Do you ever think about shopping carts?

[quakerboy]

I do.

I was at Winco the other day, and as I headed back to my car, I leaned a portion of my weight on the cart, and then went bounding through the parking lot feeling like a Gazelle leaping along. I do that every now and again, and It feels awesome.


But that got me to thinking. That cart has to have a specific center of gravity and a specific height for that to work. I can do it at only a couple of stores. But I have an easy time using carts at most stores. The handle is at the right spot to make shopping with one a breeze. There are a couple stores, usually smaller drug stores and the like with karts that are lower, and a bit uncomfortable to use.

On the flip side of that, my sister is over a foot shorter than I. How inconvenient must many carts be for her use?

So who the heck sets the rules for shopping carts. Do the kart manufacturers do it, and stores just have to pick a design they want, or do stores custom order what they want. Is there a committee doing market research on what kart height will induce the most grocery purchasing, or a couple different height people coming to consensus on the best compromise height, or just one guy, about my height, who decides it for everyone?

[quakerboy]

1. That question asked, I must add

that Target Karts suck. They have no balance or counterweight whatsoever. Totally useless for anything other than putting consumable merchandise into. Shopping there is a real drag.

Thats kinda the final straw, after the crappyness of quality of their products and the political contributions which are the main reasons I am currently declining to shop at target, that makes me totally at peace with that decision.

[Curmudgeoness]

2. Inquiring minds want to know, eh?

Honey, you have way too much time on your hands. But since you bring it up, I hate the plastic carts. It has to be a metal cart or it is trashy.

And as a shortie, I will tell you that carts are not all that comfortable to use. Like everything else in life, I have determined that some guy your size has designed it all from kitchen counter height to where a seat belt hits you (me, the answer is right at my throat).

[quakerboy]

6. Interesting

I find that the best carts combine metal and plastic in specific and sleek new ways. Straight metal ones do not have the right balance, and all too often are the older rusty ones that do not work for my moments of gazelle like awesome.

I kinda figured on the large carts and small people thing. I am somewhat sensitive to the situation. My sister and I are about as you can get without serious medical complications.

In the defense of the large however, most things are a hair too short for me. I go to a bank or a store or whathave you and the counters are all below what would be ideal. I find myself having to lean way over to make eye contact. Fortunately I tend not to care what I look like to people in line behind me, so i just lean over so I can make eye contact with the cashier or teller, who is almost always someone of below average height. Same goes for kitchen counters. And a surprising number of homes/churches/schools have these low kitchen and bath counters that seem designed to make me feel like Im visiting the Lilliputians. (By the by, Lilliputians is in the spell check. How awesome is that?) And do not get me started on cars. Seat belts half the time do not adjust high enough, which results in its own special discomfort. then there are Car roofs and the top of my head. Im not really that tall, but I have a longish torso, plus baby got back.

And that's just looking at the vertical. Then we go to the horizontal. I can't remember the last time I sat in a car that got better than 20 mpg where my shoulder was not ground firmly into the door column. Nor where my wide stance wasn't significantly hampered by the space available.

Thanks for your time.

[Curmudgeoness]

8. I guess we both have problems. I could use you at the grocery store.

I can't buy anything if it is on the top shelf .... unless someone of your stature comes along so I can ask them to help me get it.

[quakerboy]

10. Indeed

Whereas to get to the lower shelves, I either have to do a Giraffe eating from a low branch impression or just drop myself quite undignifiedly on the ground in one fashion or another.

I would say, to any stature impaired person reading this, I am more than happy to reach things on a higher shelf for you if ever we meet in the store. You don't even have to be a little old lady, though I have noticed that is the demographic most willing to ask for assistance from a fellow shopper. I enjoy doing it. It gives my day a little bit of purpose.

Hmm. If I wasn't married, I might just wander local grocery stores getting things down for people on my time off. Then again, I probably wouldn't, at least not until I get done reading the internet. But after that's done, I expect to have a lot of time on my hands.

[quakerboy]

15. Ok. I have to retract what I said previously

Was just at Safeway, and the kart was all metal. And it was a Beautiful cart. The lope pack to my car, parked as always at the outer edge of the parking lot, was like walking on the moon. Simply amazing. Metal karts are now OK in my book.

[Curmudgeoness]

21. I salute you for the open mind, and being able to change your opinion

based on new information.

