A Hypothetical Question For You...
By anniepa
@anniepa (27955)
United States
September 23, 2007 10:59pm CST
OK, MyLotters, here's a question for you. You just parked in the supermarket parking lot and are getting out of your car. You're only there for one or two small items. A female customer (Heck, it doesn't HAVE to be female) has just unloaded her groceries from her cart into her car, which is parked close to yours and you're both a good distance from both the store entrance and the cart racks in the parking lot. For good measure, the weather isn't very nice. The other customer turns to you with a friendly smile and asks if you need a cart. What do you do:
A/ Say you probably won't need a cart but you'll take it back anyway.
B/ Simply take it and thank her.
C/ Say you don't need a cart then walk away leaving the customer to do whatever she wants with her cart.
Thanks!
Annie
9 people like this
31 responses
@BayleighGray (4334)
• United States
24 Sep 07
C, lol. Unless I need the cart, then more and likely Im not going to take it from her or him. If they seem more than capable of taking the cart back, they are not elderly or disabled, (in that case they would be parked closer) I dont think its anyones responsibility to take it back but the person who took it & used it to begin with. Actually, I dont even offer my cart to anyone, I simply walk it to the cart holder in the parking lot.
Now we have Aldis food stores that require you to place a quarter in the slot to release a cart from the holding thingy. If Im shopping there and I see someone going into the store, then I offer the cart so they dont have to dig for a quarter and get one out of the rack. Its just a quarter! But surprisingly, it helped eliminate the stray carts in the parking lot among the cars. I guess it was cheaper for Aldis to put this into effect rather than hire someone to collect the carts from the parking lot like most stores do.
Bay xx
3 people like this
@crazed_moma (1054)
• United States
25 Sep 07
do you get your quarter back when you return it? It sounds like a good way to get the carts out of the lot. :)
2 people like this
@BayleighGray (4334)
• United States
25 Sep 07
Yeah, the carts linked together in the holder, and by slipping a quarter in the slot it would release it. Then by putting it back, your quarter would then pop back out. But usually if I see someone getting out of their car or something, I will pass on the cart without getting the quarter back. They usually INSIST on giving you the quarter lol. I didnt realize how valuable a quarter was these days. lol
Bay xx
1 person likes this
@eiencafe (155)
• Italy
24 Sep 07
I'd say C, sorry but I'm bad ;P. However I don't think people will leave a cart in the parking lot or give it to others here because you need to put money in the cart to take it and if you want the money back you need to go to the rack and link it with the others and no one says "here a cart there's €2 in it so give me €2 and take it" because you probably won't believe her (because it could be €1 in it and not €2...)
3 people like this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
25 Sep 07
I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking about the stores where you have to put a coin in to get a cart, the stores where I usually shop don't have that, you just take them for free. In my hypothetical situation the two cars are parked quite a distance from both the store entrance and the nearest cart corral (thanks, Oneandone for that name..I had brain fade and couldn't think of it!) so the question was to see how many people would do a little favor for someone -which wouldn't really be any hardship for them at all - whether they needed a cart for themselves or not. Some posters didn't understand just what I was getting at and some just assumed the person in question was just a lazy broad wanting someone to do something for her that she should do herself.
Annie
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
24 Sep 07
I would simply take it and thank her, anniepa. After all, that would be a random act of kindness-something we could all use a little more of in this world. I see no harm in returning her cart for her. Besides, you might end up picking up more than a couple of items once you actually get into the store. I know that is what happens to me!(:
3 people like this
@crazed_moma (1054)
• United States
24 Sep 07
B would be the nice thing to do. :) After all you're all ready headed that way. :) And she (or he) would probably feel dumb if you told her your didn't need it. ie "that's what I get for trying to be nice"
3 people like this
@rebelann (112875)
• El Paso, Texas
10 Apr 20
You're right about B being the nice thing to do but there's always 2 sides to a coin, both individuals are helped, the woman offering won't have to look for a cart corral and I won't have to look for a good cart.
@EverybodyThat (12)
• United States
24 Sep 07
Well, since I used to be a grocery bagger/cart wrangler, I have a habit of plucking a shopping cart from the parking lot on my way into a store if I need one. That's one less cart for the poor bag boy to round up. So, what I'd probably do is say "Thanks a lot. I don't need it, but I'll take back to the store anyway." This is to let the lady know I appreciate her thoughtfulness, and also to keep the poor cart wrangler from having that extra soggy shopping cart to have to haul in.
