No pound for shopping trolley

[maddiie]

Outside Lidl today I had £1 coin in my back pocket specifically for the trolley and my phone, pulled my phone out to grab the £1 and just my luck the £1 fell out and rolled away, deep under all the trolleys, tried reaching it but it was unreachable. There were several people standing outside, and while I was there looking for it 4 people came back to return trolleys. After I admitted defeat several more people were returning trolleys. I'm a bit socially awkward so would never ever dream normally of asking, but I had no other money and it's a Lidl on the outskirts of the town so no cash points in walking distance. I asked five people, very politely and all of them refused. I had to drive back in to the town centre, find parking, walk 15 mins from parking to cash point and then back to car and drive to Lidl. Don't get me wrong I'm not entitled to other people's money and I know £1 might be a lot to some people.. but over 20 people saw I was trying to get a trolley/get my pound back and I found it so strange that no one offered, or was willing to help. I've given trolleys to people with a £1 in before if there's been long queues or something.. in my situation id definitely of helped.

What would you do?

Try a 2p next time. I don't know if they fit in UK ones but they fit into trolleys which take a €1/€2/50 euro cent.

They're far too big, bertie.

There was enough kerfuffle when our pound coins changed and the size difference involved was small.

Ah that's a shame. They are about the same size as a 2€ (and a key top) hence why I wondered.

Ive forgotten a few times at Aldi - I just go and ask at the check out and give them my change. Don’t need to queue just pop up when someone else is paying so they can do a quick swap. Forgot it once at Lidl and they gave me a token thing.

You just ask in the shop. It's really common. They either give you a coin to use or they give out a trolley token.

We have a trolley token keyring so wouldn’t have given you the trolley I’m afraid, and I never carry cash.
I know it’s a shit situation but I imagine most people weren’t doing it to be spiteful.

I'd have given you a pound if you asked nicely and I had one in my purse. I try to keep a few spare £1 coins for parking in my car anyway.

For future though, pop into Home Bargains or similiar type shop, and get a key ring with trolley token, to put on your keys. They're so cheap and handy.

You obviously have very tight Lidl staff where you are.

But she didn't actually ask the staff as she couldn't be bothered queuing. 🤷‍♀️

I’d have given you my trolley token (I have about 8 in the car, all freebies) and just used a coin myself. Or swapped loose change for a suitable coin.
Just keep asking till you find me!

I think people are so wary of chuggers, scammers and beggars that their first reaction is to refuse. But the person behind will have time to process and react in a more pleasant, helpful manner.

You don’t have to queue
Just wait at the till end and ask when they open the till

I'd give a pound coin if I had one - it's such a small kindness and it's not exactly breaking the bank

That tendency to just not help because it doesn't have anything to do with you really grinds my gears

Not much help regarding why people didn’t help you out but those plastic charity tokens that’s you are given and drop into your choice of good cause work in trolleys. I have several scattered around in my car, purse and jacket pockets.

I keep an old pound coin in my car as my trolley coin. That way I know I won’t be able to spend it and find myself without a coin. For that reason I wouldn’t give someone else my trolley!

Surely buying a bottle of wine and getting cashback would have been quicker than what you did do, even with the queues?

I have a basket only rule in Lidl/Aldi to limit my aisle of wonder spending though I do sometimes take two baskets! I would be no use to you.

No Lidl but Aldi last week. I forgot my trolly token and was struggling with 2 small carry baskets - member of staff came over and offered to open up a trolly for me. He told me to ask next time as they will always do this if a customer doesn't have a pound/token.

I've been faced with totally forgetting you need a pound with some trolleys and not having one, relying on my trolley token which had broken and gone missing!

I took my keys into the shop as a deposit and they leant me a pound to use in the trolleys, which I gave back to get my keys back.

Simple :)

I would have helped.

2 x 20ps on top of each other also works

in waitrose they release them for you, i tried this in asda but they were less helpful.
buy a token op.

Loads of times I've got to a supermarket and haven't had a pound for a trolley. Never occurred to me to ask people for a pound or to ask the shop to give or lend me one. I just get a basket and buy less shopping.

No help to you now but Home Bargains are selling trolley tokens for 29p so you could stash one in the car. I would have given you my trolley but in the days I was very skint it could literally have been my last pound !

I keep a few tokens designed to fit in trolley in the car. Otherwise I’d use a basket or go to Waitrose.
If asked, I would give a pound coin though. Actually if I saw someone without, I’d offer a coin.

Having to use a pound for trolleys - is this in all areas of the UK or just in suburbs where people are more likely to steal them? ( eg students for moving house etc)
We don’t have this in NZ. It’s a shame you met people unable/ not wanting to help - it can happen to anyone . I’ve had strangers offer to pay my bus fare when I’ve forgotten my card. A woman offered to put DP’s shopping on her card when he forgot his wallet the other week. Maybe you were unlucky or some people are suspicious .

No help now but Home Bargains are selling trolley tokens for 0.29p so you could stash one in the car . I would have given you my trolley but a few years ago when I was skint it could have literally been my last pound !

Our Aldi has one of the bits that is on the chain for each member of staff. They just release them if you need one but have no change. I have even come back to find my overfilled basket neatly paced in a trolley.