Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Qinella]

There's probably a simple explanation for it, but I can't figure out why you have to insert a 100-won coin to get a shopping cart at the big stores. Any theories?

[indytrucks]

To prevent this:

[sjrm]

so people would ask that question.

[tzechuk]

People, believe it or not, will take the shopping cart home with them if they don't live too far and walk to the store but don't want to carry all the shopping with them by hand.

This prevents them from stealing the carts - although 100 won is too little for people to worry about.

In the UK, they ask for a pound (�1), so you HAVE to return it, since a quid is quite a fair bit of money...

[tardisrider]

I agree that the coin helps prevent people from stealing the carts, but I'm thinking that it also has to do with getting people to put them in nice, neat rows.

[Qinella]

Yeah my first thought was that it is supposed to prevent theft, but how would 100 won deter that? I don't get it...

[the_beaver]

[Qinella]

[tzechuk]

When they were first introduced in the UK, we asked the store - Sainsbury's - why they had done that, and we were told that they had too many people stealing their carts to take their shopping home with them, so they came up with that idea (copied from somewhere else, I am sure).

Like I said, in the UK, they ask you to put in a quid, which is a fair bit (about 1700 won).

Here, 100 doesn't do much but Beaver's explanation is good.

[pet lover]

[steroidmaximus]

picture the parking lot at Emart or Hannaro mart full of shopping carts . . . and the subsequent lawsuits when some soccer mom bangs into one and scratches the paint on her Sportage or Rexton . . .

Why pay someone to haul the carts when you can get the customers to do it for you?

[blunder1983]

I like the carts in Asda in England, now when you go outside you pass this red strip of plastic and the back wheels stop moving I always wondered how the clamps worked, but its highly effective!

[teachingld2004]

I think stero has the correct answer. At home (Brooklyn) the carts are free. People take them to the partking lot, and before you park your car you have to move the cart out of the parking space. Also when you need a cart, you have to FIND one.

THis way here, you pay 100 won, you get it back, and you know where the carts are in the first place!

[little mixed girl]

[seoulsucker]

I'll give the carts here this much...the four-wheel action is sweet. Not sure if they've been upgraded since I've been here, but back home the carts only had two wheel action that seriously limited their manuverability.