3 people like this
@bizmom (515)
• United States
24 Sep 07
I do the same thing!
take the cart in with me anyways 9 out of 10 times i needed it anyway! lol
even if my intention was 2-3 things lol
the local Wal-mart had a program - about bringing in the carts - something about getting a coupon or something - it worked for a bit too kids were doing it too and i think for a sticker lol
( i didnt participate at the time i was single, no kids and i always used a hand basket!! lol
im not worried about talking to *strangers* its a small town see same faces just about all the time a *hello!* never hurt anyone.. AS UR WALKING UR way to wherever! :)XX
3 people like this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
25 Sep 07
I don't think it would be a big deal that she knew you were taking it just to be nice. It's doing something I think we all should do now and then and it's been mentioned by others in this discussion - committing a random act of kindness! Thanks so much for "getting it'! I think I realize now alot of the people I've come across in real life in this situation just didn't get it at all.
Annie
1 person likes this
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
25 Sep 07
well, i like to do a favour for people... so i will go with A probably... i will tell the person that i don't really need the cart as i will be only getting few items but i will take it anyway for her since i am going in into the store... that is no harm in helping people and it makes me feel good actually... :-)
3 people like this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
24 Sep 07
A mixture of A and B. I would tell her thank you and I would take the cart and put it with the other carts in the store.
3 people like this
@CraftyCorner (5600)
• United States
24 Sep 07
I'd take the cart. You'd be doing the bag boy a favor. You'd also keep it out of the way of the parking cars. Unless someone else needs it who will be grabbing lots of groceries, then politely give the cart to that needy shopper.
*
When you go into the store, you can abandon it next to all the other empties close to the cart parking lot. Or dump your groceries in it, then when your done with your shop, grab your bags, then dump it in the cart parking lot and consider your good deed done for a day.
@raychill (6525)
• United States
24 Sep 07
I'd probably do A/ unless there was a cart park near our parking spaces. Then I'd probably say no thank you and walk away... Only because that's what cart parks are for. To leave your cart. and if there is one near us then why should I do it? I mean I know it sounds mean...but that's why they put them there. ha ha.
But if there isn't a cart park then I would probably offer to take it back. Cause I usually use a cart anyway even if I don't need it. I end up buying stuff I hadn't intended anyway cause I'm lame and I love grocery shopping!
3 people like this
@violeta_va (4831)
• Australia
24 Sep 07
I will have to go with A. I like to help people out when I can so what if I dont need it I can just put it back, so she doesnt have to walk in the bad weather its not like it would be a trouble for me. And yes I can chit chat and say well actually I do not need it as I am here just to get 2-3 things but I will take it back for you.
3 people like this
@smileymom (169)
• United States
24 Sep 07
i'll take it sometimes you say you don't need the cart but end up needing it because you bought more than what you were supposed to buy. plus is no biggie your going that way .
3 people like this
@rohit0471 (195)
• India
27 Mar 08
i will go with B. I am a light shopper and wil leave the cart at the supermarket....
2 people like this
@Bd200789 (2994)
• United States
26 Jun 08
B, because anytime I see a cart in the parking lot, I bring it into the store anyway. It helps the person who has to bring them in, and they don't have to walk all over the lot searching for carts, especially if it is raining.
@rebelann (112875)
• El Paso, Texas
10 Apr 20
Yes, B is the best answer. Mostly it helps her because now she won't have to look for a cart corral.
@idowrite72 (2213)
• United States
27 Jun 08
I would probably offer to take it before she asked! I have often taken carts back to the store from other people when I didn't need one but I don't often go to the store not needing one.
@rebelann (112875)
• El Paso, Texas
10 Apr 20
Yeah, usually I need a cart anyway so she and I are helping one another.
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
25 Sep 07
I'll get the cart. Either I'll put it in a return or take it up to the store.
2 people like this
@jdyrj777 (6530)
• United States
29 Jun 08
I have actually ran into this exact situation many times. From both sides. Usually i will take the cart or if im the one with the cart i will ask someone if they need it. They usually do.
