A Cart Narcs video posted March 17 has gone viral after capturing a tense exchange in Goleta’s Camino Real Shopping Center near Costco, where a Cart Narcs “agent” confronted a man in a large red truck for leaving a shopping cart loose in the parking lot.
In the clip, the agent asks why the cart wasn’t returned to a designated corral and notes that stray carts can hit vehicles or block spaces.
The driver responds with profanity — “Get the f*** away from me” — prompting the agent to reply, “Why are you using cuss words, sir?”
As the interaction escalates, the agent moves toward the truck, referencing the group’s tactic of placing a magnetic bumper sticker to flag cart misbehavior. The man threatens to “knock [the agent] out” for trying to touch his truck and throws an object at the agent.
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Cart Narcs is a social-media project led by a personality known as “Agent Sebastian,” a radio producer affiliated with The Woody Show at ALT 98.7 (KYSR) in Los Angeles.
Launched around 2018–2019, the group films confrontations with shoppers who don’t return their carts and posts them on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Agents often use humorous, faux–law-enforcement personas and, at times, affix removable magnetic stickers to vehicles to “shame” the behavior until the cart is returned.
Supporters say the videos encourage common courtesy and reduce parking-lot hazards from stray carts. Critics argue the confrontations amount to public shaming or harassment and can provoke unsafe encounters.
The Goleta video underscores that tension, raising broader questions about manners, civic responsibility, and whether escalating a minor lapse is worth the risk.
Cart Narcs did not release additional details beyond the footage.
The video has received over 30,000 likes and 1,200 comments with some commenters questioning the manners and the quick rise to anger of the man.
“I really don’t understand why people get so mad,” one commenter said with another one stating, “It’s funny to me because the amount of time these people spent fighting him they could’ve brought the cart back and been on their way.”
While those who oppose the tactics of the agent stated in the comments, “this is harassment,” and “who cares?”
However, the question remains. Do you return your shopping cart to the proper area and what does that possible say about you as a person?
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Violence in response to words and non-violent action is always illegal. Old man needs to watch himself.
They are called “courtesy carts,” for a reason. They are supplied as a convenience for shoppers and should be returned to a corral. If you can’t return the cart then don’t use them.
HATSOFF – yep. That is the whole point here….
Sac, this “agent” is nothing more than a bored adult with nothing better to do than harass others. The “agent” is literally going out of his way to stop and harass people. I’m with the guy in the truck and I would honestly respond the same way if some tool came up to me like this. The “agent” isn’t an agent of anything other than in his own mind and is being very passive aggressive.
KNEIN – be that as it may, violence against non-violent words and actions (returning a stray cart) is illegal and mindless.
Old guy was lazy and violent. Typical of many in this country.
Sac, the “agent” is pretending to be some sort of enforcement official. hes literally instigating this and looking for trouble. i’ve watched about a dozen of these and it’s harassment plain and simple. the old guy was fine until harassed and annoyed by this fool. if this “agent” had minded his own business, none of that would have taken place, right? it’s harassment and kinda weird too. the “agent” isn’t hired by the businesses or the security detail. just there to annoy and harass. Sac, a wasp goes about his business, you swat at it and annoy it, its going to get you…
Not if you hit it at night.
You can justify violence against non-violence all you want, but it won’t make it legal. Sure, this guy is annoying to people who are too lazy/ignorant to take their carts back and just leave them where they roll into others’ cars or take up much needed parking spots. Oh well! Lots’ of people are annoying out there, especially racist Karens and Kens, but we can’t just start “knocking them out” without consequences – either more violence in response or jail time.
If I knocked out every person who annoyed me in public, I’d be as much a criminal as our president.
Not in MAGA’s world. Trump and this guy have a lot in common I lthink.
I think people should return carts or at a minimum NOT leave them to block parking stalls. The guy in the red truck should have simply driven away, but now he’s going viral for unhinged profanity, throwing items, and threatening violence. Bad day for Red Truck Guy.
Side Note: At the very end of the video there is a mention about the phony e-Violin player who you can hear in the background. These scammers are part of a roving groups who are after donations to “help their family” or “pay for medical/funeral” expenses and the like. I’ve seen them at Magnolia Shopping Center in the past, but looks like they’re now working it near Costco/BevMo/BestBuy. Here’s a link to an article about this scam: https://www.infoquu.com/violin-parking-lot-scam/
This toddler-like analysis lends nothing to the story …
The cart narcs are almost as lame as this hothead clown that can’t put his cart back and absolutely loses his sh-+ after getting called out.
I am disabled and would like an employee to to take my stuff to the car as well as help putting them in the car.
Employees only do this at some stores.
Why don’t YOU put the carts back for people, instead of trying to shame someone for not obeying the Nanny cart rules
You have that kind of time to waste filming and posting>
Get a real job while you can.
shaming a “White Guy in a Pickup truck?”
Pathetic.
Yes, your comment is pathetic and then some. The violent criminal white guy in a pickup truck shamed himself, and you shame yourself by defending him. You apparently have no idea what a thoroughly unpleasant person you clearly are.
As one who has had their car dinged in a parking lot, I kind of like this. I really don’t understand how hard it it to put your cart where it belongs. Just yesterday, at Costco, I came back to someone’s loose cart, resting against the car next to mine. How irritating is that.
