How Well Do People Where You Shop Return Their Shopping Carts?

[Admiral Yi]

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.

Where do shoppers get this completely worthless hunk of metal to put in the shopping cart stands? 

[Josquius]

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.

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?

[Sheilbh]

Yeah they are very much not described as "fake pound coins" but actually just fake pound coins

[Admiral Yi]

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?

A shining example of British industrial efficiency.

[Josquius]

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.

[Sheilbh]

Well also, they cost less than a pound. You get a multipack for a quid.

[Admiral Yi]

Well 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?

[garbon]

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.

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.

[Jacob]

What 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?

[Admiral Yi]

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?

Only allow real money in the stands.

[Sheilbh]

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.

[Jacob]

Only 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?

[Admiral Yi]

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?

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.

[Jacob]

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.

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.

[Sheilbh]

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