By Kevin Williams
This is off topic but I found myself disagreeing with this guy's rant about shopping carts. Â I don't know who this guy is, I just saw a post linking to it on my cousin's Facebook page so I drank the Kool-Aid and read it.
Okay, I agree with his premise: Â people should return shopping carts to the coral or to their proper berth in the supermarket. Â On that, we can probably all agree. Â Where I disagree is that you can extrapolate a person's entire personality on whether they put a shopping cart away. Â At least in a single instance. Â 95 percent of the time I put the shopping cart either in the coral or back in the store. Â Perhaps even 98 percent. Â Now, one thing I never do is leave a cart in a parking spot. Â That is selfish. Â But on an occasion or two, I have pulled the cart up onto the grassy berm by a spot or left it on the curb in front of the grocery store. Â The conclusion you can draw from that dastardly action according to the writer:Â Â you're selfish.
Holy cow.  See, that is where I don't get along with people very well who look at everything black and white  (if you are one of those people, sorry, I love you anyway and thanks for stopping by).  The problem is there are choices in the middle:  Yes, if you never return a shopping cart, you're a selfish lout.  According to the writer, if you always  return a shopping cart, you're a happy saint (which actually isn't true because the writer is driven so bonkers by out of place carts, he doesn't sound very happy to me).  But what about the people who aren't at either polarity?  I think you have to look at the totality of someone's actions.
I confess last week when we were traveling and I had Bea with me I was at a grocery store in a crowded, crowded sweltering parking lot. I had to park a football field away from the store and with no cart corals nearby, yeah, sorry, selfish me didn't feel like lugging Bea and pushing the cart all the way back to the Harris Teeter grocery store. Â So I walked about 3 /4 of the way and put the cart on the curb in front of the store, still a good distance from the entrance, but safely out of anyone's way. Â And I knew, as crowded as it was, someone would snap up the cart in a hurry (and, sure enough, they did). Â So, according to the writer, "it's all about me" because I didn't walk the other fourth of a football field to put the cart in the store.
This guy's pet peeve is shopping carts. Â Mine are people who are so black and white that they try to extrapolate a person's whole personality from a single action. Â You can't do it. Â Maybe someone was having a bad day and they just decided to say "screw you to the world" and in a minor act of rebellion decided to leave their cart in a parking spot (again, I never do that). Â But 98 percent of the rest of the time, he/ she puts it in the correct spot? Â Does that make him/her a selfish, unhappy person because on that one occasion he/she didn't follow protocol? Â I don't think you can draw that conclusion. Â What about the elderly person who struggled to push the cart to their car in the first place and they left it up on the berm instead? Â And what if that same elderly person thought they were more of a hazard to everyone else tottering back through the parking lot to put the cart back? Â Hardly selfish. Â I just think people are too quick to judge in general, but let alone on shopping cart behavior.
And the writer says about shopping carts littering a lot:Â Â "That drives me insane." Â Really? Â I mean, yes, it is annoying when a parking spot is hogged up by a cart, but carts on a grassy berm at Kroger drives this guy insane? Â We live in a land of prosperity and plenty and are blessed to even have a grocery store stocked with more foods than many people in other parts of the world would see in a lifetime and the guy is "driven insane" by a few shopping carts? Â Geez. Â I just can't relate to that mindset. Â Yeah, it's annoying, but there are far, far, far more things - in my opinion - to be driven insane by than shopping carts in a retail parking lot. Â That's like getting upset at concession stand litter at a ballgame. Â Annoying, but it happens. Â Not like these are shopping carts littering a lush park.
Anyway, this post isn't about shopping carts (you should put them away), it's about judging people over a single shopping cart.
I can't believe I just wrote 500 words about shopping carts, but, there that's off my chest. Â What do you think?
Brenda
I hope the cartpsycho is not a serial something or another. We would all be in so much trouble if a single act defined us.
Connie
I think stores could take a tip from Aldi with the quarter thing. If the cart corral is not far far away I use it. Sometimes I don't. Plus it give some of the workers a job to go out to retrieve them.
Ruth Johnson
I agree about the Aldi's. There have been numerous times when I have been replacing the cart and someone will hand me a quarter and take my cart, saving both of us a trip to the cart corral. And those workers who retrieve the carts? They usually retrieve them from the corrals. The problem with loose carts being that once in a great while you have one that will actually roll well. When the wind comes up, it pushes the cart around the lot and into the cars there.