I always put my cart back but it is such a small issue that this is more a matter of wanting to criticize and act self righteous rather than solving problems.
No, it’s not a matter of that, grossly dishonest person.
Hope I never run into either of these guys!
I had a brand new truck, which I did not want to get scratched, so I parked away from every other vehicle and a short walk to the store.
When I came back, there was a cart next to the truck and a scratch left from it.
Being lazy is one thing, but . . . any hypothesis about what precipitated this scene?
I agree! I park as far away as I can but often come back to a cart close to my car. It is annoying and not ok!
Ever since I first came across Cart Narcs on YouTube (some five -six years ago), I have enjoyed Sebastian confronting lazy-ass shoppers who abandon their carts in parking lots. We’ve all seen this: carts “parked” up on a parking lot curb or left behind in a parking spot or — worse yet — left sitting in the “access aisle” next to a designated handicapped parking spot.
It’s highly amusing (and more than a bit sad) how many shoppers will attempt to justify their inconsiderate, discourteous to others behavior.
Good on Sebastian and his video crew. Good for them for outting people who can push a cart all over inside a store and then push the cart back to their vehicle, but then can’t be bothered to push that same cart to a nearby cart corral.
Good on Sebastian for outting people who will get in and out of their vehicles to chase after him and/or spend a ridiculous amount of time attempting to justify their ignoramus cart abandoning, but amazingly cannot be bothered to return their carts to the proper corral.
sooner than later that sebastian guy is going to get knocked out for this. he’s literally harassing people and it’s not his place to do this.
And hopefully he’s sue for a huge amount if that happens. Violence is not OK when there’s no threat.
Meh, FAFO
Nah, we have laws and societal norms. Knocking someone out for being annoying and nothing more is not ok. These guys probably are ready for it anyway so I doubt old man would walk away unscathed. At least I would be ready and able if I was doing this stuff!
KNein: I agree that it’s just a matter of time before Sebastian gets his “A” knocked out or worse. When that happens, views of his channel will explode, which means $$$ for him. The amount of free publicity will be off the charts and even more so if arrests are made and someone goes to trial. HUGE amounts of money he will make, indeed. The elderly guy in the red truck was wise not to get hands-on, but he did throw something and appeared to become unglued and overly agitated over a nothingburger.
Bends Knees with another nothingburger, no sauce.
eLdErLy
You’re so weird.
What Is the Shopping Cart Theory?
https://www.eatingwell.com/what-returning-your-cart-says-about-your-personality-11909663
“While the idea of the Shopping Cart Theory has likely been around for some time, it only became a centerpiece of conversation a few years ago. The premise is simple: because there’s no reward for returning a cart and no punishment for leaving it behind, the choice to walk it back is framed as a purely voluntary act of civic responsibility. According to the “theory”—which is not a real scientific theory—people who return their carts demonstrate a willingness to do the right thing without external motivation, while those who don’t are said to reveal a fundamental flaw in their character. ”
Indeed!! It’s a fundamental character flaw. I know it’s tough but did you spot at least one character flaw in Red Truck Guy? Unless the return spot was poorly planned and very far away (which they’re not usually) then returning the cart, or not, says alot about you. And those words aren’t too kind.
Unless the return spot was poorly planned and very far away (which they’re not usually) then returning the cart, or not, says alot about you. And if you don’t those words aren’t too kind. (wish there was an edit button, ugh)
Similarly, some people also pick up litter even when no one knows they’re doing it.
first off, this “agent” isn’t an agent of anything. he’s there to go out of his way to be a passive aggressive pest and nothing more. i’d have reacted the same way TBH. seriously, find a better hobby. also, people are paid to do this. I worked at a grocery store as a kid and that was part of my job, and actually it was fun. My son worked for home depot and did the cart runs. This “agent” is about as much of an “agent” as those 1st amendmant right video guys on youtube….just instigators and agitators harassing people that are going about their business. sad that many of you side with the instigator.
pure harassment. copied and pasted :
“Critics: Argue that the confrontations are condescending, constitute public shaming or harassment, and can lead to dangerous, escalating confrontations.Safety Concerns: The actions have led to aggressive, high-tension situations, including instances where shoppers have threatened to run the narrator over, notes a YouTube video by Honor Student.While many viewers find the videos humorous, others on Reddit and in various comments describe them as annoying, aggressive, or looking for trouble.”
I always return my cart, and often others. I’ve got two working arms and legs. But also, my very first paid job was bagging groceries, helping people to their cars, and collecting carts.
cart agents….are just bored people looking to push others around and instigate problems then cry foul when they themselves are confronted. we have bigger problems going on than this idiocy. very surprised at many of you championing this fool. the guy is looking for trouble plain and simple. If you don’t like shopping carts in the way, put them back yourself. complain to the store since it’s actually their responsibility. you do realize they have paid employees that are supposed to get the carts. harassment and nothing more than that. i may be alone on this forum with this, but on the global stage I am not. Go look at comments on their youtube channel.
Wow. Considering a cesspool like YouTube to be an arbiter of societal norms is idiotic.
Also, if he is making money doing this through his channel, and he almost certainly is, and he is filming on private property without the consent of the person being filmed, he is breaking the law.
Just watched the video. That cart narc has the voice of nightmares. Plus not p.c. to display licence plate. What a creep!