Parents that can't leave their children in the car for 30 seconds to return a cart to the corral, when you've buckled in your children in the driveway and forget something in the house, do you take all your children back into the house with you? doubt it.
I drive the car into the garage and close the door to make sure no one steals the car while I'm inside the house.
I park my car in the garage, so no, I leave them in the car. But like RM95 says, that's just a little different than a public parking lot. LOL. It's funny that most people who seem to have no problem whatsoever leaving small children in a car in a public parking lot while they walk 40 yards away to put a cart back in a cage...don't have kids themselves. What's funny about it is that I remember feeling the same way before I had kids. Moral of the story is that your opinion on this VERY CRUCIAL issue will probably change once you have kids yourself.
I don't think anyone is particularly singling you out. Half the people in this thread are justifying not returning the carts and half take the position that it's a simple responsibility. That position is being collectively argued against the other rather than calling you out, although you gave a scenario that people are using. The non-returners are justifying their reasons as: 1. I have kids that I cannot take my eyes off of for 30 seconds 2. It's somebody else's job to return the carts 3. My time is too important which to some does not sound like a good argument. Like bobrek said, you should be able to return your cart the majority of the time, but there are certain emergencies where it can be excused. Dealing with kids is debatable. Nobody likes to come out of shopping to see their car struck by a shopping cart missile. Your 30 seconds of time to return the cart will save that person $100 in damage and 2 hours to get that fixed.
Meh. My son isn't even three years old yet and I leave him in the car when I run into the service station or forget something inside the house. I have never had anyone try to steal my son. If you are a parent and you are not returning the cart, it is because it is too much work or you are an overly paranoid parent raising a bunch of pansies that need to wear a helmet in the bath tub so they don't bump their soft nugget on the tub lip. As far as getting your vehicle hit by a runaway cart, that is a risk you accept when you choose to shop. You can park farther away to decrease the risk.
Increases risk of faster runaway carts and no orbiting moon type blockers. Decreases risk of jerks opening their doors into your quarter panel. I find it interesting how many single fathers with multiple infants go to the grocery stores I frequent. That must be the reason these lazy turds are leaving carts.
I haven't been harmed by the parking carts, but it's an annoyance-- like trash littering a parking lot or people pissing on sidewalks. Mainly, I am just fascinated by how scared some parents are about their kids' being in danger even in a span of 30 seconds.
I have two little kids (almost 3 years and a 5 month old). I put groceries in the car without putting the kids in the car. I put the cart up like a decent person. I walk with my little kids to the car, put them in, and go home. This is what you call a win/win scenario.
But what if an Albatross swooped down and grabbed one of your kids while you were walking back? You can't risk that. Just leave the cart for someone else to get.
