What do you with your shopping carts? (Fairfax, Vienna: home, theater)

[CAVA1990]

When I moved here 20 years ago from CA I was outraged that the stores all had those stupid barriers and no corrals in the parking lots. In protest I would purposely find the "handicapped gaps" (thanks to the ADA) and take my cart to the car. Apparently my efforts have paid off as the barriers have come down at most stores and corrals have appeared. I purposely leave my cart in the farthest corner of the parking lot at any store that refuses to put in corrals. Barriers and no corrals are a HUGE pet peeve of mine.

[Yankeesfan]

Well I avoided this thread all this time because I thought, who gets so worked up about shopping carts but it was still sitting here and after reading just pages 10 and 11, I gave up and will reiterate, who gets so worked up about shopping carts ?

FWIW, I just leave my cart outside the store, drive up (that's what the lane is there for), load up, and drive off. A subsequent shopper will probably then take my cart to use and if not, no employee has to go traipsing around the lot gathering it up or wheel some huge heavy line back from the corrall. That seems to make the most sense and be the most considerate but oh well, guess not to everyone. To each their own.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by Yankeesfan

FWIW, I just leave my cart outside the store, drive up (that's what the lane is there for), load up, and drive off. A subsequent shopper will probably then take my cart to use and if not, no employee has to go traipsing around the lot gathering it up or wheel some huge heavy line back from the corrall. That seems to make the most sense and be the most considerate but oh well, guess not to everyone. To each their own.

Apparently we've identified a fundamental difference between Easterners and Westerners.

[Yankeesfan]

Well now that I've invested myself, I must say this thread was pretty entertaining. How in the world did all my children survive? Let's see, we walked to the car ... yes this often involved carrying a baby while holding onto toddlers and preschoolers ... I strapped them into their respective carseats, booster seats, and seat belts ... then we drove up into the pickup lane ... I parked and turned off the engine and put the keys in my pocket to thwart carjackers ... left the windows down if it was hot and up if it was cold ... then I loaded the groceries into the back, left the cart there for the next shopper to grab if they so wished ... with no risk of it rolling into anyone else's car and no inconvenience to the staff ... did this at least 52 times a year for many years and don't even have anything shriek-worthy to report here, alas!

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by Yankeesfan

Well now that I've invested myself, I must say this thread was pretty entertaining. How in the world did all my children survive? Let's see, we walked to the car ... yes this often involved carrying a baby while holding onto toddlers and preschoolers ... I strapped them into their respective carseats, booster seats, and seat belts ... then we drove up into the pickup lane ... I parked and turned off the engine and put the keys in my pocket to thwart carjackers ... left the windows down if it was hot and up if it was cold ... then I loaded the groceries into the back, left the cart there for the next shopper to grab if they so wished ... with no risk of it rolling into anyone else's car and no inconvenience to the staff ... did this at least 52 times a year for many years and don't even have anything shriek-worthy to report here, alas!

Except for the NY Steaks I stole from your cart.

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

When I moved here 20 years ago from CA I was outraged that the stores all had those stupid barriers and no corrals in the parking lots. In protest I would purposely find the "handicapped gaps" (thanks to the ADA) and take my cart to the car. Apparently my efforts have paid off as the barriers have come down at most stores and corrals have appeared. I purposely leave my cart in the farthest corner of the parking lot at any store that refuses to put in corrals. Barriers and no corrals are a HUGE pet peeve of mine.

You can thank the ADA for the removal of the barriers. A lawsuit forced one chain to remove them and now many others have removed them as well. I hated the barriers because the "handicap gaps" were way to small for many of us in wheelchairs.

[algia]

OK, This woman, did not have ANY kids, came between our car and the one next to us, and left the cart where you see it....NOW, THIS behavior I condemn also, at least put it in front of the car so we can still open our doors....etc she was Hispanic...not saying they are ALL like that, but here in FL this IS a trend. I stated clearly before, that I always put it back when I park next to the return...which is probably 99% of the times since I shop early in the AM when the stores are NOT packed yet, so I can park anywhere I want, I usually and purposely park next to it mostly because in most cases there isn't any room in front of cars as everyone seems to have to those big pick up trucks around here and also because I don't want MY car scratched. I was referring to a situation where the lot is full and I don't have a choice in parking spots close to the return, in which case, well I already typed that once...

[guyincognito]

Originally Posted by algia

OK, This woman, did not have ANY kids, came between our car and the one next to us, and left the cart where you see it....NOW, THIS behavior I condemn also, at least put it in front of the car so we can still open our doors....etc she was Hispanic...not saying they are ALL like that, but here in FL this IS a trend. I stated clearly before, that I always put it back when I park next to the return...which is probably 99% of the times since I shop early in the AM when the stores are NOT packed yet, so I can park anywhere I want, I usually and purposely park next to it mostly because in most cases there isn't any room in front of cars as everyone seems to have to those big pick up trucks around here and also because I don't want MY car scratched. I was referring to a situation where the lot is full and I don't have a choice in parking spots close to the return, in which case, well I already typed that once...

Pretty egregious, but I don't know how you can endorse leaving it in one place vs another. There's only one place it's guaranteed to not be in someone's way or to roll in to a parked car, and that's in the cart corral.

[algia]

Not trying too, my next photo will show you the cart return I am faced with at Sams on any given day, that is pretty much the only place I use a cart, remember they have those very long ones for bulk stuff....those take up the entire cart return....Just 2 days ago I had this issue....

When going to Publix, I take one of those small hand type carts that you leave with the cashier since I am only going there for a few things ........

Originally Posted by guyincognito

Pretty egregious, but I don't know how you can endorse leaving it in one place vs another. There's only one place it's guaranteed to not be in someone's way or to roll in to a parked car, and that's in the cart corral.

[theatergypsy]

I'm an elderly person - oh, he!l, I'm old. But I return my cart to the corral, or if I'm parked closer to the store entrance, I take it there.
When I leave it in the corral, I make sure it's over the little metal strip that prevents it from rolling out.
I ask others who have loaded their cars if I may take their carts.
I can't take a whole string of them because I don't have that kind of strength.

My own personal peeve? People who staple Yard Sale signs on every tree and utility pole in the area AND DON'T TAKE THEM DOWN WHEN THE SALE IS OVER. Since the fools have their address on the signs, what say when we take a leisurely stroll we take the signs down and return them to the tree/utility pole in front of the miscreant's house?

This would also work for the Vote for Doofus signs that pop up pre-election. Wouldn't Doofus love to have a pile of these on HIS lawn? Especially if Doofus didn't win?