‘Won’t go to Kmart’: New trolley divides shoppers

Shoppers in Brisbane have been left surprised as some Kmarts introduce a new antitheft measure on their trolleys.

Shoppers in Brisbane have been caught out after discovering that some Kmart stores have introduced coin-operated trolleys.

The budget retailer has started to roll out this change across stores in Queensland, with approximately a third of Kmart stores in the state now having locked trolleys.

Locations where coin-operated trolleys have been spotted include Capalaba, North Lakes, and Stafford in South East Queensland.

The new trolleys can be unlocked with a $1 or $2 coin, which is returned to the customer once the trolley is secured back into the in-store trolley bay.

It is understood that this change is mainly due to councils implementing new requirements regarding trolley containment systems.

It also stems from an initiative led by some shopping centres where Kmart operates.

The introduction of coin-operated trolleys is intended to address issues of trolley theft, trolley damage, and abandonment of trolleys, according to The Courier Mail.

In stores that will have the new feature, signage is provided to inform customers about the upcoming change, as well as post-implementation signs.

There are no plans to roll these out nationally to other stores beyond a case-by-case basis.

As our society shifts towards cashlessness, mainly relying on debit and credit cards, many find it inconvenient to find a coin to use a trolley.

“Another reason I won’t go to Kmart again,” said one disgruntled Aussie on Facebook.

“Who has a coin anymore?” asked another.

The new coin-operated trolleys at Kmart. Picture: Courier Mail

Others expressed that the move showed little consideration for parents with children who have to go “up and down” escalators to return their trolleys.

Another person with a disability claimed it wasn’t a well-thought-out rollout, as there aren’t trolley bays available to leave trolleys in the car park, forcing shoppers to return their trolley to the store.

Meanwhile, some shared clever ways to circumvent the charge.

“I just grab a trolley from Coles on my way to Kmart and use that – less hassle,” admitted one.

Not everyone is a fan of the move. Picture: Courier Mail

Another person mentioned they’ve used an Aldi token that they had on their keys to unlock the Kmart trolley.

Unlike Coles or Woolies, all Aldi trolleys are coin-operated and have always been – a fact that wasn’t lost on some.

“Get over it, Aldi has had them forever! It will make you take the trolley back and not leave it randomly somewhere!” said one user.

“Aldi does it, and you don’t hear many complaints,” wrote another.

Others defended the change in general, with one saying, “Great idea. So sick of seeing trolleys littering our neighbourhood”.

Residents are encouraged to report abandoned shopping trolleys to the relevant retailer if they see one on the street or in a waterway.

Originally published as ‘Won’t go to Kmart’: New trolley divides shoppers