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50 Times Stores Implemented Smart Ideas That Should Be Universal (New Pics)
Interview With Expert
When you spot a genuinely good design idea, it’s hard not to envision it being implemented everywhere. Life could be a lot better and more comfortable for everyone. Well, some creative store owners have taken this to heart, deciding to put their customers first.
Our team at Bored Panda has collected photos from all over the internet, featuring some of the most genius ideas that shops have ever implemented. Avocado ripeness detectors and cozy spaces for owners to leave their pets in are just the tip of the iceberg. Scroll down to check them out!
We got in touch with Matt Johnson, PhD, a marketing psychology expert specializing in topics such as consumer psychology and serendipity, to learn about what customers value the most while shopping. Read on for Bored Panda's interview with Johnson, including his thoughts on why not every store is going to rush to embrace all of these smart designs.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
This Pharmacy Has A Magnifying Glass So People Can Read Medicine Labels And Details More Easily
ί𝔫ＣίŦᵃт𝐔𝐬 1 year ago
And on skincare it's always ridiculously tiny white print on light background. So mean!
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DowntownStevieB 1 year ago
This makes me miss when grocery stores still had the coupon dispensers on the sides of the shelves. Good times.
Eliyahu Rooff 1 year ago
Great idea for any packaging that uses a 2-point Gothic Invisible Sans Serif font for their labels.
RELATED:
#2
This Mall Food Court Has A Station To Wash Your Hands
Farah the Turtle 1 year ago (edited)
We have a waterbottle fill up station, too! (Australia)
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Fire Singer 1 year ago
There's a BBQ restaurant across the street from my work that has something like this! I thought it was genius.
Kirsty Brown 1 year ago
Every food place should have this!!! Or at the very least, a single use towelette to wipe your hands with
Artsy Bookworm 1 year ago
I'm confused, don't restaurants and food courts have a place to wash your hands?!
Cassandra Pittman 1 year ago
Good idea but I hesitate thinking of what people will possibly use it for.
Shelley Dawson 1 year ago
If this was England, there would be paper all over the floor, soap all over the place, water spilled over the floor. The ideas are great, the people who use them are not.
MAKtheknife 1 year ago
Good idea, but I can see some uninformed individuals dumping their left over food in those.
#3
UK Supermarket Has A Tag You Can Add For Carts With Wonky Wheels
Julie S 1 year ago
They didn't last long. I say this as someone who worked in Sainsbury's for a very long time.
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Gen X Feral 1 year ago
Ik! I was like it's gonna be really orange in the shopping cart area lol
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Mary Peace 1 year ago
This is Sainsbury's supermarket. They've been doing this for many years.
Marketing psychology expert Johnson explained to Bored Panda that customers value convenience, personalization, and sensory experience the most in supermarkets. That first factor—convenience—is key. "Customers want to move efficiently through the store, find what they need, and check out quickly," he said.
However, personalization also plays a growing role here. Shoppers appreciate tailored experiences, from product recommendations to layout designs that reflect their preferences.
"The sensory environment also matters: things like clear signage, pleasant lighting, and even how produce feels and smells all contribute to making the experience enjoyable. Innovations like avocado ripeness detectors or refillable detergent stations appeal to customers because they enhance convenience and sustainability, both of which are becoming increasingly important. Ultimately, customers appreciate anything that makes their shopping trip faster, more engaging, and aligned with their values," Johnson explained.
#4
This Super Market Had Tiny Paper Bags Instead Of Plastic Containers To Reduce Waste
Lara Verne 1 year ago
A lot of stores selll grapes in paper bags. Just some people don't understand this concept and put grapes in paper bags into plastic bag......
Baali Venomax 1 year ago
Easier to store in the fridge in a plastic pack though. You cannot put a paper bag in the fridge, it distingrates and then the contents go everywhere.
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Greg Baughman 1 year ago
We need to return to paper bags, period. They're recyclable, reusable, great for projects, etc. Plastic bags do nothing but take up space in landfills.
Miliukov Oleksandr 1 year ago
by the way, have you heard that plastic bags were invented to replace paper bags (to reduce deforestation) (also, they supposed to be multi-used)
Susan 1 year ago
The plastic bags in the produce section are certainly not intended to be multi-use.
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Pernille 1 year ago
Many supermarkets around here try to use less plastic all by themselves, and the plastic bags for loose weight fruit and vegetables are forbidden.
Susan 1 year ago
Wish I could say the same for my area. I never use the produce bags available unless I have to and my husband gives me a hard time saying the produce will get dirty in the shopping cart. I said you realize it's already dirty, that's why we washing it when we get home.
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Tammy Ralph 1 year ago
Isn't cutting down trees to make paper bags bad for the environment too?
Itsmeagain 1 year ago
I'm in rural Ireland and nothing is packaged in paper bags except fresh bread rolls. It's crazy!
#5
This Water Fountain At My Local Mall Has Dog Treats, And Two Water Fountains For Dogs, In Addition To The Water Fountain For Humans
Bryan Wright 1 year ago
I fear that some of the local louts in my area would use the dog fountains. Evolution has yet to catch up with them.
Anja Schmidt 1 year ago
lovely idea, but what about doghaters who try to poison foreign dogs :-( not safe. maybe a poo collector would be also good ... just saying ...
Baali Venomax 1 year ago
Very low down for the human fountain though, you'd have to kneel to use it.
Mary Peace 1 year ago
Baali, I thought that was for taller dogs, even though it has 'good human' printed on it. I thought the water fountain for human use was separate, so not in the picture.
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Pamela Christie 1 year ago
These are nice, but I'm especially impressed with the drinking fountain for humans! I never see these anymore, and I get why they disappeared (morons spitting into them, pasting gum wads over the drains, purposely breaking off the handles and much worse) but there are so many times when people just really need a drink of water, and there's no place to get one.
#6
Refillable Detergent In Prague, Czech
Rose the Cook 1 year ago
What is surprising is that the bulk stuff is brand name. Usually with this type of system the material on offer is unbranded.
Cora C 1 year ago
The companies get tax refund by going green, so there are a lot of incentives.
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Keith Lancaster 1 year ago
There are loads of zero waste independent shops in England. Not only for cleaning products but for food as well.
Mary Peace 1 year ago
Yes, there's a very good one near me (in England). I bought a bottle of handwash that I can take back to refill, among other things. And things sold by weight like dried fruit can be brought home in customers' own containers.
