No one needs to "pay" a loonie for a cart since we all get the money back if we return the cart. It does help defray the costs of stolen carts, costs of returning carts to the store from nearby areas and deters those too lazy to return the carts in their proper area and just leaving them everywhere. They, above all, inconvenience everybody else. I especially loathe those who believe it perfectly ok to leave carts in the handicap parking areas. There are sometimes 4 or 5 carts piled in to one spot. Heck, make it a twonie!
Abou - 12 years ago
As far as I'm concerned, a shopping cart is supplied to the shopper/customer for the convenience of carrying the load of groceries we purchase, every time we do our shopping, so we can bring more food to the cash counter and PAY. Small hand baskets are provided for a smaller load of groceries, at no charge. Therefore, it is part of the service which should be provided without having to inconvenience you and I, Mr. & Ms general public, by forcing us to search through pockets or purses to find whichever coin to release one of these carts for our usage. In my opinion, there is no deterant, if someone is going to grab one...they will, no matter what coin!
This poll result has surprised me somewhat, not because more than half of respondents don't think they should pay any deposit, but because 30 per cent are willing to pay a $1 or even $2 deposit if stores would keep their carts in a state of reasonable repair. And, I also note, the issue itself is of some interest to readers, because as of Sunday morning 500 people took the time to reply. Thanks for that! Cheers ...
jessie - 12 years ago
I often shop at No Frills in Casselman and have to pay 25 cents for a cart. I think its a great idea because their carts have to be returned in order to get your money back. You don't find carts being left all over the parking lot by people who are too lazy to put them in their proper place.
Anonymous - 12 years ago
Perhaps stores should actively supervise the use of shopping carts in parking lots. Have attendants to go after people who leave the store's area. Alternatively there are the carts which lock when taken out of a proscribed area. I live in a high density area and am fed up of seeing the carts around my neighbourhood!
ceb - 12 years ago
You know, the loblaws on vanier used to have the 'deposit for a cart thing' but honestly, in our snow the slots iced up so it was often difficult to get a cart. I remember having to go back to the car to get a scraper to try to get a cart loose because there were none inside and the outdoor ones were iced in. I suspect the mechanisms probably broke fairly often due to the weather. Even this week, at the food basics on merivale, the cart I had was handed off to me for free instead of 25 cents because there was no coin in it, so obviously it was broken. In winnipeg they do have these deposits but it doesnt seem to stop people from leaving the carts around or in some places taking them off lot. Face it, 25 cents or a loonie to "borrow" a cart to get things home is much less expensive than a taxi ride or than having to make several separate shopping trips to carry things home by bus. On the weekends the stores there have a person at the door doing nothing but providing change for carts. Thats a fairly hefty salary expense.
Ed - 12 years ago
The last sentence should have included something to the effect that of one were to steal a cart, 25 cents is a small price to pay. Is there a way to edit a comment on this blog?
Ed - 12 years ago
I believe that the point of the deposit is not just to deter theft, but also to have people return their carts to the appropriate spot. I often shop at Costco (deposit not required) on Hunt Club and their carts can be found next door in the parking lot of Petsmart. Where grocery stores, and stores such as Shopper's Drug Mart do not require a deposit for their carts, the carts can be found all over the place. Conversly, T &T requires a loonie deposit and I have yet to see a cart that is not where it is supposed to be. Furthermore, a quarter or a loonie is a small price to pay for a grocery cart, if one is so inclined.
Diane Coupal - 12 years ago
I would definitely pay a toonie to ensure that the carts where in excellent condition. In the fall, the wheels of a cart locked up on me in front of a Walmart store (not out of bounds) and as a result I n0w bare a nasty scar on my leg.
Pat DuBreuil - 12 years ago
I don't mind when it is refundable but I don't think it will stop the theft. People who steal them are probably not putting a coin in them, just grabbing a loose one that comes available. The point is not a question of amount of deposit, but of a person's ethics.
No one needs to "pay" a loonie for a cart since we all get the money back if we return the cart. It does help defray the costs of stolen carts, costs of returning carts to the store from nearby areas and deters those too lazy to return the carts in their proper area and just leaving them everywhere. They, above all, inconvenience everybody else. I especially loathe those who believe it perfectly ok to leave carts in the handicap parking areas. There are sometimes 4 or 5 carts piled in to one spot. Heck, make it a twonie!
As far as I'm concerned, a shopping cart is supplied to the shopper/customer for the convenience of carrying the load of groceries we purchase, every time we do our shopping, so we can bring more food to the cash counter and PAY. Small hand baskets are provided for a smaller load of groceries, at no charge. Therefore, it is part of the service which should be provided without having to inconvenience you and I, Mr. & Ms general public, by forcing us to search through pockets or purses to find whichever coin to release one of these carts for our usage. In my opinion, there is no deterant, if someone is going to grab one...they will, no matter what coin!
This poll result has surprised me somewhat, not because more than half of respondents don't think they should pay any deposit, but because 30 per cent are willing to pay a $1 or even $2 deposit if stores would keep their carts in a state of reasonable repair. And, I also note, the issue itself is of some interest to readers, because as of Sunday morning 500 people took the time to reply. Thanks for that! Cheers ...
I often shop at No Frills in Casselman and have to pay 25 cents for a cart. I think its a great idea because their carts have to be returned in order to get your money back. You don't find carts being left all over the parking lot by people who are too lazy to put them in their proper place.
Perhaps stores should actively supervise the use of shopping carts in parking lots. Have attendants to go after people who leave the store's area. Alternatively there are the carts which lock when taken out of a proscribed area. I live in a high density area and am fed up of seeing the carts around my neighbourhood!
You know, the loblaws on vanier used to have the 'deposit for a cart thing' but honestly, in our snow the slots iced up so it was often difficult to get a cart. I remember having to go back to the car to get a scraper to try to get a cart loose because there were none inside and the outdoor ones were iced in. I suspect the mechanisms probably broke fairly often due to the weather. Even this week, at the food basics on merivale, the cart I had was handed off to me for free instead of 25 cents because there was no coin in it, so obviously it was broken. In winnipeg they do have these deposits but it doesnt seem to stop people from leaving the carts around or in some places taking them off lot. Face it, 25 cents or a loonie to "borrow" a cart to get things home is much less expensive than a taxi ride or than having to make several separate shopping trips to carry things home by bus. On the weekends the stores there have a person at the door doing nothing but providing change for carts. Thats a fairly hefty salary expense.
The last sentence should have included something to the effect that of one were to steal a cart, 25 cents is a small price to pay. Is there a way to edit a comment on this blog?
I believe that the point of the deposit is not just to deter theft, but also to have people return their carts to the appropriate spot. I often shop at Costco (deposit not required) on Hunt Club and their carts can be found next door in the parking lot of Petsmart. Where grocery stores, and stores such as Shopper's Drug Mart do not require a deposit for their carts, the carts can be found all over the place. Conversly, T &T requires a loonie deposit and I have yet to see a cart that is not where it is supposed to be. Furthermore, a quarter or a loonie is a small price to pay for a grocery cart, if one is so inclined.
I would definitely pay a toonie to ensure that the carts where in excellent condition. In the fall, the wheels of a cart locked up on me in front of a Walmart store (not out of bounds) and as a result I n0w bare a nasty scar on my leg.
I don't mind when it is refundable but I don't think it will stop the theft. People who steal them are probably not putting a coin in them, just grabbing a loose one that comes available. The point is not a question of amount of deposit, but of a person's ethics.