HIGH COST
Costco shoppers urge chain to make ‘interesting’ cart change for ‘protection’ – but ‘rule breakers’ would lose access
Walmart and Kroger have come under fire for their new cart changes
SHOPPERS have suggested an easy solution for retailers after becoming increasingly frustrated with a common parking lot issue.
Costco members have taken to social media to complain about how they have returned to their vehicles to find them damaged by store property.
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While numerous shoppers shared their stories, some offered a simple solution that one claimed would have a "shocking" impact.
"Thanks to the person at Costco who abandoned their cart beside my car and scratched it in the process," an anonymous shopper posted on a Facebook page.
"Happened to mine last week too. Scraped in two spots several feet apart. No respect for others," another added in the comments.
Fellow shoppers urged the wholesale retailer to make a change to its carts that would encourage shoppers to return them.
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One suggested linking the carts to the membership system at Costco.
"Put key card system on the carts. If you don't put the cart back you don't get access to carts," they suggested.
"Would solve that issue immediately. Those who don't respect the curtesy will shop elsewhere," another replied.
"is that a thing??? Sounds interesting," one said, supporting the suggestion.
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Meanwhile, another suggestion meant that even if shoppers continued to abandon their carts, other customers could be convinced to do some cleanup to get a reward.
"They need to do the coin thing there, shocking how fast someone will take their cart back for twenty-five cents," another user suggested.
Coin-operated carts are rare but are most likely to be seen at Aldi.
I left $150 worth of groceries after being turned away at Costco all because of ‘unbelievable’ card membership policy
While they are not widely used in the US, retailers may be increasingly forced to turn to such devices.
Last year, three Walmart locations in Thunder Bay, Canada, unveiled the new carts that see shoppers insert a $1 coin to unlock them.
It came after the city council enforced new rules that would see retailers pay for the recovery of abandoned shopping carts if the city collects them.
In 2022, Walmart paid $23,000 in fines to the town board in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, after abandoned carts had to be collected, according to a CNN report.
As such fines are being introduced and the loss of shopping carts costs retailers more money, new changes are being made, including lockable wheels.
Shopping carts are "integral to store profits," Good L Corp, a US shopping carts and baskets manufacturer, said.
Shopping cart complaints
Here are just some of the recent complaints shoppers have had about carts across numerous retailers:
- Target shoppers have said they are moving towards Walmart after noticing a lack of shopping carts as they call on the retailer to "do better."
- Kroger has been slammed for its "bottomless" carts that one customer says make shopping "impossible."
- Walmart's recent shopping cart design change has seen customers rage about the new size.
- Several upgrades have been made by Walmart but short customers are not happy.
- Meijer's anti-theft cart device left one shopper stunned.
"According to the Food Marketing Institute in Washington DC, annual costs due to cart theft is around $800 million," the company revealed.
As a result, numerous retailers have started implementing new cart technology that locks the wheels at certain areas of store property to prevent theft and abandonment fines.
The U.S. Sun previously reported on Kroger shoppers who experienced the wheel-locking technology after going through the checkout.
While the retailer may be trying to save money, some shoppers have called it the "final straw" after already being faced with numerous anti-theft measures that hamper the shopping experience.
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Meanwhile, Walmart has also rolled out the technology at some of its stores with one customer calling it the "stupidest idea they ever had."
The U.S. Sun has asked Costco for comment.