What causes the clicking of a grocery cart wheel?

[Leo_Bloom]

See thread:

Why do shopping carts always pull to the left?

In particular, Post #18:

@DCnDC

I worked at Safeway for 12 years, and repaired quite a few carts in my time (“baskarts” in supermarket lingo). In my experience the problem breaks down like this:

• Baskarts pull to one side because of a failure in one or more of the moving parts.

• The moving parts of a baskart are 2 fixed wheels in the rear, 2 swiveling wheels in front, and each wheel on an axle. That’s 10 total potential points of failure.

• The main cause of failure is debris jamming the movement of one of these points.

• Typically the items I found jamming up the moving parts of baskarts were pieces or strips of plastic bags, rubber bands, and small pieces of paper (like balled-up receipts or candy wrappers).

• Debris at a supermarket is most commonly encountered in the parking lot and in the produce department, but can be anywhere in or around the store.

• The produce department, and most all of the aisle shelves, are either recessed at the bottom or raised up off the floor an inch or two.

• The produce department is practically impossible to keep clean because customers do things like shuck corn right at the display and throw the debris directly onto the floor. Also, it’s impossible to keep up with the constant dropping of errant onion skins, grapes, and loose greens onto the floor.

• Additionally, baskarts are typically composed of wire, welded together or plastic, in either case they are very “open,” and any small items tend to fall out.

• Debris tends to collect at the base of displays and shelves, or in the middle of the aisle/floor.

• People tend to keep their baskarts to the right, so debris from middle of the aisle/floor tends to get jammed into the left-side wheels, causing them to pull to the left.

Obviously this will not be the case in all instances, but in my experience that is what is happening.

Also, the rough treatment by customers and employees alike as mentioned above will of course be a factor.

:: I can’t believe I remembered this. Ignorance once fought… ::