var json_comments = new Array("
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ReidFleming
May 25, 2009 2:29 PM
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I have had this happen at other stores over the years. BTW, it wasn't like a static shock, more like a low-voltage, continuous shock. Tingly and unpleasant -- like sticking your tongue on a 9-volt battery.

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silver-bolt
May 25, 2009 8:55 PM
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@ReidFleming: You lie good sir. Sticking your tongue on a 9v battery is not unpleasant.

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Easton21
May 26, 2009 7:54 PM
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@silver-bolt: You're exactly right. I do it every morning to whet my appetite before eating yesterday's newspaper.

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krunk4ever
May 25, 2009 11:25 PM
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@silver-bolt: Have to agree with silver-bolt, sticking your tongue on a 9V battery is pure fun!

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courtarro
May 25, 2009 11:38 PM
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@krunk4ever: You guys are lame. The real fun is sticking your tongue on a car battery.

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Easton21
May 26, 2009 7:55 PM
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@courtarro: That's child's play compared to the REAL fun of... wait for it... EATING A CAR.
Too far?

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nonsane
May 26, 2009 2:37 PM
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@courtarro: You must have a long toungue, call me.

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MerryLifeAndaShortOne
May 25, 2009 2:30 PM
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Shocking... blame Walmart!


I get shocked at Costco... a lot. Not only by the prices, but some days, the static discharge is more than other days. I think its just the wheels turning that create static. Its fun to shock people though!

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Saisu Mimen
May 25, 2009 3:53 PM
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@MerryLifeAndaShortOne:

Seems I'm not the only one. This doesn't happen at Target, Fry's etc. Only at friggn' Costco. It's got to be a combination of their waxed concrete floors and their shopping carts.

Then again, some of us are more prone to it than others (different skin types?). During the summer here in Phoenix, even the water from a running faucet will shock me. I bought one of those electrostatic discharger things you attach to your keychain and it helps reduce the shock, though it's mainly useful to prevent the shocks from my car.

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MerryLifeAndaShortOne
May 25, 2009 4:01 PM
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@Saisu Mimen:

Huh... It might be a regional thing. I'm in Phoenix as well! It doesn't happen at the Business Costco on Indian School and 35th ave, but it does happen at the Avondale and N Phoenix (Cave Creek and 101). It may be the carts, though, because I primarily use the flat beds at the Business Costco and the regular shopping carts at the other two.

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el bryanto
May 26, 2009 5:31 PM
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@MerryLifeAndaShortOne: Same thing happened to me this weekend, at Sam's Club then Smart & Final. Could be the weather..? Usually doesn't happen. I'm in Orange County.

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shepd
May 25, 2009 2:30 PM
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Yes, I've had this happen to me with many new shopping carts.

The problem is they're painted. The paint means there's very little metal to touch. The wheels build up static electricity as the cart is moved. Rather than being able to discharge the small amount in them the moment you don't touch the handle the static charge builds until it can overcome the dielectric properties of the paint.

If you find a non-painted part of the cart (or just make one :) you can hold onto it and solve the problem. Of course, you'll build charge instead and will have to remember to often touch other metal items to pass it on (hopefully they're grounded).

This could be alleviated by putting grounding straps on the carts. Some places do this already by welding a chain to the carts that drags on the ground (it might not be for the purpose, but those carts won't shock you because the static will be dissipated anyways).

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econobiker
May 26, 2009 2:32 PM
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@shepd: Also with plastic molded carts- the ones at my local Costco have a short grounding chain on one of the wheel positions...

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pkoutoul
May 25, 2009 2:38 PM
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Yep. Happens to us all the time. I have only noticed it at Walmart.

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Spin359
May 25, 2009 3:28 PM
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the new carts at the wal mart grocery in el paso shocks the crap out of everyone, its a newer store and every cart shocks people.

@pkoutoul:

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paulrules
May 25, 2009 2:38 PM
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It's the sign of the apocalypse! Next, our beds will shock us!

*Puts on tinfoil hat*

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2 replies
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vastrightwing
May 26, 2009 3:14 PM
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@paulrules: Probably a HAARP like device in the store directing mega jules of energy in an attempt to stop thefts by discharing a huge electrical shock to would be theives. Or possibly the CIA fooling around.

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
May 25, 2009 4:24 PM
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@paulrules: are you sure a metal hat is best anti-shock solution?

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Anonymous
May 25, 2009 2:43 PM
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This was a major issue when the new Wal-Mart in Mexico MO opened. They finally corrected the issue by putting a small ground strap on the front center of each cart that constantly drags the floor, discharging the static buildup. It was a combination of painted carts that don't allow discharge to dissipate easily, along with a floor coating that seems to create a larger than normal amount of static buildup. Our local Wal-Mart just finished a remodel, but I have yet to see the same problem. There is some variable that is different between the two stores, but I don't know what it is.

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The Reviewer
May 25, 2009 2:44 PM
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For me it's Costco, all the time, I have to wrap my hands in something like a cloth to push the damn cart, its horrible. I never shop at walmart. The last time I went to Costco it seemed to either not happen or happen less, I do not know what they changed.

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econobiker
May 26, 2009 2:33 PM
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@The Reviewer: Look for the grounding chain on one of the rear wheels...

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Kurt Binnie
May 25, 2009 2:46 PM
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I used to get this at Sam's Club. It felt as if the cart was pricking my finger, then I realized it was shocks.

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MostlyHarmless
May 25, 2009 2:48 PM
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I get shocked at Target all the time. Sometimes by their \"special offers\", but mostly thanks to static.

And reading the description from the OP... i was expecting a full blown sexploration scene any minute... \"I began to touch different parts of the cart while pushing it to see if there was something to this...\"

My mind is irrevocably dirtied I guess.

