Bluff Heights Neighborhood Association

Orphaned Shopping Carts

Posted in: Bluff Heights
It seems that, in the past few months, it has become common to see abandoned shopping carts strewn about Bluff Heights. In July I spoke with Ralph?’s manager, Steve, about this problem. He told me that, when retrieving carts, they focus north of 4th. He didn?’t believe it was an issue south of 4th. Steve claims that they have someone go out twice a day to retrieve carts. After talking with Steve, I did not notice an improvement.
Many of the carts are also from Albertsons on Redondo by 7th St. I called the manager there, notified him of the problem, and, over a period of days, I did not notice a difference. I finally called Albertsons corporate office. They contacted the manager, and he is now fully cooperating and is receptive to phone calls.
So far, the most effective device for controlling this issue has been direct calls to the store managers. If you see an abandoned shopping cart, I encourage you to call the store. First, find out which store it is from. About 1/3 of the carts I found were from Albertsons, the other 2/3 from Ralphs. Both stores claim they send someone out twice a day covering areas as far as one mile from the store.
Ralph?’s manager is Steve: 562-434-3899
Albertson?’s manager is Bill or Mike:
562-439-4004
I would like to see Ralphs use the kind of carts that Wal-Mart is using in downtown Long Beach--the type with electronic brakes that prevent one from taking them from the parking lot. In fact, many store carts now have self-locking wheels.
The wheel carries a transmitter unit which sends a digital signal. A buried cable outlines the perimeter of the parking lot and emits the lock signal sent from the transmitter. The wheel receives the lock signal from the buried cable and electronically locks, disallowing its usage. The wheel can be installed at the factory or at the store. If you would like to encourage Ralphs to get these types of carts, I encourage you to write or call. If you write a letter, be sure to include ''store #251''. The following are addresses for the Ralphs store in Bluff Heights.

Kroger Company
Joseph Pichler - CEO
1014 Vine St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202
RE: Ralph?’s Store #251

Ralph?’s Grocery Company
100 W. Artesia Blvd.
Compton, CA 90220
RE: Store #251

-Michael Stokes

By Michael Stokes
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