Returning Shopping Carts - A Pet Peeve
By terilee79720
@terilee79720 (3621)
United States
May 25, 2008 9:58am CST
Yea. I have a few pet peeves. One of them is one that will might ruffle a few feathers - because I know some of you are probably guilty of this.....
Returning the shopping cart when you unload your groceries to your car.
Returning the shopping cart has a been something we have done for as long as I can remember. Even when we first go inide the store, my husband gathers the shopping carts on the way inside. We usually get a cheerful 'thank you' from anyone inside and strange looks from people on their way in or out of the store.
It amazes me the number of people who unload their items from the cart to their car, look around and then either leave the cart beside their car or roll it to the front of their car like it's going to find it's way back inside automatically.
We have a rule in our family - it goes like this -
If you use it - put it back. If you open it, close it. If you take it outside, bring it back in. No matter what it is, it has its place where it belongs. Put it back.
That goes for shopping carts too. If you load it up and use it to conveniently carry your items to your car, be a little courteous to others and do yourself a favor - take the cart back inside, or at least take it to the nearest collection spot. Please don't leave it in the middle of the parking space or floating with the wind through the parking lot where it will eventually ding someone's car.
Don't be a putz and just push it out of your way. Take the time and effort to push the thing a few extra steps back to where it's convenient for others.
Leaving the shopping cart where you emptied it says a whole lot about who you are. It says you are selfish, self centered, uncaring and lazy.
Yea - Yea......I know they pay people to walk the parking lot to pick them up and I know it might take a little extra effort for you to be a descent human being....and I know there might be a few who wouldn't do it if their life depended on it - but - once again.....leaving the shopping cart where you emptied it says a whole lot about your character, whether you like it or not, even if you don't care what other people say.....
4 people like this
17 responses
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
26 May 08
I will first of all say that I admire the fact that you are teaching your children this. It is a very good lesson. My mother spoiled us. She did not teach us to clean up behind ourselves. So though I try to do it now, it just doesn't come naturally for me.
Not only that, I have been on both sides of the table. When I was in high school, I worked at a Ralphs Grocery Store. During that time they had an experiment going on where they would pay you a quarter for returning your cart. They had a money machine and as soon as you pushed the cart in, the money came out.
I guess this did not catch on, because I do not see it any more. I like to return the carts, simply because I do not drive, so I am the one who usually hast to hop out and move the cart, so the person that I am with can pull in.
2 people like this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
26 May 08
That's funny......I used to live on Sunset and Formosa.....
If you walked down the street to the next block, I can't remember the name of it, there was a nightclub called The Purple Lion. That's where I spent MUCH of my time.
It was where some of the big time muscians and small time stars hung out. What a hoot. Of course that was - oh - 40 years ago????????I'm sure things are a bit different now.
1 person likes this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
26 May 08
Hi Rozie. I've never seen this system anywhere in the US. I can't imagine it not working. I would do it just to keep the carts out of the parking lot.
1 person likes this
@lingli_78 (12821)
• Australia
26 May 08
well, here in australia most of the shopping trolleys are using a coin machine system... so we have to put in money to be able to use it... and if we return it, then we will get our money back... this will ensure that we don't just leave the trolleys in the car park like that but go to the collection points or back to the shop to get our money back... take care and have a nice day...
2 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
26 May 08
There's a few stores here in Minnesota USA that use the coins as well. I've yet to see a cart sitting in the lot yet. Great idea. Someone made a fortune with that patent.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
1 person likes this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
26 May 08
I truly wish more stores would institute this method of cart retrieval. It would save a lot of worry from us who find it a pet peeve...
@jerzgirl (9384)
• United States
26 May 08
We have them here, too, in NJ. We used to have two stores who did it, but the customer base of the one store complained mightily and refused to shop there until they removed them. Idiots - it didn't even matter that they got their coins back - they simply didn't think they should have to have a quarter available. 
The other one, the other day I saw a man and woman who had shopped there and after filling their trunk with groceries, the guy took the cart, with the quarter in it, and shoved it as hard as he could across the parking lot as far away from the store as he could get it!! I have to say that the words I used that day would NEVER be permitted to be printed here!! LOL
Even though my foot was killing me, I went and retrieved that cart and used it myself. Screw him - he wants to throw money away (however small), I'm willing to catch it!! 
The other one, the other day I saw a man and woman who had shopped there and after filling their trunk with groceries, the guy took the cart, with the quarter in it, and shoved it as hard as he could across the parking lot as far away from the store as he could get it!! I have to say that the words I used that day would NEVER be permitted to be printed here!! LOL
Even though my foot was killing me, I went and retrieved that cart and used it myself. Screw him - he wants to throw money away (however small), I'm willing to catch it!! 
