One of the first retailers that comes to mind when it comes to closeouts is Big Lots right? Strap in as we take a trip through upstate NY and western MA to sample the carts each respective location has. But first, a few notes:
- Some carts may overlap and may appear in more than one location.
- Some of these carts may no longer be in the location they were originally photographed at.
- Some locations have closed after being photographed. These will be marked in red.
Amended 11/12/2020 (Colonie, Geneva, East Rochester), 05/11/2021 (Amsterdam, note), 06/15/2021 (Plattsburgh), 08/11/2021 (Oneida), 09/29/2021 (Troy), 06/15/2022 (Utica), 07/22/2022 (general rephrasing, removal from Amsterdam category, addition to Hudson category), 11/25/2022 (Amsterdam), 08/07/2023 (Amsterdam), 12/07/2023 (Colonie, Hudson; closure), 01/11/2024 (Amsterdam, note; Palatine Bridge)
TROY, NEW YORK
Not sure why this store had these, as this opened out of a former Ames sometime after 2002. This one is dated 10-98.
Store got a fleet flash, and got United #336s, #337s, and the occasional Unarco PC41U.
Presumed to be from the former East Greenbush location, this and another one are broken in some way.
This store's fleet was updated again, and despite not being an SOtF store, it has Advance HC200s (top) and uncharacteristically clean ex-Home Depot Rehrig Scanners (bottom).
AMSTERDAM, NEW YORK
This one had a loose basket. Took a little too long for them to remove this one from service.
There are only *two of these left in the fleet.
Source unknown. This is one of two Rehrig Scanners recently added to this location. EDIT: Another one appears to have a filed off Office Depot logo.
These wire carts did not last very long. The chrome-framed Technibilt is a 3342 from 2005 and the red ones are Cart Source 14R (former Zellers units; the one pictured is from 2008).
The latest (and possibly temporary) addition to the fleet is a set of ex-Sam's Club Unarco M170s, with child seats off other Big Lots-acquired carts. This one was originally manufactured in April 2013 and refurbished in May 2018.
Added into the fleet are these Cart Source M197 carts. These should have added in earlier, and instead of the Unarco M170s.
As this location opened in 2012, it originally came with a uniform fleet of these Unarco PC41Us. Top one is dated 1-04 and the bottom one is dated 11-04.
PALATINE BRIDGE, NEW YORK
As this location opened in 2012, it originally came with a uniform fleet of these Unarco PC41Us. Top one is dated 1-04 and the bottom one is dated 11-04.
A small amount of these Cart Source M197 units were recently added into the fleet.
A few of these had missing decals and ghost TARGET logos.
Interesting to see a Big Lots sticker on the front whereas these red ones normally do not.
Surviving Big Lots/Odd Lots United donning stickers appropriated from other carts in the fleet. This one is dated 8-98. As of 2020, the remaining stickers are gone.
Despite not being subjected to an SoTF remodel, this Big Lots added new carts into their existing fleet.
Another ghost logo cart.
This one is completely devoid of Big Lots labeling, revealing ghost TARGET logos on the sides.
This one doesn't appear to be from another Big Lots since it still has the original blue seat flap.
Added into the grey PC-40/PC41U fleet is a different set of SoTF-era carts. It appears Big Lots has switched from Advance Carts to Cart Source for their newest shopping carts. Notice the difference in latticework on the ends of the basket.
Store received a fleet flash from a 2016 remodel and exclusively ended up with United #336s.
Fleet was flashed again and this store exclusively has these despite not being an SOtF location.
Older ex-Target Rehrig Vista. Horizontal Big Lots logo suggests these were acquired in the mid to late 2000s, if not a little later.
These are original to the store.
Another cart devoid of Big Lots branding revealing ghost logos.
Despite Hudson not having a Home Depot, this cart could be mistaken for one. For some reason, these ex-Home Depot Technibilt 3439s seem to be commonly reused by other retailers.
Ex-Publix unit, a Tote Cart 1409G dated 3-04.
More likely an ex-Walmart unit.
An ex-Home Depot Technibilt 3439, app. 2007-2008 based off the seat flap.
Unlike other stores with these, this one had MFG. info. Labeled as a Rehrig United, model 337, dated 8-08.
Not sure why these had decals as there is most likely a white exclamation point logo under them.
These were the majority of the fleet despite being an older store. Not photographed were grey Unarco PC41Us and red 1990s ex-Target Rehrig units.
Vagrant United from March 1995, this was most likely an original cart.
The orange Rehrig Regular is original to the store.
Had a sticker on the bottom dated 9-02, which is strange since the PC-40s are dated 3-03.
These comprised of a bulk of the fleet, mostly disguised with exclamation point decals. Dated 9-99.
In front of the windows were these Big Lots/Odd Lots Rehrigs, also disguised.
Source unknown. Rack doesn't match any ex-Target variants.
2005 Unarco PC41U. A United #336 can be seen in front.
The "For Safety's Sake" label is a decal.
A portion of the fleet had these ex-Zellers Cari-All units.
Store still had a pair of these Big Lots/Odd Lots Rehrig Regulars.
Was used by Linens 'n' Things after Walmart and before Big Lots.
A United #336 is forcibly jammed into this Americana AMP-17.
Unlike most of its kind, these ones aren't orange.
