Everything you ever wanted to know about Shopping Cart Covers- A Buyer's Guide

I hope that everyone looking to purchase a shopping cart cover, either for themselves or a gift, will find this helpful.  After having read several other guides on the subject by other shopping cart cover sellers, I thought it would be nice if there was one that provided information, instead of just advertising the seller's version and bashing other sellers- hopefully you'll agree.

When I started selling shopping cart covers several years ago, typing in SHOPPING CART COVER in the eBay search engine yielded you about 150 items- today you will get over 600 hits and an additional 800+ items listed in eBay stores.  That's a lot to choose from!  Your first choice is between a commercially manufactured cover and a custom/handmade one.

Retail Cart Covers

These include cart covers made by Eddie Bauer, Infantino, and brand names like Buggy Bag, Clean Shopper, and Floppy, to name a few.  Most all of these are available in stores as well as here on eBay.  The biggest drawback to purchasing a retail cart cover is a limited choice of fabric- BORING- your cart cover will look like everyone else.  For the price- $30 to $70- you can get a comparable shopping cart cover custom made for you with all the features that you need- and none that you don't.  A few things about "store bought" covers:

*the Infantino brand cover does NOT cover the sides of the cart

*the Buggy Bag style cart cover (think of a bag you sit in the cart and then unfold over the sides), including the Clean Shopper and Eddie Bauer version, are more structured, so they won't fit all carts equally well, and also won't fit in high chairs and park swings well either, if at all.

Custom Made Cart Covers

Polka dot Door Boutique Shopping Cart Covers

All covers are not created equal- nor should they be!  Here are some key features and differences:

FABRIC

There is a wide variety of fabrics used for cart covers.  If you are purchasing an inexpensive cover < $25-$30, you are most likely getting a cover made with lesser quality fabrics.  There's nothing wrong with that- its a great way to get a value item, and maybe you aren't sure you'll use it very much, and don't want to spend a lot.  More expensive cart covers should be made with higher quality fabrics (but unfortunately, this isn't always so)- they wash better, and feel better to the touch.  NEVER pay more than $40 for a cover without asking about the fabric- are solid colors quilter's cotton?  Where was the fabric purchased?  Is it decorator weight?  And take a look through the fabric department at Wal-Mart, you'll probably see a lot of fabric that looks familiar- again, there's nothing wrong with Wal-Mart fabric, but you shouldn't pay $85 for a cart cover made with it (even if its paired with chenille!).

Below is a picture of a cart cover made with licensed Laura Ashley decorator weight fabric with Scotchgard finish.

Buy it here.

PADDING

The padding debate cracks me up.  Those sellers that use a LOT of padding make the shopping cart sound like its made of razor blades, and those with little or no padding warn that extra padding poses a sufication hazard- Please ladies, there is some middle ground!!!  You definitely shouldn't pay a lot for a cart cover that isn't padded, but how much padding is really a personal preference.  Very padded covers are better for smaller children, but can be bulky to handle and may clump when washed.  Unpadded covers are less expensive, but may be uncomfortable.

We use 2 layers of high loft quilter's batting, and are always happy to add more or less at a customer's request.

POCKETS

Pockets are a personal preference.  I never really use them, but some people find them nice to have.  Younger children are likely to drop anything on the floor you put in them, older children may like to carry items in them.  usual placement is in the front (a snack pocket), on the side (sippy cup pocket) and on the back (a Mom pocket).  They can close with snaps, elastic, velcro or zippers.

CARE

Although there aren't many on eBay, there are some covers that are dry clean only.  Usually made with chenilles, satins and brocades, these are the kind of cart covers celebrities would use- that is if they did grocery shopping themselves!  I highly recommend a cover that is machine washable.  Any item that has elastic is better to air dry, because the heat of the dryer weakens the elastic, but most people ignore this fact- how many of us dry our bras?? (They will last longer if you let them air dry...)

SEAT BELTS

As a general rule, less expensive cart covers will not include a seat belt.  Most cart covers will include a safety belt, some include two- one that secures the cover to the cart and another that secures the child to the cover.  I would ask how the belt is constructed, what guarentees the seller offers that the belt will not fail, and what color it will be.

