Why do people leave shopping carts in the parking lot?

[Dr Pepsi]

I just got back from a quick grocery run. I borrowed my mother’s handicapped decal so I could park close to the store (hey, it’s a hot day today. Who wants to do all that walking?) and also because those handicapped spots are big and no one will be able to ding the car (I drove my live-in boyfriend’s Audi. He’d kill me if I dinged it).
After I used my food stamps to buy T-bone steaks and a case of $30 a bottle wine and loaded it into the car, I wheeled my cart out to the middle of the busy, packed lot and put it across an open space so no one could park there.
My day started out cruddy, but now it’s suddenly looking up!

 

[OctMtnWoods]

This must be what happens to all those carts flying all over the parking lots of America.

Cart Art.

 

[RadioNate]

Wow, 11 pages about this subject. Who knew that this was such a hot topic?

It's a minor thing but I am curious how people get their kids to a shopping cart to begin with when they have trouble getting them from the shopping cart to the car? I admit that when DS was small I would sometimes park by a rogue cart just because it was easier.

I always park near the rogue cart because it is easier than carrying DD into the store. When I get back to the car, I put her in the car first. Just seems safer to me than having her sit in the cart as I'm busy unloading. IF there is a cart coral close I'll return the cart but if there isn't one, oh well it stays in the closest out of the way spot. Meaning not in the middle of the parking spot.

Our local grocery has 2 cart corals total. 2. That is it. They also have sidewalks between the parking rows so I usually just leave it there if I'm not near a coral. They aren't a few steps away. Usually they are a row or 2 over with 5-10 parking spots between.

The lot has 8 rows across and the corals are in row 3 and 6 and then are about I'd guess 10 or 12 spots into the lot. So if you are in another row and not further out you are no where near a coral.

I'm sorry but I'm not leaving my DD in the car so I can walk over 2 rows to put the cart in the coral. I try to park close to the coral or store but that doesn't happen.

If a bagger is handy, I let him walk the groceries to my car and he takes the cart back with him

 

[MomofCKJ]

I haven't read all these pages but I always return my cart. It is a huge pet peeve of mine. People can be SO lazy and to just leave it there, well it is rude. There certainly are enough corrals in a typical parking lot to return it to. Move you butt and put the cart back!

Allyson

 

[EveDallas]

I just got back from a quick grocery run. I borrowed my mother’s handicapped decal so I could park close to the store (hey, it’s a hot day today. Who wants to do all that walking?) and also because those handicapped spots are big and no one will be able to ding the car (I drove my live-in boyfriend’s Audi. He’d kill me if I dinged it).
After I used my food stamps to buy T-bone steaks and a case of $30 a bottle wine and loaded it into the car, I wheeled my cart out to the middle of the busy, packed lot and put it across an open space so no one could park there.
My day started out cruddy, but now it’s suddenly looking up!

Good answer!

 

[disney1990]

I didn't read the entire thread, but I think that ALL stores should do what Aldi does and charge 25 cents to use a cart, which you get back when you return the cart. I never, ever see carts in their parking lot.

 

[OctMtnWoods]

More Cart Art.

 

[Charade]

I put my cart back. I think this is a petty complaint. I don't waste time worrying about what other people are doing/or not doing and why in this type of thing. Put it back, don't - I don't care.

Don't let your expectations become your disappointments. It's about you.

Child Abusers-that's something to complain about.

It's something I care about because when careless, thoughtless people leave their carts scattered about in the lot they have a tendency to crash into cars causing damage. If you don't care about rogue cart damage, then so be it.

 

[Bluestars]

I just got back from a quick grocery run. I borrowed my mother’s handicapped decal so I could park close to the store (hey, it’s a hot day today. Who wants to do all that walking?) and also because those handicapped spots are big and no one will be able to ding the car (I drove my live-in boyfriend’s Audi. He’d kill me if I dinged it).
After I used my food stamps to buy T-bone steaks and a case of $30 a bottle wine and loaded it into the car, I wheeled my cart out to the middle of the busy, packed lot and put it across an open space so no one could park there.
My day started out cruddy, but now it’s suddenly looking up!

You could have taken it one step further and pushed the cart with all of your might down the parking lot. I call it parking lot bowling. You get more points if your cart bumps off one car and hits another. You get bonus points if people are in the way.

 

[MushyMushy]

It's something I care about because when careless, thoughtless people leave their carts scattered about in the lot they have a tendency to crash into cars causing damage. If you don't care about rogue cart damage, then so be it.

The first dent I ever got in my car was from a shopping cart when the car was only a week old. I came out of the store and the cart was planted right in the door. But I don't see the lazies sticking around to see what kind of damage they're causing and offer to pay for it!

This has been quite a while, but my husband and I went to Target and we were driving around looking for a spot. Some woman walked her cart up near the entrance and just let it sit near the curb, just feet from the front door. She couldn't take the extra steps to get it inside? Anyway, this shopping center sits on top of a rather big hill (in WV, which is very hilly) and the wind gets really fierce. Just as we were driving up on it, a gust grabbed the cart and sent it sailing towards the parking lot, so I hauled my fat rear end out of the car and took off after it.

