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0 pointsnicbou3y ago0 comments

A keychain that acts as a coin to unlock shopping carts.

A retractable USB-C to C cable for my backpack.

Replacement keys for my butterfly keyboard MacBook. It’s a drop in replacement that delays a new laptop purchase.

Warm wool socks and sweaters

Paperlike screen protector and metal nib for my iPad mini and Apple Pencil

A 3 meter long USB-C to C cable

0 comments

mrweasel3y ago

> A keychain that acts as a coin to unlock shopping carts.

That's a concern of mine. Once we go all cashless, how will we unlock the shopping carts? Here it's currently being debated if stores should be allowed to reject cash, I think someone forgot about the carts.

bryankaplan3y ago

It's a system that was never introduced in the US, and in fact I've never even heard of it until now. So surely one option is to remove the system altogether.

That written, I'm also surprised there's any serious talk of going cashless there. We have plenty of cash-only businesses here that preclude any serious consideration of the notion.

taylodl3y ago

You apparently have never shopped at Aldi. You need a quarter to get a cart. When you take the cart back and lock it into the carts then you get your quarter back.

1 more reply

occz3y ago

You can just hand out a token to people when they become customers/have them buy one for an insignificant amount of money and you'll get more or less exactly the same effect.

smokel3y ago

In the Netherlands, the largest supermarket chain simply stopped using this system.

[1] https://www.nu.nl/economie/6219200/albert-heijn-neemt-afsche...

yourusername3y ago

There are stores here that hand out coin shaped pieces of plastic that unlock the cart that they give out for free. But if i'm not losing my whole 50 euro cent coin that removes the incentive for returning the cart because i've got a unlimited supply of plastic coins so why are we bothering with a lock?

moffkalast3y ago

That'll be a while, and by that point we'll also have carts that beep loudly when removed from the shop area and try to drive themselves back autonomously heh.

dole3y ago

Most large supermarkets in my city already have automatically locking wheels if they’re taken out of the stores proximity.

nicbouOP3y ago

Tap your phone to unlock the cart, or get charged directly.

Or just abandon the system altogether.

dzhiurgis3y ago

Yes please - also put smartphone holder so I can go thru my checklist hands-free (encouraging checklists would probably loose money to shops as now they incentivise mindless browsing and buying useless crap)

dzhiurgis3y ago

Pisses me off shops that make trillions can’t hire a teenager to push them back.

nicbouOP3y ago

Pisses me off more that grown ups can't put their carts back.

inkcapmushroom3y ago

No shops are making trillions.

mft_3y ago

> A keychain that acts as a coin to unlock shopping carts.

Likewise :) If you've got access to a 3D printer, this works well: https://www.printables.com/model/167637-removable-trolley-eu...

> Replacement keys for my butterfly keyboard MacBook. It’s a drop in replacement that delays a new laptop purchase.

Can I ask for more details of this? Was it the Apple replacement, or 3rd-party/DIY?

nicbouOP3y ago

Third party from AliExpress. I just replace keys as they fall off. The laptop is fine otherwise.

rxyz3y ago

My employer actually gives out a keychain like that in their welcome packs. I was impressed that they care enough to think of it.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

mrweasel3y ago

> A keychain that acts as a coin to unlock shopping carts.

bryankaplan3y ago

It's a system that was never introduced in the US, and in fact I've never even heard of it until now. So surely one option is to remove the system altogether.

That written, I'm also surprised there's any serious talk of going cashless there. We have plenty of cash-only businesses here that preclude any serious consideration of the notion.

taylodl3y ago

You apparently have never shopped at Aldi. You need a quarter to get a cart. When you take the cart back and lock it into the carts then you get your quarter back.

1 more reply

occz3y ago

You can just hand out a token to people when they become customers/have them buy one for an insignificant amount of money and you'll get more or less exactly the same effect.

smokel3y ago

In the Netherlands, the largest supermarket chain simply stopped using this system.

[1] https://www.nu.nl/economie/6219200/albert-heijn-neemt-afsche...

yourusername3y ago

moffkalast3y ago

That'll be a while, and by that point we'll also have carts that beep loudly when removed from the shop area and try to drive themselves back autonomously heh.

dole3y ago

Most large supermarkets in my city already have automatically locking wheels if they’re taken out of the stores proximity.

nicbouOP3y ago

Tap your phone to unlock the cart, or get charged directly.

Or just abandon the system altogether.

dzhiurgis3y ago

Pisses me off shops that make trillions can’t hire a teenager to push them back.

nicbouOP3y ago

Pisses me off more that grown ups can't put their carts back.

inkcapmushroom3y ago

No shops are making trillions.

mft_3y ago

> A keychain that acts as a coin to unlock shopping carts.

Likewise :) If you've got access to a 3D printer, this works well: https://www.printables.com/model/167637-removable-trolley-eu...

> Replacement keys for my butterfly keyboard MacBook. It’s a drop in replacement that delays a new laptop purchase.

Can I ask for more details of this? Was it the Apple replacement, or 3rd-party/DIY?

nicbouOP3y ago

Third party from AliExpress. I just replace keys as they fall off. The laptop is fine otherwise.

rxyz3y ago

My employer actually gives out a keychain like that in their welcome packs. I was impressed that they care enough to think of it.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse