lew_b
join:2003-05-11
Poughkeepsie, NY
 ·Verizon FIOS
 ·Cablevision
1 edit | reply to Mr Neutron
Re: [Rant] store shopping carts
said by Mr Neutron  :Is there a magnet contained in the red cable end, perhaps? Is that what pops out your quarter? No, it's just a piece of metal shaped like an oblong 'O'that gets pushed into the back of the unit on the other cart. Once the metal piece clicks in, the slot holding the quarter releases from it's catch, freeing the quarter.
edit:
I've seen 2 kinds of these, ones like the one pictured that capture the quarter and then release it from a slot. The other type has a tray that you put the quarter in to then you slide the tray into the body of the device to free the metal piece from the other cart. |
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Damon85
Premium
join:2004-12-25
Louisville, KY
| reply to Mr Neutron
said by Mr Neutron :Did they eventually stop using them because they proved too unpopular with their customers? Seriously, I know giving up a quarter is not that big of a deal, but I wouldn't exactly find such an arrangement to be all that ingratiating, either. Of course, I never claimed to be a reasonable person. As far as I'm aware, they still use them around here. Aldi is not the typical supermarket that carries everything (or at least it wasn't the last time I was in one). They cut their costs as much as possible to keep prices down. Not paying someone to retrieve shopping carts left behind by lazy shoppers is just one of those methods. I don't expect they're a store devoted to unreasonable people with unrealistic expectations, because their objective seems to be reasonable prices instead. They also didn't provide free plastic bags (you could buy nicer large ones or use extra boxes you found about the store), and they didn't take credit cards or checks either (debit/cash only). Great deals, though -- and their carts weren't halfway broken, either. |
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Mr Neutron
Hopped up on what you mopped up
Premium
join:2005-05-30
Gorham, ME
| said by Damon85 :said by Mr Neutron :Did they eventually stop using them because they proved too unpopular with their customers? Seriously, I know giving up a quarter is not that big of a deal, but I wouldn't exactly find such an arrangement to be all that ingratiating, either. Of course, I never claimed to be a reasonable person. As far as I'm aware, they still use them around here. Aldi is not the typical supermarket that carries everything (or at least it wasn't the last time I was in one). They cut their costs as much as possible to keep prices down. Not paying someone to retrieve shopping carts left behind by lazy shoppers is just one of those methods. I don't expect they're a store devoted to unreasonable people with unrealistic expectations, because their objective seems to be reasonable prices instead. They also didn't provide free plastic bags (you could buy nicer large ones or use extra boxes you found about the store), and they didn't take credit cards or checks either (debit/cash only). Great deals, though -- and their carts weren't halfway broken, either. From what I can gather, Aldi is basically the German supermarket equivalent of Wal-Mart. In Aldi's case, apparently, they have 4 or 5 aisles with almost all store brands. And, just as you said, their goal seems to be low prices, with a barebones atmosphere to match.
Here:
»www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_J2CJ-VIZw
Is a video of someone gleefully discovering a Aldi shopping cart left behind by another shopper. It shows them returning the cart to the cart corral and absconding with another shopper's quarter. 
I like my supermarkets sans teutonic overtones so, somehow, I don't feel all that left out not having one of these stores locally. Their absence locally is probably just as well for them, too, actually, seeing as how I would waste no time screwing with (and likely, screwing up) those shopping cart deposit devices.
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We could use the £5,000 to buy a spoon. And then fill up with ice cream. |
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sivran
Long Live The Suite
Premium
join:2003-09-15
Arlington, TX
clubs:
·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to rspsas
I don't hate the carts. I hate the lazy twits who leave them in the parking lot... IN the parking spaces! 
With my previous cars I wouldn't hesitate to just ram them. I kinda like my current vehicle though.. |
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Sweet Witch
Be the flame, not the moth.
Premium,MVM
join:2003-07-15
Gallifrey
·Comcast
| reply to lew_b
said by lew_b :
A local law forces stores to put a device on the cart that chains the cart to the one in front of it. You have to put a quarter in it before the cart can be unlatched from the cart in front of it. This is to get you to return the cart to the corral and not litter the parking lot with carts.
Woe to anyone who dare go shopping without a quarter ! 
They have those over in England too, but it costs a quid (pound coin, worth about $2).
My rant is about those carts that have FOUR rotating wheels. Nothing like pushing your cart forward and having it go sideways! Steering them is nearly impossible with two hands let alone one like the American style.
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"While you can teach an old dog new tricks, you simply can't teach him to be a cat."
"Are you my Mummy?" |
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lefty1
join:2002-10-25
Clay, NY
| reply to Damon85
Not paying someone to retrieve shopping carts left behind by lazy shoppers is just one of those methods.
