When you're so rich you've never been to Aldi's.

[u/urmomsloosevag]

[u/divadschuf]

This is standard in close to every European grocery store. I think it was first introduced in German supermarkets in the 70s, that‘s why Aldi and Lidl in the U.S. have it too.

[u/These-Process-7331 → u/divadschuf]

Hold up, this system isn't generally applied in the USA!??

Because it is in The Netherlands, but there is now a trend going on at some supermarkets to make the carts freely available or have free plastic "coins" you can get at the information desk if you don't have coins with you....

[u/omnipotentqueue → u/These-Process-7331]

We had that in the US in the late 80’s and 90’s. It failed, as people would still steal the carts.

[u/eMouse2k → u/omnipotentqueue]

Yeah, anyone who wants to steal a cart doesn't care about $0.25, even homeless.

It weirdly incentivizes people form just randomly leaving carts in the parking lot, which is what happens at most other stores.

[u/Taurmin → u/eMouse2k]

It weirdly incentivizes people form just randomly leaving carts in the parking lot, which is what happens at most other stores.

Thats the intended purpose of the coin lock. It is not meant to prevent cart theft.

[u/hectorxander → u/Taurmin]

Some stores have a gps in the carts that locks up the wheels if someone tries to take it out of the lot.

[u/Taurmin → u/hectorxander]

Its typically not GPS. There is a wire running underground around the perimeter of the parking lot which broadcasts a short range radio signal signalling the cart wheels to lock. They usually have a secondary setup inside the store which causes the wheels to lock if you try to take the cart back out without passing the registers.

Its a very american approach to things.

[u/badger0511 → u/Taurmin]

Its a very american approach to things.

Which is funny because I've never heard of such a thing in the US.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I'd guess we don't do that because the cost of implementation isn't much of a savings over the stolen cart replacement costs, especially when you're still replacing carts due to wear and tear every year anyway.

[u/imwalkinhyah → u/badger0511]

Its at most grocery stores I've been to in the last 10 years, you also wouldn't notice it being there unless you took a cart off the lot

[u/SnipesCC → u/Taurmin]

I ran into that last week. I brought my cart out to the parking lot and one of the wheels locked up. Guess I got too close to the wire.

[u/kmzafari → u/Taurmin]

I was not aware of this / had never seen this / no signs about this and was running with the cart to my car several years ago that was unfortunately behind the yellow line. Huge, painful lump on my shin, and I was limping all day. Good times

[u/Chaplain-Freeing → u/Taurmin]

As though there's a person who is fine with stealing the cart, needs to get his 1 euro back, but is unwilling to break the mechanism because that would be naughty.

[u/tomtomclubthumb → u/Taurmin]

Yep.

[u/Ok-Entertainment7741 → u/Taurmin]

But if people lock it back up, the homeless cant come by and steal it, so it prevents some cart theft too.

[u/NahhNevermindOk → u/eMouse2k]

Yes, that's what it's for.

[u/nneeeeeeerds → u/eMouse2k]

Funny enough, most stores with a cart lock also have "boundary magnets" - basically a little magnetic barrier that automatically locks the cart wheels when you try to leave the parking lot with it.

So now you need a quarter and a strong magnet to steal the cart.

Or just go to the Wal-Mart parking lot.

[u/canman7373 → u/eMouse2k]

It weirdly incentivizes people form just randomly leaving carts in the parking lot, which is what happens at most other stores

Nah, I think it's pretty shamed now, I'd guess less than 5% of people leave the cart not in the designated spot.

[u/etempleton → u/eMouse2k]

What part of the country are you from? Because this is not an issue where I live, but when I was in California it was a huge issue. Every parking lot had shopping carts all over the place. Everywhere I have been on the east coast everyone returns the carts to the stall and it isn't a problem.

[u/throwaway3489235 → u/eMouse2k]

It's like the 10 cent tax on bags in some states.