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Original poster

Woman shouting at security in ASDA?

113 replies

Driedpotatochip · 29/10/2022 22:40

Just did a quick late night shop, only one door open and as I was walking in this woman with maybe her son were walking out when their trolley locked.

As they’d blocked one side of the door I had to wait whilst she was screaming at security at how dangerous this was and security were like - there was signs. But she just kept shouting saying she was going to do more than go to customer service.

Was she unreasonable or is locking trolleys ok? I’ve actually never seen it happen before.

OP posts:
LIZS · 30/10/2022 09:06

Our Sainsburys do this at bottom of the travelator up to the car park. It blocks access for other customers until security come and check the trolley. Not ideal at a fire exit though.

Veggieburgers · 30/10/2022 09:15

I did not know about this. I once absent mindedly wheeled my trolley out of the door with my shopping in it. I was halfway up the street when I realized, and took it back. I presume it didn't lock because I had gone through the checkout.

mummybearcub2022 · 30/10/2022 09:19

Does every trolley have a tracker on them?

TheOrigRights · 30/10/2022 09:21

LIZS · 30/10/2022 09:06

Our Sainsburys do this at bottom of the travelator up to the car park. It blocks access for other customers until security come and check the trolley. Not ideal at a fire exit though.

I wonder if the trolleys auto unlock if the fire alarm goes off?

Original poster
Driedpotatochip · 30/10/2022 09:47

BertaHoon · 30/10/2022 03:03

It's common sense. You can't be charged with the theft of something if you are still inside the store and willing to pay.

I very much a security guard has control over individual trollies.

I'm not really understanding you issue.

You couldn't get through the door for a few seconds?

Show quote history

Oh Berta it’s common sense and everyone else managed to understand the thread just fine.

OP posts:
Discovereads · 30/10/2022 09:56

TheOrigRights · 30/10/2022 09:21

I wonder if the trolleys auto unlock if the fire alarm goes off?

Show quote history

? Why would they? You’re not supposed to leave with your trolley during a fire.

AnApparitionQuipped · 30/10/2022 10:04

mdinbc · 30/10/2022 06:09

This is the first I have heard of this type of cart. I don't believe they have such things here in western Canada yet. It certainly would help with cart theft. I often see carts left in bushes as people walk home with shopping and leave the carts in random places. Some of the stores have coin-operated locking mechanism to deter theft.

I do wonder with self check-out in so many stores; how do they manage theft? I'm sure there are a lot of people not scanning all of their items.

Oooh, you call them 'carts' in Canada! I love learning little things like this.

TheOrigRights · 30/10/2022 10:18

@Discovereads
I'm not suggesting people should be allowed to leave with a trolley in a fire, it was a response to the poster who was concerned a trolley would block a fire escape. If they become unlocked you could unblock the escape

Propertyporn · 30/10/2022 10:35

My trolley locked just outside of the Sainsburys car park as I was trying to wheel it to the taxi pick up point. The driver had obviously seen it all before as he just got out of the car, grabbed hold of the trolley handle and dragged it the 10 or so metres to the car, locked wheels and all. So there's always that option.

formulatingAresponse · 30/10/2022 10:39

To be fair if that was me late at night grabbing some shopping with a DC too young to leave at home, I'd be livid if the trolley I'm expecting to push all the way to my car as normal suddenly locked.

I was mortified the other day when my basket in Lidl beeped and the security guard stopped me from taking it past the door. Luckily I had put my shopping in bags inside it after paying for it.

Meatshake · 30/10/2022 10:57

Happened to me at Sainsbury's. Went to Argos to pick up a big item, realised I'd got the wrong Argos, turned around and went to put my trolley back and it locked in the inner doorway (there's a second actual doorway. There wasn't anyone nearby so I just kind of left it stuck there! Pissed me off a bit because it was a bit of a jolt, plus a bit embarrassing!