Jo
As a former retail worker I Have 2 camps Of Opinions on returning carts. When I pull into a lot I observe if someone nearby is unloading and then offer to take their cart As A Courtesy! I am a caregiver and elder handicap placard seniors often welcome a cart then can "lean on" walking In to Store And I will occasionally put it on extra non parking areas for that very reason. Another times sadly you can be assured that leaving carts outside to round up is guaranteeing someone is getting hours at that store...job security!! Another reason I avoid using self scan registers at grocery stores they are cutting out cashier hours by offering them!
Kevin
Jo, so glad to hear from someone in retail...I was going to mention the whole "job argument" but then thought better of it because that is a whole different issue. My rant was about judging people based on their cart behavior, BUT, the job issue is one that can't just be discarded...if EVERYONE put their cart in the coral, yes, you might be eliminating a job or two. I realize one could make an argument that it then free up an employee for an efficiency elsewhere and maybe that is valid too which is why I didn't get into the issue much, but thanks for bringing it up!
Ruth Johnson
Wait, wait! Are you saying that if people put their carts in a corral that the carts take themselves back to the store? The same people who take those carts back to the store FROM THE CART CORRALS are the ones that have to run around the parking lot in rain, snow, on ice and hot and humid weather and gather them from around the lot. Why would putting your cart in the place provided for it have any affect on employment? They work so many hours, and get paid for those hours, then someone else takes their own shift and does the same.
Kevin
I hear you Ruth, that is why I didn't bring up employment...another poster did, I think the employment angle for not putting a cart back is weak...
Cheryl Nelson
I will confess to not walking a cart back to the store or to a corral unless I right beside one, but I always make sure that it will not be in anyone's way nor be able move toward another vehicle where a scratch or dent might be possible. You might be asking yourself "Why?" I have arthritis in my lower back with a couple of other things that go with it, I also deal with sciatica...these are on a daily basis, by the time I am done with whatever I went to the store for I am one hurting person and simply cannot wait to get into my car and just sit. After a few minutes I am able to get myself and my goodies home and relax the remainder of the day.
Kevin
Cheryl, thanks for that perspective....that's the type of thing that the original essayist didn't account for, I am sure you are a nice, happy, unselfish person, to make a conclusion otherwise based just on one's shopping card is nonsensical...And, again, I think shopping carts SHOULD be put back, it's the judging that I have the issue with...Kevin
Mary K. O'Neill
I think people who do not return the shopping carts to the cart corrals or the other store provided places are selfish inconsiderate louts. It takes only a few seconds to do this. It's especially bad when these same people fill up the parking spaces or the handicap spaces with the carts because they're too lazy to return them to the proper places.
In Canada many store charge for the carts - you put the money in a machine and take out the cart. When you return the cart to the machine you get the money back.. I think this is a great idea but Jo Ann's tried it where I live and the people bitched to high heaven so they took it away and also took away most of the carts.
It would appear that most people who do this were not taught any manners at home.
Kevin
Ouch, Mary, that's harsh. Okay, first, you make some good points. Look, I don't want to be defending shopping cart scofflaws. But I think to make the leap to labeling EVERYONE a selfish inconsiderate lout is where I have the problem. I've heard from a lot of people with medical issues today where it doesn't sound like they are being lazy, but legitimately being prudent. But, see I also think in life we have to give someone latitude to maybe "just having a bad day." I really do. Again, I am NOT defending leaving a shopping cart, it's the judging. Yes, the person who leaves the cart in the parking lot could be a selfish, rotten to the core lout, but they could have also just been a harried person having a really bad day who never does that any other time. That's all I'm getting at.
And, again, I'm more defending the person who leaves the cart up on the curb or the grassy berm, I think no matter how bad of a day you are having you shouldn't leave it in a parking spot. Although still even if you do, I guess I give latitude to someone doing something out of character because they are just having a really crappy day. I wouldn't want to judge the totality of their personality on an isolated action.
Jan Turley
Yes I always return carts to appropriate place.To me it is just common courtesy and makes the job of the person responsible for bringing them back into store easier.
Linda from KY
I read that guy's rant, but it really came across to me as a way to drum up business for himself. He was trying to link shopping carts to personality and personalities to the type of person who needed his financial services. Um, no thanks.
