Coming up on my local news... Why people are...

[browneyes106]

I can understand maybe people with infants or toddlers not taking shopping carts back to the corrals.

One of my friends from high school worked a full time summer job at a grocery store right after graduation. He had to do cart pushing every 1 and a half. His shift was from 10 am to 6 pm. He said that people who shopped before 4 usually put the carts in the corrals because usually the parking lots aren't packed during the day and people are able to park the corrals more. He said usually after 4 pm is when people to get more lazy about returning the carts.

 

[ajk912]

You anti-cart returners are right.

Next time I see a parent returning a cart with their kids in the car, I am calling CPS. They just endangered the lives of those kids!! Someone could have kidnapped them in those 30 feet, the world could have exploded or the kids could have died from heat exhaustion in those 15 seconds, and don't get me started on alien abductions.

BTW, someone better have their phone ready..because I put my kids at risk of alien abduction EVERY DAY.

 

[C.Ann]

This is how I deal with the cart situation..

When I arrive at a store, park, and get out of my van, I look around to see if anyone is just finishing unloading their cart.. If I spot someone, I will walk over and say, "Do you want me to take that cart for you?" - they always say yes, and that's the cart I use..

When exiting the store, I take my items out and place them in my van.. Holding my DGD's hand (who is with me quite often), I start towards the cart corral (or the front of the store - depending on where the carts should be returned).. If I see someone getting out of their vehicle, I will ask them if they would like to use my cart.. Most of the time they say yes - if not, with DGD in hand, we return the cart to the appropriate spot..

My reasoning for returning carts to the corral or the front of the store is quite simple.. In my book, it's the "right" thing to do.. Others may feel differently..

 

[moburg]

... too lazy to return shopping carts.

Must be a slow news day.

 

[lecach]

My DS (4 1/2) knows where carts are supposed to go. If we see one in a parking space he wants to use that one. Even if we don't need one he wants to take it into the store on our way in. I'd never hear the end of it if I didn't return our cart to the correct spot.

I never have anyone else with me when shopping and I have never had to leave a cart in the wrong place. I just put him in the carseat, load the items in, then lock the car while I am returning the cart. Never been a problem

 

[MushyMushy]

You anti-cart returners are right.

Next time I see a parent returning a cart with their kids in the car, I am calling CPS. They just endangered the lives of those kids!! Someone could have kidnapped them in those 30 feet, the world could have exploded or the kids could have died from heat exhaustion in those 15 seconds, and don't get me started on alien abductions.

BTW, someone better have their phone ready..because I put my kids at risk of alien abduction EVERY DAY.

Thanks for that laugh!

I'm even worse making my kids do it for me when they were old enough to do it.

 

[jrmasm]

If you don't take the cart bag you're missing a free ride. Am I the only one that jumps on and coasts? Wheeee!!! You people don't know what you're missing.


I thought the ride was the reward for surviving grocery shopping.

 

[DVCJones]

To all the people who are getting on those who don't feel comfortable with leaving their children in the car even for a few seconds....

Did anyone else watch the Oprah episode (about a year ago) where she had several mothers on, all were telling their story of how they thought it would be okay to leave their children "just for a moment" in the car while they ran into the store, post office, ATM, house etc? All ended in tragedy. One person was even standing outside near her car when tragedy struck.

That's all I'm saying.......

 

[LoraJ]

To all the people who are getting on those who don't feel comfortable with leaving their children in the car even for a few seconds....

Did anyone else watch the Oprah episode (about a year ago) where she had several mothers on, all were telling their story of how they thought it would be okay to leave their children "just for a moment" in the car while they ran into the store, post office, ATM, house etc? All ended in tragedy. One person was even standing outside near her car when tragedy struck.

That's all I'm saying.......

Then bring them with you!!!!!!

 

[maxiesmom]

To all the people who are getting on those who don't feel comfortable with leaving their children in the car even for a few seconds....

Did anyone else watch the Oprah episode (about a year ago) where she had several mothers on, all were telling their story of how they thought it would be okay to leave their children "just for a moment" in the car while they ran into the store, post office, ATM, house etc? All ended in tragedy. One person was even standing outside near her car when tragedy struck.

That's all I'm saying.......

Leaving your kids in a car while you go inside a store is much different then leaving them while you walk a few feet away, when they are most likely in you line of vision the whole time. And if that still seems dangerous to you, then take the kids with you.

 

[MushyMushy]

To all the people who are getting on those who don't feel comfortable with leaving their children in the car even for a few seconds....

Did anyone else watch the Oprah episode (about a year ago) where she had several mothers on, all were telling their story of how they thought it would be okay to leave their children "just for a moment" in the car while they ran into the store, post office, ATM, house etc? All ended in tragedy. One person was even standing outside near her car when tragedy struck.

That's all I'm saying.......

Mine went with me. When I went into the store, they went with me to get the cart, then we came back, loaded the trunk, and they walked the cart back with me. Not rocket science.

I was really paranoid about leaving them in the car alone, but even I would do it pumping gas or if we were within a few steps of the corral. It's not like I live in a dangerous area where carjackings are common, but I probably wouldn't be shopping in an area like that if I did.

