Supermarket Sleuths: The unwritten rules of coin-operated trolleys: Are you committing a supermarket 'sin'?

The first supermarket to introduce coin-operated trolleys in Australia was Aldi in 2001, and it was quickly accepted as part of the novelty of shopping at the discount retailer.

It was simple enough: Aussies who wanted to access an Aldi trolley for their weekly shop needed to insert a $1 or $2 coin to release it from a chained row of trolleys at the entrance to the supermarket.

Back then it was more likely customers would be carrying a $1 or $2 coin on them, but these days it isn't uncommon for grocery shoppers not to have any cash on them at all.

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Thankfully, there are new ways to access locked trolleys these days that, while convenient, have led to new etiquette issues, further complicating the rules surrounding trolley use.

The history of coin-operated trolleys in Australia

Aldi's coin-operated trolley system was one of many measures the discount grocery retailer put in place to reduce the need for costly staffers, which helps keep prices low.

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It meant the majority of shoppers would return their Aldi trolleys to bays or back to the supermarket entrance to retrieve their coin.

Other retailers quickly recognised the benefits of this system, including Coles, Woolworths, which then introduced their own coin-operated trolley systems.

But while Aldi's coin-operated trolley system is universal across their stores, only some Coles and Woolworths locations introduced the feature.

The demise of cash and coins

As cash and coin use reduced over the past two decades, shoppers were left scrambling to find a coin to use for trolley access.

Shoppers were able to ask for help from supermarket workers and service desks, who were normally happy to release a trolley for their use rather than missing out on sales.

Other shoppers took to 'trolley hunting' to find a trolley that had been abandoned by someone happy to leave their coin behind.

Or, customers could take a free trolley from another retailer, although this is considered a bit cheeky – unless that customer is planning to shop at multiple shops, including the owner of the free trolley. Then, it is considered way less frowned upon.

Many began keeping a 'trolley coin' handy. Others took advantage of newly-released trolley tokens sold at places like Bunnings and even at Aldi, and these can be kept on key chains for convenience.

Etiquette issues

Trolley etiquette issues remain, with Aussie shoppers taking to Reddit to share their many and varied conflicts.

An Aldi shopper faced one such issue during a recent trip to the supermarket when a fellow shopper asked to use their trolley, complete with the coin still inside it.

"An unspoken rule is if someone grabs your cart from you before you turn it in, they give you a coin for it. This lady asked for my cart and I asked if she had a coin she said no so I shrugged and turned it in to get my coin back.

"She got really upset and some other people kinda side eyed me and it made me feel like a jerk."

Several Redditors explained that seeing as it was the shopper's coin, they were well within their rights to refuse to hand the trolley over – but if that shopper had then retrieved a trolley for free with someone else's coin in it, they would be obliged to "pay it forward" by handing it over to the next shopper.

Others told stories of fellow Aldi shoppers gifting them a coin or use of their 'trolley coin', in solidarity at being part of the supermarket's community.

The use of 'trolley coins'

'Trolley coins' still require shoppers to return the trolley to release them, if used as intended, and it does always feel good to return trolleys to appropriate locations. This feels even better if free trolleys are returned.

Recent debates surrounding this have been particularly amusing, with many Aussies suggesting the choice to return a free supermarket trolley is the ultimate "litmus test" to decide if you are a "good person or not".

Consumer expert Adam Ferrier from Thinkerbell previously weighed in on this debate, telling nine.com.au: "When we see negative behaviours in others we tend to judge them by their value, i.e. they are a selfish person, rather than context (i.e. they were probably running late).

"It's easier to just assume they are bad, hence that's what people tend to do."

So yes, you will be judged, but no, it doesn't necessarily make you a bad person.

Basic trolley etiquette rules in 2026

In conclusion, if you follow these supermarket trolley etiquette rules, you should have a lovely, smooth shopping experience and leave feeling good about yourself.

They are:

1. Don't take someone else's unlocked trolley without asking

If someone has just returned a trolley and offers it to you with the coin still in it, that's a kind gesture. But it is, after all, their coin.

2. If someone hands you a trolley, offer the coin

Most people will wave it off. Still, offering is polite and acknowledges the exchange.

3. Always return the trolley properly

And no, close enough isn't good enough. Put it in the trolley bay, not next to it. Make sure it is pushed as far in as possible, and try and leave it in the correct trolley bay for that supermarket.

4. Try not to leave it in the car park

This is really annoying for shoppers who then try to park near where you have dumped the trolley.

It only takes a minute to return it.

5. Don't stress too much

Even if you don't have a $1 or $2 coin or a 'coin trolley', you can ask for help at supermarket service desks.

At the end of the day, supermarkets want your business, and are normally more than happy to help.

It is perfectly acceptable to use a free trolley if you do plan to shop at that retailer in addition to the one with the coin-operated trolleys.

Or you can go for a trolley hunt. If someone was happy to leave it, then it's definitely up for grabs. But leave the coin in if you can, so you too can pay it forward.

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