $10 incentive/rebate sometime. Total cost around $100 Canadian or roughly 70 quid? Since the last battery lasted through eight winters and summers do not foresee too many problems. Also has up to three roadside assists included in price, for several years anywhere in North America and Mexico!
But back to parking. Not only do WM always have more than sufficient space, they encourage (apparently the founder was an RV enthusiast) passing RVers (Recreational vehicles/caravans etc.) to park over night. It is the custom for RVs to park well away from the entrances and are also welcome to use the facilities inside the store (this mainly during the summer/tourism season of course).
Since Wal Mart carries various food items, has auto supplies and camping gear depts. and often have 'fast-food' franchises within their store, the mutual arrangement makes sense.
The only places here that even deign to impose a parking fee or any restrictions etc. are those not engaged in commerce ....... the main hospital Health Centre, on the pretext that the university next door would monopolize the parking, some down-town city buildings who have underground parking, always insufficient for the number of employees in the building of course!
BTW one notices that in some Gulf countries they do not charge for the underground parking, to do so might discourage people from shopping in the buildings above and the retail commercial enterprises from making a profit! And their gasoline costs somewhere around 20 cents (about 15 pence?) per litre.
Lidl's approach seems almost backwards and counter productive? Surely a few acres of parking even at today's inflated land prices and pro- customer parking approach would be a profitable investment?
Another example maybe; there is a gas (petrol) station here who although they charge the 'fill it yourself prices' have a crew of young men who fill your vehicle; the moment you stop they are there to serve. And boy, they do a lot of business, constantly busy!
002 cents from here.