Where the shopping carts have gone is still a mystery to Pieter van der Velden, manager of the Albert Heijn branch on Kamperfoelielaan in Eindhoven. In one year, the supermarket lost 50 shopping carts.
There is a striking notice hanging near the carts in the supermarket parking lot. An A4 sheet states that there is ‘a huge shortage of shopping trolleys’. Customers are kindly requested to return the shopping cart. That is not done by everyone.
According to Van der Velden, shopping carts have always been taken away from time to time, but last year it happened very often. “Of course this happens sometimes. Also at Lidl, which is next to us. That is nothing new. But shopping carts belong to a supermarket and it is not the intention to take them home.”
“A shopping cart costs 130 euros.”
Wanzl Winkelinterieurs in Oosterhout makes a large part of the shopping carts that can be found at hardware stores and supermarkets. According to Frank van Dam of the manufacturer, one shopping cart costs as much as 130 euros. A huge expense for Van der Velden, who has lost fifty.
Supermarket manager Van der Velden has been looking for those missing carts for some time. Customers don’t just use it to do their shopping. “There are people who use the shopping cart as a barbecue or even as a rabbit hutch,” Van Dam explains.
“Hopefully the shortage will be resolved soon.”
Van der Velden does not intend to take additional safety measures. “I assume that we can solve this together with our customers. It is also annoying for them. In any case, we have already ordered new shopping carts. So hopefully the shortage will be resolved quickly.”