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Lost Panda 1 year ago
That's awesome! In Japan, they sell refill bags for things like shampoo, detergent, etc. You get more for cheaper since you aren't buying the harder plastic containers, but in the end it still uses plastic.
Lewis 1 year ago
Wonderful grammar, "for cheaper"! It's "for less" or just "cheaper".
Load More Replies... Gen X Feral 1 year ago
This world be awesome! I'm so tired of dealing with empty detergent and bleach bottles. I use sooooo much bleach
Papa 1 year ago
My wife and I have started using the sheets for cleaning laundry. They're some kind of soap impregnated substance that dissolves in the washer. It comes in a thin cardboard box, so there's no plastic container to deal with, and it's less messy than the liquids.
Bi-Polar Express 1 year ago
We have stores in California where you can refill all kinds of stuff.
Mary Peace 1 year ago
I'm surprised how clean that area looks, but maybe they cleaned up for the photograph.
Bored Panda asked Johnson why some stores don't implement the customer-friendly ideas that their competitors might have already embraced. He was kind enough to walk us through how businesses approach these sorts of changes. (Spoiler warning: profits are a huge aspect to consider when making any investments.)
"Smart, customer-friendly store ideas—like avocado ripeness detectors or refillable detergent stations—may seem like no-brainers, but their adoption is often slower due to a mix of inertia and cost. For one, change is expensive. Even if a new feature would delight customers, it requires upfront investments in infrastructure, training, and marketing, which can be risky for stores with thin profit margins," the expert told us.
"Additionally, many businesses prioritize short-term gains over long-term customer satisfaction. They may be wary of adopting innovations unless there’s a proven return on investment."
#7
Cardboard Rings For This 6-Pack Instead Of The Plastic Ones
Omi bub 1 year ago
Better than plastic. In some countries tap water isn't safe
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Margaret Flaherty 1 year ago
Americans are sooo far behind, we have none of these environmental changes.
Stephen Sachs 1 year ago
Corporations have much of congress and state legislatures in the their pockets.
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Mark Kelly 1 year ago
They have them here in Canada. careful t he cans aren't moist on the outside.
#8
Grocery Store Shows When Local Produce Is In Season
Pernille 1 year ago
This needs to go in every supermarket, and children should learn it along with cooking in school. I believe that eating in season and local is one of the ways we can help the climate most, although I do miss bananas, and have completely lost the ability to measure anything around the house.
der sebbl 1 year ago (edited)
It's a little known fact, that you can replace bananas with cucumbers. 1 banana is approximately 0.63 cucumbers
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Robin Roper 1 year ago
We have become spoiled at having access to all fruits and vegetables regardless of what is in season in our local area.
Brenda Spagnola-Wilson 1 year ago
Definitely buy/eat in season. It's cheaper and tastes so much better
София Харитонова 1 year ago
And what should people do when it's winter and nothing grows?.. Eat snow? Not everyone lives in the south.
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Lydia Johnson 1 year ago
I said something about buying produce in season was cheaper to a young woman I worked with, and from the look on her face, I don't think she knew why prices went up and down for produce. I guess she had lived in a city all her life.
Theresa Walker 1 year ago
Kids should start learning how to cook before they are old enough to handle a pot. Parents are the first teachers in a child's life. Start teaching, parents.
Shelley Dawson 1 year ago
I remember some colleagues with whom I went to Brussels to see the Christmas market. They wouldn't pay for a decent meal (I'm not talking expensive but soup and a bun and suchlike) but they could pay for unripe strawberries dipped in chocolate.
Bryan Wright 1 year ago
Well, as most produce displayed in UK stores is either shipped in from abroad after being deeply chilled for months or grown in greenhouses in the UK. I don't know how relevant this would be here. (UK)
#9
Local Shop Gives Old Vegetables For Pets For Free
zatrisha 1 year ago
These are not really old vegetables, just the cut leaves. The customers cut them off and put them in the box so that they are not weighed - and if you have a rabbit, you can take it with you for free.
Brian Droste 1 year ago
The shadow picture not only includes rabbits but turtles and looks like. Guniea pigs.
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Pandamonium Pandas Pandie 1 year ago
"bestun frende" even this language knows how to properly address our pets!
GREYNOOK 1 year ago
that store should raise pets as in rabbits, tortoise in their stores to eat them old veggies 👍🤣
Icomefromthelanddownunder 1 year ago
One shop I went to had banana peels on random shelves, the parents could keep them until they find a bin 🍌🍌
Load More Replies... Pamela Christie 1 year ago
When I was a kid, grocery stores used to let us go into the back room where the floor was covered in the outer leaves from head lettuce, which they rip off before shelving. They gave us cardboard boxes too, so we could load them up and take them home to feed our guinea pigs. The problem was, my health-nut dad got it into his head that "That's where all the vitamins are," and we started having to make the family salads with the stuff, which frequently had little pockets of smelly, liquefied rot on them. I'm still 'salad-averse' to this day.
Mel Schmidt 1 year ago
That is really a smart idea! I see tons of that good stuff get tossed out.
Flavia Slag 1 year ago
Friend use to get old bread for her cows from the market. But the insurance companies got involved, so now they have to throw it away. What a waste.
Meanwhile, Johnson noted that we also have to consider the psychology of habit. "Both shoppers and store owners often default to what’s familiar. Changing a system that 'works' can feel unnecessary, even if it’s not ideal. But as competition heats up, the stores that embrace these customer-first ideas will likely pull ahead—until, eventually, the rest will have to catch up or get left behind," he told Bored Panda.
If you're interested in learning more about marketing psychology, feel free to take a look through Johnson's branding and human nature blogs. You might also be interested in watching his TEDx talk on YouTube, about serendipity in the age of advanced AI.
#10
The Mall Of America Parking Ramps Have Parking Availability Lights To Let People Know If There’s A Spot Available
Fry Day 1 year ago
Great idea! We have a digital sign outside our parking garages showing how many spots are open, but you still have to hunt for them.
Mary Peace 1 year ago
In some UK shopping centres, the digital signs are on the road sign, before you get to the parking garage, so you can plan your route. But yes, you have to hunt for the spaces when you reach the garage.