The woman who put it there to begin with? Never even glanced back.

 

[Charade]

The first dent I ever got in my car was from a shopping cart when the car was only a week old. I came out of the store and the cart was planted right in the door. But I don't see the lazies sticking around to see what kind of damage they're causing and offer to pay for it!

This has been quite a while, but my husband and I went to Target and we were driving around looking for a spot. Some woman walked her cart up near the entrance and just let it sit near the curb, just feet from the front door. She couldn't take the extra steps to get it inside? Anyway, this shopping center sits on top of a rather big hill (in WV, which is very hilly) and the wind gets really fierce. Just as we were driving up on it, a gust grabbed the cart and sent it sailing towards the parking lot, so I hauled my fat rear end out of the car and took off after it.

The woman who put it there to begin with? Never even glanced back.

I once witnessed a cart go flying all the way across the lot only to hit a car that someone obviously parked way off in the corner to avoid getting dinged. It's like that cart had radar! If I could have, I would have stopped it.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Wow, 11 pages about this subject. Who knew that this was such a hot topic?

It's a minor thing but I am curious how people get their kids to a shopping cart to begin with when they have trouble getting them from the shopping cart to the car? I admit that when DS was small I would sometimes park by a rogue cart just because it was easier.

Some stores keep the carts for the shoppers inside the store. That is, you're not supposed to bring in your cart from outside. The front doors aren't designed to take carts. Parents haul their kids inside the store into the cart. On the way out, the doors can handle the carts. I wouldn't begrudge one of those parents for leaving their cart in the lot and not in a corral. I wouldn't want them to leave their kids in the car alone, and there are plenty of cart wranglers picking up carts at all times.

I don't need to worry about rogue carts in the parking lot as I walk to and from the grocery. The abandoned carts I need to deal with are from the other walkers who don't want to move their cart 5-15 feet to the left of the exit and leave it in front of the door instead. It cracks me up.

 

[Julia M]

It's something I care about because when careless, thoughtless people leave their carts scattered about in the lot they have a tendency to crash into cars causing damage. If you don't care about rogue cart damage, then so be it.

Oh man, it's true, I have NO LIFE!! Just think, some people are out for dinner, enjoying a fine meal and stimulating conversation, other's are at the movies.....I'm learning all about the intrincities of shopping cart etiquette and lack there of.....

I mean, come on..........rogue cart damage

Reading through this thread has been very entertaining!!!!!

julia

 

[rparmfamily]

Apparently this is a huge button for people but in my 20+ yrs of driving (and parking LOL) I really haven't had any problems with rogue carts. It's just not an issue in my life, LOL.

And I'd say over 99% of the time I do put mine back, though at Costco I only put it back about 50% because of what someone mentioned...the person watching me unload my cart and is waiting for my spot has already said they want my cart LOL. Costco is crazy ya know LOL!

 

[Kathi OD]

I didn't read the entire thread, but I think that ALL stores should do what Aldi does and charge 25 cents to use a cart, which you get back when you return the cart. I never, ever see carts in their parking lot.

The Aldi's near my house doesn't charge for carts. Pathmark did years ago, but they haven't for at least 10 years.

 

[VickiVM]

Apparently this is a huge button for people but in my 20+ yrs of driving (and parking LOL) I really haven't had any problems with rogue carts. It's just not an issue in my life, LOL.

And I'd say over 99% of the time I do put mine back, though at Costco I only put it back about 50% because of what someone mentioned...the person watching me unload my cart and is waiting for my spot has already said they want my cart LOL. Costco is crazy ya know LOL!

Hey, I wonder if Costco knows they could sell parking spots for a hefty profit??!!! And why the heck do they design every single Costco parking lot the same ineffective way???

 

[rie'smom]

After reading this I called my brother. He owns insurance agencies all over the state. Not 1 claim has ever been made to any of his offices due to rogue cart damage in the 20 years he's had his agencies. Before this he worked as an adjuster and again he said he never had to look into rogue cart damage. DB said a cart would have to be moving awfully fast or deliberately pushed or accidentally driven into or backed into for damage to occur.

 

[yeartolate]

And I'd say over 99% of the time I do put mine back, though at Costco I only put it back about 50% because of what someone mentioned...the person watching me unload my cart and is waiting for my spot has already said they want my cart LOL. Costco is crazy ya know LOL!

Yeah, that was me. You would be honked and harrassed if you put your cart back at my Costco. There are usually 4 in line behind the person waiting for your spot. The chorus of "I'll take the cart" echos throughout.

 

[Wick]

Laziness and being inconsiderate.

 

[rparmfamily]

Hey, I wonder if Costco knows they could sell parking spots for a hefty profit??!!! And why the heck do they design every single Costco parking lot the same ineffective way???

They could probably charge an extra $1000 a year for the "right" to valet park LOL. Why are all Costco's parking lots a madhouse? There is always a line just to park!