In Germany, shopping carts typically have a deposit system, where you have to insert an Euro into the cart to use it, which you get back when you return it. So that is basically a build in fine for not returning it.
In Spain we used to have the same system. However it’s been a while since I’ve seen it, most carts still have the euro slot, but they are not chained, so you don’t need to insert a coin.
In Spain a lot of stors disabled the system during covid, for highiene reasons. Some have returned and some still have tbe coin system disabled. Most people return them anyway. There is always the occasional asshole.
The past year or two I’ve found several stores where they are abandoning it. I presume because people carrying cash, especially coins, is becoming rarer and they don’t want to inconvenience their customers?
Strangely enough, carts still get returned even at these stores.
There’s a store chain, Costco or Aldi’s maybe? In America here that dies this but it’s only a quarter. Which is next to nothing. For reference, a load of laundry is between $1-2 in just a normal machine, plus dry time, (so 4-8 quarters). So just to wash and dry a single load of laundry for me, for example, is 12 quarters, $1.50 each of l for washing and drying.
So that cart deposit thing could use some improvement. Regardless I’ve never shopped at that store, but I do just return my cart like a civilized person.
In Germany, shopping carts typically have a deposit system, where you have to insert an Euro into the cart to use it, which you get back when you return it. So that is basically a build in fine for not returning it.
They’ve started doing it in some places in America with quarters and it works. Turns out the price of laziness is less than 25¢ haha.
In Spain we used to have the same system. However it’s been a while since I’ve seen it, most carts still have the euro slot, but they are not chained, so you don’t need to insert a coin.
In Spain a lot of stors disabled the system during covid, for highiene reasons. Some have returned and some still have tbe coin system disabled. Most people return them anyway. There is always the occasional asshole.
This is how it works in all of Europe
The past year or two I’ve found several stores where they are abandoning it. I presume because people carrying cash, especially coins, is becoming rarer and they don’t want to inconvenience their customers?
Strangely enough, carts still get returned even at these stores.
Yes, me too. This only seems to be a problem across the pond.
There’s a store chain, Costco or Aldi’s maybe? In America here that dies this but it’s only a quarter. Which is next to nothing. For reference, a load of laundry is between $1-2 in just a normal machine, plus dry time, (so 4-8 quarters). So just to wash and dry a single load of laundry for me, for example, is 12 quarters, $1.50 each of l for washing and drying.
So that cart deposit thing could use some improvement. Regardless I’ve never shopped at that store, but I do just return my cart like a civilized person.
Some people go as far as to use a tool similar to the one mounted on the front cart to extract their money and still not return the cart they took.