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XanthippeⓐWulf🇨🇦️️🇬🇧 1 year ago
It's been in lots of countries (including North America) for just as long, but it's mostly airports, shopping centres, and car parks. This post is 2 years old, and it may have been the first time the OP had been to a place that uses them.
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Storm Rise 1 year ago
Most of our carparks at malls or shopping centres in Australia have them too.
Lululoohoo 1 year ago
We have these and they don't always work right...lots of times it shows taken when its open or vice versa
#11
The Publix In My Hometown Gives Out Fruit To Kids For Free
This panda says ur worth it 1 year ago (edited)
My supermarket used to have this. They didn't quit bc they hated it don't worry. They just hit covid and it became unsanitary yn
Rachel Pelz 1 year ago
Have seen this, but specifying that it is one piece while shopping, no take away.
Just Sayin 1 year ago
There is only 1 store here in town that i know of that kids can choose 1 fruit to eat while shopping for free. I can't think of any other places that do this. Honestly, I don't even know if that store still does this. This was years ago when I heard of this.
sleepybear 1 year ago
this is common in australia as well! used to love these but now that im a teenager i dont pass as a kid :,)
Eunice Bentley 1 year ago
We have a couple of grocery stores that do this and it is nice to see that it is good fruit being set out for the kids. The bakeries still give them cookies though.
#12
This Grocery Store Has Carts In The Back In Case You Buy More Than You Were Expecting
Glen Ellyn 1 year ago
I wish more stores would do this. Same with the hand baskets. Too often I plan to pick up just one or two items, but end up with half a dozen that I'm trying to hang on to until I reach the cashier.
Victorious Foxx 1 year ago (edited)
Now if only amusement parks would do this with extra wheelchairs at the back of the park for elderly who might get tired out
Jason Webb 1 year ago
No, the supermarket KNOWS that you're going to buy more than you expected
Cassandra Pittman 1 year ago
I’ve always wondered why this isn’t a thing. It seems so obvious!
Shopping in person, rather than online, isn’t just about buying the things you plan on getting. It’s an experience. And that experience shapes how you feel about the store, the products it sells, and the brand in general.
To put it simply, a positive experience and a good atmosphere are going to make it more likely that you’ll be a loyal, returning customer. Why would you not return to a place where you feel comfortable, happy, and catered to?
A negative shopping experience, on the other hand, is likely to push you away. And, if you have easily accessible alternatives in your local area, you’ll probably consider shopping at a competitor’s store. At least to see what they offer and how it compares.
Consumers are (arguably, at least partly) rational, and they’ll generally opt for stores that are closer, cheaper, offer better quality products and more variety, and offer other considerations.
#13
Noticed Cardboard Hangers Instead Of Plastic Hangers While Working On My Shift
Justin Shock 1 year ago
Strong enough for a beach towel... not much gets heavier than that aside from maybe winter coats and leather jackets.
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Incognito11 1 year ago
Wouldn't plastic hangars last longer therefore being more environmentally friendly?
James Frail 1 year ago
Except most retail clothing places keep their hangers, meaning the lifespan of an individual hanger can be years. The would last what, 2 maybe 3 uses, if that.
Mary Peace 1 year ago
Yes, the shops use the hangers over and over. That puzzled me about this.
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#14
Recent Target Model With A Prosthetic Leg
leendadll 1 year ago
Target now sells Halloween costumes which incorporate people's wheelchairs.
Jerusalem Cat Syndrome 1 year ago
Yes, but do they feature differently-abled people in ads all the rest of year?
Load More Replies... Fire Singer 1 year ago
I think Target has some of the least attractive clothes out there (for me personally of course) but I do love how inclusive they are with their models.
#15
They're Growing Their Own Vegetables At My Local Supermarket
Colleen Glim 1 year ago
This would be an awesome way to provide fresh veg without having to worry about whether it’s in season or not
Chewy&Go 1 year ago
Salad greens are some of the more expensive fresh vegetables where I love (outside of iceberg lettuce and *maybe* romaine lettuce), so if this helps reduce prices I love it.
Load More Replies... Robin Roper 1 year ago
People like "local;" can't get much more local that being grown inside the store.
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Eunice Bentley 1 year ago
Our new Co-op store has a greenhouse attached to it and they supply fresh veggies to the other Co-op store.
Kerry Ericksson 1 year ago
They were growing Lettuce and Herbs at my Safeway for purchase in a small shelving unti,but then they took it away after a year or so.
Nina Eckhoff 1 year ago
I first saw hydroponics back in the late 1960s when I was looking at horses to buy and one very high end stable had their own hydroponics to grow stuff for the horses. Amazing.
Thinking realistically, not every store will be able to cater to every customer’s whims. It would be too expensive, for one. And few companies boast (nearly) unlimited budgets. On top of that, if you try to appeal to everyone, you might end up creating a very chaotic and confusing interior in your store.
Furthermore, by catering to one group of customers, you might push others away because they dislike your creative ideas. You have to look at what will make the average local shopper happy (or, well, happier), and refine their experience based on that.
If you enjoy eating avocados but keep picking under- and over-ripe ones, a ripeness detector at your local supermarket can be invaluable.
Similarly, if you have a beloved dog you take everywhere, then you’d probably look favorably upon shop owners who implement pet-friendly solutions.
#16
My Local Supermarket Here In Germany Has Special Shopping Carts For People In Wheelchairs
Sharon Hahn 1 year ago
I wonder if all the products available for sale are within reach for them.
Livingwithcfs 1 year ago
We have wheelchair shopping baskets her in New Zealand. They are hopeless for most chairs and are made far to deep. These ones are much more sensible
#17
This Grocery Store Prints The Label Directly Onto The Ginger With A Foodsafe Ink To Eliminate The Need For Packaging Or Labels
Glenn Milliken 1 year ago
In the world of checkout touch screens now with pictures this is just adding extra cost to the food for absolutely no reason other than to just dumb yourself down. It's like that part of the brain you don't use anymore that was used to remember phone numbers back in the '90s
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
We never have labels on ginger anyway in Australia, as it is sold by weight.
Bryan Wright 1 year ago
I meant to add that other products used to be labelled this way too, not just ginger.
Bryan Wright 1 year ago
I think Tesco (UK) trialled a similar system in its stores. No idea if it still does.
