Do You Always Return Your Trolly for The Dollar

Trying2SaveABuck on 05/02/2023 - 21:44
Last edited 05/02/2023 - 21:44

Here as Ozbargain we discuss the real issues….

I have noticed at my local supermarket people are just leaving their trolly wherever and leaving them with 1 and 2 dollar coins in them….for the trolly dude to collect or frugal randoms like myself to return and take the coins…

Now i live in a 'not rich' area in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne so it kind of 'shocks' me that this 'laziness tax' is becoming more common the last 2 trips to the super market ive cleaned up like 7 bucks in change from returning trollies to the bays that were like 10-20meters away.

so the poll below is exclusive to trollies that require a 'coin' to use - as i think we have all been too lazy to return the ones that dont have a coin in them…

[Poll] Do you always return your trolly to get your coin back or is this a laziness tax you are happy to pay

Poll Options

  • 649
    I have always returned my trolly
  • 20
    I have left my coin in the trolly before
Food & Grocery

Comments

    • coffeeinmyveins on 06/02/2023 - 10:43

      Doesn't really work when you want to visit multiple stores to get the best benefits across all of them.

      • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 06/02/2023 - 14:46

        Depends how much we're talking about. Woolies and Coles have low caps. If it's only a saving of $10 I'd rather stay in the car!

  • bamzero on 06/02/2023 - 10:31

    This is OzBargain. I think you already know the answer.

  • coffeeinmyveins on 06/02/2023 - 10:43

    I've never seen a trolley left with money in it, that's just weird, I'm guessing you may have had a one off and this isn't the norm.

  • Some Human on 06/02/2023 - 11:15
    +1

    They don’t lock the trolleys in town, but I return them anyway because I’m a decent human.

  • Ryanek on 06/02/2023 - 11:30
    +3

    I 3D print my trolley coins. To save me the trip back, I'll often ask people on their way to the shops if they want my trolley.

    I have dozens of tokens in my car.

  • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2023 - 11:42

    From my observations I conclude that females are 100% responsible for non returned trolleys regardless of whether they require a coin or not.

    • bamzero on 06/02/2023 - 14:57
      +4

      Saw a guy at Bunnings load up his car, then put the trolley in the middle of the bay next to him. He was like 5 metres from the Bunnings entrance.

      Felt like grabbing it and wheeling it behind his car before he left.

  • 2esc on 06/02/2023 - 12:47
    +3

    Doesnt matter if its a coin trolley or not i always put my trolley in a trolley bay or return to store.

  • TimmyTims on 06/02/2023 - 13:11
    +3

    I use one of those laser-cut token things that can unlock the trolley but don't get locked into the trolley itself.
    But I still return the trolley to the bay. Not because it's the right thing to do, but because the trolley bay is slightly downhill, I get to lean on the back of the trolley and 'ride' it for a few moments. Really the only joy I get when doing shopping

  • gromit on 06/02/2023 - 14:14
    +1

    who uses a coin, I keep a trolley key on my car keys. last thing I want to do is carry around coins.

  • Herbse on 06/02/2023 - 14:29
    +4

    I have a key thing on my keychain but I always take it back to a bay.

    People who don't are lazy and self centred twats.
    They walked 2km walking around a shop looking at crap they don't need but can't walk 5 meteres to return a trolley so just dump it wherever

    • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2023 - 17:03
      -3

      5m… I wish. Most trolley bays are at least 50m apart where I am. Mostly I return them but sometimes I don't (like if it's a heatwave or raining). Besides if everyone returned them the trolley collectors wouldn't have a job.

      • rainynight65 on 06/02/2023 - 17:31
        +2

        Incorrect. There rarely are dedicated 'trolley collectors' any more, except in big shopping centres. It's just the regular staff having to squeeze the job of 'gathering all the trolleys strewn all over the place and bringing them back to where people can use them' in with their other responsibilities.

        • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2023 - 17:38

          Well my local supermarket is quite small but has dedicated trolley collectors. I know that's all they do because they wear some trolley contractor firm's reflective vests and are never seen doing anything else like cleaning. They're either running around after trolleys or sitting down smoking.

          Doesn't matter anyway. Reduce the amount of work and either less people will have a job, or the same number of people will work less hours with less work to do.

