I sustained an injury in a supermarket when a trolley’s brakes came full on as I was leaving the store. The store have said that this will happen to trolleys collected from inside the store rather than collected outside. I unexpectedly bought a heavy item and did spot a trolley near the self serve which I used. Apparently there are signs in store to warn customers of this, and on this basis they deny liability for my injury. This store is some distance from where I live but I will check if there are such notices when I am next in the area.
Has anyone here ever noticed such signs or been aware of this?
First I've heard of this. I use high street supermarkets, wholesalers etc., and only 'brakes' I've encountered are the site limits 'pads' that you can't push trolley over to stop you stealing them.
If they really have posted notices in reasonably visible positions, then they have discharged their duty to warn you, and the 'fault' will likely be deemed yours.
This is becoming quite common, if you have not taken the trolley through the checkout then the brakes lock at the shop doorway. It is to combat the increasing number of people who try to walk out of the store with a trolley full of goods that have not been paid for. You cannot really blame the store, the blame lies with the shoplifters who have made this necessary.
Who looks at notices in supermarkets as many of us take no notice of them as most are advertising. Having a notice on a wall is not sufficient. Was there a warning at the exit or a warning on the trolley itself that it cannot be taken out of the store? If not, then the shop is liable.
Quote: Originally posted by iank01 on 06/9/2022
Who looks at notices in supermarkets as many of us take no notice of them as most are advertising. Having a notice on a wall is not sufficient. Was there a warning at the exit or a warning on the trolley itself that it cannot be taken out of the store? If not, then the shop is liable.
The trolley can be taken out of the store, but has to have gone through a checkout. We have large notices on the supermarkets doors. As said it’s to stop the trolley loads of goods going straight out of the door at break neck speed. If you are just strolling out and not been through the relevant points that deactivate the brake then it will lock and sound an alarm. We have had them at our supermarket for quite a while now.
Hope you’re ok now.
I visited store today. There are four signs (one obscured by a display), not sure when they went up but I didn’t see them. That said, I don’t think it would have made any difference.
However, the signs only said
“ We operate anti-theft technology. Beware trolley wheels may lock suddenly at point of exit”
Surely they shouldn’t brake so hard that they cause injury? If I was 85 with osteoporosis my arm would be broken 😠
Clbewi thanks for the comment, I have injury related tennis elbow which is really painful. It’s been over three months and it’s still really painful, especially when I wake up in the morning.
Ive never heard of anti-theft trolleys. All the trolleys at all the supermarkets near us (maybe 6 names) have trolleys in 'bus shelters' outside that you take in. The only 'locking' ive found is in one ASDA, they have a down 'travelator' one of the ways out, and the wheels lock when entering this to basically stop you mowing folk down in front of you.
My advice is; move to an area where theft of trolleys isnt wholesale.
I've never heard of this either. None of the trolley wheels lock at any of the supermarkets near me, and we have dozens of them within a 10 mile radius. There are 5 in the nearest town, about 2 miles away. Maybe it's a new technology that is creeping up on us, they aren't usually very quick to pick up on things around here.
It’s not to stop theft of the trollies, it’s to stop someone going out of the door without paying for goods. (The travellater trollies are totally different)
You’d be surprised how much theft goes on in supermarkets, and I must admit it has dropped a fair amount since we’ve had these trollies.
Quote: Originally posted by clbewi on 11/9/2022
It’s not to stop theft of the trollies, it’s to stop someone going out of the door without paying for goods. (The travellater trollies are totally different)
You’d be surprised how much theft goes on in supermarkets, and I must admit it has dropped a fair amount since we’ve had these trollies.
I have learned that the above is correct. However, having signs that tell shoppers they have an anti theft device really isn’t enough to exclude them to deny liability for an injury sustained 🙁
This type of system was being used by Netto in our locality years ago. It didn't operate within the store but did if you tried to take trolley out of parking area. Simple to adjust to operate at store exit.
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I wonder if this episode is getting out of proportion? yes, one side is the issue of the trolley warning notices, were they noticeable enough etc etc. But the other side is the amount of injury caused by said trolley, an arm wrench in this case. I’ve had one (from country dancing, not a trolley), so I know they can be very sore & debilitating. My injury took several months of private physio to sort, but any one of several friends had caused it, and I wasn’t going to claim my physio fees from a friend.
For financial £££ compensation, all injuries have a cost, hence insurance cover (loss of eye £x, a broken leg is “worth” more than a shin bruise.) I hope the OP has the outcome they’re looking for, proportionate to the injury.
Quote: Originally posted by clbewi on 11/9/2022
It’s not to stop theft of the trollies, it’s to stop someone going out of the door without paying for goods. (The travellater trollies are totally different)
You’d be surprised how much theft goes on in supermarkets, and I must admit it has dropped a fair amount since we’ve had these trollies.
I have learned that the above is correct. However, having signs that tell shoppers they have an anti theft device really isn’t enough to exclude them to deny liability for an injury sustained 🙁
I suspect that warning that a trolley may suddenly jam is fair warning, though.
It's horrible having an injury that restricts your movement etc - hopefully you are getting physio help (I had video appointments with our NHS hospital physio) and that slowly but surely you will improve. It took me about 9 months to recover from a muscle injury caused by slipping on IKEA packaging, but I am OK now.
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Topic: Supermarket trolleys
via mobile 05/9/2022 at 12:30pm
