It's also "Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket" Month! At least that's what my friend Liz told me when she forwarded me this article on one of my "soapbox issues" as she put it.
February is Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month
Friday 02-19-2010 8:29am CT
It is true, February is the month to return those shopping carts. And just in case you don't know how to return a cart, Wikihow.com has step by step instructions for you.
Every year, millions of shopping carts are left all over the place and abandoned from their supermarket homes. Carts are found on the side of the road, by schools, random driveways, and in sewage ditches. All of these missing cards need to be replaced by the store; and with an average of $100 per cart, the money damage can add up.
Steps:
1.Return your cart to a designated "cart rack" or aisle. These can be found in various places throughout the parking lot or nearby the store's entrance.
2.Leave your cart near the entrance and carry grocery bags to your vehicle by hand. It'll be courteous to another customer by exchanging hands on the cart.
3.Take a cart that is near your vehicle to shop with instead of taking one by the entrance. This method helps out the courtesy clerks and avoids the homeless of capturing a cart.
4.Ask the cashier or bagger to double the bags. If you have to walk somewhere, don't use a cart to assist you in carrying things. Try taking in your own canvas tote bags, instead. You may find them easier to carry, and they can double as your basket as you shop.
5.Have a bagger escort the cart to the vehicle to help you unload groceries. He or she then will wheel carts back to a designated area. Only if they offer though, don't be demanding.
6.Take a walk. If there's a cart in your neighborhood and you live near the store, walk the cart back.
7.Make a call. If you see a cart loose around your neighborhood, look around for the store whose cart it is. Many carts have numbers right on them for cart pick-up. Some cities also have shopping cart hotlines. Phone this number and be prepared to explain where the cart is.
Back to Writinggal: I have noticed that cart abadonment is high in the winter since people make the excuse that they're too cold to take responsibility for their carts. Here's what's been going on in my cart crusade lately: I found a cart across a busy street from a Kroger and I walked it back. I passed a policeman and I told him, "I'm not stealing this cart. I found it and I'm returning it!" He acted like I was lying but come on, do I look like a cart thief? I did have a couple of encounters in parking lots (one in the rain where I told the guy, "Hey, I know it's raining but you could still take back your cart!") But rather than risk a parking lot punch-out, I've taken to praising those I see walk really far to return their carts. If you've been doing your part and taking back your cart, keep it up...even after February!
3 comments:
I think of you every time I return my cart.
I always return "MY" cart, but Liz has begun shuttling "OTHER PERSONS'" carts back. I'm worried that the local news stations will do a feature on her: "The Friendswood Cart-lady."
On the subject of carts, I wish more grocery stores had the smaller double-decker carts a la Central Market. They are so much easier to maneuver through the aisles!
And easier to return!
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