lazy customers and carts

[April]

I'm pretty snotty when I see people just leave thier carts in the middle of a parking spot. I usually comment (loudly) to whomever I'm with the thier laziness will end up costing someone else money.

[Barefootgirl]

We do that in England. I've never seen a supermarket that DOESN'T...

Tesco doesn't. it says that "charging" customers for trolleys creates an unwelcoming atmosphere, by assuming that the customer is not going to return their trolley. It also goes down to another layer of psycho-babble by saying that it doesn't want customers opening their purses or wallets before actually completing thier purchases and getting to the check-out, as some mouth-breather psychology student they hired once told them this would make people elss inclined to spend.

I like those little pound coin substitute keyrings, by the way. i used to have one but i lost it.

[Ciarrai]

I've always had to pay a quarter for my cart. That's not common in the States apparently, but every Canadian store I've been to makes you pay for your cart.

[HoppiLoco]

They have quarter deposits at the local Aldis around here, not sure if it's a universal Adli's thing though.....

I think thats a pretty universal Aldis thing... and it actually seems to work pretty well at those stores too. Although-- sorry to hijack the post a little-- I have to say the the local Aldi's here has the oddest planning I've ever seen: they actually block off all the checkout lanes that arent used, and since the entrance/exit doors are automatic and only one-way with the exit side on the outside of the checkouts, the only way to get out of the store is through the operating checkout lanes. I tried to go shopping there recently, decided upon entering that my shopping wasnt important enough to wait through the incredibly long lines, and the practically started panicing when I discovered that I couldnt get out of the store. The checkout lanes arent really wide enough for passing people, and I ended up having to do it anyway (apologizing and completely embarassed, of course)... has anyone ever seen this anywhere else? It made me very uncomfortable.

[tollbaby]

I've always had to pay a quarter for my cart. That's not common in the States apparently, but every Canadian store I've been to makes you pay for your cart.

There was a Loblaws here once (Ottawa) that did that, but it didn't last. I've never had to pay for a cart anywhere.

[CanadaGirl]

Every grocery store in my city has carts that require a coin. The majority only ask for a quarter, but Superstore wants a $1 coin for their carts.

As a "courtesy clerk" at my local Safeway, it's a bitch and a half to bring back stray carts that I find at the far end of the parking lot. We have three cart corals for a reason, people! At least when the brainless ones leave their quarter in the slot, I get to keep it. I made $2 in one shift from that!

There was a Loblaws here once (Ottawa) that did that, but it didn't last. I've never had to pay for a cart anywhere.

I used to work for Loblaws (Extra Foods) and my store had coined carts.

[Jules Of All Trades]

Gah! This thread has brought up one of my major irritations! Due to my semi-disabled status I park in a handicap spot (with a permit of course) when I shop by myself, otherwise hubby drops me at the door. Many, many times when I'm looking for a spot the only open ones have carts either parked right in the middle of them or blocking enough of the spot so I can't get my car in it.

The other day I went to park at a new Kroger down the street and as I was turning into the spot the arsehole one spot over (non-handicapped spot) pushed his cart right in my way. I was peeved! I lightly tapped the horn to refresh his memory that my big ol' Expedition was trying to park, he just shot me a nasty look and got in his car. I was sooooo tempted to plow that cart right into his driver's side door. If I hadn't been blocking the aisle I would have stopped right there, gotten out of my car, crutched over and moved his cart to the corral for him just to prove a point. Meh...he wouldn't have cared anyway.

Now c'mon people - if I'm capable of taking my crutchatized @ss over to the cart corral to put my cart away, can't you do the same? I'll forgive those who *truly* can't walk the distance, but then again...how did they make it all the way through the store to begin with?

Jules...irritated.

[Shironu-Akaineko]

I used to work for Loblaws (Extra Foods) and my store had coined carts.

I work at Provigo which is a Loblaws branch and my carts aren't coined.
My work cart labelled "Bakery" every two inches does get stolen quite often tho. "Oh, I didn't see the name" (It's written everywhere) "I got it in the entrance" (No you didn't, I just barely put it INSIDE the department) "I DON'T LIKE THE STORE'S CARTS!" (Well tough. Go shop at IGA)

I can't leave my poor cart unattended one minute before someone runs in, dump their groceries in it and flocks off with it (I've seen it!) I have to chase them and point out the giant sign on it that says Bakery, then the one on the child seat area, then the one in the cart, then the ones on the legs...

The front sign actually has "Danger! Do not take or else suffer the wrath of Charlie" (My co-worker/assistant manager) With a skull and crossbones.

Last time it was stolen, my very awesome co-worker/assistant manager found it smack in the middle of the parking lot.

Speaking of runaway carts, explain to me WHY we had a Zellers Select cart before we changed cart models? Zellers was WAY over the other end of the bridge!!!

[BusBus]

Most grocery chains here use the coin carts. I always keep a quarter in my car for such occasions.

When I was younger, my sister and I would make a killing returning trolleys at the american airports (they're the only airports that I have seen that use coin-operated trolleys). Lucky for us, we could use the american coins when we got back to Canada.

[Primer]

I'll forgive those who *truly* can't walk the distance, but then again...how did they make it all the way through the store to begin with?

I don't know about the rest of them, but I use the cart as a walker. I'm actually happy to find one next to (not in) the "gimp" spots.