Amen! Hasn't everyone had the experience of starting to pull into a parking place only to find it occupied by a shopping cart left by some lazy slob? |
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quatrix
Premium
join:2005-02-11
Davie, FL
1 edit | reply to rspsas
I use those straps to attach the seat back to the front of the cart and make it harder for the next overbreeder to fold it out. Hold your applause. |
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quatrix
Premium
join:2005-02-11
Davie, FL
| reply to lefty1
said by lefty1 :Amen! Hasn't everyone had the experience of starting to pull into a parking place only to find it occupied by a shopping cart left by some lazy slob? If I leave the cart out, at least I put it BETWEEN two parking spots instead of right in the middle of one. I don't know why that's so hard for people to figure out. |
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Steve
I'm a PC, so shut up
Consultant
join:2001-03-10
Yorba Linda, CA
| reply to sivran
said by sivran :I don't hate the carts. I hate the lazy twits who leave them in the parking lot... Thoughtful people can help with this by taking a cart in from the parking lot when they arrive at the grocery store, since you're walking in anyway. I always round up a couple of carts on the way in, so on net I help counteract the selfish people who can't be bothered to put things back where they found them.
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Stephen J. Friedl | Unix Wizard | Microsoft Security MVP | Orange County, California USA | my web site |
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Combat Chuck
Too Many Cannibals
Premium
join:2001-11-29
Erie, PA
| reply to lew_b
said by lew_b :A local law forces stores to put a device on the cart that chains the cart to the one in front of it. You have to put a quarter in it before the cart can be unlatched from the cart in front of it. This is to get you to return the cart to the corral and not litter the parking lot with carts. Woe to anyone who dare go shopping without a quarter ! Interestingly there have been studies done about the similar practice in airports. You know where you pay $2 for a cart and get a $0.50 reward when you return it.
More carts were returned than when they just charged a flat $2 than if they charged you $1.50 with a $0.50 deposit. The theory is that charging $2 to rent the cart and giving nothing in return makes people feel guilty for not returning the cart; but when you give them money back for returning it they see that as a "return charge" and just leave the cart if they don't feel like returning it.
Similar things happened when they looked at charging parents a penalty for being late picking their kids up. When they instituted the charge more people started showing up late.
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Come let us reason together. |
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Maccawolf
Premium
join:2001-02-20
Hillsdale, NJ
| reply to fatness
said by fatness :There's always at least 1 wheel on a cart that wobbles or freezes, They were designed that way, you know.... 
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Mom and Crockett...... I miss you both! |
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DonLibes
Premium,ExMod 2001
join:2003-01-19
| reply to wilbilt
said by wilbilt :The local grocery store here has antibacterial wipes in a dispenser just inside the door for customers who wish to wipe the handle off. The wipes are pointless given that all the stuff on the shelves has been handled by people. And just to be sure everyone shares, your cashier will handle everything again, passing the germs from the previous customer on to your goods. |
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nklb
Premium
join:2000-11-17
Ann Arbor, MI
clubs:
| said by DonLibes :The wipes are pointless given that all the stuff on the shelves has been handled by people. And just to be sure everyone shares, your cashier will handle everything again, passing the germs from the previous customer on to your goods. MY cashier uses telekinesis
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for all your Linux questions |
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Kearnstd
Elf Wizard
Premium
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ
| reply to rspsas
having done all the FE tasks at a supermarket i can tell you returning the carts is terrible. people park their cars in front of thst store(for that quick run in) in the fire lanes and many times on the ramp to the sidewalk and as such the doors into the building.
store i worked at kept them inside, our cart team clipped so many bumpers and sideviews of people who blocked the fire lanes and ramps. upside with nobody in the car is nobody had to know.
in spots be extra careful, fire lane is fair game.
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[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports |
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mr_slick
join:2003-05-22
Lynnwood, WA | reply to rspsas
i'm just glad i dont live in a place where the carts are locked up!  |
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markopoleo
join:2003-04-02
Bonne Terre, MO
·Charter Pipeline
| reply to Heshup
said by Heshup :Carts are about as nasty as they come. Think of the all people that had there hands on that bar. When is the last time any one has seen them clean the carts? It would scare the hell out of people if they seen what grew in a petri dish and we put our hands right on that bar. LOL Yes the wheels piss me off in a bad way. It all comes down to one thing SAVE A BUCK! Thats why most wal-mart stores now have hand sanitizer wipes next to carts at entrance.. |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ | reply to Mr Neutron
I could just see the violence among the homeless fighting over that stray cart to get that quarter!
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When I gez aju zavateh na nalechoo more new yonooz tonigh molinigh - Ken Lee |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| reply to quatrix
said by quatrix :said by lefty1 :Amen! Hasn't everyone had the experience of starting to pull into a parking place only to find it occupied by a shopping cart left by some lazy slob? If I leave the cart out, at least I put it BETWEEN two parking spots instead of right in the middle of one. I don't know why that's so hard for people to figure out. Its not hard, its just common courtesy and that seems to be against the law in america!
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When I gez aju zavateh na nalechoo more new yonooz tonigh molinigh - Ken Lee |
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Mele20
Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI | reply to rspsas
They are not "carts". They are WAGONS. Never call one a cart in Hawaii.  |
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Mr Neutron
Hopped up on what you mopped up
Premium
join:2005-05-30
Gorham, ME
| reply to lew_b
said by lew_b :A local law forces stores to put a device on the cart that chains the cart to the one in front of it. When you say "local," is this a town/city thing?
Honestly, I'm having a hard time understanding what all the fuss is about. Most of the stores I go to have the carts that stop at the yellow line. Provided the carts never leave the lot, is it really so hard to deal with them in parking lot?
I'd hate to think this is the kind of thing that town need to pass laws over.
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We could use the £5,000 to buy a spoon. And then fill up with ice cream. |
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