The Real Reason Aldi Makes You Pay For Shopping Carts!

If you’ve ever stepped into an Aldi store, you’ve probably noticed something a little unusual before you even get inside — long rows of shopping carts chained together, waiting for a quarter to set them free. For first-time shoppers, it’s a small puzzle: why would a grocery store make people pay to use a cart, even if it’s just twenty-five cents? What seems like an odd inconvenience is actually one of Aldi’s most effective business strategies — a tiny idea that reflects a much bigger philosophy about cost, efficiency, and respect for customers. A Smarter Way to Keep Order At most grocery stores, carts end up scattered across the parking lot after customers load their cars. Employees have to walk…