https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3brJ2WSBpQs
I've seen this video before on shopping cart return as a simple measure of social capital.
I see maybe one stray a month. How is it where you shop?
Over here you have to insert a coin to get a shopping cart, which you can retrieve upon returning it. In consequence, compliance is nearly 100% :P
Quote from: celedhring on February 22, 2023, 12:40:50 AMOver here you have to insert a coin to get a shopping cart, which you can retrieve upon returning it. In consequence, compliance is nearly 100% :P
Strange. I live within walking distance of a grocery store. We have same coin system and yet we end up with many carts around my apt building. So many to the extent that the grocery store will send a worker around the neighborhood to collect them.
For several years I worked at a supermarket mainly as the guy outside collecting trolleys.
A long time ago now but certainly there were a lot of people who didn't care. And given I still see abandoned trolleys in ponds and the like, I don't think times have changed too much other than the idea of the big shop declining.
Tbh I quite liked it when there was a mission to walk to another part of town to collect a wayward trolley.
Even with the coin to release thing, which we had on smaller trolleys but not bigger ones, people would often abandon them. It was always a race with others working there to get this bonus. All too often it wasn't a pound but a pound shaped token. I have a huge collection of those at my parents place.
Quote from: celedhring on February 22, 2023, 12:40:50 AMOver here you have to insert a coin to get a shopping cart, which you can retrieve upon returning it. In consequence, compliance is nearly 100% :P
Same here. I guess the smaller shopping baskets are stolen a lot though.
Used to see them a lot but can't remember the last time.
It's pretty bad here. I see some people take them as far out as they can before they lock up on them. What I really find annoying are the ones that leave them in their parking spot, making it hard for me, or another driver, but mostly me, to park without having to get out, move the cart away, and pull in.
This might make for an interesting poll.
In this vein: https://youtu.be/uBTxlGLxZro
Yeah I don't see any any more, but you used to see loads. No idea why? :hmm:
Near universal return. If you leave a shopping cart out in the parking lot here in winter a gale can easily blow it around causing damage. :hmm:
Back in the 1990s and 2000s it seemed like you saw them abandoned all over the park lot.
These days they all seem to get returned to the little return places. I am not sure what changed.
Quote from: Josquius on February 22, 2023, 02:36:40 AMEven with the coin to release thing, which we had on smaller trolleys but not bigger ones, people would often abandon them. It was always a race with others working there to get this bonus. All too often it wasn't a pound but a pound shaped token. I have a huge collection of those at my parents place.
Could the token be turned into cash, or only store credit?
Seems like a good market opportunity for homeless people. Like here I've seen homeless people collecting deposit cans and bottles from dumpsters.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on February 22, 2023, 11:36:02 AMQuote from: Josquius on February 22, 2023, 02:36:40 AMEven with the coin to release thing, which we had on smaller trolleys but not bigger ones, people would often abandon them. It was always a race with others working there to get this bonus. All too often it wasn't a pound but a pound shaped token. I have a huge collection of those at my parents place.
Could the token be turned into cash, or only store credit?
Seems like a good market opportunity for homeless people. Like here I've seen homeless people collecting deposit cans and bottles from dumpsters.
Its a completely worthless hunk of metal shaped and weighted like a pound coin that works for getting a trolley. Who had the idea to invent this worthless thing and why people bought them beyond those that were from charities is beyond me.
Alas I only got one or two bonus pounds a month so I don't think it'd be that worth it for homeless people.
Reminds me of when the Mersey Tunnel discovered that they had about £100k worth of those counterfeit pound coins :lol:
Quote from: Josquius on February 22, 2023, 12:07:02 PMIts a completely worthless hunk of metal shaped and weighted like a pound coin that works for getting a trolley. Who had the idea to invent this worthless thing and why people bought them beyond those that were from charities is beyond me.
Alas I only got one or two bonus pounds a month so I don't think it'd be that worth it for homeless people.
Where do shoppers get this completely worthless hunk of metal to put in the shopping cart stands?
Quote from: Admiral Yi on February 22, 2023, 12:23:11 PMQuote from: Josquius on February 22, 2023, 12:07:02 PMIts a completely worthless hunk of metal shaped and weighted like a pound coin that works for getting a trolley. Who had the idea to invent this worthless thing and why people bought them beyond those that were from charities is beyond me.
Alas I only got one or two bonus pounds a month so I don't think it'd be that worth it for homeless people.
Where do shoppers get this completely worthless hunk of metal to put in the shopping cart stands?
I recall seeing charity fundraisers selling them. I think general tat shops have them too?
Yeah they are very much not described as "fake pound coins" but actually just fake pound coins :lol:
So if I visit the UK and want to put my groceries in a cart, I first have to go to a charity or "tat" shop to buy the slug? :unsure:
A shining example of British industrial efficiency.
Or you can just use a normal pound or euro.
The only possible value in the tokens I can think is to make sure you don't spend it and always have one in the car.
That and apparently conning scousers who don't do the most basic of checks on coins.
Well also, they cost less than a pound. You get a multipack for a quid.
Quote from: Sheilbh on February 22, 2023, 12:34:59 PMWell also, they cost less than a pound. You get a multipack for a quid.
Well that certainly makes more sense from the shoppers pov. Your cart theft is being subsidized. And I can understand the charities pov, because they're taking a cut.
What I don't get is the grocery stores pov. What possible motivation do they have to subsidize cart theft?
Quote from: Admiral Yi on February 22, 2023, 12:23:11 PMQuote from: Josquius on February 22, 2023, 12:07:02 PMIts a completely worthless hunk of metal shaped and weighted like a pound coin that works for getting a trolley. Who had the idea to invent this worthless thing and why people bought them beyond those that were from charities is beyond me.
