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Americans are baffled by this British shopping cart rule

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https://nypost.com/2025/09/15/lifestyle/americans-are-baffled-by-this-british-shopping-cart-rule/

 

It's kind of neat but what if you just happen to not have a coin and how will the homeless buggers transport their belongings.

 

And the one thing the American said she “couldn’t comprehend” was the shopping cart protocol, which asks shoppers to bring a one-pound (£) coin deposit to unlock and use a buggy — to be returned only after it is returned to its depot.

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  • Seems it doesn't take much to baffle some Americans.

  • NY Post ...    Don't know where that Yank is from, as they had those, 'coin to release' carts over 25 years ago in  use at chain stores.   Even show it in the movie "The Terminal" (2004) whe

  • I've never once been in a store in the US where I had to use coins for a shopping cart. Airports....yeah of course you have pay for luggage cart.    What chain store in the US have been usin

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Been an thing for a long time already in the NE part of USA.

 

image.jpeg.ae6f002af49463611e4400bab2a180a6.jpeg

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2 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

https://nypost.com/2025/09/15/lifestyle/americans-are-baffled-by-this-british-shopping-cart-rule/

 

It's kind of neat but what if you just happen to not have a coin and how will the homeless buggers transport their belongings.

 

And the one thing the American said she “couldn’t comprehend” was the shopping cart protocol, which asks shoppers to bring a one-pound (£) coin deposit to unlock and use a buggy — to be returned only after it is returned to its depot.

NY Post ... :cheesy:

 

Don't know where that Yank is from, as they had those, 'coin to release' carts over 25 years ago in  use at chain stores.   Even show it in the movie "The Terminal" (2004) where Tom Hanks is stuck at JFK and starts collecting unreturned ones for spending money.

 

@NickyLouie FL & Memphis area also

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Seems it doesn't take much to baffle some Americans.

19 minutes ago, Maypole31 said:

Seems it doesn't take much to baffle some Americans.

Well, it's a big country.  Get outside the metros, and you don't have thieves & homeless folks stealing shopping carts.  I remember taking my first Thai wife's mother to Big C with us, and she was scared to get on the escalator, as first time ever seeing.

 

Not everyone is exposed to crime ridden areas.  Strange you expect everyone to be.  Is it that common in UK, or just the metros ?   It's the NY Post, they'll have you believe it's not safe to walk around at night or even daytime, everywhere in the USA.   Nothing could be further from the truth.   45 yrs, and never an issue.

 

I never really locked my doors, or made sure they were all the time.  And I lived in some crappy neighborhoods, when not living kind of rural.  Still don't do it now.  

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  • Popular Post
58 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

NY Post ... :cheesy:

 

Don't know where that Yank is from, as they had those, 'coin to release' carts over 25 years ago in  use at chain stores.   Even show it in the movie "The Terminal" (2004) where Tom Hanks is stuck at JFK and starts collecting unreturned ones for spending money.

 

@NickyLouie FL & Memphis area also

I've never once been in a store in the US where I had to use coins for a shopping cart. Airports....yeah of course you have pay for luggage cart. 

 

What chain store in the US have been using the coin method for decades?

18 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

I never really locked my doors

 

Same here. I like to encourage intruders.

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12 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

I've never once been in a store in the US where I had to use coins for a shopping cart. Airports....yeah of course you have pay for luggage cart. 

 

What chain store in the US have been using the coin method for decades?

PathMark, Publix, Kroger, WalMart, when I was there 25+ yrs ago

 

Oh yea, Sam's and or Costco (Memphis area)

 

I think main reason aside from theft, not really a problem where I lived, but damage to vehicles if windy.   Along with less employees to round them up.

 

image.png.44ed5a94d39d0e74dbba44d6982a787c.png

Does the US have a coin of similar significant value to use in such a system? 

 

I think it was South Africa where you take your full and paid for shopping cart to a certain location and walk to your car then drive the car to the designated point where our groceries are put in the trunk and you drive away. Very civilized. No shopping carts at all in the car park.

