Why do people leave shopping carts in the parking lot?

[jrmasm]

We must live in a prosperous area because our stores have baggers and people who get the carts.

That's the first time I've ever heard anyone brag about that.

 

[tasha99]

Am I the only one who just leaves my kids in the cart or have them stand by me while I unload groceries and then take them to the cart corral with me? My kids will play outside in 5° weather. They can stand outside for a few extra minutes while I unload and return the cart.

I do this. Plus I try to park near the cart coral. Admittedly, it's easier for me now that my youngest is 11, but I did it when my oldest 2 were babies as well (I usually had my daughter in a backpack and her older brother riding in the cart--it was actually easier to just get everything situated and then take the backpack down and buckle her in the car).

I will admit to not putting the cart back if a store doesn't have cart corals and I had to park way way out. The only store this happens at is Costco. I'm willing to walk a bit to return a cart, but once you get into going back through traffic and crossing the little lanes within the parking lot (which are ridiculously busy at Costco), I draw the line.

 

[rie'smom]

That's the first time I've ever heard anyone brag about that.

Apparently some stores can't afford to pay both baggers and the people who round up the carts. Here, the the workers start with the carts and move up to bagging.
It's not a brag, I just can't believe stores don't have workers to do each job.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

I live in Jersey.. dont have no worry about that.

Oh sure, rub it in.

That's actually one of the interesting differences I've seen between Illinois and New Jersey. In Jersey, you get great service at the gas station, but in the grocery store, you're on your own. In Illinois, I get great service in the grocery store, but I'm on my own at the gas station.

Are there any other states with no self-serve gas?

I bet I could make a killing running a full-service grocery store in NJ. But not at the shore. That's where service goes to die.

On to page 20!

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Apparently some stores can't afford to pay both baggers and the people who round up the carts. Here, the the workers start with the carts and move up to bagging.
It's not a brag, I just can't believe stores don't have workers to do each job.

In the store where I usually shop, it's the same people who do both. They complain when it's their turn to get carts when the weather is bad, and nearly jump for joy when it's nice out.

 

[robinb]

Apparently some stores can't afford to pay both baggers and the people who round up the carts. Here, the the workers start with the carts and move up to bagging.
It's not a brag, I just can't believe stores don't have workers to do each job.

I think it depends on the store. One grocery store I go to doesn't have dedicated people to cart wrangle and another one does. I think at the latter store the cart wranglers also work the drive-up for grocery pickup.

In your case it might be a "chicken and egg" deal. Your store needs to hire more people to wrangle carts because people leave them outside the corral and people leave the carts outside the corral because they see the cart wranglers out all the time.

 

[Mkrop]

Maybe the Town Watch patrol person should have just watched and waited to see if a real crime was committed.

I agree! Just relating what happened to a friend who thought she was only taking 30 seconds to pay for her gas. Also the cop could have told the Town Watch person to call when there is a "real" crime as well. Or not reamed my friend out, just maybe told her to be more careful.

 

[2girlsmom]

Ooh - good catch! Yes, apparently, a police officer following the letter of the law COULD arrest a parent (or other adult) in that exact situation!

actually, I wouldn't be surprised, considering SOME of the cops' interpretations of laws, and also wouldn't be surprised if some of our local lawmakers tried to pass that law... in Omaha they have a councilmember who is trying to declare a state of war with Iowa because she doesn't like that Nebraskans come across the river to our casino, also another NE state senator is apparently trying to say it is child abuse for a parent to smoke in their car, even if their children are NOT IN THE CAR. I don't smoke but I think that's rather extreme.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

actually, I wouldn't be surprised, considering SOME of the cops' interpretations of laws, and also wouldn't be surprised if some of our local lawmakers tried to pass that law... in Omaha they have a councilmember who is trying to declare a state of war with Iowa because she doesn't like that Nebraskans come across the river to our casino, also another NE state senator is apparently trying to say it is child abuse for a parent to smoke in their car, even if their children are NOT IN THE CAR. I don't smoke but I think that's rather extreme.

There are several states that have outlawed smoking in the car with closed windows.

No word yet on whether they're going to outlaw smoking while pushing a cart in the parking lot.

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

There are several states that have outlawed smoking in the car with closed windows.

No word yet on whether they're going to outlaw smoking while pushing a cart in the parking lot.

It wouldn't hurt my feelings any.

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

You know... Anything on the DIS forum can be found with a Google search. I wonder how many people who aren't DISers are watching this thread and laughing.

20 pages and still going strong!

 

[mjkacmom]

I just got back from Costco, and left my cart - there were a dozen carts neatly lined up between my van and the car next to me, so I added mine. The nearest corral was 2 aisles away, in the middle, and I'm not leaving my kids in the car for 5 minutes.

 

[Arielx2]

I just got back from Costco, and left my cart - there were a dozen carts neatly lined up between my van and the car next to me, so I added mine. The nearest corral was 2 aisles away, in the middle, and I'm not leaving my kids in the car for 5 minutes.

Take them with you.

 

[rie'smom]

Take them with you.

So, it's better to take your kids in the parking lot-where cars can endanger children-in order to return a cart? Yea, ok. Children vs carts-ummm, I think kids are more important.

 

[mickeyboat]

So, it's better to take your kids in the parking lot-where cars can endanger children-in order to return a cart? Yea, ok. Children vs carts-ummm, I think kids are more important.

But you brought them into the parking lot to go into the store and to go back to your car. You also drove them to the store, which statistically is more dangerous.

 

[MushyMushy]

So, it's better to take your kids in the parking lot-where cars can endanger children-in order to return a cart? Yea, ok. Children vs carts-ummm, I think kids are more important.

Oh my goodness! You'd think that people don't take children anywhere! I think they're in more danger being run over by an old lady in a scooter at WDW, but you still see thousands of kids there every day.

 

[Arielx2]

So, it's better to take your kids in the parking lot-where cars can endanger children-in order to return a cart? Yea, ok. Children vs carts-ummm, I think kids are more important.

How did you walk them into the store from your parking spot?

So take your cart back into the store and walk your kids back out. There you go.

 

[phorsenuf]

 

[MushyMushy]

Not mine! I couldn't wait til they were old enough to push the carts back for me. But I did root for them while they dodged all the cars careening around the parking lot, aiming right for them.

 

[rie'smom]

Whatever and thanks for reinforcing my never taking a cart to the corral. I'll make sure to do the same when I visit a town near you!