Cart Narcs ... I mean, I get it, but when did this become a thing?

[bgirldeb]

I just read an article about this. Not returning your cart can be a sign of aberrant behavior.

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/624847/scientific-reason-people-do-not-return-shopping-carts
That show the OP mentioned sounds annoying, but I do recall that before cart corrals, people took them back in the store. (I’m 44)

When my kids were little, I parked near the corral.

it’s not about doing a courtesy for store, but about common courtesy to everyone.

People with medical issues/ those that used the disabled spaces and can’t walk far get a pass.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I just read an article about this...

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/624847/scientific-reason-people-do-not-return-shopping-carts

I found this part really interesting:
"In another experiment, researchers performed the flyer trial with a parking lot that had carts organized and carts scattered around at separate times. When carts were everywhere, 58 percent of people left the flyers on the ground compared to 30 percent when the carts were cared for."

Apparently, whether carts are returned affects other behavior as well!

...That show the OP mentioned sounds annoying, but I do recall that before cart corrals, people took them back in the store. (I’m 44)...

I remember that too - because I used to be the "designated cart returner" when I went grocery shopping with my Dad!

 

[CarolAnn856]

Growing up in Maryland, we would leave the full carts outside the doors on the sidewalks where store employees would wait with them for you to pull up your car. They loaded the bags into your car for you, and of course got tipped. I have no idea if it was just the chain we shopped at, a regional thing, or what, but I wish we had that where I live now!

 

[sam_gordon]

Growing up in Maryland, we would leave the full carts outside the doors on the sidewalks where store employees would wait with them for you to pull up your car. They loaded the bags into your car for you, and of course got tipped. I have no idea if it was just the chain we shopped at, a regional thing, or what, but I wish we had that where I live now!

I remember that while growing up in northern Indiana.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Considering I rarely see anyone return carts, I can say most ppl don’t care.

I, of course, don't shop with you, but it's probably more likely that you don't notice than that you don't see. Goes for anyone. Now, seeing hundreds of carts all over the parking lot to the point there's nowhere to park? Sufe, nobody's returning carts.

 

[LSUmiss]

I, of course, don't shop with you, but it's probably more likely that you don't notice than that you don't see. Goes for anyone. Now, seeing hundreds of carts all over the parking lot to the point there's nowhere to park? Sufe, nobody's returning carts.

I said earlier that there are often no carts inside or in the corrals b/c they’re all over the parking lot. So I think it’s fair to say most ppl aren’t returning them.

 

[ncc1701]

I do put carts in the corrals & like a PP do some rearranging . But I try not to judge people who do not. There is one Supermarket ( a large one )I go to that doesn't have enough corrals for the size of their lot. Most of the carts not put back into a corral are placed on the grass strips in the parking lot or stacked in spaces. The others are usually good. However since I have retired I usually go at off-peak times.

 

[VandVsmama]

I said earlier that there are often no carts inside or in the corrals b/c they’re all over the parking lot. So I think it’s fair to say most ppl aren’t returning them.

That means most of us are animals.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Question for the people who live in areas where it isn’t expected to return your carts...what do you do with them? I’m having a hard time picturing a place they can go without being an inconvenience to someone.

I can only picture them either blocking yourself from being able to leave your spot, blocking someone else from getting to their car, blocking an empty space or in a pathway for cars. Or is it just accepted that one of those things is going to happen with every cart?

I feel like I’m missing something.

Many of our stores don't have cart corrals. For those that don't, there are often parking curbs/bumpers that separate the cars. People leave their carts between those. There are also grassy areas where people leave carts. Basically, people leave the carts anywhere you can leave them that doesn't block the parking spaces.

It appears that many people aren't considering that you could park a cart here & it wouldn't move for days. I understand that line of thinking, because I grew up in an area where you had to hold onto the cart constantly to keep it from rolling into a car. We need to remember that all areas aren't created equally.

The places that do have cart corrals have fewer parking curbs & grassy areas. In that case, most people return them to the corral.

 

[CarolAnn856]

That means most of us are animals.

To quote just about every parent ever, “Just because everyone else you know is doing it, doesn’t mean you should too.”

And anyway, in anyplace I’ve lived or even visited you would be in the minority, so no, “most of us” don’t just leave carts wherever we want.

I completely understand that every once in a while someone is feeling terrible, throws out their back, or whatever. I don’t fault anyone that does it as a one off, ever. And in fact my aunt who has MS always appreciated it if someone carefully parked a cart between the disabled parking signs between two aisles of cars. I actually wish they would leave a few there in a designated spot, because it really can help those that need to lean on something. But other than that, people that can’t be bothered on a regular basis to put carts away, well, it tells you a lot about the person.

