Aussie business defends $4 trolley fee at popular market after surprise reaction
Paddy's Markets has long been a mainstay in the Sydney community, but not everyone knew about the trolley charge.
A small business at a famous Australian market has defended its trolley hire service after copping the chagrin of shoppers seemingly fed up with the rising cost of living.
The iconic Paddy's Market in Flemington, in Sydney, is the latest business in the firing line after it was discovered trolleys were not available to the public unless customers hired one from one of its stalls. The small business which rents out trolleys charges $10 initially to each customer — comprised of a $6 deposit you get back after returning the trolley, and a $4 fee for using it.
Manager of Paddy's Hire Service David Taranto told Yahoo News Australia that as a private small business renting out equipment in a market made of other small businesses, this price is necessary. "Woolworths each year spends over $50 million on maintaining a trolley fleet for its stores in Australia. That cost is recouped in the cost of everything you buy at their stores whether you use their trolleys or not," he claimed.
"At Paddy's Markets, the cost of the trolley is not included in the cost of the goods you purchase and only the people who need one are paying for this service".
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Aussies online fuming at cost of trolley hire
Food blogger Ron Mushoul shared a video of the trolley price to TikTok which copped heat from stunned Aussies. "What a rip-off," said one person with others in agreeement.
The Paddy's Market account responded to the comments saying, "When you shop at Paddy's Markets, you support hundreds of small businesses. Our trolley trader is one of many small businesses".
Small business breaks down why the fee is needed
Paddy's Hire Service, which also rents out other market equipment to stallholders, have been hiring out trolleys in the markets since 1994 and have been charging the $4 fee plus the $6 deposit since 2012. Taranto told Yahoo they've never had any complaints about the cost. "But we reduced prices during Covid," he said.
The fee goes towards wages, tax and keeping the equipment up and running, while the deposit makes sure trolleys are returned and "do not become the huge environmental problem being faced by the large retailers".
"As you would be aware many of these [supermarket] trolleys end up being lost and left around the suburbs, and end up in landfill."
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