      • smartazz104 on 07/02/2023 - 07:47

        Besides if everyone returned them the trolley collectors wouldn't have a job

        False, you think the trolley wheels itself back to the supermarket from the trolley bay?

  • dogboy on 06/02/2023 - 14:41
    +3

    It is a shame that coined trolleys needed to be introduced because of lazy and entitled people who don't have the decency to return trolleys to be considerate of others. No doubt the same people that think the world is their trashcan and litter everywhere.

      • ssfps on 07/02/2023 - 04:37
        -4

        Very good take.

        I return my trolley most of the time, but sometimes I look around and realize the nearest collection bay is 100m away, and it's hot, and i've got a kid with me, no way i'm taking it back. If it was such a big deal the shop can build a few extra bays and hire an extra trolley boy at $20? an hour.

        • smartazz104 on 07/02/2023 - 07:54
          +2

          I'd be interested to know where these shopping centres are with 100m between trolley bays…

          • ssfps on 07/02/2023 - 13:37
            -1

            @smartazz104: There are multiple big centres in Perth where ive encountered this.

            Consider that some are badly designed such that when the car park is full, you have to loop around multiple rows of cars.

  • jaimex2 on 06/02/2023 - 15:05

    Need an option for 'i jam random shit into the coin slot'

  • furyou on 06/02/2023 - 15:17
    +2

    Here I am saving 50c in ozB when I could be picking up $1 and $2 coins at the carpark!

  • spedohero on 06/02/2023 - 15:29

    The new world order is start scanning your own items, pack your own items, bring your own packing bags, return the trolley yourself and pay for all of it. Cheers.

  • seraphim2017 on 06/02/2023 - 15:30
    +3

    Why would you not return a trolley? Even if they're free, at least stacking them together in a holding area means they don't go missing/get added on to your shopping bill in rising prices, or scratch other people's cars?

  • cnrmlj on 06/02/2023 - 15:37

    None of the shopping centres that i use have this requirement. The newest Woolworths did but it was quickly stopped.

  • Gnilgorf on 06/02/2023 - 15:46
    +6

    Heh, Will always return the trolley coin or not. Rather than let the trolley fly around everywhere dinging cars.

    With that being said, pretty sure i've forgotten to reclaim the dollar back at least once. Pushed it back to the trolley bay, and Kameha-meha'd the trolley into the others so they stack nicely…and…just…forgot there was a coin. But i've still made a small profit over the years finding others who have forgotten the same as I have.

    Also started BYO'ing my own collapsable trolley, so rarely do I ever deal with the coin trolleys anymore.

    • Poor Ass on 06/02/2023 - 15:54
      +1

      photo of BYO collapsible trolley

      • Gnilgorf on 06/02/2023 - 16:04

        Its similar to this: https://www.bunnings.com.au/gorilla-carts-180l-folding-sport…

        Bunnings had a bunch on clearance for $25, so picked one up.

        • Poor Ass on 06/02/2023 - 16:20

          so you bring this beach trolley in to shop?

          Ever put any kids in?

          • Gnilgorf on 06/02/2023 - 16:37

            @Poor Ass: Kids? Not yet =] Guess i'm embracing the inner dad early…

            Right now it's mostly when I need to help my elderly mum shop. She buys a lot and shops at a place which has limited / bad access to trolleys. And I can only carry so much / make so many trips to the car to offload.

        • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2023 - 16:27

          Alot of parents were using these @ Colesworth during the first year of the pandemic.

          More recently, I've noticed people transporting their pet in one during a grocery shop.

  • chriskq on 06/02/2023 - 15:54
    +8

    Posting just in case you haven't seen: supermarket trolley return is the ultimate litmus test

    • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2023 - 17:10
      -2

      Or we could equally say people who return trolleys without fail are low people for taking away the job of the trolley collectors. ;-)

      A bigger concern for me is those Tomra recycling shipping containers. They're disgusting. Bottle caps everywhere, empty beer bottle boxes everywhere, the ground sticking to your feet as you walk near it, the stench of beer… I've watched people stand in front of the machine emptying half-full beer bottles on the ground.

      • s1Lence on 06/02/2023 - 17:48
        +1

        This is why I litter, create more jobs for cleaners/janitors and boost the economy
        /s

      • smartazz104 on 07/02/2023 - 07:55

        Or we could equally say people who return trolleys without fail are low people for taking away the job of the trolley collectors. ;-)

        Yeah but anyone who says that is wrong.

