Lazy
Too "important" to be seen returning a cart

I would love to see a cart running into one of their cars...at full speed, too.

And, don't you love it when they leave the cart in the middle of the parking space?

I have ALWAYS return the cart to the corral or the store. The manager stood in shock one day when I came back in with my cart. My mom told him I always did that and he thanked me. I have my grandson returning stray carts in the parking lot. Have to be careful with that kid so he doesn't get run over doing a good deed!!

I usually leave the cart at the cart stand by the door, and just grab my grocery bags (the day I can't hang on to 5-7 bags is the day I need to stop shopping anyway--LOL) and walk to my car. If I do have more groceries than that, I always return the cart to the corral.

Until recently. The grocery store near our new house has something I've never ever seen before. There's a wide strip between each 2 parking lanes where you can leave your cart. They have corrals, too, but there are kids out there constantly collecting the carts. So hey--when in Rome... I admit, I've been leaving my cart in the strip for it at that store. But I DO always grab one from there on my way in.

Most times I return the cart, occasionally I don't (shame on me) but I ALWAYS use a stray cart found in the lot upon entering a store (so, in a way, I sort of *do" return a cart, every time.) It is unfortunate to have so many stray carts throughout the lot, but I hope the same people who bring their carts to the coral would also consider (upon arrival at the store) to take one of those stray carts (maybe even next to your own parked car) to use, rather than walking past the strays to get a cart from the coral or inside the store. It just makes sense since the goal is to reduce the strays and save other cars from damage. Very often I see people walking past the strays only to get a cart from inside the store.

If we can be mindful of stray carts at the start, and end, of our shopping it would help reduce the damage to parked cars and free up some spaces at the same time.

Steve, I have two places I park at, when I grocery shop. It depends on the wind, if I park north, or south. I always park, so the majority of the turned loose carts will get blown away from my car, rather then in to my car.

I am like you. I hate it, when peeps don't put their carts away.

But, I also take carts, specially from women with children, when they just unloaded, and I am heading in to the store. I feel, if I can help them out, I will. I don't mind pushing a cart in to the store, on my way in.

I haven't done like you yet, but felt like it often. Not sure, if I have the guts to do so.

Moni

I always put my cart back, as a matter of fact I always try to get a parking space close to the cart corral so I don't have so far to go when I am done.
More than once I have come out of the store and had a cart right up against my car-hey my car might not be much, but I don't like it to be used for a shield for the new cars. I mean I have honestly thought do people see that my car is far from new and think she won't mind if we throw a cart up against it. I do mind.
You are not a crabby old man Steve-well maybe you are, but if you are then I am a crabby middle aged woman, because it ticks me off too.

Wow, no wonder cars have dings on them in parking lots, not from other cars but carts. Not good at all. How would she like that same cart to be pushed right at her car especially if it was brand new.

What is frustrating is you go, oh there is a parking spot and then you find a cart right there and you have to get out and move it to have the slot.

that is brave to actually bring back the cart and stand with the cart in back of the car. Nowadays, they are libel to just roar back, many don't even see you!

I think you handled it perfectly, Steve. That woman was an idiot and a lazy one at that.

We always return our cart, file away stray ones and bring one into the store if it's loose. I get ticked at peeps who don't but even more ticked at door-dingers slinging their car doors open and hitting mine. No matter where I park, someone finds me. It's starting to get ridiculous. My brother parked his Lexus waaaaaay out at Lowe's one day and someone creamed the whole front quarter panel on drivers side. Man, was he livid! No note, of course.

Steve, you did exactly the right thing. I applaud you!

This is one of the things that makes me crazy too!! Also people walking right past carriages out in the lot and won't grab one and push into the store for their use.No, they get in the store and take another. just need to vent. thanks. june

secsteve, Thank you for confronting the culprit! This is my pet peeve. I once had my Brand New car dented and scratched by a wayward shopping cart! I was so upset by it. I am now known to spend 20 minutes in the parking lot rounding up stray carts that may damage cars. People are sooooooooo lazy!!! It drives me crazy. It's about respect. Respect for others property. Do unto others as you would have them do to you.

People in Iowa are good about putting their carts in the corrals. I like to take a cart from outside into the store with me. It is fun to see a person finish unloading their cart and tell them I will be happy to take it.