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PLATTWORX
May 25, 2009 2:48 PM
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I know I should be quiet, but why are you all shopping Wal-Mart?? Are you still not aware of the hundreds of businesses it forces out when one opens? The low wages they pay and poor benefits? COME ON, go to another store and be able to sleep at night.

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nakedscience
May 26, 2009 1:41 PM
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@PLATTWORX: i clicked on the post wondering (really), \"i wonder how long 'til the anti-walmart fucktard comes out?\" and look! there's a fucktard.

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tiatrack
May 26, 2009 7:09 PM
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Regardless of where you stand on the Wal-Mart argument, I think everyone should watch the documentart WALMART: The High Cost of Low Price. It is very eye-opening.

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crunchberries
May 26, 2009 2:54 AM
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@PLATTWORX: Your opinions are pretty much worthless to me in general, but your lack of impulse control and ability to shit-stir in the most minor of posts are what keep me reading. Good show.

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MooseOfReason
May 26, 2009 1:59 AM
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@PLATTWORX: Forces business out?

Doesn't Wal-Mart have the right to sell their property?

Do mom&pop shops pay more than a retail store? Benefits?

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katieoh
May 25, 2009 10:28 PM
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@PLATTWORX: meh, i choose to avoid them due to their rampant sexism and the fact that i have never been to a clean store of theirs... always dirty. my mom likes to shop there because the \"prices are cheaper\" but target is a max of 3 cents more expensive, and we can walk their, as opposed to the 20 minute drive to walmart.

i hate walmart. the end. blerg.

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thelushie
May 25, 2009 4:48 PM
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@PLATTWORX: Ever heard the phrase \"If it goes without saying, don't say it\". Well, if you ever have to say something along the lines of \"Maybe I should be quiet about this\" or \"I know I should not be saying this\", you should take your own advise.

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
May 25, 2009 4:30 PM
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@PLATTWORX: if my toilet breaks at 4pm, i'll go buy the repair parts from ace hardware. if it breaks at 4am i'll buy them from walmart. because ace isn't open and i'm not waiting until the next day to deal with a leaky toilet. i shop where and when it's convenient for me. i love smaller businesses and shop them when i can, but sometimes they don't have the hours or selection that meets my needs.

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tbax929
May 25, 2009 4:12 PM
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@PLATTWORX:


I sleep very well at night. In fact, I sleep better at night because I bought the most comfortable bed I've ever owned with the money I save by shopping at Walmart. You can pay for overpriced goods if that's what it takes to make you happy. Personally, I'd rather have more money in the bank.

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AppleAlex
May 25, 2009 3:55 PM
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@PLATTWORX: I'm not sure if that's true or not but we're getting a WalMart in about 2 years so I'll let you know

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bohemian
May 25, 2009 3:17 PM
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@PLATTWORX: Walmart initially caused an impact on local stores. It really hurt the grocery stores the worst. Over the years it seems to have evened out a bit. The local Walmarts are the domain of white trash and immigrants, everyone else shops somewhere else. So everyone else seems to be creating enough sales to keep smaller and local stores open. Bonus, I don't have to listen to the 6 screaming kids of some land manatee.

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gc3160thtuk
May 26, 2009 9:14 AM
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@bohemian: @bohemian: and what is wrong with immigrants? I'm glad they shop at my Wal~Mart since they spend money. Now, I know what is wrong with white trash but as long as they are spending money at my Wal~Mart then I can tend to overlook much of their white-trashy annoying behaviors. As for local grocery stores, there are several here, all on the same street within a 8 mile radius as my Wal~Mart, including 2 Ingles' grocery stores and a Bi-Lo, and they all do just fine regardless of Wal~Mart being there. In fact, having 2 Ingles' in that small amount of distance shows that competition thrives around Wal~Mart. As for Bi-Lo, they just plain suck, and I try to never go there. I can price match at Wal~Mart the very few good deals they have and I can actually save money without having to do their buy one get one free specials that force you to buy two of an item to get the discount. Wal~Mart will price match bogo by cutting the item price in half and not make you buy more than you want. My co-workers and I also think it's funny when Bi-Lo has bogo specials on something like Oreo cookies and the price of the cookies is like 4.00 a pack so you are actually paying 2.00 for each pack which is Wal~Mart's regular price on Oreo cookies. We all say Oreo's don't cost 4.00 a pack so what kind of deal is that to jack up the prices to give you one free. Anyways I'm glad to work and shop at Wal~Mart, the place is so much better than the other options such as Target and unemployment!

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shepd
May 25, 2009 3:39 PM
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@bohemian:

@11:04 AM:

There's also an entire episode of PTBS that explains the WalMart hate phenomenon and exposes the horrid racism that backs it.

...

@11:13 AM:

I guess a lot of people here don't really think of those living in poverty when posting from an upper middle class POV, but don't assume that everyone has the privilege of having different options. A lot of people just shop where they can, and for a lot of people, that store is Walmart.

@11:17 AM:

The local Walmarts are the domain of white trash and immigrants, everyone else shops somewhere else.

I can has FTW now?

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MerryLifeAndaShortOne
May 25, 2009 3:30 PM
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@bohemian:
Good for you! How many more stereotypes can you fit into 1 post?


I'm asian, make good money, not fit but not sporting the cankle look yet, and I shop at the local Walmart. Prices are cheaper! Yes, for somethings, I will go to local shops for. When I used to live up in Washington, I would try and get special occassion steaks and roasts from Green Valley meats. I probably wont be buying a 5 piece dining room set from them, but I did buy my patio furniture from Walmart.


The Walmart near me has exceptional service. The cashiers are friendly and there are people around who are willing to help me. The lines aren't too long; the self checkout is easy to use. For most needs, they are there. Plus, they are open 24 hours a day, which fits my weird schedules.


Walmart bashing is in. Its hip, but ultimately, Walmart is here to stay. Don't push your religious beliefs on me! Let ME push MY socio-economical/political beliefs on YOU!

