First World Problems: Walmart's New Shopping Cart Is Polarizing Customers

 

Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images (Left), Dominick Reuter/Insider (Right); Business Insider

For about the past two years, Walmart has been quietly testing a new shopping cart design at select stores. In the photo above, the left is the old cart and the right is the new cart. They recently decided to roll them out at more stores. The new carts are not a hit with some shoppers. Yea, I know, first world problems. The only time I cared about shopping cart design was whenever I was involved in shopping cart races in college drunk off my ass. Somehow, I always managed to get stuck with the wobbly wheel cart. But that's another story for another day.  

 

According to a Walmart spokesperson, the new carts, "are intended to enhance the shopping experience". Translation: we want people to buy more stuff.  The new carts are about the same size as their old carts (tiny bit bigger) which you think would be a plus for Walmart shoppers to pile more stuff in them.

The new carts feature a cup holder, a slot for phone, and the child seat and handle is higher. I use the child seat for eggs or beer...you know, the important stuff. So what's the problem?

Some shoppers don't like the new design for several reasons. Parents who put their kid in the seat are having a difficult time seeing around the child while shopping. Others are saying they're forgetting their phone when they use the slot; some are saying because they are bigger it's making it difficult to maneuver up and down the aisles (which I don't get since they are almost the same size as the old carts); and others just have to complain because they have nothing better to do.

If you're a Walmart shopper, be on the lookout for the carts. Or if you have seen them, share you 2-cents about them. I don't shop at Walmart (unless it's an emergency).  But the new cart looks like it would be fun to race in.