Why Aldi Charges for Cart Use — And How It Benefits Shoppers

Looking for a budget-friendly grocery store that doesn’t compromise on quality? Look no further than Aldi. With over 2,000 locations across 36 states, this German chain is dedicated to providing “the best food at low prices.” Aldi emphasizes that “everything [they] do is purposefully designed to save people money.” One of their clever strategies is requiring customers to temporarily pay to use grocery carts.

If you’ve shopped at Aldi before, you’re likely familiar with this practice. To unlock a grocery cart, customers insert a quarter into a slot at the cart corral near the store entrance. Once you’ve finished shopping, simply return the cart to reclaim your quarter. But how does this save the store money?

According to Aldi’s website, the quarter system reduces the need for additional staff to collect carts from the parking lot. This cost-saving measure helps Aldi keep prices low for shoppers. Plus, the quarter acts as an incentive for customers to return their carts.

This simple practice is just one reason Aldi can maintain its low prices (their focus on private-label products also contributes). For those who might not want to trek back to the store, there’s an easy workaround: look for another customer heading in! You can swap your cart for their quarter, saving yourself some extra steps (or getting in those steps, as walking has its benefits).

Worried about not having the right change? There’s a simple solution: set aside a quarter specifically for your Aldi trips. You might keep it in a special spot in your wallet to avoid spending it elsewhere or stash it in your car’s cup holder. This was a trick I used when I regularly shopped at Aldi—it worked wonders! I kept my quarter on the shelf next to my reusable shopping bags to jog my memory. For added flair, you can even find cute Aldi quarter-holder keychains on Etsy to keep you prepared.

So next time you head to Aldi, make sure you have a quarter handy!