Woo hoo! Take THAT lazy SCs!!!

[MrSunshineState]

It seems a store finally took my suggestion!


This new grocery store just opened here in Orlando. It is one of those discount grocery stores that basically doesn't sell any brand names, or very few brand names, and sells you everything at cost. It's great for people like me who need to squeeze every penny.

So I figure I'd stop by today and see what it is like. First thing I notice is how clean the parking lot was. Something seemed out of place. Then I saw the sign:

"Deposit a quarter for use of a shopping cart and receive your quarter back when you properly return the cart to it's designated place. This helps keep our parking lot clear of clutter."

[bainsidhe]

Hmm, I wonder if that would work for scooter carts. Only make it something like a $5 deposit to return it since they are such a pain to retrieve from the rain/ice/snow/dead battery. Oh the happiness.

[Stormraven]

I believe that's the way some work across the pond (i.e., in the UK). I know I've seen some posts here indicating that folk have to put up a pound to get a cart.

[SilverOrb]

Aldi's does that here. It's a lil annoying to make sure you have a quarter, but nice to know that you won't hit a cart pulling into a spot

[BigBird]

This is really popular here in Canada. Most grocery stores here charge either a quarter or a dollar (we have a dollar coin) for the use of the carts. It's been around for a few years now, so we're all used to it. Keeps the parking lots nice a clean!

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Hmm, I wonder if that would work for scooter carts. Only make it something like a $5 deposit to return it since they are such a pain to retrieve from the rain/ice/snow/dead battery. Oh the happiness.

IANAL, but I think that could be in violation of the ADA. What if you get somebody who needs the cart but may not have the cash to pay the deposit?

[dbblsanta]

My supermarket used to do that. We also didn't have any baggers, so the customer would put their groceries on the belt, and as they did the cashier would ring them and put them into another carriage. The customer would then leave his/her now-empty carriage for the next person.

The problem was that a lot of the quarter-holder things started breaking. So we'd have lots of loose carts that customers were using with no quarter in them. So if they left the cashier a cart without a quarter in it, the customer behind them would be out a quarter if he originally put one in. So they'd complain...we'd have to give them a quarter from our drawer (which we can only do so often before we get in trouble).

Eventually we had to start asking people if their carriage had a quarter in it when they started putting their stuff on the register. No quarter? Then we'd ask them for one. Most people were fine about it...they realized they'd get it back when they put their new carriage back properly. But we'd get so many people getting hysterical over being asked for a quarter...several cashiers were swore at. And these rude customers thought WE were the ones being the penny-pinchers (uhh no..it's the guy behind you).

The solution? They got rid of the quarter deposit altogether. Now they have to hire people to do carriages.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I know of only one store around here that did that for a while, but it didn't last too long. It was a Pathmark which closed a few years ago.

[the_std]

It really surprises me that this is post-worthy... Where I live, I can't think of any grocery store where this isn't common practice. Some companies even manufacture slugs for your keychain that are the same size as a quarter or a loonie to work in the carts, so you don't have to dig for one every time you get a cart.

[bainsidhe]

IANAL, but I think that could be in violation of the ADA. What if you get somebody who needs the cart but may not have the cash to pay the deposit?

Maybe. But are scooters required for ADA? I thought they were more of a courtesy. And I've heard some stores have kill switches at the entrance so carts can't go beyond the front doors. Now THAT's something I'd love to have.

[Seshat]

The biggest problem with charging for scooters is that the people who most need them are the poorest disabled. The more well off disabled will have their own.

Even we managed to scrimp and save for one for me - and we're by no means financially comfortable!

I fully understand the reasoning behind a deposit, but it's the poor soul who's trying to get bread and milk with his last $5 who's going to need the scooter most.

[DesignFox]

Around here they do the quarter thing for carts at the Wal-marts. I haven't seen it cross over into the grocery stores.

Despite the whole quarter thing, my local Wal-Mart still has to hire cart guys. People around here are A) too lazy to even get their quarter back or B) don't have a quarter on them, so the courtesy desk gives them a slug, so they don't bother.

But overall, the parking lot stays neater than the places that don't use quarter deposits.

[Darkforge]

The biggest problem with charging for scooters is that the people who most need them are the poorest disabled. The more well off disabled will have their own.

Even we managed to scrimp and save for one for me - and we're by no means financially comfortable!

I fully understand the reasoning behind a deposit, but it's the poor soul who's trying to get bread and milk with his last $5 who's going to need the scooter most.

the money is for a deposit, you give the money in, and get a scooter, then when you hand the scooter back in after your shop you get your deposit back

[DesignFox]

the money is for a deposit, you give the money in, and get a scooter, then when you hand the scooter back in after your shop you get your deposit back

Yes, but if 5 bucks is all you've got in your pocket, you can't first make a deposit, then get groceries. Even though you're getting your deposit back, it wouldn't be until after you are done shopping and PAYING for your groceries.

I think it is unfortunate that people are so lazy, but in the case of the scooters, I think we all just have to deal with the fact that some people are going to be assholes. There aren't an overwhelming number of scooters, anyway.

[PepperElf]

IANAL, but I think that could be in violation of the ADA. What if you get somebody who needs the cart but may not have the cash to pay the deposit?

that's what i was thinking too.
plus, i could be wrong but... the people who use the electric carts usually park in the handicapped spots to begin with.

plus, many grocery stores have helpers who will bring the groceries to your car for free. (which will reduce the need to bring the electric carts outside)