Those electric shopping carts.

fuzzybuddy

fuzzybuddy

SF VIP
Location
The Sticks, Northeast PA.
I'm disabled. I can't walk very far. So I use those electric scooter shopping carts, now, in most stores. I have to say that I'm really grateful. There's no way I could walk around a grocery store- they are way too gigantic. When I was a kid the local A&P ( for you youngsters, that was a grocery store chain.) was about the size of a large living room. Now, they are massive stores. One thing though, you are only 3 feet tall in one of those carts, so people don't see you coming. And kids get on them and race around the store. But on the whole, as we age, we are all going to be glad they have those carts.Z1K4--fo5oy.JPG
 

Those things are awesome! I use them too. I have a disability. They really help a lot. I rented one for the Iowa State Fair...everyone should see the butter cow before they die. Oh, and my son treated me when we went to the Cincinnati Zoo.

I probably freaked out the goats at the fair when they saw me coming on that thing though.

I really do think they are awesome. They are hard to get sometimes though. I feel like I've won the lottery when I see one sitting there.
 
I do too. A lifesaver. I often get annoyed when people leave them in the parking lot, esp in had weather. Or return them and do not plug them back in.
I remember many years ago, when our home town grocery stores first got them my dad discovered them and loved them. He'd had both knees replaced by this time and loved the convenience.
 

I tried one once in a fibro flare, but they aren't for me since I also have a wonky migraine variant that originates in the brainstem and is visually triggered. It's acephalic, meaning no actual headache but causes wooziness, visual aura and sometimes loss of muscle control. The motion of the cart plus the florescent lights in the store triggered one.

Even without the migraine issue, another downside is that Mississippi is the most obese state in the US and the carts are sometimes abused by people who literally have a hundred plus pounds of droopy fat bulges falling all off the sides of the carts. I've no doubt there are knee, foot problems associated with their morbid obesity, but I always think about people who've taken care of themselves and suffer, as well as people with broken bones or post surgery who can't find a cart because of the morbidly obese. Also, I need to lose about 50 pounds and am self conscious the "fat cart" stigma here.
 
Last edited:
They help me a lot. If Daniel at Krogers sees me drive up he will signal, to me and here he will come with an electric cart. I always go early so I can get a handicapped space as close to the store as I can. He is usually outside gathering up the carts and sees me. I try to remember to take a few ones with me so I can tip him. Its only a couple of dollars but he appreciates it and I appreciate him saving me the walk to the store. With my back and legs I cannot walk very far without terrible pain. I put my groceries in my car myself but he will be there to take the cart back for me.
 
terry123 said:
They help me a lot. If Daniel at Krogers sees me drive up he will signal, to me and here he will come with an electric cart. I always go early so I can get a handicapped space as close to the store as I can. He is usually outside gathering up the carts and sees me. I try to remember to take a few ones with me so I can tip him. Its only a couple of dollars but he appreciates it and I appreciate him saving me the walk to the store. With my back and legs I cannot walk very far without terrible pain. I put my groceries in my car myself but he will be there to take the cart back for me.
Click to expand...

That's smart to have a buddy on the inside! :) And so easy to do when the person knows you genuinely appreciate them.
 
All shopping carts should have that feature built into them by now. For those who want to walk just don't turn it on. But design it so one can stand, a la Segway, or have a pull out seat on it. What fun that would be in stores with narrow aisles.
 
I am always careful to turn them off so the battery will not run down just sitting there. Its ready for the next person if Daniel is not around. A couple of ladies in the parking lot thanked me for leaving it there for them near the handicapped parking as one of them was recovering from surgery and wasn't sure if she could walk to the store. I know how that is.
 
I really appreciate their existence, but it always seems like what I buy most are things at the way top, bottom or far back of the shelves and bins, that I can't reach from the cart, and its easier for me to plop my walker into a regular cart, or drape a big shopping bag between the walker handles.
 
I guess not enough of these vehicles are available in stores for all who need them. It's not the morbidly obese that choose to be that way--food addiction is an illness like any other illness and these people deserve to have the electric carts too for how else can they get around in a big store when they can hardly walk, too? The problem is not with the morbidly obese but with the lack of carts available!
 
Ruthanne said:
... It's not the morbidly obese that choose to be that way--food addiction is an illness like any other illness and these people deserve to have the electric carts too for how else can they get around in a big store when they can hardly walk, too?
Click to expand...

Not all. I've worked with morbidly obese patients professionally and saw some great successes. Loved the rapport with them and seeing the changes in their lives. Saw some who truly did have emotional/psychological compulsive eating to the point that I wouldn't recommend any type weight loss surgery because I was worried that they'd turn to another substance rather than food ...I'd seen it happen more than once with some pretty sad results. Some fall in the middle. A very few have metabolic issues that are almost insurmountable. And more than you would think just pure D didn't care. It doesn't take long after awhile to figure it out. You have to figure it out quickly in healthcare to prioritize your time. I've spent hours one on one with illiterate patients who it was obvious did want to do better but struggled because of their illiteracy. Have handed my card to others that had zero interest in changing anything at the time and said, "Call me if you ever get interested in working on this." A few in that group did, but most didn't.
 
Last edited:
I used them often. I sometimes have seen people take issue. I am heavy, but not the "hanging off the edge of the seat" obese. But with my arthritic hips and back, it is just easier for me. I find I cannot stand long periods of time. I have lost weight, but I still have pain. But I have been glared at by people. Even when using my cane to get into the store.
In 2008, before my hip replacement, I could not walk far at all. I was only in my 50's at the time. Took my cane everywhere. I had one older lady "complain" that I was using it as they were meant for "old people". Sigh.
 
Marie5656 said:
I used them often. I sometimes have seen people take issue. I am heavy, but not the "hanging off the edge of the seat" obese. But with my arthritic hips and back, it is just easier for me. I find I cannot stand long periods of time. I have lost weight, but I still have pain. But I have been glared at by people. Even when using my cane to get into the store.
In 2008, before my hip replacement, I could not walk far at all. I was only in my 50's at the time. Took my cane everywhere. I had one older lady "complain" that I was using it as they were meant for "old people". Sigh.
Click to expand...

People judge anyone who is slightly overweight and not elderly or with a visible brace using them. It's all over the internet in the "people of Walmart" pics. That's why even at 50+ pounds in my 50s, I've been self conscious about using one.
 
@AnnieA Do not let what other people think get the better of you. If you feel you need a cart, then use it. When I go, I often find people very helpful, and offer to reach things for me, if I need. Cashiers know me well enough that they will often ask if I need one of the guys to help me load my car.
 
Marie5656 said:
@AnnieA Do not let what other people think get the better of you. If you feel you need a cart, then use it. When I go, I often find people very helpful, and offer to reach things for me, if I need. Cashiers know me well enough that they will often ask if I need one of the guys to help me load my car.
Click to expand...

I really had trouble the time I did because of the motion triggering the visual migraines. The combination of florescent lights and the way the carts turned did a number on me! It's best in a fibromyalgia flare to not do to much anyway so I'm fortunate to have people to pick up a few things I might need on bad days. I try to stock up well on good days to limit trips.

As for helping, it's so small a thing to ask if you can when you see that someone is looking at something on the higher shelves. So small a thing when we can help, but a pretty big thing if you're stuck at cart level!
 
Last edited:
I have seen these scooters around -but people who drive them on the road need their heads testing '
so dangerous to say the least ' I live rural by a village and we have seen people driving on the road in them -- keep to the pavements/sidewalks if u value your life ..
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top