A lot of countries use coin operated cart releases, which give you a coin back on return. This is very uncommon in the US. Generally there are just metal “corrals” with guardrails you return a cart to in the parking lot.
The only store that I know of that uses coin returns is Aldi, but that’s still regional in the US.
Now I’ll upset some people here, I’m sure but…
Here in the UK, you can see how decent an area is using this method.
Go to the nearest Tesco Extra. If they have the coin traps on the trolleys, probably a dodgy area. If they don’t, not so dodgy area.
In both cases, you’re going to find the trolleys are generally not left lying around. Read into it what you will.
I only use Tesco extra as an example because from my experience other supermarkets either have the coin traps, or don’t. It seems only Tesco (correct me if I’m wrong) vary the behaviour by area.
This is accurate is my city with no coin traps. Nicer areas have no carts laying around. “Lower class” areas have lots of carts around.
Funny thing is in the high class area I never see an employee doing cart return, but in the lower class area they’ll be 2 or 3 doing it.
So it’s not a matter of staffing. It’s the people not having good cart etiquette.
Yeah, both are uncommon here. Aldi is regional in the US. Trader Joe’s is generally in the other regions, which is owned by the Aldi nord part of the family.
I don’t think the lack of overlap is that intentional, it’s just a big nation and Aldi/trader joes just haven’t really tried to expand in the areas where the other setup first.
