cart issue

[hithere]

Hi,

I worry about the store cart problem.
Cart is required to use inside of store and outside of store i.e. carring stuffs in the cart from store to the car in the parking lot, etc.
But in here, if customers do kindly return his/her carts in the store, then it's ok and no problem, but if customers leave them in the outside parking lot, then it could cause some problem, I think, especially the parking lot has some slope,then they could run away far outside or in the traffic road.
So, what do you do for the cart usage?
not allowing them out of store?
everytime, the attendant need to catch them and get them back?
or make tall hanger steel bar in the cart so that makes it difficult to get them out of door?
allowing cart to the car helps store sale?
Thank you,

[DuboisLaundry]

I have a sign next to the door where people can see it as they leave.
in 16 months, only 2 people have taken carts outside

[Quartermaster]

R&B makes the hanging rack to add onto your carts, I believe they also make extenders to make sure they are taller than the doorway. I only buy carts with racks to give the customers a place to hang their laundry. It also makes it a PITA to take outside. Mine are not taller than the doorway but I have never seen any outside either. They used to get stolen every now and then - not anymore since I went to the style with the rack.

If your carts are in sad shape, adding new/additional carts definitely will be appreciated by your customers. This is one more way to make your place better than the competition. As said before, only buy the ones with the rack. I believe they cost about $100 each.

The customers have to carry their laundry from house to car, so carrying their laundry from laundromat back to their car is no big deal.

[anonymous]

Customers always take the cart outside to bring in their laundry and to take it out to the car. I guess my customers are very nice people, as they ALWAYS bring the carts back in. I have never once had to retrieve one from outside.

[pete f]

I budget a couple hunderd a year per store for missing carts, so far that account is surplus. It still ticks me off when they steal the newer carts.