Aldi does that here and I hate it because I never carry loose change.
Handicapped or entitled? Not returning shopping cart
- Thread starter GON
- Start date
Bringing a cart back to retrieve a Loonie ($1.00 CDN) seems worthwhile. But a US Quarter? 25 cents? If its a long walk, many lazy or infirm people would forget about it. I suppose a person could make some money retrieving loose carts to recover the quarters. In which case, if the goal is to have carts returned, the goal is achieved.
I have a dedicated loonie in each car and one in my wallet for carts. I'm apparently well trained.
In Canada, I believe the smallest denomination paper money is $5. There are widely circulated $1 coins, called Loonies because of the Loon on them, and there are $2 coins, called Twoonies, because they are worth two Loonies.
I think we should stop using $1 paper money in the USA. A dollar buys almost nothing any more.
Here's some King Sooper trivia for you:
1. The Dillon family (Hutchinson KS Hqs) started the chain in CO after their relative success in their Kansas market. The City Market affiliate in WY & CO (smaller format stores) is part of King Soopers.
2. At one time they also owned Loaf & Jug and Kwik Shop convenience stores. They were divested from the portfolio a few years ago.
3. Second generation Dillon (don't remember his name) was CEO for Kroger for quite a few years after Kroger purchased the Dillons chain and King Soopers. He is retired and is spearheading a move to get wine into Dillons grocery stores. Needless to say there is a lot of resistance from KS liquor store owners.
4. When a tornado literally wiped out Greensburg KS, Dillons immediately was able to build a prefab building and get groceries and supplies to Greensburg nearly before anyone else. They were a major lifeline for that community until additional disaster relief could be put into place.
5. Any Dillons/Private Selection breads I purchase comes from a bakery in Denver.
5.
They pushed for the susan B Anthony dollar coin but no one wanted them.
I believe when Canada came out with there coins they simply stopped printing dollar bills and it took its course. I believe in Euro also. I remember 1 euro bills I think - or maybe 2? Last I was there only 5 euro bill I think.
However I wonder what percentage of commerce is cash anymore. It must be tiny.
k
As a tourist dollar bills and euros are still important, especially in former eastern bloc countries like Bulgaria. Many other countries emphasized credit card use during COVID and started their economies down the cashless path.
We have 50c pieces and $1 coins but they're very uncommon. I haven't seen a 50c piece in ages. Quarters are just more common.
ALDI used to be a store I'd rarely go to (because of location), but in the past couple of years, they've greatly expanded the # of stores, including one that's on my way home from work. Since that opened, I've kept 2-3 quarters in my car strictly for the carts at ALDI.
I think there were two problems with that attempt:
1) it was similar to a quarter, mostly the color and composition, and caused confusion.
2) dollar bills were still in circulation. This is the big one. People wouldn't have been able to refuse the Susan B. coin if there was no paper bill available.
Don't forget the Gold Sacajawea dollar coins! though I think the Current runs of Dollar coins have presidents on them....I'd have to go out to the car to check that...I have a prescription bottle full of them ( and one of $2 bills) hidden away, but accessible, just in case I need to take a Toll Road. or need mad money...
but back to the shopping carts... I've worked at a Grocery store for close to 30 years (just a shade over 28 at this point, but close enough) I've Pushed enough carts over those years to make my Blood start to boil when i watch folks just unload, and "park" the cart beside them, (often between their car and someone else's) then drive off... i really get ticked when i see that happen, maybe 2 spaces away from a Corral... call it a form of PTSD i guess....
but back to the shopping carts... I've worked at a Grocery store for close to 30 years (just a shade over 28 at this point, but close enough) I've Pushed enough carts over those years to make my Blood start to boil when i watch folks just unload, and "park" the cart beside them, (often between their car and someone else's) then drive off... i really get ticked when i see that happen, maybe 2 spaces away from a Corral... call it a form of PTSD i guess....
Last edited:
Right there with you. At Meijer recently I saw someone leave their cart in the parking space *next* to the corral; the almost empty corral. I felt like doing a Maxwell Smart imitation and saying "missed it by that much."
I return the cart I use to the cart coral or store as a rule. If it's raining or I had to park somewhere in the back 40 at Costco, than no. For $60/year to have the privilege of spending my money there, they can pay someone to fetch it.
At some of the Costcos in my area, the cart corral is more than half-way down the parking lane, and then folks leave the carts in the fire lane, or along the sidewalk, or worse - against the Fire Escape double doors. People!
Toll roads are almost all cashless now. If you don't have the proper transponder they read the license plate and send the car owner a bill.