9 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Well, it's a big country.  Get outside the metros, and you don't have thieves & homeless folks stealing shopping carts.  I remember taking my first Thai wife's mother to Big C with us, and she was scared to get on the escalator, as first time ever seeing.

 

Not everyone is exposed to crime ridden areas.  Strange you expect everyone to be.  Is it that common in UK, or just the metros ?   It's the NY Post, they'll have you believe it's not safe to walk around at night or even daytime, everywhere in the USA.   Nothing could be further from the truth.   45 yrs, and never an issue.

 

I never really locked my doors, or made sure they were all the time.  And I lived in some crappy neighborhoods, when not living kind of rural.  Still don't do it now.  

My comment was rather tongue-in-cheek not meant to taken too seriously. Having said that, I would agree with much of you comments and observations.

  • Author
14 hours ago, Maypole31 said:

Seems it doesn't take much to baffle some Americans.

I look at it like an inconvenience. It's bad enough in many stores you need an employee to unlock the glass cases for some razor blades and such. 

  • Author
14 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Well, it's a big country.  Get outside the metros, and you don't have thieves & homeless folks stealing shopping carts.  I remember taking my first Thai wife's mother to Big C with us, and she was scared to get on the escalator, as first time ever seeing.

 

Not everyone is exposed to crime ridden areas.  Strange you expect everyone to be.  Is it that common in UK, or just the metros ?   It's the NY Post, they'll have you believe it's not safe to walk around at night or even daytime, everywhere in the USA.   Nothing could be further from the truth.   45 yrs, and never an issue.

 

I never really locked my doors, or made sure they were all the time.  And I lived in some crappy neighborhoods, when not living kind of rural.  Still don't do it now.  

Wonder why it is that some hotels have a lock on front doors that require a card to swipe just to enter lobby, then for elevator to work. Being safe anywhere is subjective.  Times change, so do the good ole days.

17 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

I've never once been in a store in the US where I had to use coins for a shopping cart. Airports....yeah of course you have pay for luggage cart. 

 

What chain store in the US have been using the coin method for decades?

Aldi's.

  • Popular Post
17 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

Does the US have a coin of similar significant value to use in such a system? 

 

I think it was South Africa where you take your full and paid for shopping cart to a certain location and walk to your car then drive the car to the designated point where our groceries are put in the trunk and you drive away. Very civilized. No shopping carts at all in the car park.

Why doesn't the US have a dollar coin?

4 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Why doesn't the US have a dollar coin?

 

I don't know that is why I asked. Duh!

7 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

 

I don't know that is why I asked. Duh!

 

I wan't asking you personally.  Hopefully there are some Americans reading.

22 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

Does the US have a coin of similar significant value to use in such a system? 

 

I think it was South Africa where you take your full and paid for shopping cart to a certain location and walk to your car then drive the car to the designated point where our groceries are put in the trunk and you drive away. Very civilized. No shopping carts at all in the car park.

We have had dollar coins off and on until 10-15 years ago.

 

 

22 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

Does the US have a coin of similar significant value to use in such a system? 

 

I think it was South Africa where you take your full and paid for shopping cart to a certain location and walk to your car then drive the car to the designated point where our groceries are put in the trunk and you drive away. Very civilized. No shopping carts at all in the car park.

We have had dollar coins off and on until 10-15 years ago.

 

 

"In the US, shopping carts are often left strewn about the parking lot, despite the designated cart drop-offs scattered throughout the property for convenient returns."

 

Apparently, this is the case in the UK, because they have to pay people to bring them back. 

 

But this generally was not the case twenty years ago. People not taking their carts back, and leaving the carts full of trash is a relatively new thing. And it is much worse in some areas than others. 

  • Popular Post
On 9/17/2025 at 12:53 PM, EVENKEEL said:

https://nypost.com/2025/09/15/lifestyle/americans-are-baffled-by-this-british-shopping-cart-rule/

 

It's kind of neat but what if you just happen to not have a coin and how will the homeless buggers transport their belongings.