#18
This Grocery Store Cart Has A Cup Holder, Slot For Your Phone, And An Aisle Guide For Popular Products
mikedtw 1 year ago
Especially any of the new super stores. The one near me is really nice, but actually has large enough aisles I could drive my car up and down the whole store. A woman in line told her husband to send help if she didn't return from her errand in time to check out :-)
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Philippa Davies 1 year ago
Pacific Fair is my mum’s favourite shopping centre 🙂
Load More Replies... Binny Tutera 1 year ago
Kroger used to have item locations on big signs over every other aisle. They don't do this anymore, unfortunately.
Mary Peace 1 year ago
would you really want to put your sunglasses where strangers had put theirs?
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On the flip side, even if you think that your local supermarket is awesome for growing herbs and veggies in the building, you might be weirded out by their little mushroom habitats. Or you might be confused by all the high-tech gadgets that many other shoppers are enjoying. (We’re still on the fence about how useful smart carts that scan everything you put in them really are.)
Consider other things that go into making a worthwhile shopping experience, too, like the lighting, music, signage, and color palette. One store might opt for unintrusive ambient music, while another might cater to pop music fans.
One shop might go for the most efficient LED lights possible to keep costs down and ensure maximum visibility, while another retailer might opt for warmer lighting to make their customers feel more cozy.
Some might choose to use fewer signs to make their customers lose their way so they buy more random things, while others want more, clearer signs so as to not waste anyone’s time.
#19
You Can Take A Slide Instead Of The Escalators In This Mall In Prague
Upstaged75 1 year ago
I'd be afraid I would get stuck and clog up the slide. :) It looks a bit narrow.
#20
These Shopping Carts With A Compartment For Pets
Rose the Cook 1 year ago
This is a better design than the earlier one and unlikely to offend people who don't like dogs in food shops. Still needs more room for the shopping though.
Sunny Day 1 year ago
It's Europe. They shop day to day rather than in bulk.
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Icomefromthelanddownunder 1 year ago
😅would stop them grabbing everything 😅
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DeoManus Argentem 1 year ago
It's not legal to take pets into grocery stores in most states (can't recall if it's a federal law, but I know it is not legal in my state) mostly for hygiene concerns. Service animals are exempted, of course, and it's illegal to try to pass off your pet/"emotional support animal" as one. It's also disrespectful, imo - I love all animals but lots of people are terrified of even the friendliest critter in the world!
flowingcomplexity 1 year ago
Actually the sign is saying you can leave your dog there while you shop. This is the common option here in Brazil. Never saw one in use btw.
That Persistent Lint 1 year ago (edited)
You should visit Copacabana. In summer is so hot that if you can't leave your dog alone at home or you make it a stop on your pet walking, is a great option. And you actually can take it inside with you OR leave them there where usually there's water and a post to tie them. I see many elderly people with their furry friends at the supermarket and is a good way to socialize in a world that tends to isolate them.
Load More Replies... Cassandra Pittman 1 year ago
You know kids will want to squeeze in and parents who just want their child to stop whining will let the, lol
Iara Ra 1 year ago
The sign says this i a place to leave your pet while you shop, not to take them with you.
Mary Peace 1 year ago
In that case, why are they carts with wheels, and space for shopping? I thought the word 'leave' was just poor translation.
Load More Replies... #21
Small Tents In A Store To See What They Would Look Like
Brenda Spagnola-Wilson 1 year ago
A friend, working at a store that sold tents, was able to "rescue" several of those tent displays from the dumpster. Some went to kids in the family to play with (think Barbie or G.I.Joe). The rest went to friends to use for animals. Too bad stores won't let them do that anymore.
Fire Singer 1 year ago
I ALWAYS wanted one of those little tents when I was a kid. Actually I still want one. I don't know why they don't at least sell them when they're not needed any more. Is there a specific reason you know of?
Load More Replies... Justin Tyme 1 year ago
Wow, look at the prices on the shelves. The price of the tiny tent is the same as the price of the full-size tent.
Milady Blue 1 year ago
I asked if these smaller models were for sale when I went to Cabela's one time - the employee very kindly gave the the name of a website where you can purchase similar tents for pets, or for the dolls and action figures that belong to the kids.
El Cucuy 1 year ago
Sure, but this adds an extra level of helpfulness for the buyer.
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Michelle Boden 1 year ago
I would use it as a doll tent. I've seen these display tents and they are awesome; great quality and exact replicas. I've wanted one forever.
The layout of the store matters a lot, even if we’re not consciously aware of some of these design decisions. Placing candy bars and snacks near the (self) checkout is a ‘subtle’ way of getting customers to buy more of these products.
If you’ve been shopping for a while, your willpower is likely to be depleted a bit: you’ve been making a ton of decisions about what (not) to buy. So, your body and brain are craving something sweet. Hence the checkout snack counters.
(We’re not judging anyone, though. We’ve fallen prey to this tactic more than a few times. But that’s why we don’t go shopping on an empty stomach anymore.)
#22
This Supermarket In Italy Has Carts Made For Dogs
Frank Tereschak 1 year ago
Last week a woman had a dog in the grocery store with a leash and harness that said THERAPY DOG. That "therapy dog" took a giant dump in the pasta aisle and she quickly walked away. I yelled at her in the middle of the store and asked management why she was allowed to enter the store. You can buy fake therapy dog vests on ebay and temu.
BrunoVI 1 year ago
My local supermarket had the front ends of the carts modified to be like trucks, so a little kid could sit in the front and pretend to drive. When I got in line at the checkout, my lilttle kid called out, "Moof Peas! Gheen Yight!" ("Move Please! Green Light!") (He heard me say way too many times, "C'mon move! The light's green already!")
Keith Lancaster 1 year ago
When I have been in Italy I noticed that there are dogs everywhere. Supermarkets, department stores you name it. This proved to be a real problem for me sadly as I am unable to walk past a dog without giving it a stroke/cuddle/ear scratch etc.
Sunny Day 1 year ago
Interesting store. Produce next to pesticide next to charcoal and toaster ovens.
#23
Shopping Cart Cleaning Machine In Germany
#24
My Local Grocery Store Chain Started Selling Fruits And Vegetables That Are Misshapen, Blemished, Or Ugly For A Discounted Price
Lost Panda 1 year ago
Japan is real bad about waste like this. Most stores won't let it in the door if it isn't a picture perfect specimen. Pisses me off...
Brian Droste 1 year ago
I would buy these to to save money. I don't think I would care as long as they taste just as good as the fruits and vegetables.