TheWitchersWife · 30/10/2022 11:05

It's almost like whiplash. The trolley is like hitting a brick wall.
And it's happened to me with my small toddler on the trolley.
I had my receipt checked and left juat fine after that, with my DS crying because of the shock and painful shoulders.
It is what it is, but yes, it can and does hurt people when it happens.

melj1213 · 30/10/2022 11:06

ClinkeyMonkey · 30/10/2022 07:01

Crikey, never heard of this. Mind you, we probably don't have anything this sophisticated in NI. What happens, though, if you don't have a receipt? I hardly ever take a receipt if asked at either the self checkout or the real living person checkout (unless I'm buying an item which might need to be returned.) How would you prove you had paid if there was a trolley malfunction?

If you don't have a reciept we just find out which checkout/self scan you used and either reprint the receipt or a member of staff verifies that they served you/witnessed you paying at a self scan and the security can unlock the trolley.

The security guard will usually ask a couple of questions to see why the trolley locked, and invariably it's because of the customer's actions and very very rarely is it due to malfunction - either they've switched their smaller trolley for a bigger one at the checkouts (we keep a few big trolleys at the back of the checkouts, usually for people using our mobility scooters who need help to take their stuff out to the car) so it has a "reset" trolley lock that will activate the door lock; or gone back through the self scan entrance because they used the first machine and it is quicker than going through the whole s/scan area; or bought a large item eg a TV at the cigarette kiosk (which doesn't have a deactivation point as it is right next to the exit) etc - so they can advise the customer how to avoid the situation in future.

PinkButtercups · 30/10/2022 11:12

Our local Asda the trollies only lock if you go over a yellow line where the boundary ends of Asda. Probably because it's right next to a creek and trollies always end up in there.

melj1213 · 30/10/2022 11:13

TheOrigRights · 30/10/2022 10:18

@Discovereads
I'm not suggesting people should be allowed to leave with a trolley in a fire, it was a response to the poster who was concerned a trolley would block a fire escape. If they become unlocked you could unblock the escape

Our fire exits are located at various points around the store and none of them have the trolley lock. The only doors with the trolley lock are the main entrance doors.

If there was a fire alarm, which are very rare, then security will be at the door anyway with the deactivation device. Anyone approaching the doors with a trolley will be asked to leave it to the side anyway (as you don't get to take it out with you) because anyone with paid for shopping will have been directed to use the fire exit at the checkouts (to get to the main entrance from the checkouts you have to pass two other fire exits) so no issue with trolleys locking.

MrsSkylerWhite · 30/10/2022 11:17

It’s never acceptable to shout at (poorly paid) shop staff.

Dragonskin · 30/10/2022 11:22

However her experience sounds unpleasant and if she was frazzled at the end of a long day at work, having just picked up a tired child from chilcare and done a big shop - spending a lot of money in the store - being upset is reasonable!

I love how people create a whole backstory for the woman based on the OP simply saying this woman with maybe her son were walking out when their trolley locked.

Even if she was frazzled, shouting at the staff is unreasonable

HiveBee · 30/10/2022 11:24

MrsSkylerWhite · 30/10/2022 11:17

It’s never acceptable to shout at (poorly paid) shop staff.

I don’t know there are some scenarios where the shop staff shout before the customers do. Just like nurses they aren’t all bloody Saints.

melj1213 · 30/10/2022 11:27

youkiddingme · 30/10/2022 05:48

Just a small thought - if the trolley locks in such a way that someone pushing it briskly could be hurt then I doubt any amount of signage makes that acceptable. Surely they could be designed to brake gradually rather than abruptly. Not everyone can read. Not everyone can see well enough to read signs that are at a distance.

How would that work considering the system is designed to stop people who are shoplifting, without warning? The way the system works is that as soon as you go through the security gate at the door the wheels lock if the system hasn't been deactivated. There is technically a small "warning" from the sound of the wheel locking but, obviously, if you're not listening or know to listen for it then it doesn't help.

Also, we have massive, bright yellow signs with huge writing on both doors, next to the doors and on our security podium, with pictures to warn of the trolley locking system ... People will still claim that the signs aren't obvious enough, but since working in retail I have encountered far too many people who seem to become unable to read when they walk into a shop.