 

[bookgirl]

stores here have paid EMPLOYEES to gather the shopping carts....nothing new.

Actually stores pay employees to go out to the cart carrels and push the carts back into the store. The fact is people are too stupid (didn't want to leave the kids in the car, then park the car next to a carrel) or lazy (go to a store with baggers who'll take your grocery's out for you) or plain old just don't care (laughing at you when karma bites you in the butt) so the clerks who could be doing other jobs are chasing the carts all over the dang lot.

 

[bellebuzzntink]

When I'm parking my car, I always look for an empty parking space with a stray cart beside it. That way I can pop my kids into it and push them into the store. So, those evil cart non-returners actually do me a favor!

I'm really surprised this thread got such strong responses from people. I guess in our area the attitude towards cart returning is "sometimes you do, sometimes you don't". I've never seen any get upset about it, including the store employees who collect the carts in the parking lot. I always try to because it is the right thing to do, but I'll admit that I'm not 100%. By the way, this doesn't make me any more of a bad person than those who are so judgmental.

As far as leaving your kids in the car vs. walking them through the parking lot, I don't think either are safe. I've seen too many drivers not paying attention, talking on the cell phone, speeding, or just driving like everyone should get out of their way to feel comfortable walking my kids in a parking lot any more than I absolutely have to. I know people think I'm over reacting about this, but it only takes a split second for something to happen.....so they stay in the car when I return the cart.

Cheers!

 

[kaytieeldr]

You put your children in extreme danger by doing that. Don't you know that they could DIE in there.

Tongue-in-cheek, or was the post you quoted not clear:

I personally love putting carts back. On a family shopping trip just today I loaded the stuff into the trunk (while hubby and son sat in air conditioned comfort in the car),

Not just the quoted poster's child, but also her (presumed) adult husband, not in the trunk but rather in the air-conditioned passenger compartment.

Must be a slow news day.

Been addressed several times, but it was on the 7 AM Sunday newscast, airing from about 7:25 to 7:30. Not a slow news day by any means; this story aired after the "big" news.

 

[lillygator]

Actually stores pay employees to go out to the cart carrels and push the carts back into the store. The fact is people are too stupid (didn't want to leave the kids in the car, then park the car next to a carrel) or lazy (go to a store with baggers who'll take your grocery's out for you) or plain old just don't care (laughing at you when karma bites you in the butt) so the clerks who could be doing other jobs are chasing the carts all over the dang lot.

as I said in an early post, most stores here DO NOT have cart corrals.

 

[kangareaux]

My kids go with me to return the cart and then they go with me back to the car/van. It isn't that difficult.

Nope. It's not difficult for me now. But when I had a 3/yo, a 2/yo and a newborn it was SLIGHTLY difficult...not to mention dangerous when I didn't have a stroller. (People around here drive like speed demons in parking lots and seldom look behind them when backing) Going to the store alone was a nightmare at that point and DH worked gawd-awful hours so it wasn't much of an option to take him along or go without the kids. I did as much as I could do safely on my own. Guess I'll be on that express train to hell (if only in some people minds...) because I didn't return my cart for a couple of years.

Silly me, but I always err on the side of caution and assume that someone MIGHT have a good reason rather than instantly accuse them (in my mind)of being lazy good for nothings.

I also thank goodness I live in a place that is BEYOND flat and not windy in the least when it came to leaving a buggy out. (Now I cursed it in summer and still do, but that's another post...LOL )

 

[belle&sebastiansmom]

Nope. It's not difficult for me now. But when I had a 3/yo, a 2/yo and a newborn it was SLIGHTLY difficult...not to mention dangerous when I didn't have a stroller. (People around here drive like speed demons in parking lots and seldom look behind them when backing) Going to the store alone was a nightmare at that point and DH worked gawd-awful hours so it wasn't much of an option to take him along or go without the kids. I did as much as I could do safely on my own. Guess I'll be on that express train to hell (if only in some people minds...) because I didn't return my cart for a couple of years.

Silly me, but I always err on the side of caution and assume that someone MIGHT have a good reason rather than instantly accuse them (in my mind)of being lazy good for nothings.

I also thank goodness I live in a place that is BEYOND flat and not windy in the least when it came to leaving a buggy out. (Now I cursed it in summer and still do, but that's another post...LOL )

Exactly! Thank you for this. I don't know how posters are getting away with calling others stupid, lazy, rude, etc.

 

[MosMom]

I wonder if any children have been hit by carts that were caught by wind and take off like a bullet through the parking lot? Those carts can move FAST when it is windy. I wonder if by saving your own children you are inadvertently putting other children at risk.

Since we have so many variables to avoid putting a cart away, I figure we can add in a few more variables for the other side.

Seems silly but I find the parking lot being so dangerous coming OUT of the store but not so dangerous going IN pretty silly.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I wonder if by saving your own children you are inadvertently putting other children at risk.

Which brings us back, again to the psychiatrist's analysis that people refuse to take personal responsibility.

 

[KathyTX]

Closed.