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Never Get Stuck At Aldi Without A Quarter Again With This Handy Gadget By Erica Martinez Oct. 6, 2025 6:00 pm EST

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First-time Aldi shoppers are sometimes perplexed to find the store's shopping carts seemingly inaccessible. The carts are lined up and tidy but securely connected by short chains topped with a key, offering only one way to unlock them: inserting a quarter. With a quarter in the slot on the handlebar, the key releases and lets you take the cart. According to Aldi, this system encourages customers to return the carts to the line. Since stores don't have to hire staff to collect corralled carts, they can pass the savings on to customers. But even seasoned Aldi shoppers like me sometim

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