Alas I only got one or two bonus pounds a month so I don't think it'd be that worth it for homeless people.
Where do shoppers get this completely worthless hunk of metal to put in the shopping cart stands?
My housing association gave one to all tenants with their branding on it. :o
Quote from: Admiral Yi on February 22, 2023, 12:59:59 PMWhat I don't get is the grocery stores pov. What possible motivation do they have to subsidize cart theft?
Pretty sure from the grocery stores' POV it's a problem. The mechanisms on the carts can distinguish between real and fake coins, and thus the scheme for encouraging cart return is rendered useless. But what can they do about it?
Quote from: Jacob on February 22, 2023, 01:25:31 PMPretty sure from the grocery stores' POV it's a problem. The mechanisms on the carts can distinguish between real and fake coins, and thus the scheme for encouraging cart return is rendered useless. But what can they do about it?
Only allow real money in the stands.
I actually think stores are starting to get rid of them because they're inconvenient but also we're a pretty cashless economy so people don't necessarily always remember to have a coin.
A bit like parking meters moving to text.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on February 22, 2023, 01:27:32 PMOnly allow real money in the stands.
Well yes.
Do you know of a mechanism that can distinguish between a pound coin and a lump of metal the same shape and weight as a pound coin, while being cost-effective to implement?
Quote from: Jacob on February 22, 2023, 01:31:30 PMWell yes.
Do you know of a mechanism that can distinguish between a pound coin and a lump of metal the same shape and weight as a pound coin, while being cost-effective to implement?
Ah, I see your point. I've always assumed machines like self check out stands could distinguish but I really don't know.
So in effect charities and tats (I guess we call those convenience stores or bodegas?) are running a hustle on supermarkets.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on February 22, 2023, 01:34:53 PMAh, I see your point. I've always assumed machines like self check out stands could distinguish but I really don't know.
So in effect charities and tats (I guess we call those convenience stores or bodegas?) are running a hustle on supermarkets.
Yeah basically that's my understanding.
Also, I think tat = "tchotckes" / "bric-a-brac" ... so I think tat-shops are basically dollar store equivalents, or as you say convenience stores / bodegas.
Yeah pound stores here.
I think we'd call convenience store/bodegas corner shops. At least based on whenever the internet in New York decides to have a bout of bodega discourse :lol:
Bodega hijack! :o
A work around is credit card only cart stands.
Or pass a law forbidding the manufacture of slugs.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on February 21, 2023, 11:33:39 PMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3brJ2WSBpQs
I've seen this video before on shopping cart return as a simple measure of social capital.
I see maybe one stray a month. How is it where you shop?
I've never seen a stray shopping cart in the parking. Inside the grocery store, the employees make sure there is no stray cart, as soon as you pur your cart aside while you pay, someone will pick it up if you don't leave with it.
It seems to be an American thing, not returning your cart.
So here's my theory...
As a kid it seemed to me people would just leave their shopping carts wherever in the parking lot. It's no big deal - it's someone's job to go and collect the carts after all.
Then by I think the early 90s they started bringing in those coin dealies that have been discussed - insert a coin to get the cart. Those were suddenly everywhere. I think this now trained a whole generation of shoppers that you need to return your cart.
Now, in the last 10 years, they've gone and removed the coin dealies. Perhaps it's as we've gone more cashless. But I think the habit is now ingrained and people do almost entirely return their carts.
There's a whole side-issue as well - homeless people find shopping carts very useful to keep their stuff. They are mostly the cause of shopping carts being abandoned all hither and yon, and not just in the far corner of the parking lot.
Quote from: Barrister on February 23, 2023, 03:25:21 PMSo here's my theory...
As a kid it seemed to me people would just leave their shopping carts wherever in the parking lot. It's no big deal - it's someone's job to go and collect the carts after all.
Then by I think the early 90s they started bringing in those coin dealies that have been discussed - insert a coin to get the cart. Those were suddenly everywhere. I think this now trained a whole generation of shoppers that you need to return your cart.
Now, in the last 10 years, they've gone and removed the coin dealies. Perhaps it's as we've gone more cashless. But I think the habit is now ingrained and people do almost entirely return their carts.
There's a whole side-issue as well - homeless people find shopping carts very useful to keep their stuff. They are mostly the cause of shopping carts being abandoned all hither and yon, and not just in the far corner of the parking lot.
I never saw coin dealies here or in any grocery store I can remember going to in Quebec. Not sure about Costco, but I don't think so either.
Only 1 chain had coin locking their shopping cart here (Maxi) but the pandemic killed that it hasn't returned afaik.
Near universal return of shopping carts. Only the Walmart has carts with distance locks.
(I live in a suburb of 450k the size of Salt Lake city, I don't frequent all stores)
Quote from: viper37 on February 23, 2023, 03:17:09 PMIt seems to be an American thing, not returning your cart.
Not according to the documentary Trailer Park Boys.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on February 23, 2023, 10:18:24 PMQuote from: viper37 on February 23, 2023, 03:17:09 PMIt seems to be an American thing, not returning your cart.
Not according to the documentary Trailer Park Boys.
:lol: :cheers:
I park next to the cart return. Less walking, then I put the cart away.
Since I there are 4 supermarkets within 800 yards of here, I see quite a few abandoned in the lanes or fields hereabouts, sometimes thrown in the river, so I tell them where to come and collect it from.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on February 23, 2023, 10:18:24 PMQuote from: viper37 on February 23, 2023, 03:17:09 PMIt seems to be an American thing, not returning your cart.
Not according to the documentary Trailer Park Boys.
Ok, it's an Anglo-Saxon thing then :P
It seems some people are very good at returning their shopping cars, at least.
(https://i.redd.it/c4281duagepa1.jpg)