It all began back in 1937 when Sylvan Nathan Goldman placed a couple of baskets on a wooden chair and installed wheels underneath the legs. He knew people would not buy as much groceries if they had to carry them around. In a way you can say that today’s $100USD + check out supermarket tickets are thanks to the fact that we can drive around a tiny mountain of goods and even have fun in the meantime (yeah, admit it, you too at some point in life climbed on the lower metal tube and drove around like mad with it).
But ever walked in a supermarket and thought “oh well, i’m only here for a carton of milk, so no point in grabbing a cart” and then walked right into the supermarket. As you walk around, your eyes can’t help but browse around. You find yourself, despite your better judgement, taking a few items here and there. By the time you reach the milk, you have much more than you can carry. So where’s the heroic cart now?
You look around in the hopes of finding one that was probably abandoned. Nothing. You either pull a maneuver and go for the milk or just drop the fabulous new cereal you so wanted to try. Thus, I must give it up for Costco. Just today (although I was already driving a cart) I saw a line of carts in the middle of the freezer section… just in case you thought you were going in for milk alone. Nicely done Costco!
My my, how simple little arrangements like that can increase your total as you check out…