Aldi has issued a warning to customers against using makeshift items such as keys or trolley tokens instead of a £1 coin to unlock shopping trolleys. The alert follows a discussion on Reddit, where an employee urged shoppers to avoid the practice, which can damage the locking mechanism or cause jams.
The supermarket chain requires a £1 coin to release a trolley, which is returned when the trolley is brought back. This system reduces costs by eliminating the need for staff to collect abandoned trolleys. However, some customers have attempted to bypass this by using house keys or purpose-made tokens.
The employee cautioned that using alternatives could lead to “serious trouble” for both the shopper and the store. One Reddit user commented that the trick can damage the lock mechanism if a key is used improperly, while others noted that staff at some stores would rather lend a pound than see customers use keys.
For those without a coin, simpler alternatives exist, such as asking at the checkout or finding an abandoned trolley with a coin inside. The warning suggests that sticking with a £1 coin is the safest option to avoid potential damage and inconvenience.
