Tesco has led the UK supermarkets introducing a new trolley change set to affect thousands of customers across the country.
The chain superstore is currently trialling a new American-style plastic shopping trolley, with a plastic basket and metal chassis, at its Sheffield Infirmary Superstore.
The model is said to be much lighter, easier to steer and quieter than its normal clanking metal counterpart, making the weekly shop a breeze.
Such plastic trolleys are already widely used stateside, in large US chains like Target, where shoppers enjoy its legendary enormous red carts.
Waitrose has also got in on the action back across the pond.
The upmarket grocery shop chain is currently experimenting with the new design at its store in the Brent Cross area of north London, The Sun reports.
It is not known yet if the new model will be rolled out across the nation – but it is understood a customer consultation process on this is ongoing.
Hannah Lewis, managing director of major trolley supplier Formbar, has said she believes the new model will transform the shopping experience.
Tesco has led the UK supermarkets introducing a new trolley change set to affect thousands of customers across the country. Pictured: File photo
The chain superstore is currently trialling a new American-style plastic shopping trolley (pictured), with a plastic basket and metal chassis, at its Sheffield Infirmary Superstore
The model (pictured) is said to be much lighter, easier to steer and quieter than its normal clanking metal counterpart, making the weekly shop a breeze
She said: ‘Trolleys are important – they are the first thing you see as you go into a supermarket.
‘The plastic ones are more cost-effective to maintain, as well as being fully recyclable.
‘We’ll be seeing them much more in the future which I think people will like as they are easier to push around than the steel ones and they are quieter too with no metal rattling sounds.’
She also hoped the plastic carts would be less attractive to thieves – who often steal the metal versions to sell off as scrap metal.
Opinion on the new models is currently divided, with shoppers taking to discussion site Reddit to express their approval and scepticism variously.
One said bleakly: ‘At least these won’t rust when they end up in the local river, canal, duck pond etc.’
Another replied: ‘Nope, they’ll float merrily on by instead.’
Similarly, someone else said: ‘They are likely cheaper to replace than all metal ones so it will save stores money when they inevitably go walkabout.’
Such plastic trolleys are already widely used stateside, in large US chains like Target, where shoppers enjoy its legendary enormous red carts (pictured, file photo)
Waitrose has also got in on the action back across the pond. Pictured: File photo
Another agreed with Mrs Lewis: ‘Cheaper. Less chance it gets nicked and scrapped.’
One user, meanwhile, even went as far as to say they did not understand how it could be a bad thing: ‘I don’t see what’s wrong.
‘Plastic baskets on shopping trolleys have been a think in the US and many other countries for decades. They work just fine. Overall unit weight and price is reduced.’
But others did not think they would catch on, commenting variously ‘they ain’t gonna last a week’ and ‘what a waste of money’.
Many, who had seen the trolleys in person, said the new models were much smaller than a standard metal cart.
One said they were ‘half the size’ – while another wondered if it was a cynical attempt to make trolleys look fuller, as prices rise and shoppers cut back on groceries.
‘Are they trying to make it less obvious how much less we can get for a £100? I filled a whole trolley’, they said.
It comes after another recent change at Tesco, its new Scan As You Shop checkouts, divided shoppers, with some labelling the futuristic pay points ‘creepy’ and ‘dystopian’.
Hannah Lewis, managing director of major trolley supplier Formbar, has said she believes the new model will transform the shopping experience
Opinion on the new models is currently divided, with shoppers taking to discussion site Reddit (pictured) to express their approval and scepticism variously
A Newcastle man spotted three of the checkouts, which apparently weigh customers’ trolleys after they have finished their shop, installed at the Gateshead Tesco.
Some were delighted with the technologically-advanced new system, first spied earlier this year.
But many likened it to airport security, saying the move was a step ‘too far’ from traditional staffed tills.
Tesco has rolled out the Scan As You Shop (SAYS) system in a select number of stores across the UK.
Shoppers pick up a scanning device when they enter the store and then scan each item as they put it in their trolley or basket.
When finished, they can pay for all their items without having to scan them through the staffed or self-serve checkouts.
Upon paying, SAYS customers may be randomly selected for a ‘service check’ where a staff member makes sure each item has been processed correctly.
The new checkouts are said to weigh the trolleys of those using SAYS to ensure the weight is the same as the items scanned.
It comes after another recent change at Tesco, its new Scan As You Shop checkouts (pictured), divided shoppers, with some labelling the futuristic pay points ‘creepy’ and ‘dystopian’
‘(Who) knows how that will work when it would have to be sensitive enough to work for like birthday cards and also have enough variance for different bags people use, coat hangers, product weight, etc,’ someone pointed out.
Many thought the checkouts looked more like something from an airport rather than a supermarket, with one person pointing out they were similar to ePassport gates.
‘Am I at border control or Tesco?’ one user asked.
Another said: ‘Come for the shopping, stay for the full body scan! Wtf.’
Tesco and Waitrose have been contacted for comment.
