the first time I shopped at Aldi I didn't know about the quarter thing. I saw a lady in the lot just emptying her cart and I, as I often do, offered to take the cart back for her. She looked at me funny, shrugged her shoulders as if nobody had ever done that before, and let me have the cart. It wasn't until I got to the store and saw how the process worked that I realized she must have thought I just wanted her 25 cents.
As far as the experience in the store, I wasn't impressed. It just happens to be a place I often pass by, so certain items I'll pick up, and they are much cheaper than anyplace else, but it's not generally worth the extra stop.
That's where I live in NY. Now, in TV, I treat PUBLIX like a convenience store. I have seen several items there that cost close to $6, that I have found in Walmart for $3.50-$4.00...e.g. last winter when eggs were crazy, they were close to $6/dozen in Publix and more like $3 at Walmart. If I'm filling up a basket, it's worth the extra 10 minutes it takes me to get to Wedgewood.
As far as the claim that Walmart staff aren't helpful, that's pure BS. Just yesterday I was in the Walmart in Watkins Glen, NY (which happened to be crazy with customers as it's Nascar Week in Watkins Glen, a fact I had let slip my mind), and twice I needed directions. Both staff members I asked stopped what they were doing and took me there. I've never met a rude staffer at Walmart. I agree that the staff at PUBLIX are always very friendly.
Hey, to each their own. As far as the quarter thing, if that sets you off, whatever. Aldi is doing great without you. They know what they're doing and it must work for them, or they wouldn't bother. I suspect the real payoff is that since people bring the carts back, and they aren't littering the lot, they are just a little more inconvenient for the non-shopper to pilfer, which is what most likely happens to the carts that walk away. Since Aldis are free standing stores, they have small lots, and it's not much of a bother to return the cart and retrieve the quarter, or if you run into someone like me, just sacrifice the 25cents and feel good about yourself.
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