Laura Lawson 1 year ago
In Australia, a group of women from family carrot farms got fed up with having to destroy so many tons of good but ugly carrots that they started their own business selling carrot sticks & shredded carrots. And it has really taken off! Yes they are more expensive than the whole carrot but they aren't outrageously expensive either.
Corinna Weisz 1 year ago
I once learned, that baby carrots are actually just big carrots which are cut and formed. Wouldn't 'ugly' carrots not be perfect for that?
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Uncle Schmickle 1 year ago
Woolworth in Australia started to do this, but now it's disappeared. Damn supermarkets rip off producers and won't accept any fruit or vegetable unless it looks perfect = shocking waste !
According to Tradis Design, in many parts of the world, customers often start browsing on the right-hand side of the store, then head toward the back, and then return to the left-hand side.
However, Gadsby notes that, in the United Kingdom, customers generally look left and then right when they enter a store, so you might want to consider putting the freshest, brightest, and most vibrant produce on the left side of the entrance.
#25
Local Bookshop Sells Mystery Books. The Wrapping Describes The Themes Only
Mayblater 1 year ago
I would def do this! That’s why my (8) sisters won’t let me blind date. Also, we all really love my husband. I would read and learn from whatever though . Ask my shampoo bottle
Congruent Empath 1 year ago
Your 8 sisters won't let you blind date but your husband doesn't mind? 😁
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Lost Panda 1 year ago
As much as I love books and love this idea, I would still like to know what I'm getting. Nothing worse than buying a book and not being able to enjoy it.
Gareth Owen 1 year ago
Quite a few you can deduce the book - I'll take "No Country For Old Men" (#4 bottom shelf)
Gareth Owen 1 year ago
Joy Luck Club 1000 Years of Solitude Slaughterhouse 5
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Brenda Spagnola-Wilson 1 year ago
I would rather know what the storyline is. I get most of my books at garage sales, thrift shops, etc
Gracie Mae 1 year ago (edited)
my library does this with books they're selling (donated or older library books). They only put the author & genre. I've been pleasantly surprised at some of my 25cent finds!
Pamela Christie 1 year ago
I'd never buy a book without being able to check the caliber of the writing. $8 is still too much to pay for a piece of garbage, unless you want to pay for the privilege of throwing out somebody else's trash.
#26
Avocado Ripeness Detector In Supermarket
Epona 1 year ago
This 1000% needs to be implemented everywhere. I wish this was in the grocery stores I shop at!
LB 1 year ago
I'm not sure where you are but I think places where avocados are produced don't need this... I was in Valencia, Spain and every avocado was delicious. Personally I think it's a bit wasteful to produce a whole machine just for this when we could also... not eat avocado?
Load More Replies... Keith Lancaster 1 year ago
Most people have these things called hands at the ends of their arms. They have fingers so, what you do is give the avocados a gentle press and then you know whether or not they are ripe. No need for silly electronic gadgets like this.
GREYNOOK 1 year ago
we don't need that machine in my area, we always touch and press the avocado at our street markets and stalls and still they come out as very nice and tasty !
Colleen Glim 1 year ago
And then two days later all the spots that have been pressed turn brown and nasty
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BitchinintheBurgh' 1 year ago
I mean tech is great but it is waaaaay more cost effective to just look at color and firmness.....
Trophy Husband 1 year ago
This seems unnecessary. You just squeeze slightly and you know. Maybe it takes a few mistakes when you're young, but it's not hard to get the hang of...
kbjxmmscnn 1 year ago
It’s an entire industry here in Fresno. Where 1/5 of usa’s veggies are grown
#27
The Lidl Grocery Store I Went To In Crete Has A Preserved Archeological Site In Their Parking Garage
Pernille 1 year ago
This is getting more and more common. I love that they incorporate the old with the new, especially in places where you can't plant a tree without finding archeology.
Wyndmere 1 year ago
Got news for you. It's All old. We just keep building on top of the old.
Load More Replies... Limey 1 year ago
I love this. In my home town in the UK back n the 70s they were building a holiday inn and uncovered Roman ruins. They gave the archeologists a couple weeks and filled that sucker in and build the ugly holiday inn right on top of it. I always thought, why didn’t the make it a feature, like with a glass floor you could look through for instance. I am glad we are being more careful these days.
Sarah Léon 1 year ago
You can find this everywhere in France, mostly in parking lots and sometimes, you can even see them in malls.
Jaya 1 year ago
I don't know about this place, but these things are often because the archeological thing used to be in that exact spot.
Load More Replies... 
When you’re shopping online, your priorities are going to revolve around similar things as in person, such as convenience, price, reliability, and speed, but in slightly different ways.
How easy is it to order and pay for the items you’re looking for? Is it a twenty-four-step process or something more convenient? How good are the deals compared to shopping in person? How trustworthy is the vendor and the platform? How quickly will your products arrive and is it marginally better than physically going to a store near you?
#28
Beer Made From Leftover Strawberries That The Supermarket Rejects
Kira Okah 1 year ago
Beer, juice, sauce - this is what happens to all "wonky" produce that won't survive a supermarket trip. That is how it has always been, it's not wasted.
Lee Banks 1 year ago
Yup. I got so mad when the "ugly" fruit and veg delivery service was such a big deal. Bro, those tomatoes were going to be made into salsa. They did not need to be packaged, flown, and delivered to your door. You are creating false environmental clout, not actually helping anything.
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Huddo's sister 1 year ago
I know a least one gin company who uses what is left after wine making to make gin.
#29
This Mall In Paris Has A Lock-Up For Your Motorcycle Helmets
Christine Walker 1 year ago
Ah...mystery explained. I saw one of these last week in Toulouse and didn't know what it was for!
Robert Trebor 1 year ago
Otherwise it would be too easy toulouse your helmet.
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#30
The Dressing Room In This Store Has Multiple Settings To Change The Type Of Lighting
Julie S 1 year ago
They have this in one of the underwear shops in the UK, depending on what kind of sexy lighting you want.
Becky Samuel 1 year ago
There must be another meaning of "loft" that I don't know, because I have never once wondered how my clothes would look to someone else if we were in my attic.
nottheactualphoto 1 year ago
That panel might be an AMX product. I'm not entirely sure, but it has that look.
