Is It Me or Has It Always Been like This??

I think part of the problem there is just so much more junk in the stores..... and too, some people are disrespectful and will look at something and just toss it back without putting it in its proper place, which leads to things being piled up and falling off their stands. I made the mistake of going to Old Navy last night. It truly looked like a store where hoarders live.. there were mixed up piles of clothing everywhere and things strewn all over the place.. and yes,how do people in wheelchairs get around the place.. let alone anyone with a stroller...

Yeah, it's against the law, but no one enforces it. I have complained to managers and yelled about ADA before when it is so agregious that I can barely walk, let alone use a stroller I have walked out too. It's very sad, but it is capitalism in this country. .I don't know if it really is more crowded, but once I had a stroller, I really noticed it. I do think supermarkets have gotten pretty bad in the last 10 years.

No, I am with you! In fact I was just saying this the other day to my husband.

They are overstocked and it is ridiculous, you cant even get your cart throught the aisles! It def seems like it's out of compliance for the disabled for sure!

Agreed! I thought I was just clumsy. :-) I feel like my cart hits everything anymore, ridiculous.

Completely agree. I just don't frequent those stores. They lose money for not being more friendly to moms. I guess it makes those stores have more stock and therefor less space. Best wishes on easy shopping.

Nope. Lots of store have overstock so they are craming old stuff with new stuff.

I was just at our local Toys R Us yesterday and couldn't believe how they had reorganized the place. It's horrible. The aisles are thinner -- you can only get two carts through if they're shoved up against the shelves on either side. So standing and browsing the toys is out. You're totally in the way.

I don't know what genius did this (the store used to be fairly nice) but I'll be finding my toys at Target from now on.

I think that some stores are more crowded. I noticed it more when I started trying to navigate them with my stroller. When my grandfather was in a wheelchair, it didn't seem to be this bad, but that was also years ago in another town.

There are some stores that are worse than others about this.
You'd think it would be a fire code violation - if people ever had to get out of a burning building all the displays in the aisles would end up killing people.
(If it should ever happen (Heaven forbid) not only could you sue the store but you could go after the county for not enforcing the code).
Especially in a super market I'm sometimes tempted just to ram a cart through a display then listen for 'clean up in aisle 4' over the loud speaker.
Some stores are so bad customers practically growl at each other while trying to navigate the maze.
No wonder Amazon is doing so well!

I agree. I changed supermarkets because my favorite one kept putting displays in the way. I don't stay long in clothing stores that are difficult to get around. I love my new supermarket and tell the manager how much I enjoy his easy-to-get-around store.

Two things ...
1 - if you can find some pictures of old grocery stores, look at the size of the carts and then look at the size of today's carts ...hmmm... and that doesn't count the huge ones that have the little extra spots for the kiddos!

2 - strollers (except for umbrella kind - ugh) today are HUGE compared to what was used about a generation ago! sorry, mamas, but they are - I am amazed how large some are!

...and lots of stores do cram more stuff in at this time of year - guess they figure it's gotta be there or can't be sold ...??

I agree that stores, especially department type stores, seem to be much more crowded these days and not just for the holidays. The other day I was at JCPenney and by myself and just squeezing through with my purse on my shoulder was tough enough. I remember the days of trying to navigate with a stroller too! But for what it's worth, if you have a choice, some stores of the same chain might be better than others. For example, the Kohl's that is to the south of us is much more open than the one that is to the west. They are both about the same distance from my home so I usually try to do my shopping at the one that has more space. That seems to be the case with several chain stores I shop at. HTH!

Tis the season for bloat, in every sense of the word.

I had the same exact thought at Kohl's--thank goodness I wasn't pushing a stroller or a wheelchair! They DO pack in extra racks at Christmas, it seems. I hate it--you can't even SEE what they DO have it's so mashed together.

I never noticed this until I had to push a stroller around. The worst is Gymboree, and you would think they would know better!