@katisaurus (1038)
• Canada
26 May 08
I find it REALLY annoying how people don't put their shopping carts away. Depending on how close we're parked to the front of the store, my mom usually returns the cart to the inside. But we usually just put it PROPERLY into the return thing. Like we put it inside another cart.
The grocery stores here though are the ones where you have to put a quarter in to use the cart and to get the quarter back you need to put it inside another cart and lock them together. You'd be amazed at how many people don't care to lose their 25 cents. Rounding up carts and getting the money out of them. It's pretty neat.
But I agree it is annoying, especially when they leave it in the parking lot 'cause it just makes it hard for people to park, like if it's a busy day for the store.
SUCH a pain. I can't stand it.
2 people like this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
26 May 08
I can't believe people are so darned lazy and are so willing to loose a quarter.......It certainly says a lot about them, and says a lot about your mom teaching you to put the thing back. Tell her thanks for us.
@wooitsmolly (3613)
• United States
25 May 08
I NEVER leave my shopping carts in the middle of the parking lot. It is also one of my huge pet peeves. You freaking took all that time walking through the store, you can't take an extra 10 seconds and walk your cart into the corral?? They usually have a ton of them in the parking lot and they are never that far away. It drives me nuts. And then of course as I am walking mine back I feel I need to gather the other ones in my path... I cannot stand when people just push their cart out into the parking spaces... that is how people's cars get dented!
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
26 May 08
I think it's just plain being lazy wooitsmolly....and really says sooo much about the person....I'll bet if you followed that particular person around for a few days, they would show the most amazing attributes - none of them good ones.
@pixelpixie (473)
• Canada
26 May 08
The people around here TAKE the carts. They just push them all the way home and then dump them somewhere. A little boy filled one that he found nearby up with a bunch of junk and then pushed it out into the road...could have caused a serious accident.
I think people who steal carts should be fined, maybe then they'll clue in and spend $20 on a little grocery cart they can take to and from to get groceries with, way easier than being fined a hundred bucks.
2 people like this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
26 May 08
It never ceases to amaze me......I remember years ago they had a group of people going around looking for shopping carts, fining people who took them from the store. I don't remember what happened. It must not have been a huge deal, because I never heard about it after that.
Crazy people....
@aplaza (630)
• Netherlands
25 May 08
Here in Holland (and other european countries) they have a paid shopping cart system. You have to put a coin in it before you can use the cart. It's a euro or 50 euro ct coin that fits in there. So people need to return their carts because otherwise they will be out of pocket. Personally I think it's a great way of keeping parking lot's free of unattended carts. Many supermarkets also have little plastic shopping baskets. If I don't have the right change on me for the cart I'll use one of those. Although I think they are having problems with people stealing them because I've seen signs in different supermarkets "reminding" people to return them.
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
26 May 08
I wish the stores in the US would institute this system. Think I'll send a letter to the major ones requesting they do it. Thanks for the insight.
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
26 May 08
We have never left our Shopping cart just anywhere, and feel it is best to either return it into the store, or leave in one of the bins they have outside for returning shopping carts too. People do not realize just how much they can damage a car, etc. if they are left somewhere and end up rolling. And personally, who wants to have to watch for rolling carts when they are in a shopping area?
1 person likes this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
26 May 08
I think they realize it Krause - I just don't think they care.....until it happens to them. Then, they throw a big old fit. I wonder if thousands of carts came rushing at them all at once - if they would get the message? LOL
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
26 May 08
I will grab a cart from the lot near where I park if there's one and take that into the store to use for my shopping. There has been a time once that the store manager at a small shop saw this and gave me a $10 gift card even. I like the stores that also have the 25 cent pay carts to where when you return the cart you get the quarter back. I have not seen carts scattered all over the lot at those stores.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
1 person likes this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
26 May 08
If more store managers would reward people for their good deeds like this, people might be convinced to take the extra time. Letters are going out tomorrow to stores in my area. Thanks webeishere.
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
26 May 08
I couldn't agree with you more, in my opinion, the people who don't bring them back are simply lazy. That's why I like the carts that you have to pay a quarter to use, usually people will take those back because God forbid they lose that quarter...LOL
Although, worse than the parking lot people are the ones who bring them home, then leave them on the street somewhere, now, that really drives me crazy.
1 person likes this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
26 May 08
I wish we had the coin option where I live. Can you imagine having a collection of those things in your back yard? LOL
@whittby (3072)
• United States
27 May 08
I'll be interested to see if you get responses from the folks that DON'T return the carts here.
I'm one of those compulsive shopping cart returners. I bring one in with me to the store quite often too. Sometimes I wonder because there are probably twenty other carts sitting around, but I still bring in my measly one cart in with me to use. The stores claim shopping cart damage raises prices and I believe it.