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bohemian
May 25, 2009 6:22 PM
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@MerryLifeAndaShortOne: If it makes you feel better, I loathe Soccer Moms too.

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bohemian
May 25, 2009 5:36 PM
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@MerryLifeAndaShortOne: Here's some nails, your cross is over there.

I also hate going to the DVM. It is a negative experience for slightly different reasons than Walmart. The DVM is boring, hot, tedious and generally unpleasant in every way. Walmart is noisy, over lit, carries quite a bit of sub standard merchandise. Our local ones are always filthy, not a bit dirty filthy but call the health department filthy. If I have an option of shopping somewhere that is fairly quiet, has far fewer people and is sans hoards of screaming kids and kids running the aisles with wheelies on guess what one I am going to pick? People tend to avoid negative experiences. Since Walmart has nothing that is enough of a reward to over ride the hell hole it is I don't shop there it is an over all negative experience. Why subject myself to that for zero reason? The facts that Walmart is crappy to both employees and vendors just adds to that, and they are. But yea, go ahead and fling some accusations at me if it makes you feel better about yourself.
BTW, I avoid the Target in downtown Mpls for the same reason, it is a crappy hell hole.

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MerryLifeAndaShortOne
May 25, 2009 7:00 PM
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@bohemian:

Whats the DVM? My nails? Pot, I'm kettle, its nice to meet you.

So basically, your negative experience translates to all the Walmarts? I've been to Walmarts in wealthy neighborhoods and poorer neighborhoods. Obviously, there is a difference between the two. But, the fact that their prices are amazing doesn't stop either from being popular.

Yes, there are shoddy items. I don't buy them.

I'm not sure what accusations I flung at you, other than saying that your stereotyping is pretty out of line. I'm not a redneck, i'm not very overweight, I'm single, no children, I make good enough money to live in a good neighborhood, and I like to save money by shopping at Walmart!

So basically, our experiences have differed. I'm not accusing you of being wrong for not liking your Walmart. No, I am accusing you of your accusations that people who shop are Walmart are lower class, that your experience mirrors ALL the experiences at ALL Walmarts, and that your ideas of how the world should be run needs to be pushed on others while our ideas are not to be heard. J'accuse, j'accuse, j'accuse.

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bohemian
May 25, 2009 10:34 PM
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@MerryLifeAndaShortOne: I said OUR LOCAL WALMARTS. Maybe where you live your stores are clean and full of sunshine, rainbows and unicorns. The ones here certainly are not. Your pretty invested in that persecution complex of yours if my distaste for noisy, poorly run stores of crappy merchandise becomes some sort of personal affront. You like Walmart shop there free country. I am not obligated to do so to make you feel better.

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thelushie
May 25, 2009 4:42 PM
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@MerryLifeAndaShortOne: I have my own theory about those who shoot off their mouths about how shopppers at Walmart, Target, Circuit City, *insert current chain store whipping boy here*, are fat, poor, *insert en vogue stereotype here*. These are people who are trying to \"act rich\" (or at least semi middle class). They are the ones waiting on their welfare checks and use the public library computers. OR They are nuevo riche which is the same as new rich white trash. They didn't grow up with money, so they want to do what they think the rich do...shop at Nordstroms, hate on the \"little poor people\" at Walmart, drive to their environmental protest in their SUVs,etc.


Individuals who grew up with money and now have it themselves know one thing: How to keep that money. And part of it is not spending it irresponsibly.


(Oh, and Walmart does have some pretty nice patio furniture.)

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rpm773
May 25, 2009 3:23 PM
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@bohemian: The rather abrasive language aside*, that's a good point. Could the set of people typically deriding Walmart and its shoppers while simultaneously saying Walmart is evil and must go away handle a retail environment where Walmart suddenly disappeared?

* I did get a chuckle out of \"land manatee\", though.

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bohemian
May 25, 2009 5:49 PM
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@rpm773: If Walmart went away there would be a major lack of retail even though there is quite a bit of variety. Stores would be more packed than they already are. Our metro has an underbuilt level of retail compared to the number of people living here. It in general makes shopping suck rocks.
Many people never think the Walmart sucks meme any further than the damage they do to jobs and such. They have wormed their way into communities far too deep to just up and go away without something to replace the retail need. There are many urban, even some more rural areas that have a lack of grocery stores nearby. In a perfect world every neighborhood would have a decent grocery store that sold a good variety of healthy products without inflating the price.
Nobody ever talks about the flaws in Walmart's supposed value. Most consumables are not really cheaper, many have sub standard ingredients or slightly smaller boxes than the same one sold in another store. Betty Crocker had at one point sold smaller boxes of instant potato products at Walmart than in other stores. It cost less, you got less, you didn't really save any money. With non-consumables there is the lack of longevity in crappy products. If you buy widget A and it is made from cheap plastic and with a life span of 3 months, your buying another widget A. This both adds up over time and erodes people's spending power and financial health. So really Walmart is screwing consumers too.

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WorldHarmony
May 25, 2009 4:04 PM
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@rpm773: The topic of WalMart seems to bring out all kinds of fears, stereotypes and prejudices! People who like to think they are too good for WalMart (because their money and body size allows them to patronize higher-end stores) fear association with the types of people who can't afford their expensive stores. Horrors.

Personally, I'm sad when the big box stores cause smaller stores to close up, and make no mistake, they do. As a consequence, many cities across the country now look exactly the same with their Starbucks, Best Buys, McDonalds, Borders and WalMarts. The loss of local flavor is one of the saddest cultural consequences of these huge retailers. The nasty elitist insults are another.

