Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Fun Fact about me: Shopping Carts


I can not for the life of me NOT put away a shopping cart. They have to go into the shopping cart stalls.

No really, I see these "two working legged, don't have any children, let alone an invalid mother people" just leaving their carts in the parking lot & I SERIOUSLY envy them.

I sound ssarcastic, but really, I don't even think it's rude to not put it away. I don't judge people, as long as it's NOT in a parking spot. In fact, I kind of appreciate their being a cart right there for me to take.

But I can't bring myself to leave it. Am I alone?

17 comments:

Ashley said...

I can't leave it either, but I do judge the people that leave it. It's annoying, and if I can walk my butt over there after taking 3 kids to the store and then putting them all in the car along with all my groceries, then they can too! :) Roy has no problem leaving it - punk.

Audra said...

I HAVE to return the cart when I am on my own. But when I had the two babies I was often a cart ditcher. But you can blame the news. There was once a big news story about a lady who put her kids in the car including a baby in a carrier, walked to the cart stall that was just a few spaces down, when her back was turned a lady came and clicked the baby out of the car seat base, hopped in a waiting car, and drove away. They retrieved the baby later that day, but it Freaked... me... out! So when I had the 2 babies in carriers I would just leave the cart there. And no I could not park the cart and carry them back, I had a physical condition that kept me from doing so.

But... this was brought up on a mommies site I used to belong to and it turned into a rip-roaring feud with people bashing each other and saying all sorts of nasty things. It is a cart for Pete's sake people. Get over it!

Smithy said...

depends on how far away the cart return is. i have no problem abandoning a cart when I'm in a rush and the return stall is on the other side of the parking lot.

Ashley said...

I lock the door before I take the cart!

Sharon said...

I always park by a cart return near the back of the parking lot. Except when it's raining.

Ashley said...

So I went to Walmart today and all of the close spots were taken and I ended up way out in the parking lot, but I was right next to a cart return and I realized how nice it is to just park there! I can grab a cart for Isaac's carseat and since the cart return is taking a parking space, I don't have to worry about a car pulling in and hitting the kids. I'm thinking I'm gonna start parking next to the cart return!

Christie said...

LOL, Ashley...that's usually how I choose a parking space! Unless it is too hot/wet to grab one on the way in, and even then it's nice for returning it.
Like Audra, I worry about leaving the kids in the van. I also feel uncomfortable locking then in a hot vehicle...what if I got hit returning the cart and no one found them in time? Slim chances, I know, and I usual just solve it by parking next to a corral.
But if there aren't any options like that, or when I was pregnant and barely made it back out to the van...yeah, there are times I will abandon it.
I saw this turn into a huge debate on a Mommy board, too.

monica said...

hah. for the most part i have to put mine away too, but the few times i have left them somewhere i have cringed and hurried fast into the car and had to pretend it didnt happen. i feel bad. hah.

Kristal said...

I never leave the cart out... and I think partly it's because when I worked at seven peaks and had to carry hundreds of tubes back to tube rental I was cursing all the people that couldn't just take it back on their own. Because ya, I was getting paid to do it, but it wasn't my job to pick them up, we just had to do it because there were THOUSANDS that had to be brought in every night. I also don't have small children to leave in the car though, but I think even then I will take them back too. Matt also wants to know about your not two working legs as well...

Olivia Carter said...

Ashley- I guess I do sort of think, "hey, I have kids and a disabled mom & I somehow can put it back" maybe I do judge a tiny bit!

Audra- Oh no, really? People are SO WEIRD! Getting all worked up over such things. I can see what you mean about leaving your kids in the car. I lock it if I have to walk far & I make them walk with my in the parking lot if it's too hot or too cold. Though its probably more dangerous for me to wrestle them through the parking lot, then risk 5 seconds of exposer.

Smithy- see I need to do that- I'll like push the thing across the parking lot, through sludge & everything.

Sharon- my new hero- I'm SO going to do it. Why haven't I done it earlier? Oh yes, I'm brain frazzled.

Christie- a huge debate over carts. Come on people, the death penalty, capitalism, church vs. state- these are things to debate! (And yet here we are debating it!)

Monica- Ha! I love that you skulk away after doing it. Next time I'm with my mom & kids I'm going to ditch it & dare someone to give me a dirty look!

Kristal- HA! I guess that didn't come out right. Yes, I do have two working legs... sort of... maybe they're just tired from carrying 2 41 lb children around.

Cranberryfries said...

I TOTALLY have to put it away. Every time. Even at the the dollar store where there are no returns I run it back into the store.

I once saw a cart fly down the parking lot and smack into a car. I was 12 and I remember it so well. I'd never want to do that to someone.
Plus people have to go out and collect them, lets follow the rules. AND don't leave it in the space, cause we'd all like to park there.
I think it's just an easy way to be friendly to those around us. C'mon folks lets all follow the rules.

Mike Kessler said...

I always return my cart to the cart return spot, and I almost always park right next to a cart return spot. Here in Oregon at Fred Meyer stores there are signs everywhere reminding patrons to bring in their own bags, so I do that, too. The grocery stores here give you a discount if you bring in your own bags.

Just SO said...

I've left them before. I admit it but that was when I was younger and foolish. Now they must go back to the cart roundup. Where all carts should go.

Linda, Mom and Granny said...

My Dad was a grocery manager. It's in the genes.

Esther Noelle said...

Yeah I tend to park close to a cart return spot so it's not a big deal... but I'm sure I've abandoned a few in my lifetime... and I don't feel guilty.... but yes I generally make it a point to return it. Although if everyone returned their own carts we might be putting someone out of a job. That's one way to think of it.... or maybe not... I've never run a grocery store or anything...

Olivia Carter said...

Debbie- Amen, people who leave it in a spot, especially one that's close, make me mad!

Mike- I ALWAYS forget my bags. ALWAYS! I need a sign to help remind me!

SO- Cart Roundup! I like that name. that's what I'm calling it now!

Aunt Linda- Really? That's cool.

Esther- HA! I sure like your logic.

Cindy said...

I'm like Es, I try and park close to one so I can load the kids easy and drop it off quick. I'm about 70-30. Most the time I put it away, but there are those parking lots where you just can't find a dang return anywhere! That drives me crazy, then I just leave it, and hope no one sees me. Sometimes I'll be walking and think I'm just gonna leave it over here, and then I start feeling guilty and end up at the return spot, then other times I can ditch it (but I almost always feel a little guilty.)