‘I ran out,’ says shopper after trolley suddenly gets stuck leaving store – it wouldn’t move, but I paid

A SHOPPER was left stunned when his trolley stopped him leaving the store.

Retailers are coming up with innovative ways to cope with financial losses as the market faces external pressures such as inflation and labor costs.

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One problem that contributes to lost profits is abandoned or stolen shopping carts, especially when they contain store merchandise.

Often, thieves turn to carts as a quick escape method to transport bulky and valuable items.

Likewise, when carts are stolen and abandoned, they can create nasty things for cities, which can see stores hit with hefty fines.

In 2022, Walmart paid $23,000 in fines to the Dartmouth, Massachusetts city council after abandoned carts had to be picked up, according to a report. CNN report.

Shopping carts are “integral to storing profits,” according to Good L Corpmanufacturer of shopping carts and baskets in the USA.

“According to the Food Marketing Institute in Washington D.C., annual costs due to cart theft are approximately $800 million,” the company said.

To address these issues, retailers have begun implementing new cart technology that locks the wheels in certain areas of the store.

However, not all buyers are aware of the changes.

“I love it when my shopping cart LOCKS on me as I walk out of Payless with 6 bottles of wine, no bag,” a confused shopper he wrote on Facebook.

She was so embarrassed by the ordeal that she quickly fled the store.

“The shopping cart had to be left in place because it wasn’t moving AT ALL, and a man looked at me and said, ‘Breakfast of champions!’ And I ran away.”

“These are the things I like to receive my purchases for,” she added.

“I didn’t even know that was a thing?!” another Facebook user responded.

“I’m confused. So now they have sensors that lock your cart if they think you’re stealing something?!”

Good L Corp explained how this technology works, most of which is invisible to the eye.

Retailers are turning to electronic and magnetic systems that automatically lock wheels and stop carts from moving when they reach a certain limit.

“These systems involve an electronic clamp or boot attached to the wheel of the cart,” explained the manufacturer.

“The retail store parking lot is equipped with a thin wire that locks the wheel clamp when a cart passes over this wire.

“Painted lines are typically used to indicate to customers when they are approaching boundary lines.”

Only a special key carried by store employees will unlock the wheels to get the carts moving again.

A Walmart shopper complained about the “stupid idea” after she claimed her cart was locked before she even reached her car in the in-bounds parking lot.