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Ashley Albin
May 25, 2009 3:13 PM
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@PLATTWORX: Are you kidding me? What about people who can't *afford* to go anywhere else? What about people who don't have a car and can't *get* anywhere else? I guess a lot of people here don't really think of those living in poverty when posting from an upper middle class POV, but don't assume that everyone has the privilege of having different options. A lot of people just shop where they can, and for a lot of people, that store is Walmart.

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Outrun1986
May 25, 2009 3:09 PM
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@PLATTWORX: We have the same effect here, Walmart didn't kill off any stores here, in fact since the Super Walmart is being built a whole new plaza has sprung up bringing more jobs and more opportunities to our dying city and more competition to the area which means lower prices for consumers. Walmart has been in our area for 15 years or more (they are simply building a new store to replace the old) but really, I haven't seen any stores close as a direct result of Walmart coming to our town. Most of the stores that closed here were closed across the whole US like Media Play or were a result of company restructuring as a whole. We have plenty of local shops and they are all still there as well.

If Walmart wasn't here in this area we would all be drinking overpriced, expired 4$ gallons of milk from Kmart (shudder)!

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thelushie
May 25, 2009 4:45 PM
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@Outrun1986: I don't know where you are from, but in alot of the small towns around where I am, the same phenomena has happened. Walmart moves in and where there was nothing, a shopping area has sprung up. In fact, across the border in Kentucky, a shopping mall has come back to life, new eateries are moving in and construction in that area is plentiful. All because one very nice Walmart moved into the area.

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shepd
May 25, 2009 2:57 PM
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@PLATTWORX:

How can I be aware of what doesn't exist?

WalMart doesn't push out local stores (There's just as many as before WalMart existed in my city, in fact, after WalMart appeared, more new stores moved in closer to them), WalMart pays average wages, and WalMart gives above average benefits. I have never yet met an unhappy WalMart worker, and I've been there at 3 am chatting with the employees--they could have easily confided displeasure with their job in me rather than literally tearing about the store for 15 minutes to help me find things (Something Zeller's employees have never done for me).

WalMart is also plagued by people trying to force them into unacceptable locations. This has happened to all the WalMarts around here except the one in my city. The reasons are always absolutely pathetic (From \"A WalMart makes the view we have from our church retreat ugly (put in a Zeller's instead).\" to \"WalMart will cause more traffic on the 4 lane street. Put it at the city limits where there's only a two lane road instead.\")

That's always been what I have found out when I investigated anything to do with WalMart. I also know that while I shop at WalMart for many items, the only business they are taking away is business other places deserve to lose: Other retailers not only don't provide such good service, but they charge for grocery bags now, in addition to the other stores being a pain in the ass about allowing local sports teams to make money via BBQ sales at the door (WalMart has these all the time). Clearly I'm going to shop where my business is appreciated and where my community is supported.

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WorldHarmony
May 25, 2009 3:34 PM
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@shepd: \"I also know that while I shop at WalMart for many items, the only business they are taking away is business other places deserve to lose.\"

What does this mean? What types of places \"deserve to lose\" business? What types of businesses \"deserve\" to be lost?

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thelushie
May 25, 2009 4:34 PM
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@WorldHarmony: The locally owned hardware store that doesn't stay open past 5, treats women very poorly (I know this from personal experience) and doesn't have any brand variety and has no means of ordering anything. The pizza place that when asked to speak to the manager you are told that she may or may not be in tomorrow, they really don't know, she is the daughter of the owner, blah blah blah. Tbey are also clueless about child labor laws and got into a funk when they were reported. The other nonchain resturant in town that closes for home football games. I told a couple of the football players about this and they all laughed. I could go on and on. Places that lack basic technology, have extremely high prices, stores that are basically run by snobs or the woman with the rich husband who gave her a business because she thinks it will \"be fun\", places that expect you to run on their schedule, etc. etc. etc.

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I Love New Jersey
May 25, 2009 3:01 PM
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@shepd: I tale it Walmart is paying you good money to perpetuate the lie.

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jameleon
May 25, 2009 9:40 PM
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@I Love New Jersey:

Shepd is in Canada. Walmart Canada is often ranked among various independent sources as one of the best employers in the country, particularly considering the industry it is in. I'm sure there are still many issues across the country with various Walmarts, but it's not as bad as American Wal-Marts are considered.

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shepd
May 25, 2009 3:04 PM
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@I Love New Jersey:

No, WalMart is the best thing that happened here. Because of WalMart other retailers were forced to actually compete. Because of WalMart and it's 24-hour shopping other retailers are now open past 8 pm on weekdays and 6 pm of weekends. You are welcome to keep believing the groupthink that WalMart ruins communities, but it's just a pack of lies.

Me, I'll stick to facts rather than BS. Would you like me to link you to some? I can dig them up for you if you'd like. There's also an entire episode of PTBS that explains the WalMart hate phenomenon and exposes the horrid racism that backs it.

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pragakhan
May 25, 2009 2:54 PM
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What are the new carts made out of? Someone should take a picture. Maybe they are using a new type of plastic wheel and plastic bearings and there is a lack of grounding?

Or is this happening somewhere down south where it is very dry?

Very little information here as always..

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Skaperen
May 25, 2009 4:49 PM
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@pragakhan: It's a combination of the wheel and the floor. If the carts were bare metal instead of painted, the charge would dissipate slowly while pushed. Instead, it builds up a voltage until enough to get through the paint and that much will periodically zap the pusher.

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KixStar
May 25, 2009 2:57 PM
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Could it be that they're the kinds of carts that lock if you go to far in the parking lot? Maybe the mechanism that locks them is malfunctioning? Who knows. That's weird though.

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Saltillopunk
May 25, 2009 2:59 PM
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This has happened to me at a Walmart located in Chesterfield, Mi. It would get so bad, my wife would take over pushing the cart. For some reason, she didn't get the shocks as much. One thing I noticed was that it only happened in the grocery section. I never got zapped when pushing the cart in other areas of the store.