        • [Deactivated] on 07/02/2023 - 17:25
          -1

          The people who collect trolleys would be in a better position than you to judge what they themselves think and I bet they'd like to keep their job, at least until they find a better one. ;-)

          • smartazz104 on 07/02/2023 - 19:03

            @[Deactivated]: They aren't losing their job because people take their trolleys to a trolley bay, and anyone who thinks otherwise isn't too bright. By all means, feel free to prove me wrong.

            • [Deactivated] on 07/02/2023 - 19:57
              -1

              @smartazz104: LOL. Yes, of course, every shopper returning their trolley to the bay would mean the same number of trolley collector hours and jobs, even though less work to do = less employees required. And it's perfectly normal for wise business owners to pay the same number of employees though half or more now stand around with nothing to do. It absolutely does take the same amount of time to retrieve trolleys neatly lined up in the few bays in the immediate carpark, as it does to first walk up to 2km away to bring back all the trolleys at traffic light poles at intersections, the local library/Dominos/bike shop/St Vinnies/bowling club/gym/medical centre/pet shop, etc carparks. Time is irrelevant to them. Trolley collectors are actually wise mystical ancients who comprehend the secrets of time travel.

              (It ain't me that's a bit dim.)

      • OzBarAnon on 08/02/2023 - 12:13

        "Dumping garbage everywhere on the train is good actually, because it keeps the people who clean trains employed."

        • [Deactivated] on 08/02/2023 - 15:41

          The quote marks indicate someone said that earlier but I can't find it. But yeah, it is a rather pathetic and dishonest comparison isn't it. i.e. Trains are not external asphalt carparks where a half-eaten Big Mac will feed some birds or insects and the wrapper then degrade with time, and shopping trolleys used thousands of times over several years aren't the same as McDonalds wrappers. Otherwise Woolworths 'Trolley Tracker' wouldn't be a thing.

  • polarq on 06/02/2023 - 16:05

    I have found a dollar in a trolley before, i use that for other trolleys now..

  • GordonD on 06/02/2023 - 16:13

    Around here we don't have trolleys that require you to insert a dollar. And I haven't seen a dollar coin, or carried any cash for any reason, for a long time.

    You probably have roads that you have to pay money to travel on too. We don't. None. Not any. Not in the whole state.

    • Ridiculous Panda on 06/02/2023 - 16:35

      Must be a nice country to live in!

    • smartazz104 on 07/02/2023 - 07:55
      +1

      I heard you guys just got colour television, congratulations.

  • ihfree on 06/02/2023 - 16:19
    +1

    I have never found a coin in a trolley.
    I see plenty of bad behaviour with trollies. In a shopping centre in Western Sydney, they were left between a fire door and bollard preventing the fire door opening.

  • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2023 - 16:53
    +2

    3rd option: Just get a trolley without a coin slot. WW and Coles (where I am anyway) don't have coin slots. So I get one of those from the carpark before going into Aldi (which does).

    There are also 3D printed plastic ones on Thingiverse that go on your keyring. It's shaped so it comes out of the slot while leaving the slot still engaged. So when someone pushes the trolley into another one the slot pops out empty.

  • Morphio25 on 06/02/2023 - 16:54
    +3

    Trolleys at ColesWorth where I live don't require a coin to use them and I return my trolley every time.

    Those who don't return their trolleys = flogs.

  • workerant on 06/02/2023 - 17:08
    +6

    I always return my trolley, irrespective of whether or not it has a dollar in it, out of courtesy to the people who want to park and the staff collecting them

  • Antikythera on 06/02/2023 - 17:54
    -1

    i just plug my trolley into another abandoned one. i get my money and there are now two abandoned trolleys connected together in the middle of the carpark.

  • steve289 on 06/02/2023 - 18:54
    +1

    removable trolley token, unlocks without issues, but I am a good citizen & put my trolley back where it is supposed to go.
    I did find a $1.00 coin the other day. still in my car, looking forward to an OzB $`,00 deal where I can spend it!

  • BartholemewH on 06/02/2023 - 19:40
    +2

    The Colesworths here don't require coins. How someone finds enough goods to fill a trolley at Aldi is anyone's guess.

