Ditched car for shopping trolley - but now the fear is on me..

[Steamroller]

I've got a shopping trolley,and i'm determind to use it (despite family disowning me ) so I don't have to drive to the supermarket. But I've just realised I don't know what to do with it once I get to the shop. I can't put the stuff in it until I've paid for it, obviously, so I will have to lug it round with the supermarket trolley as well!
Also, when I go to smaller shops, I'm going to be like one of these annoying little old ladies bumping everyone's ankles but won't have the benefit of true Little-old-lady-hood to protect me from the tuts and muttering of the other shoppers.
Don't want to bottle out now, plus I've bought the thing now (an investment of £10!)! Any other trolleyites out there who can advise me?

[Takver]

Can't you park it at the shop entrance? I wouldn't have thought it would be the sort of thing someone would steal . . .
I usually dump my bike panniers in a bit of dead space by the checkout where I go shopping (more nickable, but I live in the back end of no-where).
If you live somewhere that people might nick it, maybe a very basic combination bike lock?

[rupertsabear]

I park mine by the checkout, and I wrote my name on the outside in permanent marker to discourage others from taking it away either deliberately or accidentally. In our supermarket there are usually about 20 of them by the checkout.

[ThingOne]

I put mine in the trolley. You need to be careful where you "park" them. I once had mine removed as a security risk . The shame, the shame.

[Steamroller]

thanks for the messages, I'm glad I'm not alone. I think if I left it somewhere it would either a) get nicked or b) I'd be shopping down an aisle somewhere and I'd hear guffaws of laughter from the 18 year old security 'men' ridiculing it (it's err ..floral..) and I'd be too embarrassed to collect it.
On balance I think b) would be worse.
So I'll opt for bunging it in the trolley. Where all the other shoppers will see it and know it's mine.
I could always wear a long coat, headscarf and sunglasses so nobody recognises me..
Or do my weekly shop at 3a.m.

[Takver]

Nah, everyone will be jealous & embarrassed that they are not anywhere near so cool as you

[HerBeatitudeLittleBella]

I put mine in the supermarket trolley.

Well I did, in the days I went to supermarkets.

[CarGirl]

I admire your nerve.

My friend and I keep muttering about getting one each so we can ditch the pushchairs but we're just not ready for the style suicide yet.....

[Takver]

What about one of the big wicker affairs - would they be more classy & river-cottage-esq

[rupertsabear]

I must be missing s'th, but why is putting your shopping in a wheelie bag instead of lugging it around embarrassing?

[HerBeatitudeLittleBella]

I think because trolleys are associated with old biddies. So you are embracing old biddiedom when you use one.

[Steamroller]

I'm going to use it for the first time on Friday - big shop /no car. Wish me lots of eco-luck! At least if it's chucking it down I will still have a free hand for the brolly!

[FAQinglovely]

oh don't you diss the 4 wheelers Riven - my brand new 4 wheeler arrives tomorrow - as the 2 wheeler simply couldn't cope with 2 weeks worth of shopping

Unfortunately there funky 4 wheelers are incredibly hard to find - but 2 wheelers have every design you could possibly want.

I used to hang my 2 wheeler over that little hook on the front of the trolley (just under the handle) and had no problems.

[Steamroller]

used it. it was brilliant, very easy, carried loads home. dont have to go to shop again till next week. dont know why i didnt get one years ago! Everyone should get one !

[Fennel]

Use them with pride! My sister does, she just ignores criticism. I use a bike instead and load it up with bags, but that's cos I usually cycle rather than walk. But you have to ignore people being rude, they're just wrong. (and lazy and unfit and ruining the planet, why let them dictate your behaviour?).

[ihearthuckabees]

Steamroller - well done. You are no longer a trolley virgin! I used to live in New York, and everyone uses them there - they are huge, 4-wheeled things, big enough for about a month's shopping. The supermarket trolleys have special hooks for you to hang your personal trolley onto when you're shopping, how cool is that?
I either bung mine in the supermarket trolley, or I get DS to schlep it round the shop. He's 7 and becoming quite a useful accessory .
I've never had anyone laugh at me yet, although I do get annoyed when the checkout staff aren't suitably impressed by it. Mine is a tomato red two-wheeler ['show-off in an eccentric way' emoticon]