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temporaryerror
May 25, 2009 3:02 PM
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They kind of hurt when you are using the ones with the thicker plastic handle and the electricity builds up enough to jump through the plastic. (BTW, how is this possible? It happens, but I've always thought that plastic, esp thicker plastic is a pretty good insulator)

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Skaperen
May 25, 2009 4:52 PM
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@temporaryerror: Electricity can get through anything. It just requires enough voltage. For plastic, it requires more voltage because it is an \"insulator\". When it finally accumulates that much voltage, it's a more significant zap.

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eelmonger
May 25, 2009 4:48 PM
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@temporaryerror: Yes, it's a very good insulator, but that's the point... [en.wikipedia.org]

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gauden44
May 25, 2009 4:22 PM
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@temporaryerror: Plastic is a good insulator, which makes it good at \"collecting\" static electricity.

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AppleAlex
May 25, 2009 3:57 PM
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@temporaryerror: wouldn't rubber be a better insulator?

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Swizzler121
May 25, 2009 3:12 PM
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I'm more worried about what they did with the old carts. tons of metal just...gone! did they recycle it or just trash it (shopping carts are VERY recyclable, but you don't make much money on it.)

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SexualElf
May 25, 2009 3:18 PM
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I wonder if this has anything to do with the new anti-theft locking carts? You know, the ones you can't push out of the parking lot. What mechanism are they using to lock the wheels? I would expect *something* mechanical/electric has something to do with it.

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shepd
May 25, 2009 4:42 PM
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@CarltonLibo:

Well, the fun way to learn is to start locking them!

The man who invented this type of cart was one of the first to publish such hacks because he had his patent basically stolen from him. Most of the carts use a VLF signal at about 8 kHz. The wheels (generally the front ones) have a 9 volt battery in them, a coil as an antenna to receive the signal, some electronics, and a brake. Once they receive the signal, the brake locks. Once they receive the unlock signal, the brake unlocks.

Wire is buried around the premesis to emit this signal and lock the carts. On the cart escalators, the wheels are sent the locking signal at the bottom of the escalator, and the unlocking signal at the top (this is the easiest way to receive the signals without having to use the internet).

It is easier to find the lock signal than the unlock signal. :)

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spamhead
May 25, 2009 3:18 PM
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I can't vouch for Walmart, as I don't shop there, but my local supermarket does this to me all the time. The worst part is that I like to listen to my iPod as I shop, and the shock goes up the headphone cord and through the earbuds right into my ear. Forget waterboarding, this could be our new 'enhanced interrogation technique'.

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gauden44
May 25, 2009 4:24 PM
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@spamhead: You listen to your iPod while you shop? That's kinda weird lol.

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cuiusquemodi
May 26, 2009 2:05 PM
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@gauden44: Yes, because the most scintillating conversations take place at the grocery store.

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thelushie
May 25, 2009 7:08 PM
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@gauden44: It beats having to listen to the unruly childen of parents who care more about polking at the fish.

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SarcasticDwarf
May 25, 2009 3:22 PM
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I for one am THRILLED to know it is not just me!

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WorldHarmony
May 25, 2009 3:28 PM
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This phenomenon has nothing to do with WalMart per se; it has to do with shopping carts and static electricity. I've experienced it quite a bit in many different stores in Las Vegas due to low humidity. Not only do the carts shock you, but the refrigerator doors and other metal objects in the store do as well.

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Skaperen
May 25, 2009 4:54 PM
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@WorldHarmony: The new materials used to make the floors matter, too. The carts don't shock me while going out to the car. They just do it while in the store on that composite floor.

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rte148
May 25, 2009 3:29 PM
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YES! Farmville Virginia. Yet another reason not to shop at WalMarx

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ballookey
May 25, 2009 3:36 PM
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This happens with the carts at our local Whole Foods. I thought it was because it's a two story store and the cart goes on a special lift to ride to the second floor with you and that somehow the carts were building up charge on the lift.

I knew that didn't make much sense because the carts *constantly* shock you, but that's the only store in Southern California where I've had this happen, and the two story thing was the thing that jumped out as being different.

Sounds like it's something else, though. They're metal carts, no anti-theft system. I'm pretty sure they're painted but can't remember specifically. If the grounding strap thing would work, I wonder if I could fashion my own grounding strap to bring with me and hook on to the cart while I shop?

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Skaperen
May 25, 2009 4:59 PM
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@ballookey: A grounding strap to the floor will not help. That's because the floor is insulated. It's picks up the charge from rolling over the floor because of the repeated compression and uncompression in the contact between the wheels and floor. What is needed is for the floors to be more conductive.

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shepd
May 25, 2009 5:10 PM
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@Skaperen:

The floors can't be all that well insulated, or you wouldn't receive a shock from live AC... You'd just need a large enough grounding strap.

Although, as I've experienced, the carts with chains welded to them do pretty good.

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SnozberryLicker_GitEmSteveDave
May 25, 2009 3:36 PM
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Target has had little grounding straps on the bottom of their carts for years now. Yet another reason why Target is a little better than Spawl-Mart

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Anonymous
May 25, 2009 3:36 PM
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Yes, this is very common. Most grocery stores will \"ground\" their carts by attaching a small piece of wire or pipe cleaner to the lower part of the cart, between the back wheels. Sounds like this should be a standard in the cart-making industry.

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IfThenElvis
May 25, 2009 3:48 PM
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Any photos of these carts?

Many stores near me have grounding straps on the carts.

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Derek Balling
May 25, 2009 4:04 PM
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Here's a better explanation... which jives with the symptoms (it \"Always\" happens)... if it's \"always\" happening, it isn't static buildup. That's an instantaneous release and - absent some other outside force - won't happen again immediately.