Instead of a separate belt, we offer a seat belt cover instead.  Shown above, it keeps your child from coming in contact with the seat belt's germs.  Here's why- each shopping cart is different, and so each belt attaches at a different point on the cart.  By using your own belt and sliding it through some point on the cart, you should realize that your child may have more ability to move (and fall) than from using the belt specifically designed for that shopping cart. 

PRICE

Expect to pay between $20-$100.  I know that's quite a range.  As a general rule, you do get what you pay for.  Less expensive cart covers are likely to have fewer features and be made with less expensive (and less quality) fabrics.  Expect to pay more for a cover made out of designer, chenille or decorator fabrics, as well as those that include extras like a pillow, a carrying bag, monograming, etc.

TOY LOOPS

Toy loops are great for attaching toys to the cart cover for younger children.  Some are solid loops, and for these you will able to attach linkadoo- type toys only.  Other snap or velcro open and close, these let you attach some other types of toys.

PILLOW

Pillows can be good for supporting small children or for napping children.  My daughter never fell asleep in the cart, so it was just one more thing for her to drop for me.  Check the size of the pillow to be sure its large enough to be useful, and also ask if its a pillow form with a pillow case you can wash, or if its filled with fiberfill (the latter may clump when washed).

MONOGRAMING

A nice extra, especially for a gift.  Usually the monograming is done on a tote bag, pillow or the front pocket, either with the child's name, or a cute saying like "Born to Shop".

LEG OPENINGS

Either circular or square and usually lined with bias tape.  I think the circular ones are cuter!

SEAT BELT OPENINGS

Often times these are made like big button holes.  We line ours the same way as the leg hole openings, with bias tape.  Both ways work, we just think the latter looks more finished.

HOW IT TRAVELS

The big debate!  There are two basic types- a cover that comes with a bag, and one that folds up into its own bag.  Again, its really a personal preference.  The fold up kind each fold up differently, some easier than others.  Having a separate bag is nice when you are giving as a gift (it just looks nicer), and it also gives you a bag you can use on its own.

TIME OF DELIVERY

Some cart covers are ready to ship- already made.  You'll get these faster, but they'll come as is- you won't be given the choice to customize or change any features on these cart covers.  Most covers are made after you order them, and completion times to vary, just check the details of the auction.

We ask that you allow 4 weeks for the completion of our cart covers.  Almost all of the time they ship within 2 weeks, but because order volume varies, we prefer to allow extra time, instead of promising shipping times we may not be able to deliver.  This ensures your order will receive the appropriate amount of time and attention to detail.

CUSTOMIZATION

This is my speciality!!!  I prefer to make cart covers to customer's specifications- each one unique and perfectly matched to the customer's needs.  Instead of searching through fabric selections on the computer, we offer the service to make a cart cover from fabric that you select.

Buy it here.

We also like cart covers that make a statement.  Baseballs, flowers, cars- if you can think it up, we can create it!

Buy it here.

MY PERSONAL PET PEEVES ABOUT OTHER SELLER'S AUCTIONS- GRRRR!

BASHING OTHER SELLERS: So maybe I did a little bashing here myself, but it was bashing in self defense!  I hate to read another seller's auction where they promote there product at the expense of someone else's.  How do you really know yours is better than mine, anyway???  And tacit insults are just as bad- you know "unlike others, mine are..."  Why can't you just be NICE????

JUST PLAIN SILLY STUFF: Okay, you may not appreciate this as much, but when I look at other people's auctions for shopping cart covers, some of the stuff they write in their descriptions is just plain silly!  Like:

*Sergers have TWO needles, not four

*A buttonhole stitch IS a zigzag stitch

*Bias tape is 50% cotton, 50% polyester- it does NOT cause rashes

*I have a serger, too!  Any serious, reputable seamstress does, let's not make it seem like its some magical machine that only you have, please.

ABOUT THE "CUSTOM BOUTIQUE" WORLD ON eBAY

If you aren't familar with buying Boutique items on eBay, I highly encorage you to visit Journal Modiste and learn more.  (Visit my about me page for a link to their website)  It is a fabulous community of designers, with innovative designs, unimpeachable quality, and excellent customer service.

Visit My eBay Store

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