Following requests and complaints from its customers, retail giant Target is removing its kid-sized shopping carts from its store premises effective immediately. What seemed to be a good idea at that time the carts were introduced just last August drew the opposite effect, as customers complained the carts aren't helpful at all.
Target launched its kid-sized shopping carts to supposedly help make shopping easier for parents who come to the store with their children. Given that Target is geared for family shopping, the carts were supposed to complement the family's needs. Initially, the kid-sized shopping carts were only found in Target's 10 chain stores in the initial test run. It would soon be rolled over in the chain's 72 outlets around America.
Despite the well-intention, the heads of the chain store did not anticipate how the children came up with clever ideas in making use of the kid-sized shopping carts, much to the stress of the parents. Chicago Tribune notes that because Target has such an expansive space, some children actually use the carts to race against each other or bump these into things. It has caused accidents and the kids ended up getting bruises.
KMOV reports that in Minneapolis, mom Laura Rinas, who described Target's kid-sized carts as "vehicle of mass destruction," has campaigned for its removal. She has formed a group called Moms Against Stupid Tiny Carts.
It's not just the parents who believe Target's kid-sized carts have not been helpful, as store clerks also note it's causing a distraction and disruption in between the aisles, thus making their jobs harder. Some children have also been mindlessly putting items they don't really need in their tiny carts, leading parents to deal with kiddie tantrums and meltdowns regarding items they shouldn't buy.
Target has issued a statement on the pull out of the kid-sized carts, citing that its launch in August was only another test. "We briefly tested kiddie carts at 72 Target stores, and after reviewing guest and stores feedback, we have made the decision to stop the test," store officials said in a statement, according to Fortune.