 

And the one thing the American said she “couldn’t comprehend” was the shopping cart protocol, which asks shoppers to bring a one-pound (£) coin deposit to unlock and use a buggy — to be returned only after it is returned to its depot.

There are many things Americans don't comprehend.

 

How the allegedly most free country has the world's highest prison population.

 

Why many people don't believe in angels.

 

Why a country defended by two mighty oceans east and west, with friendly neighbors north and south, needs to spend more on defence than the next ten countries combined.

 

Why the world's richest country has medicines that are 3-4 times more expensive than most other countries.

 

Of course, their love of guns. Need I say more.

Can't be far away when you will scan a QR code on the cart to pay and unlock it. Then the reverse when finished. Or a cardslot. Or maybe a 10 Bht slot would be easier.

23 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Well, it's a big country.  Get outside the metros, and you don't have thieves & homeless folks stealing shopping carts.  I remember taking my first Thai wife's mother to Big C with us, and she was scared to get on the escalator, as first time ever seeing.

 

Not everyone is exposed to crime ridden areas.  Strange you expect everyone to be.  Is it that common in UK, or just the metros ?   It's the NY Post, they'll have you believe it's not safe to walk around at night or even daytime, everywhere in the USA.   Nothing could be further from the truth.   45 yrs, and never an issue.

 

I never really locked my doors, or made sure they were all the time.  And I lived in some crappy neighborhoods, when not living kind of rural.  Still don't do it now.  


and a fake story but ................ those damn Americans. lol

  • Author
24 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

There are many things Americans don't comprehend.

 

How the allegedly most free country has the world's highest prison population.

 

Why many people don't believe in angels.

 

Why a country defended by two mighty oceans east and west, with friendly neighbors north and south, needs to spend more on defence than the next ten countries combined.

 

Why the world's richest country has medicines that are 3-4 times more expensive than most other countries.

 

Of course, their love of guns. Need I say more.

I agree, we're pretty awesome. Do you have a special black cloud that just hovers over you, everywhere, all the time?

1 hour ago, EVENKEEL said:

I agree, we're pretty awesome. Do you have a special black cloud that just hovers over you, everywhere, all the time?

I am your little ray of sunshine, posting facts for your enlightenment.

 

There is a black cloud over America, entirely self-inflicted.

7 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Why doesn't the US have a dollar coin?

They tired it, and it failed.  No one used it. 

2 hours ago, Lacessit said:

How the allegedly most free country has the world's highest prison population.

You are not free to break the law. 

2 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Why a country defended by two mighty oceans east and west, with friendly neighbors north and south, needs to spend more on defence than the next ten countries combined.

Who has defended the West since the end of WW2?

On 9/17/2025 at 11:04 AM, KhunLA said:

Get outside the metros, and you don't have thieves & homeless folks stealing shopping carts.

 

The shopping carts in Germany are operated the same.

 

But this is not against theft from the homeless (even they would have a Euro coin to liberate a cart), it is to have people bring their empty carts back to the main depot after shopping, instead of just abandoning them all over the car park. Works like a charm.

 

Maybe Americans are less lazy than Germans and bring back their carts in the most orderly fashion?

4 minutes ago, jts-khorat said:

 

The shopping carts in Germany are operated the same.

 

But this is not against theft from the homeless (even they would have a Euro coin to liberate a cart), it is to have people bring their empty carts back to the main depot after shopping, instead of just abandoning them all over the car park. Works like a charm.

 

Maybe Americans are less lazy than Germans and bring back their carts in the most orderly fashion?

In many areas of the US, most people do bring the carts back in an orderly fashion. Twenty years ago, most everyone did. 

 

Leaving them scattered about, and of full of trash is a relatively recent development. 

15 minutes ago, TedG said:

You are not free to break the law. 

Really? Your president seems to be able to.

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