I do think that people should put their carts away if at all possible, and I do this 99.9% of the time. Parents of small children may not be able to do that. What if it's raining? Do you a) put your child in the car seat then put the cart away? or b) let your little one get drenched while you tote child in cart to the cart corral and then carry child to the car? or c) Just chuck the whole business and drive away with the cart as out of the way as possible, keeping child dryer and ensuring that you don't lose sight of your child? I would go for option c.
Linda
After reading all the post, I say "Wow!" There have been some really good points made on this subject. However I must say I really liked Jo's post. What I would like to know is, whatever happened to simple human kindness? Like caregiver Jo I too look around when I pull into a parking lot to see if someone is unloading. Often times I catch elderly individuals, disabled individuals, or parents with small children struggling to put the groceries in their vehicles. I offer to help put the groceries in their vehicle then offer to take the cart back for them. More often than not my simple "I can see you're struggling with getting your groceries in the car, let me help you" is met with a look of relief and a thank you. This is the kind of person I am, and this is the kind of person I have taught my children to be. By the way, my eldest son has Asperger's Syndrome and my youngest is mildly autistic. When they were young I remember struggling to manage both of them and trying to get groceries home. I wished many times that someone would offer me help and the help never came. I have to wonder if the "cart-psycho" ever offers to return a cart to the store or cart corral or help another person. Or, if they are just one of those people who are miserable, and because they are miserable they think everyone around them also needs to be miserable. I say if a cart is not returned to its proper place, if that is a person's biggest problem, it is not a problem at all. We should all strive to be kinder and less judgmental of others. No one has the right to judge others unless they have walked a mile in that person's shoes.
Ruth Johnson
Did you miss the disclaimer? I agree with the cart guy, to a point, but as he said, there are exception. I also agree with you in that you cannot take one instance and make a judgment. However, there are those chronic cart deserters who do tend to be selfish, and those who return carts who are pretty unpleasant people. So...black & white? Don't think so.
Suzette Carlin
I have a couple of opinions on this subject but, first let me say that I've worked at a big shopping mall in MD, at a Macy's store and also at a grocery store here in my small town where I now reside.
I've whittnessed people who were very capable physically leave their carts right where they were after unloading, some even 2-3 steps from a corral or the store. Very inconsiderate and rude. I've also whittnessed same said individuals rant on about a cart denting their car or being in the middle of a spot they wanted to park. Double standard?
Most are young or in their 20's - 30's, I've seen middle aged and seniors putting carts where they belong and the gambit in between.
I have spoken up for the cart boy's/girls who have had to listen to people rant and rave about the said carts and who have had to spend extra time and energy ( those carts aren't light, nor easy to maneuver) gathering up said carts all over parking lots ( some a great distance from the store) in all kinds of weather, only to return to the store and after putting them where they belong, get a lashing from management about their taking their time, dilly dallying or goophing off instead of doing there job. This infuriates me.
I also understand that the elderly and disabled have a hard time with carts which is why there should be corrals right next to handicapped parking spaces. However, those not specifically disabled can ask for assistance to there cars and with loading groceries. This is a courtesy all businesses are required to give, so there is no excuses to the people who say they can't take the extra few minutes and steps to put their carts away.
As a consumer, I always put my cart where it belongs, I've had dents put in my vehicles and I've had to get out of mine to personally move one out of a space so I could park. I think it rude and inconsiderate not to do so. I have three children so I know the hassles involved, however, I put my children into their seats and then proceeded to put my cart away. I also have physical limitations myself, but if I take the time to get to my car with the groceries or whatever I've purchased, I can take the extra few minutes and steps to put my cart back.
I think people have lost the sense of responsibility and no longer care for the consideration of others in this day and age (Another subject for another time I suppose) but it is sad, we've also lost the pride in not only our actions we take, but in our Country as well, we have become complacent, lazy and inconsiderate in a lot of ways. That's not say everyone fits in the same mold, but we should all reflect on how what we do will affect those around us.
Nana
I am sure there are exceptions for not being able to return the shopping cart that are legitimate but I would guess that more often the people are just in a hurry or don't want to make the walk back. I would not be so disturbed by that as to label them but I have had a car that got significantly damaged but a wind blown runaway cart and it was costly on my part to have it repaired. I like the Aldi cart policy and I do not see carts abandoned. Even if the one who put the quarter in abandons it someone always quickly accepts it.