I remember seeing a lady do a similar thing, only she had a new car, too lazy to put the cart in the corral. So she simply pushed it away from her car and gave it a shove. Unfortunately she sent it on an uphill grade, so guess what happened next. The cart turned, gained speed and came back and hit her own car. Of course, she than went back into the store to report it, so I followed her in and related what I had witnessed. One mad lady.

That's just one of the things I love about Aldi's...If you want your 25 cents back, you'll put the cart back or give it to someone ready to "rent" a cart....One way to keep the cost down at the store...Do you know how much those darn carts cost????

I would like a better system to cart corrals. I like the idea of center places. Here we have so many handicap places that the cart holder is WAY down the aisle. I try to put the cart back but with the rain/snow I try to put it someplace it will NOT damage anyones car--We have one store here that the cart person is always picking up. I think he is a handicaped person, on the young side, but is so nice and is always working, rain, sun, snow etc. Very postive attitude. In fact people will walk their carts to him and he enjoys it.

Way to go Steve!!
I would have loved to have been with you. I would have told her off as well.....as long as you were there!

One of our local stores has it where you have to insert a quarter in order to free the cart. I don't know why more stores don't do that.
Another large store have locking wheels where the cart locks up when it gets to the end of the property to prevent theft, so it would be nice if they went further, with the coin.

People are just too damned lazy and arrogant anymore. These are the types where their cars don't have any dings in but they don't mind if they ding other people's cars. OR they drive beaters and don't give a shi about anything.

Good for you Steve!!

I too,would loved to have been there.LOL

Good plan,I'll have to remember that one,when one of the other extremely lazy shoppers don't put their carts away

Here tho(ontario) we have to use a quarter to get a cart,so most return the carts to get that quarter back.

But that would have been fantastic if she had backed over her own cart...hahahahaha

Oh,and in my estimation my friend,60 is NOT old.

Good job Steve!

It's a pet peeve of mine too! I always return my cart, and if there is a stray nearby I take it in (mainly so it won't eventually hit my car!)

Thank you Moni! I'm one of those moms with kids who would love for someone to take my cart. I normally just park somewhere very close to the corral so I know I won't have to go far to return it.

I always try to park close to a corral so it's easy to put the cart there and if there's a stray cart about, grab it and take it on into the store. If no corral close, I'll take the cart back to the store, little exercise won't kill me.

I applaud you Steve for what you did and Silver, love your story how you went back in to explain what really happened. Probably didn't teach her a lesson in putting her cart back properly.

Hats off to you Steve -if I'd been there she would have seen/heard me clapping & yelling "GOOD FOR YOU, MISTER!" Hats off to you too Silver, for taking your time to set the record straight.

Suzi

While I do like Aldi's method of the quarter, I keep thinking of the comedian that came on stage the one time saying Look what I just bought for only a quarter!!! And I see there's a quarter in there for me too so it's free! But it does help get carts returned.

I'm not sure what that woman's intention was by going in and talking to a manager about the cart hitting her car. Not going to get a settlement lady, ain't gonna happen. But I do applaud you for giving the other side of the story.

Many stores need more of the cart collection areas though. Several times when there's a cart in a parking spot I've just given it a nudge with the bumper. I usually am pretty good about returning carts and often take one just to hang on to since it's harder to get around, it's easier walking holding onto a cart.

My complaint though, it the ever narrowing width of parking stalls and people that park on the line. Last week I was at a drug store and was going through a couple things before I went in and some goofball pulls up next to me leaving about 10" between the vehicles. Parked over the line. Irritating.

They should design all parking lots like my grocery store - the parking lot is sloped. If you tried to leave your cart anywhere but in a corral, it would go careening towards the road! It takes some maneuvering to unload your cart without losing it. It drives me nuts but I can tell you that there are never any stray carts in that lot.

You the man, Steve.
I'm almost 53 so if 60 is old then I'm in big trouble.

Ron

WOW! I didn't expect such a big response.

As I said, after having had my car hit twice by lazy people, I just had to speak up. It's not like it's a two mile walk to take the cart back or to the corral.

Just joshing about my being a crabby old man. I sure don't feel 60 and hope to be like my mom who was still going strong at 86. I'd take her shopping and she wear me out.