Maxi Installs Cart Deposit Systems In Chosen Locations

You’re going to Maxi? Do not forget your dollar … or your token!

Indeed, in recent years, Maxi has started installing cart deposit systems in chosen locations.

What a surprise to see this system installed at the Dorval Maxi and this, no later than a month ago.

From now on, to pick a cart and enter the store, you first need to unlock it from the queue by inserting a dollar coin into the cart.

Once you have finished using it, you collect the deposited dollar by bringing the cart back in line and locking it. “A little bit of fun,” as they say.

When questioned, employees admitted that this system is not well received and generates grumbling and dissatisfaction among customers.

To ease this, the supermarket gives them Maxi tokens that replace the use of a dollar and that can be kept with you at all times through a small practical hook.

According to the employees questioned, the situation in Dorval is critical: “Here, the carts are found everywhere, even as far as the Dorval airport, imagine!” The airport is 2 km away and several highways and expressways separate the place from the supermarket.

According to this source, Maxi is currently deploying the system in all of its supermarkets. But after verification, it seems rather that Maxi implants it only in targeted supermarkets.

In 2013, the chain installed such carts in its Shawinigan and Brossard stores. Last year, it was the turn of Rimouski and Chicoutimi locations, the latter having been the subject of a vitriolic open letter in the local newspaper from a discontent customer.

But given the complaints, will it last? It takes a certain amount of courage to introduce such an unpopular measure to its customers, especially when the competition does not follow. One then risk seeing customers go elsewhere.

“In my opinion, they will return to the old system … it would not surprise me at all,” said one employee.

According to the Montreal Police Department, the problem of dispersed and stolen carts is a real scourge in the city.

• Customers forget to put the cart back in its place after having loaded their car and some lazy ones sometimes bring them to their residence;
• They can be found everywhere in Montreal and this is a major source of loss for retailers;
• Each year, retailers are losing 30 to 60 to theft;
• Some people would come into the parking lot just to pick them up and sell them to the scrap dealers or flea markets;
• Publisac distributors also use it to carry their bags;
• Young people steal them to take parts, like wheels, and place them on their skateboards or on their scooters;
• A Canadian Tire dealer once said he paid $ 16,000 for 50 carts, or $ 320 each.

Perhaps Maxi is best placed to implement this type of measure because it is positioning itself as a discount supermarket, therefore one in which customers expect to receive fewer services for better prices.

The other advantage to the customer, of course, is that the carts, at least, are brand new and function without grinding wheels!

They do not turn left when you want to go right … ahh, that’s nice!