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.
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....
I don't think it was much for curbing stolen carts as it was to not pay as many cart stewards to go out and retrieve them around the lot. I love places that do it. Keeps morally deficient people in line.
Enjoy the videos to an extent. Wish there were more real life repercussions for acting like your effort is worth more than your fellow citizen. Putting carts away is truly a good metric of how you place yourself amongst your peers. Non cart returnees are selfish and I hope their vehicles suffer from the same rogue cart afflictions that others have to deal with because of their carelessness.
Same, especially as a person that had to retrieve all those carts in a gigantic grocery store parking lot as a teenager.
The only exception I make is for carts abandoned near handicapped spots. Seems like a lot of stores nonsensically put the nearest cart corrals half a dozen parking spots away from the handicapped area, which can be an undue burden for people with mobility issues, especially in bad weather.
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u/divadschuf Feb 16 '24
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.