Walmart’s Cart Change Angers Short Shoppers

Walmart has tweaked its shopping carts, and people don't seem too happy about it.

The new shopping carts are now much taller, with handlebars and child seats roughly 3 and 5 inches higher than they used to be.  This has caused issues for some shorter customers, who have complained of shoulder pain caused by pushing the carts. 

"Dear Walmart, please explain to me how a person who's 5 feet tall or under can push those new high carts you so stupidly acquired?" one customer wrote on a Facebook thread about the shopping cart changes.

The shopping carts also have new features like a cup holder and phone slot. While they may seem like a good idea, one customer pointed out their issue with these new design elements. 

“Sweet. Leave your phone accessible to thieves. Then go check yourself out. Gold star Walmart,” they wrote on Facebook.

The new shopping carts launched in select states last summer, and the retailer has slowly changed its carts in more than 4,600 stores nationwide. 

And this isn't the only thing Walmart has recently faced criticism for. The retailer has also recently come under fire for its new digital pricing system, which could raise prices in its stores.

Following are some of Walmart’s other biggest problems and challenges. Knowing these less apparent downsides to shopping at Walmart can help you make smarter money moves.

Walmart often sells items at the lowest prices you will find anywhere. But “often” is not “always.” Sometimes, you can get a better deal elsewhere.

And even if Walmart does have the lowest price on an item, chances are good that another retailer, such as Target, will match it with a price-match guarantee.

Pro tip: If you like to comparison shop, make sure you’re in the know when it comes to these genius Costco shopping hacks.

As we all learn over time, you typically get what you pay for. If you get a product for a much lower price at Walmart than you would pay elsewhere, you might be accepting the tradeoff of reduced quality.

Because Walmart specializes in low-cost merchandise, they aren’t promising great quality.

Some shoppers complain that Walmart stores are messy, visually confusing, and not always sparkling clean. This makes for a shopping experience that takes too much time and frustrates customers.

Walmart seems to be aware of this problem. In 2021, it began redesigning its stores to enhance navigation.

Walmart’s store brand is called Great Value, and it is sought out by those looking for a low price. However, when comparing Great Value products against name-brand competitors, it’s important to focus on unit sizes and servings.

If you do this, you might find that Great Value doesn’t always save big money compared to name brands. Don’t simply assume that buying the Great Value brand is the wisest way to shop.

Pro tip: If you’re trying to save money on your food spending, consider using one of the best credit cards for groceries to earn cash back or rewards.

In September 2020, Walmart introduced Walmart+, a membership program that gives members discounts on home deliveries and in-store items.

Members of Walmart+ pay a monthly fee of $12.95 or a yearly fee of $98 and get free home deliveries on orders over $35. If you’re a frequent Walmart home-delivery shopper, the program might make sense

However, membership isn’t right for everyone. For example, sign up for a competing service, like Amazon Prime, and you can get free shipping with no minimum. Walmart+ makes the most sense for those committed to doing the vast majority of their shopping at Walmart.

Some Walmart critics say the stores are understaffed. Other critics bemoan the fact that employees are spread out all over the store, making it difficult to find them and ask for help.

Finally, some shoppers charge that Walmart managers are unavailable when customers need help.

Based on numerous surveys and reviews over the years, it’s safe to say that not all Walmart customers are satisfied with their experiences in the store. 

Walmart has been found to rank lower in customer satisfaction than other grocery store chains and big-box retailers.

For decades, Walmart has had the reputation of coming into an area that supports local retail, then selling loss leaders and undercutting local retailers to put them out of business. 

Critics say this has destroyed thriving local economies while pumping more money into Walmart’s headquarters in Arkansas.

This effect is so well-known that when community members find out that Walmart has targeted their area, they sometimes form activist groups to prevent Walmart from coming in to destroy their local economy.

Some people love Walmart for its low prices and huge selection. But other aspects of shopping at Walmart give some folks pause.

There is no question you can save money by shopping at Walmart. But to get the best deal — and to feel good about doing so — make sure you weigh the concerns on this list before heading out to shop so you can keep more money in your bank account.