Shopping malls are charging for prime parking. It's not going well

Scoring a great parking spot used to take luck or determination. Now it takes a credit card.

Shopping malls across the country are roping off parking spaces closest to main entrances and food courts to make a few extra bucks.

"Since when do you have to pay to park at the Willowbrook Mall?" asked one frustrated TikToker.

Most parking spaces at the Wayne, New Jersey, mall are free of charge . But parking in the "preferred" section – one of the coveted 119 spots at the front of the mall – now comes with a price tag.

Signs instruct shoppers to scan a QR code or send a text message to a five-digit number to shell out $2.45 for the first hour and $2 for every hour after that. The cap is $10.45 a day.

Similar parking arrangements have rolled out at Mall St. Matthews in Louisville, Kentucky, the Valley Plaza Mall in Bakersfield, California, the Northridge Fashion Center in Los Angeles and The Mall in Columbia in Maryland – each operated by GGP, a Chicago-based mall operator which boasts on its website that half of the U.S. population lives within an hour of one of its shopping centers.

In all, 23 malls out of over 95 GGP properties offer "preferred" parking across the country, according to spokesperson Lindsay Kahn.

Kahn told USA TODAY the reserved spots offer convenience for those willing to pay for it and address the most common customer pain point: finding quick, convenient parking.

"Preferred Parking is intended for those who want the convenience to not look for a spot," Khan said in a statement. "Whether guests are making a quick shopping trip, looking to get in and out or parking for a restaurant reservation, the program is an amenity for convenience."

Shoppers have plenty of options, she added. "The vast majority of parking at our malls remains free," Khan said.

Fewer things in life are free, parking included

They say the best things in life are free. These days, fewer are .

Upcharges, surcharges, supplemental charges, service fees, hidden fees, add-ons – no matter what you call them, tacked on fees are everywhere , from airline baggage to extra condiments to gas station air. Even the chargers and earphones that used to come with a cell phone are now sold separately.

Free mall parking is the latest complimentary perk on the verge of extinction. For some budget-conscious consumers, it's the final straw, like a cover charge just to spend more money. Or as one Redditor put it : "Pay us so we can take your money."

Jay Reed captured the collective exasperation in a popular video on his YouTube channel: "They're Now Charging To Park At Malls And People Are LOSING IT."