1 person likes this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
27 May 08
I have received 1 response from a person who never returned his shopping cart. Maybe two. I would have to go back over the responses.
I'm not surprised whittby. After sitting in the parking lot and watching how many people don't take them back.
It's amazing how many people probably don't even think of taking it back. Too much effort I suppose.
I agree with you when you said stores raise prices because of it. They have to calculate the cost of the people who they hire to retrieve the carts. Someone's got to pay for it. Guess who?
@twallace (2675)
• United States
26 May 08
I have to say that there has been times that I have not returned the cart to the cart station in the parking lot. Then there has been times when i have returned the cart. Sometimes if it's not that close I will not return it; but now you have made it known that you have to return the cart. Stop being lazy and just return the cart to the cart station for the next person. I didn't know that it upset others until reading this discussion.
1 person likes this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
26 May 08
Shame on you twallace. Now you know. It really bugs some of us. I hope now, you will think of returning your cart and think of this post every time you go shopping. It's just the right thing to do - return the cart. It only takes a few seconds.
Thanks for being so honest. You're the first one who admitted not returning their cart.
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
26 May 08
i sat in front of Vons one day a few days ago waiting for
my cab. People were doing their unusal people thing,leaving
carts all over hell and gone. Now the wind was really
blowing hard and carts came sailing out into the street
where motorists were having to slam on their brakes to
keep from hitting them and the poor clerks were dashing
over the parking lot trying to corral the flying carts.
'now if they had been put into the corrals where they belonged
they would not have been flying missiles waiting to ding
a car.Dont tell me everyone is that busy or that lazy they cannot
push a cart a few feet to a holding bin?
1 person likes this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
26 May 08
See - that's what I'm talking about Hatley. NO ONE is that busy that they can't take whatever extra time it takes to put the thing up where it won't kill someone. It just proves my point. People are down right lazy and to my way of thinkin', are only thinkin' about them selves by not putting the thing in the proper place. Yep - lazy and no 'count......
@jerzgirl (9384)
• United States
26 May 08
Unless we're having a deluge of rain, I will always grab a car near where I parked and walk in with it. Not that I can go much faster without a cart since I have an injured foot, but I'd rather not look like a drowned rat in public. I will admit to not returning carts on occasion, but it's almost always in the super huge parking lots where you are lucky if you can park even remotely close to the door. Some of the superstores don't have return racks.
1 person likes this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
26 May 08
Poor baby, hurt food and all. I'm sorry you have an injured foot jerzgirl. Hope it gets better soon.
Not having a return rack. That's unheard of. I can't imagine not having a return rack. All the more reason to return the carts to inside. Thanks for your honesty.
@liscampll (124)
• United States
26 May 08
I put the carts into the corral. I bring one from the corral when I go in, so I am leaving it where I found it. I put my kids into the car before I load my groceries so that they don't run or get into the way. I won't leave my kids into the car alone to walk all the way up to the store. So for me it's a safety thing.
1 person likes this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
26 May 08
Good for you lis......you're teaching your kids a good thing. I applaud you on several counts. Safety, doing the right thing and so much more. Way to go.
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
22 Aug 08
I hear you, terilee, and agree wholeheartedly..And they even have those marked off area in the parking lots for those parked further away from the store and people Still refuse to place their carts there..I call it laziness and it makes me mad too to see carts sitting in the parking lot...
@ryzach (1544)
• United States
23 Aug 08
I used to work in a grocery store and by taking the cart back in or putting it in the cart corral it can save alot of accidents to cars. When the wind picks up it can really get those carts going across the parking lot and usually into someone's car leaving a nice dent. The store is not responsible as they have signs posted everywhere that they are not liable. It only takes a few steps to put in the buggy corral or take inside. Most time there is a caddy on the parking lot and you can give to him or her. If you really hate to deal with the cart or buggy, you can opt to have help out. All you have to do is ask the cashier if you could have some assistance to your car and they will get a courtesy clerk to help you out, load the groceries into your car and take the cart back into the store. I am sure this is also an option at other kinds of stores as well like Walmart and Target for example.
@onetrackmind (104)
• United States
26 May 08
I have to agree with you, Terilee. There is a place for things; and everything in its place...shopping carts included.
It ticks me off when I see folks just leave the cart a few feet away from their car when done loading up the vehicle, and the cart 'holding area' is 3 car spaces over!Maybe I am anal, but I know when I put a cart back in there, I have a tendency to straighten up the area...weird, I know!
1 person likes this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
26 May 08
It's not anal onetrack.......It's just the right thing to do. It's funny how everyone who does it, looks around before they do it. I wonder what they are looking for? Are they looking for a place to put it or are they looking to see if anyone is watching? How funny.....