Lots of grocery stores these days use \"intelligent\" shopping carts - ones which know when they've reached the edge of the parking lot via sensors, and will lock the wheels up if you attempt to wheel them away (as, say, a homeless person or a can-collector might do). Grocery stores lose tons of carts each year to these situations, and have developed a cart to foil the thieves.

Now, ponder what would happen if there were a short in the wiring for those sensors? Low-voltage shocks throughout the metal frame of the cart, maybe? With some people being more sensitive to the electricity than others, the complaints would be sporadic... I mean we're only talking 9-12V DC here, probably. As someone else said, the amount of electricity in a battery you'd touch to your tongue...

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lockdog
May 25, 2009 5:52 PM
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@Derek Balling: Years ago I worked at a theme park where part of my job involved changing sometimes dozens of 9 volt rechargeable batteries in wireless microphones during the course of the day. Its a little complicated to explain why knowing the voltage on the batteries was useful, but I often ended up \"taste-testing\" all of those batteries and then comparing them to a reading on a meter. I got good enough to be able to tell you the voltage on the battery to about plus or minus .2 volts. Makes a great parlor/bar trick, although I'm a little rusty these days.

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shepd
May 25, 2009 5:08 PM
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@Derek Balling:

I'm not disagreeing with you, but since the entire frame of the cart is welded together and therefore can be considered one giant wire, you would need a short to the frame along with someone touching the side of the battery not on the frame.

Anything else (ie: Either pole touching the cart and you not touching the other side of the battery, or the battery shorting out on the cart) would result in either no circuit at all or all the current flowing through the shortest/most conductive path (up to the closest piece of metal completing the circuit, ie: via the metal that holds the wheel in place).

Now, if somehow the carts are made so, say, one side of the cart cannot conduct to the other side, you're golden.

The only methods of shocking people through the carts I can think of would involve static electricity (likely), induction (not likely, but wouldn't require modifications to the cart), or the carts being connected like bumper cars (LOL). :)

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Anonymous
May 25, 2009 4:23 PM
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Happens to me all the time at Wal-Mart in multiple locations. The shocks are pretty strong, even through gloves! I thought it was just me, but good to know I'm not the only one...I haven't had it happen elsewhere.

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Julius Seizure
May 25, 2009 4:34 PM
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Our favourite grocery store had a complete and seemingly endless renovation a few years ago - new walls, new shelves, new floors and a completely new set of shopping carts.

For the next 6 months, if you pushed the carts with your hands resting on the metal part (instead of the rubber handle) you got a series of mini-shocks every few feet. I'd assumed it was a variant of the \"new dress shoes on a shag carpet\" method of annoying your kid brother.

Then, winter arrived. The shiny new carts got crapped on by the weather and dirty boots walked on the nice new floors and the shocks went away. Canadian winter - it destroys more than just your soul.

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shepd
May 25, 2009 5:02 PM
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@Julius Seizure. Jim to my Peeps:

Saltwater is a conductor of electricity.

Wet salty floor + (soon to be) wet salty cart = dissipation of static electricity.

Even after drying, the salt with the moisture in the air will still help conduct the static electricity. This is a good thing.

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res1i3js
May 25, 2009 4:39 PM
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Is this something you can sue over?

All the chairs at where I work shock us, and they can really hurt and you can even see the electricity between the contacts some times, the chairs that they replaced for these would never shock us.

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Chris Cade
May 25, 2009 4:54 PM
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Happens everywhere they have those new plastic carts.

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egoods
May 25, 2009 5:21 PM
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As other commenters have said. Simple solution to this problem, don't shop at Wal-Mart. I'm proud to say I've NEVER been in a wally world.

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IfThenElvis
May 25, 2009 5:36 PM
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@egoods: If you've tried it how do you know you don't like it?

Funny thing: I know many peope who 'experimented' with drugs in college but no one who 'experimented' with homosexuality.

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IfThenElvis
May 25, 2009 5:37 PM
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@IfThenElvis:
@egoods: Doh! That would be: If you've *never* tried it how do you know you don't like it?

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wsycng
May 25, 2009 5:33 PM
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This is not happening exclusively at Walmart...I've experienced it at Costco and a bunch of other grocery stores (e.g. HyVee and Checkers in KS).

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lockdog
May 25, 2009 5:59 PM
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I wonder if the floors have something to do with this. I notice that a lot of new big box stores are getting away from the old linoleum/vct tiles and going towards fancy polished concretes and hardwood look-alike sheet vinyl. The paint on the cart thing doesn't quite do it for me, since even the old metal carts were heavily lacquered (at least when new) and the lacquer and paint would act similarly. Another possibility would be a new material used in the casters. Haven't seen any of these fancy pants shopping carts, but they opened a giant new Kroger (more like a wal-mart in size and stock), I'll have to see if the have them.

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ChChChacos
May 25, 2009 6:04 PM
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I used to work at a Target in St.Petersburg, FL... when they updated the store and purchased new shopping carts with a thicker plastic over the metal cart I had the same thing happen. Pretty much got shocked every time. I haven't been in a Walmart recently to confirm this same thing happening there though.

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sven.kirk
May 25, 2009 6:25 PM
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I haven't seen the new carts. This article/write-up is very vague. No pics of new cart.

From what I am guessing is that it is all/mostly plastic, which builds up a lot potential static energy. A simple chain touching the ground will prevent all of this.

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gbgirl
May 25, 2009 6:54 PM
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I was so excited to see this story! I thought that I was the only one to experience this phenomenon at our Walmart. Some of the shocks I've received have left my arm numb up to my elbow.

Another curious thing I've noticed about Walmart carts: It is impossible to find a cart that is not broken. Every single one is missing either the plastic child seat, the belt, the plastic handle, or some combination of the three. Across the street, there is a Target that has been open twice as long, and I've found nary a busted cart there.

So, Walmart shopping carts = crap.

