Basketiquette

Confession is good for the soul, so here we go.

I am guilty of not paying it forward. I may have even paid it backward.

Allow me to elaborate.

TG and I swung by a discount generic food chain store on the way home from church on Sunday afternoon.

We do not shop at this market more than once or twice a year, but I needed frozen berries and Audrey had told me they had them for an excellent price.

And since I'm always in the mood to shop, I was open to other possibilities as well.

At this particular store, the shopping carts are lined up outside, locked together.

You need a quarter to rent a rolling basket. 

I had my quarter in my hand and was attempting to figure out where to put it and unlock a unit from the line, when I heard a kind voice.

Here, ma'am. Here's a basket all ready for you, the voice said.

I turned to see a smiling young man proffering his shopping basket in my direction.

Oh, thank you! I said, and smiled back. As I took the cart and steered it into the store, I plopped my purse into the child seat part, and slipped the quarter I'd saved down inside.

TG, who had dropped me off and was parking the car, did not witness the transaction.

Not another thought was given to the basket or the quarter saved, as I was busy selecting items to buy.

We ended up with animal crackers, caramel nut covfefe cake (MAGA), milk, thick-sliced hickory smoked gourmet bacon, dry breakfast cereal for the grandchildren (who are coming for a visit next week), and several other things, in addition to the frozen berries we'd gone in there to get.

Having paid for our purchases and secured them in the trunk of our car, TG took the basket back up to the store to replace it into the outdoor locked line of baskets just like it.

(At that point, I believe you get your quarter back.)

We were parked in such a way that I could see him as he did this.

But when he approached the baskets, a lady walked up -- much as I had done twenty minutes earlier -- and began to place a quarter into the slot.

TG gallantly offered her our paid-for basket, to save her the trouble.

She gratefully (as far as I could tell) took it. And that's when it happened.

The lady extended her arm toward TG and even from a distance, I could tell her fingers held a quarter.

TG pocketed the two bits and strode back to the car.

Oh no.

I was flushed with shame. I was supposed to give the smiling young man who offered me his basket, a quarter! The one that was right there in my hand! And like an ungrateful Greedy Gus, I'd put it into my purse instead!

So now I feel like an idiot. I kept our quarter and we made another quarter! A hundred-percent return on money we didn't even spend! And we'd saved at least two dollars on frozen raspberries too, compared to the market where you don't have to pay for a shoppting basket, and they put your items into bags!

How I wish that smiling young man would appear before me so that I could fish that quarter out of my purse and hand it to him, with a sincere apology for my blunder.

But I doubt I'd even recognize him so if he's hanging around the basket line at that store, waiting for me, he should go on home.

Tell you what. Next time I go to that store, I'll pay a quarter for a basket.

Then, when I wheel it back up to the entrance after unloading my groceries into the trunk, I'll give it to someone who's poised to put a quarter into the slot.

And when they offer me that quarter? I won't take it.

Please tell me that my sacrifice will atone for my deep-discount-store ignorance.

And that is all for now.

=0=0=0=

Happy Tuesday

Comments

[Mari]

I think that young man was offering it to you as an act of kindness and your smile and thank you was enough! And if you pay it forward, you'll make someone else happy! :)

[Sally]

hahahaha

Lawsy mercy! You are too funny.

xoxo

[Judy]

I shopped there once and a lady gave me her cart. I didn't know I was suppose to give HER a quarter! When I went to put my cart back, I offered it to another lady who was coming up to get a cart. She didn't offer me a quarter. So--I don't think you have to pay the other person. Oh Gosh, now you've confused me so I don't think I can never shop there again!!!

[Barb]

What - paying for a cart? Who carries quarters? I don't understand this concept. Why would you pay and then just get the quarter back? I'd still be standing at the line of carts figuring out what to do! I've missed reading your posts. I've been off the computer all summer. We're very dry in CO and fearful of wildfires. Our air quality is bad right now from both MT and CA fires.

[Jennifer]

@Mari ... I hope you're right! i'll see what happens next time although now, I'm so busy at Costco I may never go back to Aldi. Haaahahaaha xoxo

@Sally ... I have strange adventures, that's for sure. xoxo

@Judy ... Maybe I'm overthinking it. I don't reckon many folks care too much if they get their quarter back, but just to be safe, next time I'm going to pay up. xoxo

@Barb ... a summer without the computer sounds awesome; I'm a little envious! Now, I think the reason you pay for the cart and get your money back is so that they don't have to pay someone to round up stray carts from the parking lot. Although I imagine some still get left out there. I didn't know y'all had the dryness and threat of fires. I will keep you in my prayers! xoxo