As this location opened in 2012, it has a uniform fleet of these Unarco PC41Us.
As this is a Store of the Future location, the entirety of the fleet consists of these Advance HC200 carts.
Entirety of the fleet consisted of ex-Zellers Cari-All carts. This one has a French-language warning label on the seat flap.
This cart has a poorly filed off Target bullseye.
Grey Unarco PC41U with a white Big Lots decal.
PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK
This post was originally published on April 20, 2020. This post may be subject to revision based off future encounters or visits to other locations. Amendments will be listed at the top of the page.
COLONIE, NEW YORK
A few of these had missing decals and ghost TARGET logos.
Interesting to see a Big Lots sticker on the front whereas these red ones normally do not.
Surviving Big Lots/Odd Lots United donning stickers appropriated from other carts in the fleet. This one is dated 8-98. As of 2020, the remaining stickers are gone.
Despite not being subjected to an SoTF remodel, this Big Lots added new carts into their existing fleet.
UTICA, NEW YORK
Another ghost logo cart.
This one is completely devoid of Big Lots labeling, revealing ghost TARGET logos on the sides.
UPDATE: All carts shown above have been removed from service and sit in the covered cart bay not for customer use.
This one doesn't appear to be from another Big Lots since it still has the original blue seat flap.
These ones certainly were sourced from another Big Lots store. All ex-Walmart.
Added into the grey PC-40/PC41U fleet is a different set of SoTF-era carts. It appears Big Lots has switched from Advance Carts to Cart Source for their newest shopping carts. Notice the difference in latticework on the ends of the basket.
CLIFTON PARK, NEW YORK
ONEIDA, NEW YORK
Store received a fleet flash from a 2016 remodel and exclusively ended up with United #336s.
Fleet was flashed again and this store exclusively has these despite not being an SOtF location.
HUDSON, NEW YORK
Older ex-Target Rehrig Vista. Horizontal Big Lots logo suggests these were acquired in the mid to late 2000s, if not a little later.
These are original to the store.
Another cart devoid of Big Lots branding revealing ghost logos.
Despite Hudson not having a Home Depot, this cart could be mistaken for one. For some reason, these ex-Home Depot Technibilt 3439s seem to be commonly reused by other retailers.
POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK
Ex-Publix unit, a Tote Cart 1409G dated 3-04.
More likely an ex-Walmart unit.
An ex-Home Depot Technibilt 3439, app. 2007-2008 based off the seat flap.
Unlike other stores with these, this one had MFG. info. Labeled as a Rehrig United, model 337, dated 8-08.
ROME, NEW YORK
Not sure why these had decals as there is most likely a white exclamation point logo under them.
CANANDAIGUA, NEW YORK
These were the majority of the fleet despite being an older store. Not photographed were grey Unarco PC41Us and red 1990s ex-Target Rehrig units.
Vagrant United from March 1995, this was most likely an original cart.
GENEVA, NEW YORK
The orange Rehrig Regular is original to the store.
Had a sticker on the bottom dated 9-02, which is strange since the PC-40s are dated 3-03.
As this store got an SoTF remodel, they received new carts.
GATES, NEW YORK
These comprised of a bulk of the fleet, mostly disguised with exclamation point decals. Dated 9-99.
In front of the windows were these Big Lots/Odd Lots Rehrigs, also disguised.
HENRIETTA, NEW YORK
Source unknown. Rack doesn't match any ex-Target variants.
2005 Unarco PC41U. A United #336 can be seen in front.
The "For Safety's Sake" label is a decal.
EAST ROCHESTER, NEW YORK
A portion of the fleet had these ex-Zellers Cari-All units.
Possibly a Big Lots/Odd Lots unit.
As the store got an SoTF remodel, they got new carts. It is most unusual that a place like Big Lots would use express carts of any kind. The top cart is an Advance Carts M120x-erg.
EAST GREENBUSH, NEW YORK
Store still had a pair of these Big Lots/Odd Lots Rehrig Regulars.
NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS
Was used by Linens 'n' Things after Walmart and before Big Lots.
A United #336 is forcibly jammed into this Americana AMP-17.
AUBURN, NEW YORK
Unlike most of its kind, these ones aren't orange.
SAUGERTIES, NEW YORK
As this location opened in 2012, it has a uniform fleet of these Unarco PC41Us.
NEW HARTFORD, NEW YORK
As this is a Store of the Future location, the entirety of the fleet consists of these Advance HC200 carts.
WATERTOWN, NEW YORK
Entirety of the fleet consisted of ex-Zellers Cari-All carts. This one has a French-language warning label on the seat flap.
MATTYDALE, NEW YORK
This cart has a poorly filed off Target bullseye.
Grey Unarco PC41U with a white Big Lots decal.
PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK
This one is an oddity. The blue color and shape of the cart seem to suggest Rite Aid, while the grey tape underneath the Big Lots sticker suggests a Rite Aid-to-Walgreens conversion, but there are no former Rite Aid stores that match the era of this cart.
These are original Big Lots/Odd Lots units disguised with exclamation point stickers.
This post was originally published on April 20, 2020. This post may be subject to revision based off future encounters or visits to other locations. Amendments will be listed at the top of the page.
Nice coverage, cool to see a few old Zellers carts.
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