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morlo
May 25, 2009 7:10 PM
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I usually get shocked when touching the shelves in my supermarket.

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aerick79
May 25, 2009 7:18 PM
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Slow news day?

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Anonymous
May 25, 2009 7:56 PM
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Yes, the shocking shopping cart were happening at my new local Wal-Mart as well. It is caused by the wheels generating a static charge like a Van De Graff generator. My local Wal-Mart solved the problem by welding metal plates on the bottom of each cart with a length of metal cable scraping the ground to bleed off the charge.

-Matt

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Anonymous
May 25, 2009 8:06 PM
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It may not be the carts. Some stores use a wax on the floor that is cheap, it can cause static build up, particularly when it is new and the surface is shiny. A good quality wax has metal interlaced solids in it that will dissipate a static charge.

The reason for the near continuous \"mild shock\" feeling is the whole surface of the floor can build up a mild charge and field.

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AcidReign
May 25, 2009 8:27 PM
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    I wish our local Wally would get new carts! I don't mind electricity, I think it's kind of fun! What we get is carts that don't roll well, with the little wobbly wheel. Often, you have to pick between a cart that will roll, with a nasty used Kleenex in it, and a clean, bent one.

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MetalNet
May 25, 2009 8:27 PM
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I don't think this is anything new overall, but I suppose it may be new to a particular location. I previously worked for a Wal-Mart in Jacksonville, NC over 5 years ago, and this happened there all the time!! Sometimes it would feel like a static \"pop\" and others it was like touching a 9V battery to your tongue, except the flow was going through my hands...not my tongue. I'm glad to hear its irritating to more people than just me though!!

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Felix the Cat
May 25, 2009 8:53 PM
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I was in Wally World a couple of months ago, just minding my own business, and some lady was killed by their 'falling prices'!


OK, I made that up, me bad. It was either read this site or cut the grass.


[targetfiling.blogspot.com]

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MinervaAutolycus
May 25, 2009 9:09 PM
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I noticed the shocking-car phenomenon right after my Walmart became a Super Wamart and remodeled. The floors are concrete -- maybe with a coating, I can't tell. The carts are the same ones they had before -- plastic carts with a metal frame. I started getting shocks just walking down the aisles with a cart, and getting shocks from the freezer cases. I don't notice it so much anymore, so maybe all the traffic along the aisles in the past couple of years has insulated the floor. As for all the Walmart hate, I shop there instead of Kroger, Albertsons or Safeway. They're all big corporations, but stuff costs almost 1/3 less at Walmart. My family's money goes farther.

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Major-General
May 25, 2009 10:10 PM
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@PLATTWORX: You're right. Shop at Target, which treats it's employees exactly the same.

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Major-General
May 25, 2009 10:11 PM
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@Major-General: For clarification, exactly the same as Wal-Mart.

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Anonymous
May 25, 2009 10:15 PM
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There are two Walmarts in SW Tucson near my last home. Whenever I would push the cart and touch like a doors on the frozen food section, I would get a strong shock. The carts don't shock me, but everything else I touch does. The carts could be generating static electricity, then igniting when you touch something metal. I don't have this problem at the Lake Havasu Walmart, where I just moved.

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medfordite
May 25, 2009 10:37 PM
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I was getting shocked a lot yesterday while pushing mine around at the local Wal-Mart here. I made a comment to the cashier and she politely acknowledged it. I figured it was just me, but now quite surprised it wasn't.

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krunk4ever
May 25, 2009 11:27 PM
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Were there plastic handles for you to push on? I know shopping carts range from all plastic to all metal, with most using a hybrid of metal frame and having plastic wrapping around areas where customers would usually touch (assuming to avoid this static electricity shocks).

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James Rhodes
May 25, 2009 11:34 PM
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Yes - this just happened to me and my wife about a week ago. I didn't get shocked when only I was touching it, but she was pushing one side and I had my hand on the other side of the cart and when we were both doing that, we both got multiple shocks.

I think they should have done more 'real-world' tests with these new carts before ordering the umpteen million they probably just put into service.

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Angie Lloyd Cloutier
May 26, 2009 3:06 AM
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YES! but it was sams club! i got the sh*t shocked out of me! its a brand new sams club in our area and my husband kept laughing at me because the cart was shocking me, then i would touch something to dicharge it and get shocked again!

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Soo Gee
May 26, 2009 3:21 AM
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This sounds to me like a great untapped source of alternate energy! Maybe they could mount little batteries to the carts & turn them into automatic price scanners, so they didn't have to keep sending someone off to do a price check.

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Steele
May 26, 2009 10:57 AM
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I have to agree with WorldHarmony on the comment about the Las Vegas Walmarts. There is one small difference however. I don't get shocked by the carts (especially since most of the carts are in the parking spaces, and not in the store), I get shocked by every food case that I touch. I get milk, I get shocked. I get something from the frozen section, I get shocked. I open another door in the frozen section, I get shocked. I get something from the meat department, I get shocked. Even my other half walking with me down an aisle will touch me just to shock me.

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scoosdad
May 26, 2009 12:27 PM
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I noticed it for the first time yesterday afternoon in my local Shaw's supermarket in Massachusetts. There was a wheel sort of partially dragging on the floor and I figured it was some sort of static electricity buildup due to the drag.

For the record, it was one of the carts that they've had in the store forever, nothing new or unique about it.

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rawsteak
May 26, 2009 1:38 PM
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you would think the shocking would stop people from buying stuff, but noooooooooooooo people keep using huge shopping carts and buying stuff...

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econobiker
May 26, 2009 2:43 PM
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Look for a lack of grounding chain or strap on the carts that shock you or maybe something is caught up in the chain/strap keeping those from touching the floor. As I mentioned in one response the local Costco has plastic molded carts and one of the fixed (non-turning)rear wheels has a ground chain attached to it. My 6 year old son was playing with it the last time I was loading my car up so I explained to him and his brother the reason...


