Why did I hang out for two hours yesterday in the parking lot of Save Mart grocery store in Carson City? The drama started weeks ago when I wrote a draft of a blog post claiming I had completed an academic study of shoppers’ behaviors with respect to what they do with their shopping carts after dumping purchases in their cars (hint: my conclusions were age-related). Personally, I thought the blog was quite humorous and even had a little message attached.
My editor, Jenni, had a different viewpoint. She informed me that several theories existed on the topic and I might be getting into trouble with my assumptions.
So that’s why I needed to actually do my own observations and not fall back on my poetic license.
Here are “just the facts, ma’am” based on my two-hour study.
All but six shoppers returned their carts to appropriate receptacles.
The two shoppers who parked farthest from the store dutifully returned their carts all the way back to the entrance. One of them retrieved an additional cart that was stuck on a curb.
Men were not as compliant as women in returning their carts. One young man purposely pushed his cart into the middle of the lot. It hit a white pickup truck.
That’s about it from my observations. Now I’m eager to read others’ theories.
And friends are concerned about what I will do after I retire? No worries.