It's surprising to me US carts don't have to be unlocked by a coin (which you get back when you lock your cart again), it's like that in every supermarket I know in France and Germany and probably many other European countries.

You can misbehave but it costs you a little bit, and if you do someone has the opportunity to make a buck off you by cleaning after you.

[–] HowManyNimons@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I think it's because Americans don't have dollar coins.

[–] Entertainmeonly@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 9 months ago

The USA has like 26 various prints of dollar coins. Only two of witch are not a standard weight and size. Those two also being the oldest and more rare of all the versions. We could absolutely start using them as they are still minted on a regular bases. For the life of me I still don't understand why they are so rarely used.

[–] doggle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Stores have tried it. Customers hate it. Chiefly because many people simply don't carry any coins on them. You can't have all of your store's registers set to card only mode (yes this is very common for some reason) and then expect people to have a coin on them at all times, so they don't bother.

It also seems trivially easy to circumvent. Easier than remembering to bring a quarter with you when you go to the store.

[–] morgunkorn@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 9 months ago

Yeah in a cashless society things like that can't work well. In Germany cash is king, you can't go out without. In France it is mandated that shops accept at least 2 means of payments (among cash, card, check or wire transfer), and only cash and cards have enough safety and speed that shops and restaurants want to use it.