K-Mart Shopping Carts
May 22, 1998
July 2002, update... This location of K-Mart has gone out of business.
Ref: K-Mart shopping-carts 6000 Burke Commons Rd. Burke, Va. 22015.
It is NOT SAFE or attractive for consumers to do business in your shopping center!
After shopping in the center I returned to my vehicle and found I was not able to get into it because there was a K-Mart shopping-cart resting against my driver’s door. I then talked with an assistant manager of K-Mart on 05-16-98 at 12:35PM and told him of my concerns, his response was, "We are taking care of them now!" "So what’s your problem," not liking his response, I then talked with K-Mart manger Bill B. His response to my concerns were met with an, I agree with you 100% attitude. (The enclosed pictures are from the next day)
K-Mart shopping-carts are causing damage to vehicles
K-Mart shopping-carts are blocking Handicap parking
K-Mart shopping-carts are taking up valuable parking spaces
K-Mart shopping-carts are on the sidewalks & the grassy medians
K-Mart shopping-carts pose a safety hazard to the public/consumers
K-Mart shopping-carts are making the shopping center look like a junkyard
K-Mart shopping-carts can be found at the distant ends of the shopping center.
K-Mart shopping-carts have turned the parking Lot & Sidewalks in to an unsafe obstacle course
If I where a merchant in the same shopping center as K-Mart I would have a GREAT concern for the SAFETY and INCONVENIENCE to my customers that the K-Mart shopping-carts are causing.
K-Mart needs to either stop allowing their customers from taking the shopping-carts into the parking lot like Giant or provide a shopping-cart return-area like Target.
Cc.
No less then 20 merchants have been mailed a copy of this, also the following:
K-Mart, Allied NY., News Media, Fairfax County Consumers of affair, Burke Centre Conservancy., etc. 32 copies in all.
Left: taking up valuable parking spaces
Left: making the shopping center look like a junkyard
Left: blocking Handicap parking
Left: on the grassy medians
Left: are causing damage to vehicles
Left: making the shopping center look like a junkyard
Left: pose a safety hazard to the public/consumers and can be found at the distant ends of the shopping center and on the sidewalks.
Kmart Response
Kmart Corporation
International Headquarters
3100 West Big Beaver Road
Try MI 48084-3163
June 15, 1998
Wm J. Baumbach II
11612 Fairfax Station Rd
Fairfax Station, VA 22039
Dear Mr. Baumbach:
Thank you for your recent letter. First let me apologize for the response you received from our associate when you brought the shopping cart situation to his attention.
The Store Team Manager, Bill Berger, was right to agree with you, as it is our store's procedure to have the shopping carts picked up from the parking lot on a regular basis.
Mr. Baumbach, your frustration is understandable given the circumstances. Enclosed, please find a $25 Kmart Cash Card which can be used in any of our stores for the purchase of merchandise. Use it at your convenience, and please do not allow this one incident to taint your perception of our operation.
Sincerely,
Jeff Campbell
Director, Store Operations
Cc: Bill Berger, Store Team Manager, Store #3792
Mark Dupre, District Manager
Debra Miela, Legal