Many times I just give my quarter to someone returning theirs so I don’t have to wrangle. The big benefit of this quarter thing is you don’t have carriages running into your car and denting it. Our Aldi’s has a sloping parking lot and it would have carts down the hill if they didn’t do it that way.
Back in my starving college student days, I used to hang out at the airport and gather Smart-Carts from the parking structures and return them to the collector to get the $.25 (Last time I checked, they don’t do that anymore). Anyway, on a good day, I could make $80-$100 a day.
Grocery stores are labor intensive. They can save the most money by decreasing their labor costs. Why pay someone to round up carts when they can incentivize their customers to return them?
And this is why I don’t shop at Aldi’s. If I don’t happen to have a quarter, no cart. If I’m … financially embarrassed, shall we say, and only have enough money for what I need to buy, no cart. And if you go through the line with no cart, the cashiers have blessed little space to set your purchases down. Walmart and Winn Dixie are closer anyway.
BE THIS GUY about 7 years ago
Too lazy to return the cart?
Sherlock Watson about 7 years ago
But if they lose their chains, they won’t be united anymore.
gmartin997 about 7 years ago
That’s why they have cart corrals in the parking lots.
NeedaChuckle Premium Member about 7 years ago
Many times I just give my quarter to someone returning theirs so I don’t have to wrangle. The big benefit of this quarter thing is you don’t have carriages running into your car and denting it. Our Aldi’s has a sloping parking lot and it would have carts down the hill if they didn’t do it that way.
jimboklein about 7 years ago
Back in my starving college student days, I used to hang out at the airport and gather Smart-Carts from the parking structures and return them to the collector to get the $.25 (Last time I checked, they don’t do that anymore). Anyway, on a good day, I could make $80-$100 a day.
PoodleGroomer about 7 years ago
It takes at least 3-4 full time employees to return carts.
Teto85 Premium Member about 7 years ago
Grocery stores are labor intensive. They can save the most money by decreasing their labor costs. Why pay someone to round up carts when they can incentivize their customers to return them?
sew-so about 7 years ago
And this is why I don’t shop at Aldi’s. If I don’t happen to have a quarter, no cart. If I’m … financially embarrassed, shall we say, and only have enough money for what I need to buy, no cart. And if you go through the line with no cart, the cashiers have blessed little space to set your purchases down. Walmart and Winn Dixie are closer anyway.
phlash about 7 years ago
that’s pretty-much standard operating procedure in the UK – but it’ll cost you a quid…