More static electricy fun in daily life:


All of you toll road commuters should look at the grounding wire at the manned toll booth. (I know- most toll road commuter warriors use electronic RFID linked payment systems now- EZEPass, et al but humor me for this point.) This wire sticks out from the booth to lightly rub the vehicle so that the booth operator does not get shocked by the static electricity. I don't know if this is one of the many reasons for toll collector employees to wear rubber gloves now. I had read that people were sabotaging the paper money with all forms of nasty stuff too as people expressed their disdain for tolls- much as people stickered the coin throw funnels in the last 2 decades...

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SacraBos
May 26, 2009 2:50 PM
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I get the all the time at Sam's Club. The rubber wheels on the concrete floor generate noticeable amounts of static.

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Sidecutter
May 26, 2009 2:54 PM
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I noticed this some years ago when a new Wal-Mart was built. The carts there would constantly shock you with little charges, and sometimes nip you with a pretty damn big one for good measure. Eventually they changed out the carts, but when I mentioned it to staff they acted like everyone had said the same thing.

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Irene Brooks
May 26, 2009 8:39 PM
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I haven't shopped at Wal Mart for several months, but I did get shocked. It isn't a static shock. It hurts. I was thinking it may be from the boot mechanism attached to the cart.

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Chuck Reynolds
May 27, 2009 5:29 AM
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funny this comes up... at walmart a couple days ago and I mentioned to my girlfriend that I kept getting shocked a little bit so I only held onto the plastic handle thing instead of the metal... figured it was just a static-filled cart or I was dragging my feet or something... weird.
Gilbert Az was the Walmart

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yukonrye
May 27, 2009 9:16 PM
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Holy Crap Yes!

The new carts at the Super Walmart in Raleigh, NC continuously shock me. I was shopping with my 1 year old son in the seat and I would occasionally shock him.

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Anonymous
May 27, 2009 11:01 PM
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Trust me the shocks happen not only with shopping carts. As an employee, we get shocked touching shelves, l-carts and rocket carts all the time. You even get shocked sometimes when people touch you. It gets to the point you don't want to touch anything but you have to because it is your job!!!

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goldenmonkey
May 29, 2009 12:06 AM
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@bohemian: You might want to smoke some weed or something to mellow out. You're pretty worked up over a bunch of strangers that really have no impact on your life. The \"land manatees\" and \"soccer moms\" can't really do much but not fit into a narrow stereotype you hold for what a woman should be. Control freak by chance?

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Aaron Paulley
June 1, 2009 8:38 AM
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Yes! I thought I was crazy; I'm so glad I found this article. My wife doesn't get shocked, but every time I go to Wal-Mart I try not to use a cart because when I do, I'm afraid to touch the thing or anything else because I get shocked 20-30 times going through the store!

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Susan Bechtel
June 16, 2009 5:39 PM
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Yup. Walmart carts. It was so bad today my right hand still hurts. Is it the shopping gods telling me not to shop at Wal-Mart?

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Anonymous
July 17, 2009 1:17 AM
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i experienced it today in muskogee. the shocks were every few seconds & for the most part mild & annoying but once in a while i'd get zapped good. i thought it was just me until i saw a guy let out a yell & shove his cart away & then another little girl yelled \"ouch\" & jerked her hand back. i ended up going to customer svc, they were aware of the problem. lol. i asked who next on the chain i should contact & he said 1800walmart so i gave them a call too. i told them it was excellent aversion therapy & i thought i'd rather shop somewhere that didn't use shocking carts.

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Anonymous
July 17, 2009 10:57 AM
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I work at a Wal-Mart in Utah and this happened to me last week. I was pushing the cart while working to the back of the store , then to the front to put it away and was getting shocked constantly. It was very bothersome. It was so bad I couldn't even push the cart anymore. I tried putting a piece of clothing over the handle bar to prevent any more shocks but it still was shocking me.I did mention this to another associate and to my husband and they hadn't heard this before. I thought this was happening to just me but according to all the articles I've been reading it's happening all over. It's a very uncomfortable feeling .

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Finnzmom
March 20, 2010 6:20 PM
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Getting shocked by the carts while in Walmart has been happening to me FOR MONTHS. I have complained many, many times. Today it probably happened at least 10 times, most of those shocks strong enough to cause me to jerk my hand off the cart.

I asked to speak to a manager (I live in Kernersville, NC) and he told me he \"only heard about this a few days ago.\" I think that is b-s. He also said that Walmart is going to install some kind of \"little device\" to take care of the \"problem.\" When I asked him when this would be done he stated he \"didn't know.\"

I plan to boycott Walmart until I hear that this is no longer happening. I would urge everyone to go to www.walmart.com and flood the website with complaints until the company fixes this issue. Otherwise what might happen to a person who happened to be using a pacemaker? I wonder what the effect of repeated electrical shocks would do to them?

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Susan
April 11, 2010 9:06 PM
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I have put up with getting shocked for months now and I've been complaining to management for awhile, only to be either looked at like I'm stupid or told that \"Walmart is investigating this problem\" yeah, how long does it take for something bad to happen. I have finally had enough and emailed headquarters, still waiting to hear back from them. I have fibromyalgia and I feel pain 7x more intensely than someone without this disorder. It's painful, very very painful. Not only do you get short bursts while holding on to the cart but the second I get something off a shelf (which are metal) or open the freezer doors (handles are metal) I get ZAPPED and HARD!!!! On one trip it was so bad that I literally could not move my arm for the next 6 hours as the pain was pretty intense. I've had it that they won't listen. I NEVER had this happen until they got those new shopping carts. It's not like I can shop anywhere else either since there's nothing in this town but Walmart and a small Lowe's grocery store that doesn't have much and is outrageously priced.

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