Mariano’s Arlington Heights store at 802 East Northwest Highway replaced all their metal shopping carts with all-polymer plastic grocery carts with security features on Friday, May 7, 2021.
Following a major task to get all morning customers off the old carts and into the new carts on Friday morning, everything was running smoothly. The carts feel lighter and easier to push and steer. They also roll more quietly.
The carts still come in two sizes — a full-size cart and the smaller quick shopping cart. The carts have handles that favor ergonomics with a shape that puts shoppers’ hands and wrists at a more comfortable position while pushing, turning or pulling either cart. The old straight handlebar of older carts put hands and wrists in a position known as ulnar deviation. That means your “pinky” or fifth metatarsal side of shoppers’ hand deviate toward the ulna bone or outer position of the forearm when hands are palms down. With the slight bend of the new shopping cart handle, the ulnar deviation is diminished. The more neutral position is usually safer in preventing cumulative trauma to the wrists and hands — also known as Cumulative Trauma Disorders, such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
The gentle bend of the handlebar also helps shopper performance. It’s even easier to turn a lightly loaded cart with one hand.
There are two new loss prevention features included with the new shopping carts.
One feature is designed to prevent people from rolling the carts off the property, and taking them home. At a certain perimeter at the edge of the parking lot, brakes are applied and the cart cannot be rolled any further.
The second feature applies the brakes on the shopping cart if a shopper attempts to take a cart out the exit if they didn’t pay while going through the the checkout lanes, or if they try to exit the store without passing the checkout lane at all.
The polymer plastic carts are supposed to be more durable than the steel cart, and are also supposed to be less likely to bend out of alignment. The new carts definitely roll better than the old steel carts.
There was only one slight problem with “Nesting”: The smaller carts can be a little harder to drive the front of the cart into the back of another cart for storage. However, just a slight lift of the handlebar of the rear cart helps get the front of the cart to push into the rear panel of the front cart. The manufacturer claims that nesting and de-nesting is done smoothly. This is probably true compared to some of the other “catching” that occurs in the older steel carts.
Get updates from The Cardinal ALL NEWS FEEDS on Facebook. Just ‘LIKE’ the ‘Arlington Cardinal Page (become a fan of our page). The updates cover all posts and sub-category posts from The Cardinal — Arlingtoncardinal.com. You can also limit feeds to specific categories. See all of The Cardinal Facebook fan pages at Arlingtoncardinal.com/about/facebook …
Help fund The Cardinal Arlingtoncardinal.com/sponsor
Advanced Two-tier All-Polymer Plastic Cart information for the big cart and small cart from carts4u.com.
BIG CART HIGHLIGHTS
Manufactured in the USA with industry-leading technology
The patented polymer unique material allows an impressive weight capacity of up to 1200 pounds.
Longest life-span compared any other cart
Rust proof and the color will not fade in the sun
3 year manufacturer warranty
Modular design that improves sustainability and reduces maintenance costs.
Non-marking wheels reducing floor maintenance
Frame doesn’t bent and wheels maintain their alignment reducing wheel replacement frequency
Easier collection with its rear wheel lift
Eco friendly
Option to put logo on side panels
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
Loaded with standard cart features for customer convenience: Beverage holder, Flower holder, Smart device holder, Bag hooks
A smoother quieter ride with its high performance wheels
Nests and de- nests smoothly
Child Seat lower and safer
Retractable seat belt
Easier to clean flat handle
THE SMALL CART HIGHLIGHTS
Manufactured in the USA with industry-leading technology
Longest life-span compared to any other cart
Rust proof and the color will not fade in the sun
3 year manufacturer warranty
Modular design that improves sustainability and reduces maintenance costs.
Non-marking wheels reducing floor maintenance
Frame doesn’t bent and wheels maintain their alignment reducing wheel replacement frequency
Easier collection with its rear wheel lift
Eco friendly
Option to put logo on side panels
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
Loaded with standard cart features for customer convenience: Beverage holder, Flower holder, Smart device holder, Bag hooks
A smoother quieter ride with its high performance wheels
Nests and de- nests smoothly
Retractable seat belt
Easier to clean handle