WindySwede 1 year ago
See what you mean, but didn't find this just another but similar. https://www.amx.com/en/products/met-7e
Load More Replies...Which of these store ideas caught your attention the most, dear Pandas? Which ones do you personally consider to be the perfect blend of creativity and usefulness? Which ideas do you wish your local shops would implement?
On the other hand, what do your local shops do really well that you’d love to see elsewhere, too? Let us know what you think in the comments section!
#31
This Supermarket Grows Its Own Mushrooms
Carp Fish 1 year ago
If you have the right growing environment, and it looks like they do, growing mushrooms is easy.
Highball Drink 1 year ago
Doesn't take much environment, my wife grows them in a shaded window.
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Pamela Christie 1 year ago
After my basement apartment flooded, the bedroom carpet was producing mushrooms that looked very much like this.
#32
This UV Handrail Sterilizer On An Escalator In Hong Kong
Mayblater 1 year ago
Does anyone know how long it needs to be under the uv. Is it dependent on the consistency.thickness or permeability?
Katharina Sei. 1 year ago (edited)
We use UV light for our sterile workbenches. One cycle to "eliminate them all" is about 60 to 30 minutes. The water decontamination UV unit in our water tank also uses about this amount of time. However it also depends on the effect you are focusing on. And UV will speed up aging of lot of plastic types. So maybe this little thing is enough to reduce the amount of germs?
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Ray LeBlanc 1 year ago
It takes 10-15 minutes to sanitize an area the UV light is shining on. That is just to make people feel good, it can't really be effective. In hospitals the units they use to sterilize trays and instruments , ect, take 15 minutes.
#33
My Local Foodland Has Bread Ties That Are Made Of Cardboard Instead Of Plastic
The Problem With Censorship Is ******* 1 year ago
And they suck!!! >_< Some things are made of plastic for a reason...
Camilla Koutsos 1 year ago
All the bread manufacturers use these in NZ. I always replace tags with pegs when I get home anyway, but it’s at least better for the environment.
Eunice Bentley 1 year ago
My bagels come with those ties, there are not the best for re-use but I simply put a clothes pin on my bag when the cardboard one fails.
Karen Reeves 1 year ago
Worst invention ever! They don't keep the bag sealed, can't have anything wet nearer them, and are absolutely useless! I'd rather have the old twisty ties any day!!
#34
You Can Test Hiking Shoes On Different Terrains In This Sporting Goods Store
Epona 1 year ago
Rocks and wood are not man-made. Man-assembled terrain, maybe
Load More Replies... Isabel Care 1 year ago
Need this to test out wheeled walking aids and wheelchairs. Our pavements are horrific
Wendell T Sasaki 1 year ago
My dad in the 1960s would buy a pair of work boots from Montgomery Ward, wear them for months and return them, dirty and scuffed, no questions asked. He was very audacious.
#35
My Local Giant Grocery Store Has A Robot Named “Marty” That Roams The Store Looking For Spills And Trash
Glen Ellyn 1 year ago
I think this would scare the bejeebers out of me if I turned into an aisle and saw this. 🤭
Donald 1 year ago
There is one of these in a local grocery store. The first time I saw it I was half way down an isle and it just appeared at them end, stopped and turned to face me with equally large googly eyes. I nearly soiled myself.
Load More Replies... Bruce Davis 1 year ago
There's one at my local Stop and Shop. I think he's dating the 2 drink delivering bots at the conveyor sushi place around the corner.
KittyGaming 1 year ago
These are adorable but I'm always scared of them, keep doing you little robot man just stay away from me please
Lynchamigsakta 1 year ago
I will add to this. I do actually work as a janitor and management expect us to need fewer staff for every robot they buy. They do a fairly bad job at cleaning and they're a god damned nightmare to care for, I spend more time in robot upkeep and cleaning than the time the robot spends cleaning the floor. And as an added bonus it's fantastic to learn that the f****r costs about 2 cleaners yearly wages before taxes
Load More Replies... Never Snarky 1 year ago
I HATE Marty. He’s in the way. The employees hate him because he calls for cleanup for something as small as a piece of string which makes a store employee stop what they are doing to see what the “spill” is. Waste of time and money.
Sharon Hahn 1 year ago
This is the absolute truth in my Giant with a Marty. The kids like it but there isn't one adult or store employee that likes it. It's always in the way, blocks people shopping and doesn't do the job intented.
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Carolyn Kahn 1 year ago
My husband has jumped in front of it and yelled “You shall not kill John Conner” …. I wish I was kidding about that 🤦🏻♀️
Becky Klebe 1 year ago
Marty has the special talent of always stopping right in front of me. I scan and bag as I go, so I think he's keeping an eye out to make sure I'm not skipping anything
#36
This Paper Bag That Shows You How To Pack It
Jan Rosier 1 year ago (edited)
Better still, take one or two foldable crates in your trunk, donot bother at the check out to start filling bags and holding up the line... after paying, dump in your trolly and just walk to your car trunk and fill your crates.
XanthippeⓐWulf🇨🇦️️🇬🇧 1 year ago
Yes! I have a foldable trolley with wheels. It doubles as the cart & the bag. I take it in the store, fill with groceries, everything is put back in with no bag, trolley goes to & in the car (the bins are removable). Then when I get home, I roll it all inside, & unpack. I'm not always 100% at reuse-recycle, so hopefully this makes up for it a bit.
Load More Replies... Rachel Pelz 1 year ago
Crazy to think that people need this and crazy how many people don't bring their own bags in the first. Like, don't you have to pay for bags in grocery stores everywhere by now??
Brian Droste 1 year ago
Not where I live in the USA or the surrounding area. Plus I use a reusable totes myself.
Load More Replies... Brenda Spagnola-Wilson 1 year ago
I like paper bags to use in my crafts. Wish more stores used them
Petra Winnubst-Turkenburg 1 year ago
In Nederland neemt bijna iedereen een eigen tas mee, van linnen of een big shopper die honderden keren gebruikt wordt
Karen Reeves 1 year ago
It'd be great if the people who pack your groceries had this chart in front of them! I'd much rather pack my own, then I know if the eggs get broken or the bread squashed it's my own fault!
#37
This Mall Has A “Husband Depository” With Massage Chairs And Phone Chargers
Kelly Scott 1 year ago (edited)
No way. If I have to shop for the food I cook and feed him, he's going to suffer along with me.
