Carts go in the "Cart Corral,"

[princesspiglet]

Well I could come here and give you a myriad of reason why I don't always return the cart and they are legitimate- but sometimes I simply do not feel like it. There are no bag boys or nice young kids to help you to your car here. Many times I have 2 carts full of stuff and nobody from the store even offers to help let alone bag my stuff. So I will struggle to drag both carts through the parking lot without getting run over and dropping stuff or falling. Once I do that and I hold onto one cart with my foot so it doesn't roll away while I unload the other one into my car and then repeat the process I simply do not want to be bothered "hiking" - because at this point yes, it does feel like a hike- to the other end of the lot to put the carts there. So if you want to call me lazy I don't care. Our grocery stores do not help the customers and they hire people to round up carts. I guess I am creating job security for them.

Like I said before, pure laziness. Another indication of what is wrong with our society. People only care about themselves. So what if my cart rolls into another car and dents it up! It's not hurting me- that is all I care about!

Really, anyone who does this should be ashamed of themselves.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

So if it should get caught by the wind or bumped by a passing child, and it should roll into another person's car....it's just no concern of yours because it's not your car?

I'm trying to understand this thought process.....

I never said any such thing. I put the cart at the four corners of the parking space if you will. It is a very common practice here. The wheels get turned so the cart does not move.

That's an excuse - another one that, unfortunately, lovetoscrap missed.

Same suggestion as above: Talk to store management. There's NO reason those same people hired to collect carts can't also help customers to their cars. If the store doesn't realize there's a need - and a solution! - for something, they won't do anything about it.

If that doesn't work, shop somewhere that provides the services you (any 'you') need. If someone shops at a certain location based solely on price, well, bluntly - you get what you pay for. The most helpful store around here (and we do have several options) is also generally the least expensive.

You can talk to management all you want but it will not change. They do not help you to your car here. Even the expensive food stores don't do it. In all my life I never remember anyone getting their bags taken to their car here. So unless I shop in another state (not going to happen) then it is what it is.

Like I said before, pure laziness. Another indication of what is wrong with our society. People only care about themselves. So what if my cart rolls into another car and dents it up! It's not hurting me- that is all I care about!

Really, anyone who does this should be ashamed of themselves.

I am not ashamed because I think they should make it easier for the customers. Most of the time I do return my cart. However there are times when I just don't have it in me. Lazy? Maybe- but you have no idea what some people are going through at that moment to make such a statement. That is the same as saying someone doesn't deserve their Handicapped placard because they can "walk just fine!" when you (a general you) have no idea what their deal is.
If it makes someone feel better to call me lazy then go for it. I know I am not the only person who doesn't ALWAYS return their cart. I know this because there are tons of carts in the lots I go to that are not in the corral. So I don't really believe that all of the people posting about how they ALWAYS return their cart etc. are telling the truth. At least I am honest and own up. I do return my cart most of the time but there are times where it just isn't going to happen.

 

[Scurvy]

Really, anyone who does this should be ashamed of themselves.

Yes, but anyone who cares enough to be ashamed of themselves for something like this wouldn't be doing it to begin with. They will have a million excuses why it isn't their fault, they have no choice, it's the store's responsibility, you shouldn't park where you might get hit, everyone else does it, etc. The people who do it don't care; they've decided that their comfort and convenience is more important than anyone else and a thread like this (clearly) isn't going to change their behavior. They aren't just inconveniencing others, they are actually causing damage to someone's property or in some cases even injuring other people, and they know this and it doesn't matter to them. I've had my own car dented, I've seen other cars scratched or dented, and just before Christmas this year I saw a woman actually knocked to the ground by a runaway cart being propelled by high winds. The people who do this sort of thing only care about themselves, not the other people they are hurting.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You can talk to management all you want but it will not change. They do not help you to your car here. Even the expensive food stores don't do it. In all my life I never remember anyone getting their bags taken to their car here. So unless I shop in another state (not going to happen) then it is what it is.

I don't know or care what state that is. If you haven't ever actually walked up to a front end manager, or the service desk and asked for the store manager, and said, "Hello, I'm Mouse House Mama. I shop here regularly and there are [many] times I have two carts full of food. Can the store provide someone to help customers to their cars on request?" or even make it personal - ask for help JUST for yourself.

