"...having to "rent" the shopping carts. " lol. I don't know if it's really renting, since you get your money back.
I think it's really smart. It doesn't cost us the consumer any money to use the trolleys, they don't have to pay a zit popping teen to chase after them, and you won't find your car scratched and dented from one that a dits in a hurry left parked by the curb, ON A WINDY day, up hill from your car and that the wind has mercilessly sent careening into your side panel.
You just have to get used to having a quarter, at the ready, upon entering the store.
Also, because the trolleys are usually kept under cover and tethered together when not in use, they are in better condition than one that has blown into a ditch, been submerged in water for a couple of weeks until the zit covered teen is instructed to fish it out. By that time, it's starting to rust and sludge has started to grown on it, and tad poles have laid eggs in the tubing. Also, you are less likely to deal with carts that have been away from the store for several weeks, serving as a homeless persons RV/transportation vehicle/personal mover of less-than desirable goods, shall we say.
I wish all stores would do the 'rental thing'. lol.
I'm thinking most stores don't do checks anymore for several reasons.
Debit cards aren't too difficult to manage. You just need a pin number.
Debit cards are safer than a check. With a check you have both the electronic communication with the financial institution AND a written piece of paper with your personal information on it (the check). With a credit or debit transaction, you only have the first thing.
With a debit card, you can also get money from your account by including your request in the transaction, usually for no fee. At Aldi's there's no fee. At Grocery Outlet, Hannaford, and Price Chopper's there is no fee. At Dollar tree there is a small fee.
