Test driving motorized shopping carts
Somehow just before my vacation at the Happiest Place on Earth I managed to injure my foot. Walking on it all day for several days did not improve the situation. Once the charming staff at the ER ruled out nasty life-threatening scenarios like a blood-clot, they handed me a pair of crutches, prescriptions for pain killers, and instructions to stay off the foot until I got home to Portland and saw another doctor. I’ll be on crutches for at least another week.
In the meantime, I’ve gotten a chance to test drive the seated motorized shopping carts at multiple retail establishments. A friend put the bug in my ear that I should review them, so here goes.
Gateway Fred Meyer
Not too shabby. Had enough power to motor me around even with a cart full of Thanksgiving fixings, but not fast enough to run over the toddlers who got in my way. Didn’t get a chance to try out the horn. Dual basket space (full basket and a small raised basket) and simple controls available on either side of the steering bar.
Pro: Corners really well, plenty of oomph, quiet reverse warning sound
Con: Have to find an employee with a key before you can use it.
Mall 205 Target
Hands down the best cart I drove. Good speed, easy controls, very responsive. Full basket carrying space.
Pro: Just get it from the customer service area and away you go!
Con: Obnoxiously loud reverse warning sound. So shrill I was lax to use reverse.
Hollywood Fred Meyer
Out of the three carts at the grocery entrance, only one was not “out of order.” No key required. The basket was roomy and functional, but the armrests were way too short. Controls were similar to motorcycle accelerator where you rotate the handles forward to go. Confusing layout of buttons. Horn didn’t work.
Pro: I wasn’t using my crutches to navigate the last minute Thanksgiving shoppers
Con: Really, really painfully slow. I would have been faster on my crutches, but it hurts a lot to walk around that much. Controls would sometimes stop working after the cart was stopped.
Potentially more reviews to come as I continue to gimp my way around our fine city…
A few days ago, I was almost run over by a lady in one of those carts! She started backing up without looking, and I had to jump out of the way. She apologized, and I walked around to the front of her, so she could keep backing…..but then she started going forward! Without looking! She nearly ran me over for the second time. Gotta watch out for those crazy drivers.
Happy Thanksgiving!
You know, this could be a great column in a paper. Certainly not something we think about on a daily basis, but nonetheless entertaining. Of course, you not being able to walk isn’t funny, just the reviews of the carts are. I’m sure there’s a large audience who’d laugh at this one. Perhaps you could even get a job reviewing these carts? You never know.
I am so with qqflyboy……this could be an interesting thing. Who else has ever reviewed these carts?! It’s clever, and it could be fun! Maybe you should look into it!