Why can't people put carts away at Safeway?

I have the solution for all of you:
I've been driving my car for 10 years and it has so many scratches and dings that I don't even notice the new ones!

 

When we first moved to Ashburn back in 1988 and did our grocery shopping in Countryside - I was so happy that grocery carts were NOT allowed in the parking lot. What a wonderful idea! Then the Giant opened in the Village and they also did not allow them in the parking lot. Then - for some reason - they stopped doing that and now all the grocery stores allow them in the lot. Nothing irks me more than seeing them all over the place. Yes - people are lazy and are only thinking of themselves....it's the new generation - the ME generation. And they wonder why there is such an obesity problem in the US - people are flat out too lazy to walk. I saw a person push a cart into the corral one time - but guess what - it never made it and came rolling out and hit a car. Did he do anything? NO - just went back to his car and drove off....unfortunately - it was dark and he sped off so fast I couldn't get his tag number! Whenever I park anywhere - I part FAR AWAY so inconsiderate people don't ding my car. Don't even get me going on people who park in front of stores.......[V]

 

Be carefull, if you park far enough away you're evading the inconsiderate jackasses but attracting the deviants that will key/ding your car BECAUSE you parked far away.

 

That's the funny thing. My car was parked out away from all of the other cars. It's always the case that the new car has the magnet on it to attract the ding makers.

I found a place around here that will do the paintless ding repair. They estimate $150 per panel to come out to you or $125 per panel if you take it to their shop. Thats really not that bad if you think about it. They will also fix chips and other damage along with other customization/detail work. We had actually taken another car to them a while back and they did a great job but I had forgotten that they do the ding repair. If anyone else is in need of their service check this page out:

http://www.waxmycar.com/paintless-dent-repair.shtml

They are in herndon.

 

I noticed their page calls the dry ice method a myth. Trust me, it works...I fixed some hail damage on my old truck with it.

 

"It's because most SUV owners are too lazy to park farther down the line where there are a few open spots allowing for easier parking maneuvers. They would rather squeeze into a spot that's 20 feet closer to the store."


I wasn't lazy before I purchased my SUV, but something in the leather seats or 30" tires has hindered my ability to be active.

Believe it or not, I too get annoyed by people that leave carts out and park along the storefronts.

I like how so much about a person can be known by the type of vehicle you drive. Give me a break. I find owners of Swedish made cars tend to perform 'rolling stops' more often than any other import. [}]

 

Sure you do, you don't want your big, pompous SUV dinged up any mroe than the rest of us like our vehicles dinged up.

 

I think my SUV would be offended if he knew you were calling him pompous.

I don't get dings. I have wrapped the car's exterior in cattle guards so I can slam into carts and cars without worry.

We're lazy and reckless. All of us.

 

Imagine this:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/01/automobiles/01red.html

It seems republicans lean towards behemoth vehicles mentioned in this thread. I guess this is right by the amount of bumper stickers I see endorsing political parties on these land yachts...

 

I do get entertainment from reading this forums...the Broadlands forums are very good at having a thread begin with subject, such as in this case of individuals not putting up their grocery carts and then seguing to the foibles of SUV owners and rude drivers! Is there really a connection? I think the primary issue here is not what a person drives or how they drive but what will it take to get them to follow the common courtesy of putting their cart away properly!

And by the way, -if- you are not aware of it, Safeway will have someone assist you in putting your groceries into your car if asked. That's one way to eliminate the cart issue.

 

For some reason I was kind of offended the first time a clerk there asked me if I needed assistance getting my groceries to my car, as if she thought I was some kind of wheezing, constipated old geezer. The nerve. Now if I can just remember where I put my teeth.....

 

I haven't lived in the WDC area for awhile but before I left the States in the 90's I was living in New England and all the grocery stores there had someone assist in taking your groceries to the car and loading them. I thought it was great and was more than happy to give the person a tip -- even though signs were posted to not tip. And then overseas it was also common for someone to either deliver your groceries/purchases to you or at least take them to your car. As such, I guess I don't think about it being offered as a "geezer courtesy."

But I wonder how a cart violator would react if someone were to comment to him/her that if they cannot return their cart to where it belongs and therefore not block a parking spot or ding someones car, maybe they just need to take advantage of Safeway's assistance?

 

Back to the original post:
The people that don't return carts are simply disrespectful fools. It's a symptom of the "me" generation and the only way to fix it is to teach our kids how to respect other people's property (and other people in general, horror the thought!). Now that I have two small boys I go out of my way to park legally, drive safely, put away grocery or other carts, etc. I'm not perfect but I'm trying. We have to set the right example. The buffoons that are doing this now will never learn until they have to teach their kids. We only hope they teach them proper manners and respect.

 

Could someone state the demographic of the "Me" generation?

 

Everyone except "Me"...

 

I remember reading somewhere that one of the reasons people don't put away their cart is because they have kids and don't want to leave them in the car alone while returning the cart. That doesn't make sense to me.....that isn't an excuse - take the kids with you, but please return the cart.

 

I've heard that one too and I understand it's difficult wrangling children but as someone mentioned here before, the Safeway staff will assist if asked. Plus the cart corral is no more than 20 feet away from the car. Strap the kids in and put the cart away. Is that too difficult?

 

My daughter goes with me to put the cart away and I make a point of telling her it's something we need to do so the cars don't get "boo-boos" and also that it's nice manners. If it's raining or super windy, I'll strap her in the carseat, lock the car and put the cart away myself.

 

I don't really want to get involved in this discussion, but I just want to mention that everyone should be careful to lock the car doors if you return a cart with a child left in the car. There was a woman not too long ago (2 years? Anyone remember this one?) who left her child in the car to return the cart only steps away and her car was taken with the child in it. She saw the car begin to pull out and she tried to hang on to it but the car just kept going. It was in the parking lot of the Walmart...possibly even our Sterling walmart- it was pretty local, if I recall correctly.

 

FWIW ... you shouldn't leave the keys in the car ANYWHERE .. I've seen people leave the car running, doors unlocked, no kids in the car (a good thing), and run into the cleaners (of course parked in a fire zone).

In other words, don't make it easy for a thief ...

I'm not sure that its a good idea to lock a child in a car to return a cart. I would insure the door is closed (unlocked), the keys were in my pocket, and one eye would be on the car as I return the cart.




Neil Z.
Resident since 1999