Omi bub 1 year ago
Also stereotypical heteronormative BS. These fixed ideas of what men and women do and don't like are all part of the same system that means we have to be "ladylike and not bossy" and "boys don't cry". People are individuals, genitals aren't great predictors of personality
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ZuriLovesYou 1 year ago
We have massage chairs with phone chargers in our mall too. But they're for everyone. /s
Brent Hollett 1 year ago
This is kinda rude. The stereotype of "Guy can't shop" should go, not lean in.
DeoManus Argentem 1 year ago
They have mini-lounges in some higher end stores here (US) that have TVs, nice chairs, and offer free beer and sometimes scotch and snacks for the bored SO to chill in - I've only seen them in nice jewelry stores, but I understand bridal stores serve champagne to bored bridesmaids lol
#38
My Local Grocery Store Has An Air-Conditioned "House" Outside For Dogs To Stay While People Shop
Donald 1 year ago
Even if this wouldn't make my dog freak out I still wouldn't use it unless it is completely sterilized after each use. Not everyone vaccinates their dogs, Parvo and Bordetella are no joke. Same reason I won't take him to dog parks aside from the risk of someone having a psycho dog there.
Raven Greer 1 year ago
This is for people who would put them in shopping carts that will not be sterilized so that a human with dog allergies can use it next, instead. Clearly they don't care about things like germs.
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Johanna MH 1 year ago
Better jet, leave your animals and kids home. They don’t belong in shopping areas.
Thomas Ewing 1 year ago
EWW! It smells like the last umpteen dogs in here! My sniffer is tainted for life!
Keith Lancaster 1 year ago
I thought it was a bloody microwave at first. My dog would have a heart attack if I tried to put him in here, What a horrible idea.
Sophia Athene 1 year ago
Horrible idea for *your* dog but not for others. If customers didn't use it, it wouldn't be there. Not exactly *horrible* if it works.
Load More Replies... #39
My Local Department Store Colorizes Its Shopping Baskets Based On Whether You Need Assistance Or Not
Joanne Hudson 1 year ago
One of each in case what I want is on the top shelf. And no tall people around.
Load More Replies... Robin Roper 1 year ago
I can imaging the situation where a shopper takes a black basket then has a question. They approach a worker who then tells them, "Sorry, you made your decision when you selected your basket; go help yourself."
Cassandra Pittman 1 year ago
I never know if I’m going to need help or not. Is there a “possibly” basket😉
Nitka Tsar 1 year ago
Yeah and fragile men would always choose the black one because 1. it‘s not pink and 2. „they don‘t need help“. Should have made the colors reversed. That would have been fun, lol
Rachel Pelz 1 year ago
Love the idea but hate the colour...pink=need assistance because you know, I'm just a barbie doll.
Luis Hernandez Dauajare 1 year ago
I think this either Japan or China. The color pink means youth and beginning for those countries.
Load More Replies... Atomic Giraffe 1 year ago
But what if you pick the black basket but then can't find one thing you need, can you still ask for help. I assume yes but I don't know
Epona 1 year ago (edited)
Huh? I think you meant "We have assistants (with a T) wearing t-shirts with assistance at all times"
Load More Replies... Kim N Patterson 1 year ago
still, some people get employees coming up to them, no matter which basket they choose.
#40
Dollar General Has A Dedicated Squeezing Chicken To Summon A Cashier To The Register
Khavrinen 1 year ago
"But Officer! I was just doing what the sign told me to do!"
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April Pickett 1 year ago
I don't think there's much 'ring the bell' happening. Choke the chicken is much more inviting.
The Chronic Insomniac 1 year ago
Yeah, this is not the great idea that it appears to be. Dollar Generals are famous for severe understaffing. Often only ONE employee is in the store at a time trying to stock items AND ring up customers. Past employees will tell you it's a horrible place to work.
Sky Render 1 year ago
I did something like this on the night shift at Safeway back in the day. Got a squeaky frog toy and put up a sign saying "squeeze for service". I had to include that in Spanish, Russian and Vietnamese as most of the late-night customers didn't know how to read English.
Highball Drink 1 year ago
Choke the chicken isn't going to make it, it's a rather vulgar expression.
Cass Malone 1 year ago
Sadly, corporate doesn't like the employees using these things, or chairs for that matter. (Former ASM)
#41
This Smart Rental Store In My Friend’s Building
Rachel Pelz 1 year ago
There are some "tool libraries" in my city, for the whole neighborhood.
Omi bub 1 year ago
We have them in the UK called libraries of things. You can rent anything you might only use occasionally like gazebos and aoundsystems for parties or sewing machines etc. All non-profit
Load More Replies... Mayblater 1 year ago
I’d like the massive AirPods in the middle for my partner. Might be big enough to work
Epona 1 year ago
I realize you are probably joking but those are vacuums (I'm pretty sure)
Load More Replies... Lost Panda 1 year ago
I think the 'Shop' half is like a store and the left half is the rental
Load More Replies... Pamela Christie 1 year ago
My library has one of these, and it's free. You check out tools the same way you check out books.
#42
This Store Allows You To Buy A Book, Read It, And Then Return It For A 50% Refund
Amanda Rose 1 year ago
There is a place called a library where you don't have to pay to read their books.
Blondie23 1 year ago
I get the whole library thing.. totally support them. But this supports the author as well. Getting to read a book which I bought that pays the author is great, getting to return it for a 50% refund is great too... because I don't want to keep all books. Plus libraries don't have all the books out there!
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Brenda Spagnola-Wilson 1 year ago
I keep MOST of my books. I'd definitely use this! I frequent Half-Price Books all the time
Querque Girl 1 year ago
I'm a bit of a germaphobe, so I prefer buying a new book rather than checking one out of a library that has been handled by many hands. Think about what you pick, scratch, eat, etc. when you read a book.
Wendell T Sasaki 1 year ago
Guess what? That "new' book in the bookstore has been handled by many hands.
Load More Replies... Lost Panda 1 year ago
Like the idea, but I would only do this to the ones I didn't finish because I didn't like them. If I like a book, it goes on the shelf so someone else I know can enjoy it or I can reread it when I forget most of it.
Sophia Athene 1 year ago
Because everyone has easy access to a library? Hardly the case. It's not easy to find one locally. Many are closing down, esp. in the US with all the book banning and demands to remove or hide books. They also don't carry every book and might not have the books you love. I had a great library system when I lived in a midsize city but they didn't have Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. Eventually, the library acquired them because of my constant requests but I had to find most of them elsewhere. I know libraries can request books from other libraries that participate in this lending system. That would be great but patrons are charged. If I'm charged, I'd rather buy the book and keep it.
