Due to the fact that I've visited The Home Depot approximately 2,483 times this winter -- I've noticed something. The parking interface for the store is unacceptable. I'm not talking about a web site here.

Figure 1

If you'd kindly take a look at Figure 1, this will all make sense.

Upon arriving at America's home improvement super-store, I have two choices. I either park near the extreme left of the building, where I then have a pleasantly short walk to the store's entrance. Or, I could park near the extreme right of the building, where following my purchase, I'll have a short walk to my car upon exiting. It's important to note that the store is gigantic

Ninety percent of the time, I choose to park as close as possible to the entrance. I think to myself, fantastic. Now I have a really quick walk to the front door. However, when I'm ready to leave the store -- I only have one option, to leave through the exit located at the opposite side of the store, miles from where my car is parked. Barricades prevent me from going back to where the entrance is. I then have a brutally long walk, back to the car. I cannot win.

NOTE: The reason this is such a big deal is that it's cold outside. Very cold. So this is merely a seasonal annoyance.

I believe the parking design at The Home Depot to be a wonderful example of bad user interface. Why must they force customers through entrances and exits that are so far apart, leaving no option of parking near both of them? Perhaps there is a good reason. But I just don't see it.

Because I am insane, I of course attempt to relate this to a web site. It could be the equivalent of giving your users two navigation options, but with many, many clicks in between either of them. Or I may be lazy.