Again, can't fix what they don't know is broken.

 

[momto2girls]

OP, I completely agree with you! Yesterday, I went to Target. Someone left a loose cart in the parking spot NEXT to the cart corral. Really? How flippin' lazy can you be to not put the cart away when the corral is next to your car?

 

[lakelandgal70]

I totally agree with you OP. If I am by myself it goes back if with DH he usually takes it back. I don't understand how someone can't put it back where they got it.

 

[stevenpensacola]

Maybe if I summarize we could avoid the debate?

I can't return the cart because:

I have a small child, toddler, baby, high schooler, college age child, homeschooled kids, public school kids, quadruplets, my mother, father, aunt, cousin and I can't leave them alone in the car while I return it, they could be kidnapped, run away or die of heatstroke/frostbite. It is too hot or too cold. I am disabled, my back hurts, my feet hurt, I broke my leg, twisted my ankle, broke my arm, have a headache, have a cold, have a migraine, am throwing up, need to go to the bathroom. I might get kidnapped, shot, stabbed, raped or murdered on the way to the Cart Return. I am late for work, an appointment, picking my child up from school, catching a plane, curing cancer. They put them too far away from my car. I can't find the place to return them. The cart return is full. It is not my job, that is what they have employees for. I am morally opposed to putting things where they belong. I took the cart in from a parking place so I am just putting it back where I found it. Someone else left the cart in my parking place so I have every right to do it too. There were already a few carts around the space so I just added mine. If you don't want your car scratched by a cart then shop somewhere else. If the store didn't want the cart left in the lot they would have someone to take my groceries out for me and take the cart back.

It's been a while so I hope that I covered it all.

ETA: Oops, forgot:
I am pregnant, TTC, just had a baby, thinking about becoming pregnant. It is raining, snowing, sleeting, hailing, windy, leaves are falling. I forgot my coat, sunscreen, mittens, hat, shoes, pants, umbrella.

I'll add more as I think of them.

you missed one though...

sarcasm...

I'm surprised you haven't been flamed for being sarcastic...apparently that's not allowed on here either...as I've been notified/warned about that in the past.

 

[dodukes]

I'm just creating job security for the cart grabbers ..... lol

 

[Klismania]

Yes, but anyone who cares enough to be ashamed of themselves for something like this wouldn't be doing it to begin with. They will have a million excuses why it isn't their fault, they have no choice, it's the store's responsibility, you shouldn't park where you might get hit, everyone else does it, etc. The people who do it don't care; they've decided that their comfort and convenience is more important than anyone else and a thread like this (clearly) isn't going to change their behavior. They aren't just inconveniencing others, they are actually causing damage to someone's property or in some cases even injuring other people, and they know this and it doesn't matter to them. I've had my own car dented, I've seen other cars scratched or dented, and just before Christmas this year I saw a woman actually knocked to the ground by a runaway cart being propelled by high winds. The people who do this sort of thing only care about themselves, not the other people they are hurting.

Exactly right. This is true of carts, public laundry machine hogging, cell phone usage, etc, etc, etc. It's a fundamental truth that 99% of people are only concerned about themselves unless showing concern about someone else would make them look good. In which case their #1 incentive is still...themselves.

The only thing that can be done about it is to monitor your own behavior and be a good example.

 

[Scurvy]

I'm just creating job security for the cart grabbers ..... lol

Hey don't forget body shops everywhere. Yay for stimulating the economy!

 

[phamton]

IMO, if someone has enough energy/stamina to push the cart all around the grocery store then they should enough stamina to return it to the cart corral.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I agree OP. It's a pet peeve of mine too.

Along with putting trash in the trash can. I've seen people throw stuff on the ground and a trash can is steps away. And putting tp in the toilet. How can a person miss that? But people do.

I wonder what some of these people's homes look like.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

This always turns ugly.

Let's try to head some of it off....

1, If you are handicapped than ask a bagger to help you out with your groceries.

2. If you have young children and do not want to leave your children in the car while you return your cart, see number 1

3. All others have no excuses. Basic consideration says that you would safely secure the cart in the cart return as to not damage anyone elses property.

Ask a bagger heck we hardly have cashiers( 1 or 2 plus 6 self check outs) never mind baggers . I almost always put my cart back. The exception being they don't have a cart return or it's 6 miles away.