:fistbump:

[Swede]

3. Trailer Park Boys The Cart Boy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYVVKAJDwgQ

[Brother Buzz]

4. I think a lot about shopping cart wheels

Do the stores pay extra for those damn carts with flat wheels to slow shoppers down hoping they will purchase more?

[quakerboy]

9. flat wheels?

I am not familiar with this concept. Wheels are round by definition, are they not? And as yet I have not noticed any grocery store with terrain that would be considered "offroad," thus needing larger pneumatic tires that could go flat. In my experience Karts have little hard rubber wheels. How can this go flat?

You have piqued my curiosity. please explain more

[Brother Buzz]

12. I believe gnomes outfitted with a grinders flatten spots on perfectly round wheels

Some of the more diabolical ones grind nice round wheels into perfectly wicked shapes, rendering them totally. I'm talking Denver Boot useless. Perhaps stores order carts with flattened wheels to reduce theft.

[quakerboy]

14. I would think that would do a better job reducing

shopping than theft. I guess I do know what you are talking about. Though I more frequently run into carts with stuff(hair, string, who knows what) wound up in the axels, thus causing just a single wheel to stick, intermittently. I have been known to lift the cart and drive on two wheels when someone else chooses one of those carts, and then turns over driving halfway through shopping with the cart half full.

Then there are the ones with the wheels that lock if they cross out of the parking lot. But some smartass seems to have taken them all to the edge to disable them, purely to annoy you. And the guy in front of you always gets the one last working cart, and you have your choice of 3 with locked wheels and one with something that appears to be partially decomposed in the basket and gum on the handle. May you pick wisely!

[Chan790]

20. That's actually a known-cause problem.

It occurs when carts are used, improperly, to store heavy items in one place for long periods. We're talking weeks or months. The weight and gravity consistently bearing on a single contact-point of the wheel causes the wheel to deform.

[WinkyDink]

5. And here I thought I was the only cart-bounder! :-) I hate the new half-carts!

[quakerboy]

7. If they ever overtake the normal carts

it will become a problem. I have to admit I kinda like the half carts. They are the right size for a quick trip, and if I am in a hurry they provide a lower chance of running into small children darting about unannounced.

So, I think they have their purpose. But I would hate to see them become the only cart used. Then again, as long as we remain the land of the consumer, I have little fear our larger standard carts will become extinct.

[nolabear]

11. Then there's the "kid in the seat" issue.

When my now twenty six year old son was about two, I was in the perking lot unloading my bags into the car, kiddo still in the seat. While I was turned toward the car I heard a faint "Mom? Mooooooom?" and turned to see the cart ripping across the lot with my kiddo in the seat, eyes and mouth both hanging open. Fortunately, there were no cars coming and I got to him before he got to another parked car. I always took the kids out first after that!

[quakerboy]

16. That one has not happened to me

The closest I have come is the combo of windy day, kart full of 12 packs of soda, and a case of 5 dozen eggs. Soda goes first, obviously, then the kart gets lite, and you have to balance keeping the kart in your possession, keeping the eggs safe, not dropping soda, and not letting the kart contact the paint of your car.

A kid would add a whole new element of challenge to that scenario. Not the strongest argument for the ol snip snip, but it is definitely going into the evidence pile.

[alphafemale]

18. You unstrap the kid first because how else are they goin to unload the groceries?

sheeesh

[watch the sky]

13. yes

Yes, I sure do. I HATE THEM!!! Much of the time they don't work and they're noisy as hell. The ones that have a ten-foot pole going up the side so the store can track shoplifters really bug me not because I'm stealing but they're just so fugly and stupid-looking.

[quakerboy]

17. Better that than the

hospital wheelchairs with the poles on them. In the way, but not quite strong enough to be used to steer the damn things.

Actually, the only place that I know of with poles on the shopping karts is Dollar Tree. Which is ironic because they have shitty karts.


But a good kart is a thing of beauty.

[quakerboy]

39. You know what sucks even more than the half karts?

Amazon shopping karts are even less fun.

[redwitch]

19. Only when I am actually shopping. Or reading about them here.

I am very much enjoying this thread. While we are on the subject I have to mention those giant kiddie car carts. As if store aisles aren't difficult enough to manouever (hmmm, pretty sure that's, yup, spelled wrong), now you get stuck in the middle of an aisle between two moms with giant kiddie car carts. Kids sure seem to enjoy them though. And I guess they're better than the places that have mini regular carts so kids can "help" shop but mostly go careening through the store at breakneck speed aiming for your legs.

