Company Blog

The Lost Art of Do Unto Others: The Shopping Cart Dilemma

by Adam Zack — May 21, 2025

“If we can’t be bothered to walk a few extra steps to return a cart, what else are we cutting corners on when it comes to kindness and responsibility?”

Scott here, Adam’s oldest friend—not necessarily the best of his friends, but definitely the oldest!

There’s a small but telling act of consideration that seems to be disappearing from our daily lives: returning the
shopping cart. It may not seem like a big deal, but it says a lot about where we are as a society.
We’ve all seen it—abandoned carts scattered across parking lots, wedged against curbs, or even worse, blocking
perfectly good parking spots. Some are left just a few feet away from the cart corral, as if those last few steps were
just too much to handle. While some folks may have legitimate reasons for leaving their carts behind—like physical
limitations or wrangling multiple kids—most of the time, it’s just a case of convenience winning over courtesy.
What happened to the simple principle of “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”?
Returning a cart isn’t just about keeping the lot tidy; it’s about respect. Respect for the next shopper who now has
to maneuver around your abandoned cart. Respect for the employee who has to retrieve it. Respect for the people
whose cars get dinged because a stray cart rolled into them on a windy day.
Some may argue, “It’s someone’s job to collect the carts.” And that’s true. But it’s also someone’s job to clean up
litter, yet that doesn’t mean we should throw our trash on the ground. A little effort on our part makes the job easier
for everyone.

At its core, the shopping cart dilemma reflects our mindset as a society. Are we the kind of people who think only
of our own convenience, or do we take a moment to consider the impact of our actions on others?
If we can’t be bothered to walk a few extra steps to return a cart, what else are we cutting corners on when it
comes to kindness and responsibility?

Maybe it’s time to bring back the lost art of “do unto others”—one shopping cart at a time.