 

[Nik's Mom]

Well, you'll all be happy to know that I put my cart back even though it was about 5 degrees and there was so much snow and ice that I had a hard time controlling the path of the cart.

Seriously, it is a pet peeve of mine too. I hate laziness.

 

[shortbun]

Don't let your expectations become your disappointments.

 

[Kathi OD]

Well if you insist
I'm not going to go all crazy and attack you for your choice to be lazy but I will ask why you can't just return the cart to the store or the front of the store then? I assume you are capable of turning around and retracing the footsteps that got you to your car in the first place, why not just bring the cart back there?

This particular store does not store their carts inside the store. If I were to take the cart up to the front, there is a very good chance that, because of the slope of the sidewalk at the front of the store, the cart would roll into traffic after I placed it there.

Of course I am quite able to retrace my steps and put it back where I got it. That's exactly what I do. It just isn't in the cart corral.

Now, if this store had conveniently located cart corrals, say like our Target does, then I'd have no problem using them and do so.

IMO, if someone has enough energy/stamina to push the cart all around the grocery store then they should enough stamina to return it to the cart corral.

Maybe, maybe not; unless you know the person's physical condition and medical history.

I don't care if the cart corral is 2 miles away. Park closer to it or get off your your lazy butt and return the dang cart!

Hard to park closer to the corral when there are only 2 of them in the lot.

Really, anyone who does this should be ashamed of themselves.

Really, I can think of a lot more things that people should be ashamed of but aren't. Those that don't return their carts to the corrals are way at the bottom of the list for me.

 

[kinntj]

Maybe y'all should stop worshipping your cars so much. Can't you guys just drive your beaters to the store, so a little cart scratch won't stress you out so much? Maybe you guys need to talk to management to get more people hired to collect all those carts left. Hmmm? Talk about selfish.

I mean...come on! Tongue in cheek here guys.

I absolutely hate coming out of the store and there's a cart by my drivers door and little room to move it out. I make it my mission to park as close as possible to a cart corral. I'm so happy that my main grocery store has tons of them and they hire a couple of people to constantly get them. The cashiers also ask if you need help out to the car.

 

[Bilberry]

Snow on the ground here brings out the worst in cart corralling i've noticed. During warmer times normally all the carts are out of the parking lot. Parking is easier. But with snow, for what ever reason, grocery shoppers just seem to get lazy, and leave them out everywhere.

 

[nmmom95]

Maybe if I summarize we could avoid the debate?

I can't return the cart because:

I have a small child, toddler, baby, high schooler, college age child, homeschooled kids, public school kids, quadruplets, my mother, father, aunt, cousin and I can't leave them alone in the car while I return it, they could be kidnapped, run away or die of heatstroke/frostbite. It is too hot or too cold. I am disabled, my back hurts, my feet hurt, I broke my leg, twisted my ankle, broke my arm, have a headache, have a cold, have a migraine, am throwing up, need to go to the bathroom. I might get kidnapped, shot, stabbed, raped or murdered on the way to the Cart Return. I am late for work, an appointment, picking my child up from school, catching a plane, curing cancer. They put them too far away from my car. I can't find the place to return them. The cart return is full. It is not my job, that is what they have employees for. I am morally opposed to putting things where they belong. I took the cart in from a parking place so I am just putting it back where I found it. Someone else left the cart in my parking place so I have every right to do it too. There were already a few carts around the space so I just added mine. If you don't want your car scratched by a cart then shop somewhere else. If the store didn't want the cart left in the lot they would have someone to take my groceries out for me and take the cart back.

It's been a while so I hope that I covered it all.

ETA: Oops, forgot:
I am pregnant, TTC, just had a baby, thinking about becoming pregnant. It is raining, snowing, sleeting, hailing, windy, leaves are falling. I forgot my coat, sunscreen, mittens, hat, shoes, pants, umbrella.

I'll add more as I think of them.

I forgot my pants actually made me lol. Now there's an excuse that will cover a variety of situations!

 

[Buckalew11]

Huge pet peeve of mine. I even see the name of a poster on the board on other threads who admitted to not putting their cart away from a previous heated thread and it is what I associate with that poster, lol-- They do not put their cart in the corrals--ugh! I would not shop at a store that did not have corrals.
Wondering where y'all live that the stores do not have them!