This thrifty mum's ALDI trolley tip is a game-changer for forgetful shoppers
By
VanessaC
- Replies 8
Getting a shopping trolley at ALDI can be a hassle for forgetful customers who show up without a $1 or $2 coin to unlock the wheels.
ALDI uses a coin-deposit system for their trolleys as a cost-saving measure to encourage shoppers to return them neatly.
But remembering a coin is a constant struggle for Brisbane mum Nikes, who frequently shops at ALDI.
And while she does not usually have $1 or $2 coins in her pocket, she always has spare change, which perfectly fits into the slots.
Nikes has been pressing 5c and 10c coins together into the $1 trolley deposit, which releases the lock, freeing the wheels without needing a dollar coin.
'If you show up at ALDI a lot and you keep having to buy the $2 and $1 coins, here's a hack for you,' the mum said.
'Just get a 5c and a 10c coin and put them together in the dollar slot.'
The mum shared that her brother taught her the trick growing up, which admittedly made her feel 'dodgy' and 'sly' at times.
Other users were surprised and impressed when Nikes demonstrated her crafty trick.
'You're a lifesaver! I always have silver coins but never gold,' one shared.
Another added: 'Thanks for sharing! Definitely going to try this.'
'I've shopped here for years and just buy the tokens. This is going to save me money now!' A third replied.
And a fourth said: 'Thank you so much for this tip, I have seven of these trolley tokens now because they're never on the keys where I left them.'
Shoppers also shared other coin-slot tips that worked for them.
'You can use the head of a key, too!' one shared.
'The New Zealand 10c works in the $2 slot,' another replied.
And a third suggested: 'Get yourself a removable shopping trolley token key from eBay and put it on your car keys.'
You can watch Nikes demonstrate how to use the two coins below:
Source: TikTok/@nikes.emelio.
In other news, a shopper at Coles was shocked to find the wheels of his trolley locked up and unable to move.
The man said he was pushing his toddler in a trolley—with nothing but empty reusable bags in it—out of a Moonee Ponds Coles store in Melbourne when an alarm was suddenly triggered.
After an exchange with a cashier, who verified that nothing had been stolen, the employee then 'magically unlocked' the trolley wheels with a hand-held device and the man was allowed to pass through.
The experience still shook the shopper, and he wrote, 'I had no idea Coles had [the] tech to lock up your trolley.'
According to Coles: 'Trolley lock technology has been in place at a number of our stores in recent years, and this technology uses sensors to prevent trolleys [from] leaving the store if someone hasn't first paid at a register.'
You can read more about this incident here.
Members, do you often forget to bring $1 or $2 coins for ALDI trolleys, too? Share your experience (and tips if you have any!) with us in the comments below!
ALDI uses a coin-deposit system for their trolleys as a cost-saving measure to encourage shoppers to return them neatly.
But remembering a coin is a constant struggle for Brisbane mum Nikes, who frequently shops at ALDI.
And while she does not usually have $1 or $2 coins in her pocket, she always has spare change, which perfectly fits into the slots.
Nikes has been pressing 5c and 10c coins together into the $1 trolley deposit, which releases the lock, freeing the wheels without needing a dollar coin.
'If you show up at ALDI a lot and you keep having to buy the $2 and $1 coins, here's a hack for you,' the mum said.
'Just get a 5c and a 10c coin and put them together in the dollar slot.'
The mum shared that her brother taught her the trick growing up, which admittedly made her feel 'dodgy' and 'sly' at times.
Other users were surprised and impressed when Nikes demonstrated her crafty trick.
'You're a lifesaver! I always have silver coins but never gold,' one shared.
Another added: 'Thanks for sharing! Definitely going to try this.'
'I've shopped here for years and just buy the tokens. This is going to save me money now!' A third replied.
And a fourth said: 'Thank you so much for this tip, I have seven of these trolley tokens now because they're never on the keys where I left them.'
Shoppers also shared other coin-slot tips that worked for them.
'You can use the head of a key, too!' one shared.
'The New Zealand 10c works in the $2 slot,' another replied.
And a third suggested: 'Get yourself a removable shopping trolley token key from eBay and put it on your car keys.'
You can watch Nikes demonstrate how to use the two coins below:
Source: TikTok/@nikes.emelio.
In other news, a shopper at Coles was shocked to find the wheels of his trolley locked up and unable to move.
The man said he was pushing his toddler in a trolley—with nothing but empty reusable bags in it—out of a Moonee Ponds Coles store in Melbourne when an alarm was suddenly triggered.
After an exchange with a cashier, who verified that nothing had been stolen, the employee then 'magically unlocked' the trolley wheels with a hand-held device and the man was allowed to pass through.
The experience still shook the shopper, and he wrote, 'I had no idea Coles had [the] tech to lock up your trolley.'
According to Coles: 'Trolley lock technology has been in place at a number of our stores in recent years, and this technology uses sensors to prevent trolleys [from] leaving the store if someone hasn't first paid at a register.'
You can read more about this incident here.
Key Takeaways
- A Brisbane mum has shared a clever tip for unlocking ALDI trolleys without the required $1 or $2 coins.
- Nikes, the mum, inserts a 5c and 10c coin pressed together into the $1 coin slot to unlock the trolleys.
- Many social media users offered similar tips and tricks, including using the head of a key or a removable shopping trolley token key from eBay.