STRAY shopping carts left abandoned in supermarket parking lots can cause drivers to flare up.
But one Walmart shopper has revealed how this problem can be averted.
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Some carts come with locking technology that requires a shopper to put a coin in a slot to use it.
Aldi customers must put a quarter in a slot to unlock a shopping cart.
Meanwhile, shoppers at other retailers can grab them and continue heading into a store.
But customers in a rush are prone to abandoning their cart in a parking lot, rather than returning it to a specific stand.
In an X post, one shopper has called on other supermarket chains to follow Aldi’s lead.
“I have zero problem with a stand,” they said.
But the shopper pointed out potential flaws with the approach.
“Aldi’s way being applied to someplace like Walmart or Hy-Vee would slow things down immensely,” they said.
Shopping carts at Aldi are locked together and when the quarter is inserted, the chain is loosened.
But the carts must be returned to the stand and locked to retrieve the quarter.
Aldi bosses say the cart policy brings benefits to customers.
“The shopping cart rental system is one of many Aldi efficiencies that enable us to keep our prices so low,” they said in a statement.
“Not only do customers get their deposit back, there are no stray carts taking up space in the parking lot or causing dents to cars.
“By not having to hire someone to police the shopping carts, we are able to pass the savings on to our customers.”
Last year, Walmart unveiled a cart that features a cell phone and cup holder.
Walmart cart changes
Walmart has changed the appearance of its shopping carts, but the design tweaks have not gone down well with all shoppers.
Chiefs have claimed the new design is designed to enhance the experience for shoppers.
The new carts measure around 25 inches by 38 inches, but the buggies are taller.
They have a built-in cup holder and shoppers can also store their cell phone.
But the modernized design has not been appreciated by all shoppers.
Some have claimed that they have felt tired after pushing the buggies around the store.
Meanwhile others have struggled to place items inside the cart because of its size.
But some shoppers were less than impressed with the design.
One claimed their shoulders started to hurt after pushing it around the store.
Retailers in the US and Canada have been left scrambling to solve the problem that abandoned shopping carts pose.
Felicia Fefer, the manager of corporate affairs at Walmart Canada, revealed shoppers have to put a coin in the slot to operate the cart.
“We know that some shopping carts are taken off store property, which is unfortunate and frustrating because it reduces the number of carts for our customers and causes issues in the community,” Fefer told Grocery Business.
Experts have delved into why some shoppers don’t return shopping carts.
One of the reasons was to keep so-called cart wranglers in jobs, per The Scientific American.
The U.S. Sun has previously reported how cities are trying to tackle abandoned shopping cars.
The U.S. Sun has approached Walmart for comment.
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