I literally once had a man complaining that he'd waited at the kiosk when he wanted customer services and then had to wait again and said "There should be a sign to make it clearer which is which" ... I literally turned to the wall behind my desk with the 5ft illuminated green and white sign saying "CUSTOMER SERVICE" and the 5ft illuminated green and white one at the desk next to me saying "CIGARETTES AND LOTTERY KIOSK" and said "You mean like these signs?". His response? "Well I didn't read that!" 🙄

MrsSkylerWhite · 30/10/2022 11:32

HiveBee · Today 11:24
MrsSkylerWhite · Today 11:17
It’s never acceptable to shout at (poorly paid) shop staff.

I don’t know there are some scenarios where the shop staff shout before the customers do. Just like nurses they aren’t all bloody Saints.”

I’m 58. Never been shouted at by shop staff or seen them shout at anyone else 🤷‍♀️

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 30/10/2022 13:27

Dragonskin · 30/10/2022 11:22

However her experience sounds unpleasant and if she was frazzled at the end of a long day at work, having just picked up a tired child from chilcare and done a big shop - spending a lot of money in the store - being upset is reasonable!

I love how people create a whole backstory for the woman based on the OP simply saying this woman with maybe her son were walking out when their trolley locked.

Even if she was frazzled, shouting at the staff is unreasonable

Grin I personally deduced that she was Welsh, big fan of Strictly, works in a bank. Only went into that Asda because she heard they had her toddler's favourite yoghourts. Her partner's name is Jim.

Nocutenamesleft · 30/10/2022 13:32

I had the trolley lock with me once. I swore you could drop the trolley off the other side of the store so that’s where I went

turns out you couldnt and it locked and they’ve got a special key that’s needed to unlock it again. Bloody nightmare!

Nocutenamesleft · 30/10/2022 13:34

melj1213 · 29/10/2022 23:32

The trolley locking system is basically that when you come in through the main doors with the trolley it "activates" the trolley lock which is only "deactivated" when you go through the checkout/exit the self scan area, allowing you to exit the store unimpeded. If you don't go through a checkout then when you go through the main doors the trolley will lock as it hasn't gone through the area needed to deactivate it.

It is a loss prevention system as basically it should only lock the trolley if you're trying to leave the store without going through a payment point. If someone fills up a trolley with items then tries to dash out of the store without paying then the trolley will lock at the door and stop them ... They might grab a few items from the trolley as they make a run for it but the store doesn't lose all of the stock.

Obviously there will be innocent people who are affected occasionally - if an individual trolley lock has malfunctioned and not deactivated; if you go to the cafe after shopping then the trolley lock will reset after a certain amount of time; if you just come in for a browse and you don't buy anything etc - but when those trolleys lock then a simple check that you have a receipt/trolley is empty and the security colleague can unlock it manually with a handheld device.

I paid for all my stuff?!? Yet it still locked. Ours only goes if you try to go out the wrong entrance. Otherwise it works fine if you grabbed tons of food and rushed for the door! Ours doesn’t stop you

I know this because just two days ago someone did that exact thing at Asda!

melj1213 · 30/10/2022 14:34

Nocutenamesleft · 30/10/2022 13:34

I paid for all my stuff?!? Yet it still locked. Ours only goes if you try to go out the wrong entrance. Otherwise it works fine if you grabbed tons of food and rushed for the door! Ours doesn’t stop you

I know this because just two days ago someone did that exact thing at Asda!

Show quote history

Not every system is identical, every system will be set up differently depending on the store layout/requirements eg I know some systems don't activate their trolley locks immediately when you enter the store - it gives you a couple of minutes to go back out, without it locking, in case you realise you've forgotten your purse in the car or are just bringing a trolley in for a heavy item that has already been paid for etc

I'm just giving my experience and explanation of how the system works in general, and then specific examples of how it works in the store I'm employed in, to help people understand how it works.

Ineedsleepandcoffee · 30/10/2022 16:27

Coincidentally I've just been to Asda and saw someone have an empty trolley lock on them as they tried to leave. They were unsurprisingly very confused looking.
I could see it happening to people with young kids/ babies as I've put them in the trolley before if I've gone in just to look for something rather than getting a buggy/ wheelchair out of the car.