What’s the reason Aldi charges for shopping carts?

If you’ve ever shopped at Aldi, you’ve probably noticed that the store requires a small deposit to use a  shopping  cart. Unlike most supermarkets, where carts are free, Aldi asks customers to insert a coin—usually 25 cents or a small token—to unlock a cart. While it might seem unusual at first, there’s a clever reason behind this practice.

Encouraging Responsibility and Order
The main reason Aldi charges for  shopping carts is to encourage customers to return them after use. When shoppers use a coin to unlock a  cart, they get it back once the cart is returned to its designated area. This system reduces the number of abandoned carts in the parking lot, keeping the store environment safer and more organized.

Cutting Costs for Everyone
By using this system, Aldi avoids the expense of hiring staff solely to collect stray carts. These savings are passed on to customers in the form of lower prices. In other words, the coin deposit system is part of Aldi’s larger strategy to keep costs down while maintaining efficiency.

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