Bula vinaka everyone.
Have you ever gone shopping picked up a trolley that looked perfectly fine, only to discover a few minutes later that you had chosen one you cannot control where it goes?
Over several shopping trips, I have experienced this trolley problem at prominent supermarkets.
Recently, I changed my trolley twice because both carts had problems.
They were difficult to push and, instead of going straight, they were rolling sideways.
The problem was wobbly and stubborn wheels.
But here is the catch, you cannot detect a faulty cart from the outset and often by the time you realise something is wrong, you may already have loaded your shopping into the trolley.
Who wants to unload their groceries and transfer everything into another trolley when the items are heavy, the supermarket is hot and you are rushing?
My colleagues Litia, Jim and Vereimi said they, too, had experienced bad trolleys while shopping in supermarkets in Suva, Labasa and the Western Division.
Some trolleys were difficult to steer, while others had wheels that appeared stuck, damaged or simply unwilling to cooperate.
Jim had a colourful experience. He became so frustrated with a poor performing trolley that he kicked its tyre in front of supermarket staff.
He was frustrated when the harder he pushed, the more the trolley moved sideways.
Now imagine trying to shop in a busy supermarket with a trolley that refuses to go in the direction you want it to.
It spoils the shopping experience and takes away some of the simple pleasure of browsing and checking out products.
You turn left.
The trolley goes right.
You turn right.
It goes left.
By then, you are struggling, frustrated and probably wondering why buying groceries has suddenly become a physical workout.
It can be surprisingly strenuous and leave your arms and shoulders aching.
Then comes another question: what happens if that same trolley crashes into a display of goods?
Who pays if bottles break or cans come tumbling down?
In some supermarkets shoppers run out of trolleys at peak hours because there is a shortage.
Others have dirty trolleys and the consitant cleaning during Covid-19 seems to have been relaxed.
Supermarkets need to regularly inspect and service all their trolleys.
A trolley is part of the shopping service a supermarket provides.
Customers use it to carry their groceries, and they expect it to be clean, safe and reasonably easy to manoeuvre.
Most shoppers probably will not report a faulty trolley. They simply abandon it and pick up another one.
That is understandable. People are busy. They have shopping to do, children to watch, parking to worry about, queues at the checkout and, for some, the added challenge of finding a taxi to take them home more important.
Supermarkets should not have to wait for customers to report which trolleys are faulty.
Supermarket management should have someone regularly checking their trolley fleet every day to make shopping a pleasant experience.
With hundreds of customers moving through supermarket aisles, a damaged or stubborn wheel may seem like a small issue, but when it happens in a crowded store it can become a safety and frustrating concern for shoppers.
It should not be the shopper’s responsibility to test a trolley before filling it.
A trolley should be in good working order and ready to be pushed through the aisles.
Shoppers go to supermarkets to buy groceries, not to participate in a wrestling match with a trolley or run around to find the store manager to complain.
A good trolley should go where the shopper wants it to go.
Customers are bringing business through your doors.
The trolley should be provided ready to carry groceries. It should not become another problem for the shopper.
If you manage a supermarket, that should not be too much to ask.
Readers have a good Fiji Day weekend and shop wisely!