    • pformag on 06/02/2023 - 21:54
      +2

      Aldi trolley is far superior then Coles and Woolworths trolleys. Wheels are smooth, the ride height is better and there is more room. Even if you don't shop at Aldi, it's still a great trolley. Big W comes in at a close 2nd.

  • Scales82 on 06/02/2023 - 20:16
    +1

    Trolley key. Who carries coins anymore?
    If im not doing anything particularly busy, I'll unlock 2 or 3 trolleys beyond my own. And always do it for little old ladies.

  • pformag on 06/02/2023 - 21:52
    +1

    I pay it forward by using a trolley key and leaving the Aldi trolley with the Coles and Woolworths trolleys.

  • Loopholio on 06/02/2023 - 22:28

    I always take my trolley back to the bay inside the shop and if there are two rows I'll place it in the shortest row.
    I do this not necessarily because it's the right thing to do. I like things to be in order. Partly for the next person and partly for me.

    I've seen a trolley placed upside down in a shrubbery just outside a shopping centre. This must be the work of Chaotic Evil.

  • Debt Free on 06/02/2023 - 23:45
    +1

    Maybe it is just a way people want to Give to the Needy, and the hard working- so if you don’t really need the coin, please leave it for someone who does need it to find.

  • kaleidoscope on 07/02/2023 - 00:29
    +1

    I have noticed at my local supermarket people are just leaving their trolly wherever and leaving them with 1 and 2 dollar coins in them….for the trolly dude to collect or frugal randoms like myself to return and take the coins…

    Meanwhile in my area only aldi has coined trolleys and they are the only ones being returned to the return bays. Coleworths, kmart, big w ones are left all over the place (non coin ones). Sometimes I find them as far as about 500m-1km away from shopping centre and left along pavements. wth! I think for for certain suburbs all trolleys must have coin because most of the people are just leaving them everywhere. My Neighbours car was hit by a trolley which was rolling down the parking lot during high wind / rainy day.

  • THICKnSLOW on 07/02/2023 - 09:29

    I never leave coins unless I need to leave urgently, so far never forgot so thank goodness no memory problem 👍

  • DingoBilly on 07/02/2023 - 09:39
    +1

    Even without the coin incentive I return my trolley and go out of my way to clean up other trolleys from lazy shit people who leave them lying around.

  • Boioioioi on 07/02/2023 - 10:36

    If you don't get your dollar back, you need to hand in your OzB licence unfortunately…

  • ankor on 07/02/2023 - 10:45
    +1

    A trolley dude hit me with his trolley train and didn't apologise, he just looked at me when I turned around. I won't be returning trolleys at that one particular shopping centre anymore.

    • ihfree on 07/02/2023 - 10:53

      Do you make sure he is working? Do you make eye contact while leaving the trolley?

      • ankor on 07/02/2023 - 17:41

        No, I will be indiscriminate during my fortnightly shopping excursions to that particular centre.

  • Sweet Berry on 07/02/2023 - 10:48

    How valuable is your time? I just put the trolley in a place where it is not going to disturb anyone and someone else can collect it. I'm not walking for 10 minutes to return the trolley and another 10 minutes to return to the car.

    Time is money!

    • ihfree on 07/02/2023 - 10:50

      Where are you shopping that it takes 20 minutes to return a trolley?

      • Sweet Berry on 07/02/2023 - 10:50

        Burwood Shopping Centre. It depends on where you park… lol.

        NSW Westfield one.

        • ihfree on 07/02/2023 - 10:52

          Ok, I've never been to a shopping centre where it takes that long to return a trolley. Most centres I go to have trolley bays reasonably close to cars.

          • Sweet Berry on 07/02/2023 - 10:53

            @ihfree: Actually I'm not sure if it has a coin for this centre, but if they implemented it; it generally would be too long for me to return it. I go to a lot of random shopping areas around Burwood.

            It is worse when I am going to an unfamiliar shopping centre.

            • smartazz104 on 07/02/2023 - 13:04
              +2

              @Sweet Berry: You must be parking at one shopping centre and walking to another one if it takes you 20 minutes.

    • Trying2SaveABuck on 07/02/2023 - 11:11
      +2

      How valuable is your time? I just put the trolley in a place where it is not going to disturb anyone and someone else can collect it. I'm not walking for 10 minutes to return the trolley and another 10 minutes to return to the car.

      never in my life have i had to walk more then 90seconds to return the trolley from the back of my car to the bay - if it is 10mins for you then 'fair enough' it is probably worth losing the buck for

    • digitalbath on 07/02/2023 - 16:26
      +1

      Nah you’re just lazy. And you know it. Probably in many other aspects of your life too.

