If you’ve ever visited an Aldi store, you may have noticed something unusual before you even begin shopping. To use a shopping cart, customers must insert a quarter into a slot on the cart handle. For many first-time visitors, this can seem confusing, and some people assume it’s a fee. In reality, it’s simply a temporary deposit. When the cart is returned to the designated area, the quarter is released and given back to the customer.
This system is designed to encourage shoppers to return their carts themselves. After unloading groceries, customers bring the cart back and connect it to the line of carts at the front of the store. Once the cart is locked into place, the coin pops out. Because shoppers want their quarter back, most people return the cart rather than leaving it in the parking lot.....
