Okay soooo …

Since when do shopping carts cost money to use?

Thank you! I’m saying “thank you” because I’m hoping you read that and were all, “say whaaaat? cost what money?” … you know, being my online validation and all.

I go to Aldi — which let me quickly say — I love Aldi. I totally feel like I’m en Europe in there, afterall, it is a German owned chain. Hence I like to frequent Aldi, to induce Europe-store-like reactions in me. Hey, I can pretend well.

The other day, I’m about to walk in, when I think I’m being so nice by offering to take this old man’s cart for him, so he doesn’t have to walk it all the way back. When I placed my hands on it, about to take it away, his gripped tightened, and apparently I must not have been listening to him, because he says: “No, No! I NEED MY QUARTER!”.

Um. What quarter might that be sir?

More confusion ensued, where upon I kept trying to take the cart and he kept holding on to it. Yep, I was thoroughly lost … still in my helpful state of oblivion.

Thankfully, another customer rushed over, because at this point the guy was getting rather loud about his quarter and saying something about “stealing” his cart {I was aghast – me, steal? Really?} , and explained — while pointing at the cart — that it costs a quarter to use, but you get that quarter back upon successful cart return.

I say successful, because we all know an unsuccessful cart return story … something that involves a cart leaning up against our car or in the middle of a parking space … or your neighborhood park. Yeah. Always nice.

At this point I was completely embarrassed, apologized, and quickly walked into the store to avoid further cart stealing humiliation.

Now I know: Aldi carts cost a quarter. Actually not a bad idea. I understand why they do it. All the carts get returned and it creates more efficiency on their end. Win-win. I just wish there could be a big sign near the carts, letting us know that.

Or a nice memo informing us would be great … since I totally didn’t get the memo — Office Space anyone? — this would be great about a lot of things in life.

Of course, there’s always trial by cart, or error. That’ll do it, too.