  • Duckie2hh on 07/02/2023 - 14:20

    Darwins law in effect.

  • kevkay on 07/02/2023 - 16:10

    I'm more likely to return a trolley if I don't have to pay for it tbh.

  • webmonkey on 07/02/2023 - 16:24

    3D print one of these: Trolley Key

    I have it hooked on my car keys. You don't need to leave it in the trolley and works with woolies/coles/aldi.

    Remember to be a good person and return your trolley to the bay.

  • imurgod on 07/02/2023 - 16:24

    I return it if I ever use one but I tend to avoid having to use those trolleys because I never carry cash, let alone coins!

  • digitalbath on 07/02/2023 - 16:25
    +6

    If you don’t put your trolley back. Then you’re just a lazy, selfish individual. Especially if you leave it in an open space.
    No other way to put, you can’t put any spin on it to justify it. You’re just lazy….

  • greatlamp on 07/02/2023 - 17:51

    I always return the trolley, regardless of the dollar.

    FWIW a supermarket trolley costs around $300 to replace

  • 00000000 on 07/02/2023 - 17:52

    No i 3d printed a trolley key and use that instead

  • liongalahad on 07/02/2023 - 18:48

    Here in WA there's no such thing as coin for the trolley, not sure why - as a result you often see trolleys left randomly around the carpark - which I generally consider lazy, selfish and rude if you ask me - and there's always a guy employed to collect the trolleys around. I personally always bring the trolly back to the colleciton point, happened a couple times years ago I left them somewhere else when I was running late and felt quite ashamed tbh, as if I were littering or something. So I never do it.

  • sgtdanny69148 on 08/02/2023 - 03:12
    +3

    In an attempt to try and tidy the parking lot and curb the appearance of a poverty stricken ghetto with littered shopping trolleys all over the place, it's just end up exposing how absolute lazy people are and yet we can only assume these are the same people that complain about 'struggling with the lost of living' or not 'financially well'.

    • Gervais fanboy on 08/02/2023 - 03:16
      +1

      It comes down to people not caring about the society as a whole, lack of a common spirit…
      Most of our new age immigrants turning citizen, don’t even know the national anthem or care to know about it.

      That’s why you need a homogeneous society that’s assimilated and aligned together in most of their belief systems.

  • Lockieasy on 08/02/2023 - 07:24

    I thought coined trolleys were just an airport thing. Never encountered one anywhere else. 🤷‍♂️

  • axlfan on 08/02/2023 - 09:15

    Sometimes in shopping centres we cannot get back the cart even if we want to as it might be the only cart of its kind in the return area.

  • OzBarAnon on 08/02/2023 - 12:09

    The trolley/shopping cart test is real

  • surg3on on 08/02/2023 - 14:35

    Coin?

  • Daabido on 08/02/2023 - 18:14

    I saw eshay trolley collectors at Woolies the other day. Lazying about, lying on the stacked trolleys, bumming around on their phones and hunting trolleys in a pack of four with one riding in the trolley to direct traffic. it was bizarre.

  • meowsers on 08/02/2023 - 19:48

    I have a trolley release tool you can just buy on amazon for a dollar. It unlatches the mechanism without getting stuck inside.

  • ozbs25 on 08/02/2023 - 21:56
    +2

    We always return our trolley, coin or not. We sometimes take other trolleys to the return area if they are in the way.

    • Ramrunner on 09/02/2023 - 16:14
      +2

      Same same. Good to see courteous people do still exist. I also teach my kids to do the same (and they do automatically)

      Yes, I'm a 70s baby so to see the increasing laziness over convenience is very disappointing. I hope courtesy makes a comeback for my kids generation. It would be nice.

      Pulling in to a spot to have a trolley sitting there particularly dulls my mood.

      All the best.

  • lainey13 on 09/02/2023 - 13:48

    I once pushed a trolley 1km to return it for the coin left in it. I'm too old and not poor enough for that kind of thing any more…

  • Ryk on 11/02/2023 - 11:38
    +1

    I found a token in an abandoned trolley. I now use that token.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join