Shopping Carts in Parking lots
Feb 7th, 2007 by Libby
How many times has this happened to you? You actually find a GREAT parking space at the grocery store, or Wal-Mart. You get excited, but when you pull in, there are 7 SHOPPING carts in your way….UUUGGGHHHHHHH.
I drive a Ford Explorer, so I need a full parking space. This is just beyond a pet peeve for me. Maybe it’s just me, but I really try to put my cart away when I’m finish. I have a toddler, so it isn’t always easy, but I make a point to either take the cart back up to the store, or put it into one of the many cart-return places in the parking lot. These are great, but apparently to some, they are too far away.
I’ve got the goods in the back of my truck, and wheeling the cart over to the cart-return. What do I find?? I’m sure you know the answer to this one. 3 or 4 carts OUTSIDE the cart-return. This really bugs me. It would take about 3 more steps to actually put it in the right place.
So, have we, as Americans become Lazy? I’ve noticed more carts in the parking lots since I moved from Pennsylvania to Arizona about 2 years ago. Maybe it’s just the area I live in, and I’m certainly not calling all people who live here lazy. It’s just an observation. But, how do we solve the problem??
I know of 1 store that does not have this problem. ALDI. It is a no-frills grocery store that I frequented in PA. You have to PAY to use a cart. A quarter placed in the slot of the cart releases it from the other carts. They are chained together outside the store. You do your shopping, unload, then return the cart. When you chain it back up, you get your quarter back. Amazing, but true. People are greedy with that 25 cents, but there are NO shopping carts in their parking lot.
Wouldn’t that be nice?
I have had on more than one occasion come out of a store to find aa stray cart in the parking lot slammed up against my car. I am so with you on this one. How lazy do we have to be not to return our cart to one of these collection spots?
I am always amazed at the lengths some people will go to rather than simply walk the cart back too. Carts propped up on curbs, stuck in snow piles (from previous clearing of the lot), etc.
I have actually walked up after someone left a cart just out in the open and while they are still starting up their car and walked the cart back to the collecting area. They watched me the whole way, and I am sure they noticed my stare at them as I returned. Hopefully they got the message.
I’m not all cynical though; I have also walked up to a mother juggling kids and groceries and helped her put them in the car and walk the cart back for her. Not trying to pat myself on the shoulder, but perhaps this can help you notice the next time you see someone in a similar predicament and do your good turn for the day.
Wouldn’t it make life easier if people decided to learn how to pick up after themselves? Not only would shopping carts always end up in their rightful spots, but trash wouldn’t be littering the streets. If everyone just decided to wake up and realize that their actions do effect others, it would make for a nicer place to live!