 

[VandVsmama]

To quote just about every parent ever, “Just because everyone else you know is doing it, doesn’t mean you should too.”

And anyway, in anyplace I’ve lived or even visited you would be in the minority, so no, “most of us” don’t just leave carts wherever we want.

I completely understand that every once in a while someone is feeling terrible, throws out their back, or whatever. I don’t fault anyone that does it as a one off, ever. And in fact my aunt who has MS always appreciated it if someone carefully parked a cart between the disabled parking signs between two aisles of cars. I actually wish they would leave a few there in a designated spot, because it really can help those that need to lean on something. But other than that, people that can’t be bothered on a regular basis to put carts away, well, it tells you a lot about the person.

You’re taking this thread way too seriously.

 

[CarolAnn856]

You’re taking this thread way too seriously.

Weird that it’s okay for you to respond several times to threads but not those who disagree with you. Have a lovely day.

 

[VandVsmama]

Weird that it’s okay for you to respond several times to threads but not those who disagree with you. Have a lovely day.

Thanks! I hope you have a great day, too!

 

[Heather07438]

The psychology of carts matches alot of the psychology behind litter.

https://www.wycokck.org/WycoKCK/med...cuments/Who-Litters-and-Why-People-Litter.pdf
https://blogs.scientificamerican.co.../why-dont-people-return-their-shopping-carts/
I can't find the study comparing them. There is alot in common.
One major point is once people see litter or stray carts, they're more likely to contribute.

 

[LSUmiss]

You’re taking this thread way too seriously.

I was just going to say it tells you a lot about a person that they get this worked up about something like this .

 

[Starport Seven-Five]

I was just going to say it tells you a lot about a person that they get this worked up about something like this .

When it costs you 1k to get your car repaired due to someone else wanting to save 30 seconds you'll understand.

 

[LSUmiss]

When it costs you 1k to get your car repaired due to someone else wanting to save 30 seconds you'll understand.

Gotcha. Already said that’s really not an issue here. The terrain is extremely flat. It would take a hurricane to cause that kinda damage to a car.

Socially acceptable behavior can be different in different areas. In Disney, I’ve never seen so many ppl walk through an open door or gate & let it slam in the face of someone behind them. THAT would be abhorrent behavior here. In Disney, often if DH holds a door or gate open, ppl just walk right through it like he’s the doorman instead of grabbing it & holding it open for the person behind them. That’s how we do it here with very rare exception. So either everyone in wdw is rude or there are different practices different places.

 

[Heather07438]

The 2 things that stand out to me are the store and the people.

The stores actions- have they made cart returns convenient, and is somebody actively removing any strays before they pile up and trigger more people to follow suit?

Community- the more connection in a community, the more people work together to keep it nice.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

The terrain is extremely flat. It would take a hurricane to cause that kinda damage to a car.

In terms of price tag "that kinda damage" is a bit irrelevant. Small dings can still cost a pretty penny. As for terrain I mean yes and no. I've not seen a parking lot in my area with hills galore and yet an every so slightly tiny slope in a certain portion of a parking lot can cause a cart to move. Windy day can do that too. Will that mean carts are going all banging into people's cars? No, but terrain is not the be it all to that.

Socially acceptable behavior can be different in different areas. In Disney, I’ve never seen so many ppl walk through an open door or gate & let it slam in the face of someone behind them. THAT would be abhorrent behavior here. In Disney, often if DH holds a door or gate open, ppl just walk right through it like he’s the doorman instead of grabbing it & holding it open for the person behind them. That’s how we do it here with very rare exception. So either everyone in wdw is rude or there are different practices different places.

I do think is what has been driving the conversation.

I do think though respectfully it just comes off like you are trying to justify how your area handles it by bringing to the table random other examples. Certainly it's quite nice that your husband opens the door at WDW but it's not as if to other people who return carts to the corral that it someone absolves that behavior of not returning the carts by exhibiting some other behavior seen as polite. I do know that may sound rude and I apologize in advance if it comes off that way

However, I remember from a past discussion that in your area it is just a thing that it's NBD in not returning the carts so I do think you are just describing how it is in your area just like others are for their areas. It doesn't sound like you would think someone was crazy to return a cart other than maybe assume they are more from outside the area so that, to me at least, counts for something

 

[Heather07438]

In Disney, often if DH holds a door or gate open, ppl just walk right through it like he’s the doorman instead of grabbing it & holding it open for the person behind them.

That annoys to no end One time recently at WDW like a dozen people walked past me holding the door, never touching the door themselves. Like how oblivious can people be?

It happens alot. Most of the time I just want to let go once my arm passes maximum extension, but of course that would be the time I knock a 5yo in the head with it.