‘Walmart Gettin Real Weird’: Shopper Finds Possible Tracker Under Store Carts
NEW YORK — A Walmart shopper’s viral TikTok has left many questioning whether the retail giant is secretly tracking customers through its shopping carts.
The Viral Discovery
TikTok creator Mr. K (@mr.k481) posted a video showing a white box with QR codes attached underneath a Walmart shopping cart. The clip has racked up over 184,000 views, with Mr. K speculating the device could map customers’ shopping habits inside the store.
“This is some kind of tracker… It helps them understand what products you’re buying because they can see what products you stopped to look at,” he claimed in the video.
@mr.k481 Walmart GPS tracker on carts?
Could Walmart Really Be Tracking You?
The speculation ties back to a 2018 Walmart patent for technology that could monitor shopping carts across stores. According to the patent, the system could map shopper movements and compare them with receipts to learn about browsing patterns and impulse purchases.
While Walmart has not confirmed whether the boxes spotted in stores are related, retail analysts note that companies are increasingly using in-store data analytics to fine-tune layouts and product placement.
Another Explanation: Cart Theft
Not everyone believes the devices are tracking customers. Some suggest the boxes may be intended to monitor the carts themselves, as abandoned or stolen carts cost U.S. retailers tens of millions of dollars each year.
Shopping carts can cost $250 to $1,000 each, making them a valuable asset. Other retailers already use wheel-locking systems or coin-lock mechanisms to prevent loss. The Walmart devices could be part of a similar strategy.
Shoppers React
The video sparked a wave of mixed reactions online.
“They can put trackers on their carts but can’t fix the wheels on them,” one person joked.
Another wrote: “That’s what they can afford instead of employees.”
Some went further, calling for a boycott of the retail chain.
Would you be okay with Walmart tracking carts if it also meant fewer broken or missing ones — or does it cross the line into customer surveillance? Join the conversation at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