I also hate standing in line behind people who let their kids stand up in the top basket portion. Of course I spot them so they don't get hurt but seriously moms, PAY ATTENTION! It's a long way down and a very unforgiving landing.

[quakerboy]

22. Your enjoyment is all the justification I need to post

Actually, I am easy to please that way. "'cause" is really all the justification I needed. But the fact someone enjoyed it makes it all the more worthwhile to me, and I appreciate your saying so.

As to manouever, It looks Brit. If anyone challenges you, just say you saw it spelled that way when you lived in Stratford on Avon that one summer, before you got offered the other job in Milan. That will teach them to stick their snobby noses into correcting spelling.

I try not to think on the kiddie karts. I may have to now that you mention it. I think it may be my newfound destiny to use those the next few times I go shopping solo. I don't think I will take it so far as to talk to the imaginary kids within it, but the urge will definitely cross my mind.

[redwitch]

24. Hey, you're right. It does look Brit!

Had to turn down the job in Milan, got a better offer in Paris. :-)

[quakerboy]

25. Thats right. How could I forget a thing like that?

Anyhow, you tell them spelling police whats what.

[Ahpook]

23. Ahh, so you are the one:)

Riding the Greenway in Knoxville, there are multiple abandoned carts on the side of the trail.

Didn't handle well, flat spot in the tire? What exactly makes you ditch those things all over the fucking place? :)

[quakerboy]

26. Well I never!

the nerve of some people.


I did discover today that my car is short enough to fit a car and a kart in the spot. As long as I park right, I no longer need to take karts back to the corral!

[Ikonoklast]

27. Uhh, no...never! Why are you asking about shopping carts, anyway?

[applegrove]

28. I don't know but some freak used to dump shopping carts right outside my apartment a few years ago.

It made me look like I was the one stealing the shopping carts. Grrrrrrr.

[quakerboy]

29. I would never accuse you of that

Just cause shopping karts keep showing up outside your residences. It could be any one of the neighbors, I am sure. Though I have heard you have a habit of using karts in stores that makes me a little suspicious...

[applegrove]

31. It is true. I use a shopping cart at least once a day...I am an addict. Actually sometimes I'll

just use a shopping basket and that will be enough to satisfy my craves.

[quakerboy]

32. Time to fess up now

You have a whole room full of shopping baskets of various sizes and colors and materials to match any outfit. The perfect accessory to any shopping trip eh.

[applegrove]

35. LOL!

[Skittles]

30. I do the same thing, quakerboy!

both inside and outside stores - I'm a 53 year old gal and get, well, some looks :D

I agree some are easier than others

[quakerboy]

36. I have a fair amount of momentum and speed when I get going

I don't see that working out well in store. I would end up running over a blind, deaf triple amputee in a wheelchair, who just happens to be a veteran and a nun, crushing her only remaining 3 digits to uselessness. And then I would have to live with having done that.

Plus my wife would give me that look.


So I keep it in the parking lot.

[Skittles]

40. one time

my boyfriend was pushing the cart, and I had attached myself to the front of the cart, facing him, and we were arguing......as he went up and down the rows, there we were; people really chuckled at that :D


I guess I should mention that I do most of my shopping at 01:00 in the morning (night worker) - aisles are nicely deserted then :D

[Kali]

33. plate of shrimp

somebody dumped an old metal shopping cart body at one of our stock ponds a few years ago

last year I had put it into a pen and turned it upside down to use as a step/mounting block to get on my horse. Just yesterday I went by there and it had been moved out of the pen and was under some bushes about 50 yards away. :wtf:

those old metal ones seem like they would make and OK bbq grill:rofl:

[quakerboy]

34. Hobo grill

Im not feeling motivated at the moment. But there are pictures on the internet of just such a thing.

[Kali]

37. and probably porn of it too

ah, the internets:rofl: (now THAT ought to give you something to think about! heh heh)

[quakerboy]

38. Rule 34

Fortunately I am not at all a visual person. If I am not seeing it right now, I cant see it. So doing a quick search on shopping kart porn will have no lasting ill effects.