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#43
This Home Depot Has Little Mini Bathtubs For Display Purposes
Mayblater 1 year ago
The second any home improvement store goes out of business., I’m grabbing one
Roan The Demon Kitty 1 year ago
that little clawfoot tub would look amazing turned into a garden planter...
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#44
Australia Is Now Doing Missing Persons On Milk Bottles
Bobby 1 year ago
Very few children were ever recovered from the method, and it failed to communicate that most child abductions are committed by someone known to the kid. It was ultimately replaced by the amber alert system, which is markedly more successful
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Brent Hollett 1 year ago
I have never seen this in Queensland. It's probably only in the ACT which is a tiny territory known for weird things (and politicians).
JoNo 1 year ago
I haven't seen this in South Australia (thankfully the shelf tag tells me this is in Canberra). Hopefully it will extend to all states/territories.
Gen X Feral 1 year ago
Oh wow that's a 80s flashback. I totally remember these on those half gallon cartons.
HI, I'M A SHOUTY MAN 1 year ago
Looks like it's Canberra only... I'll have to check next time I'm down there.
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Jen Schurman 1 year ago
I know it started in West Des Moines, Iowa with John Gosch…it changed my childhood…
Highball Drink 1 year ago
Well, it's on cardboard cartons but a lot of places in the U.S. have been doing this for a long time.
Rick Drew 1 year ago
The USA stopped doing this because it did not work. It started in the USA in Iowa as a way to inform and engage people, and spread nationwide. There's no official number, but some say the number of found children at two or three, others at seven or eight. Efforts were better put elsewhere, like the Amber Alert system and digital alerts.
#45
This Department Store In Germany Has A Surf Wave For Trying Out Products
Keith Lancaster 1 year ago
Hi Julie, we don't know each other but, having read loads of your comments I think we might get on just fine.
Load More Replies... Gen X Feral 1 year ago
Boy I know what mall I'm living in during the zombipocalypse. Hells yeah!😎
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
One of the adventure stores where I live ha a doughnut of water around the store to try out kayaks
Rachel Pelz 1 year ago
Never ever heard of that (living in Germany). But there is a huge indoor wave place now.
Nitka Tsar 1 year ago
Most sport stores of this kind have only climbing walls and tracks for bikes. This is rare
Load More Replies... #46
My Local Mall Has A Short Story Dispenser
BarfyCat 1 year ago
Anywhere with a waiting area: doctor's office, dental clinic...
Load More Replies... Colleen Glim 1 year ago
Good way to kill time while waiting for a bus. Beats being on social media
#47
My Grocery Store Has A Cranberry Bog
Donald 1 year ago
Its getting close to harvest season here in NJ and there is nothing better than fresh cranberries bought from a farm stand. I love bitter/sour flavors, these and fresh Granny Smith apples are everywhere in Autumn and I couldn't be more excited.
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
I'm so jealous! In Australia we can only get them dried, which is a shame as it's one of the few fruits I can actually eat. I use the dried ones to replace sultanas, among other things, in lots of recipes. Also great to snack on.
Load More Replies... Gen X Feral 1 year ago (edited)
Somebody hold my shoes! 😂 Am I the only one that wants to jump in? It's like a ball pit and a swimming pool had a baby.
ί𝔫ＣίŦᵃт𝐔𝐬 1 year ago
Normally I'm pretty sanguine about stuff like this but...what's all in that bog?
Geoffrey Scott 1 year ago
Bonus, the asparagus stays fresher longer if, as it looks, the cut bases are immersed as well.
Disgruntled Panda 1 year ago
I thought it was a ball pit for a second, like the "berry basket" at Ikea
Shelley Dawson 1 year ago
I'd travel to America just to buy those cranberries. I have never seen one in the wild!!!
#48
This Sign At My Local Pharmacy Teaches How To Do A Basic Waltz
OneHappyPuppy 1 year ago
I can do this just fine. But when it comes time to turn with the moves, I'm lost. Yeah, I can't dance for the life of me...
Rob Miles 1 year ago
That's what a waltz is, though. You can make a waltz more involved, but the basic step for a waltz is the box step.
Load More Replies... Eliyahu Rooff 1 year ago
Depending on whether you're male or female, you may need to learn to do it backwards.
Epona 1 year ago
Can someone explain the scratch on the diagram? Is it from a door or dancing?
Kangaroo 1 year ago
We can’t tell what it’s from just by looking at it. It’s just a scuff on the floor, I’m not sure how else to explain it?
Load More Replies... #49
Heated Dog Parking While Shopping
Gandalf the Pink 1 year ago
It's just so funny and cute to me it's called dog "parking" as if dogs were vehicles. Not dog waiting shed or something, just "dog parking".
Mayblater 1 year ago
No one would ever make it into the store if they could just hand and watch the puppers
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Highball Drink 1 year ago
No wonder so many people don't have kids, they would be second place to their dogs.
Load More Replies... #50
7-Eleven In Japan Has Little Stools To Make It Easier For Little Kids To Grab Ice Cream
Jane 1 year ago
As a person in a wheelchair, I can never see what's in these freezers... I wish stores would post photos of what's in the bins.
Mary Peace 1 year ago
Better to have clear 'windows' in the side of the fridge
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theswallowii 1 year ago
I ain't a kid but certainly and definitely a vertically challenged person. I NEED this too!!! And not only in the ice cream aisle!!!
Colleen Glim 1 year ago
I’ve heard that 7-11 in Japan is far superior to the shite we have here
Gen X Feral 1 year ago (edited)
Have you seen the vending machines they have? You can get anything from an umbrella to a freshly cooked pizza. It's so AWESOME!
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Ray LeBlanc 1 year ago
Then they wonder why they are losing so much money in the ice cream department.
#51
Found This In The Dressing Room Of A Clothing Store
Colleen Glim 1 year ago (edited)
You know you can put more than one thing on a hook right?
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#52
This Machine In Costco 3D Prints Insoles For Your Shoes In The Shape Of Your Foot
#53
My Discount Grocery Store Sells Bulk Of M&M's Separated By Color
Sunny Day 1 year ago
You can get them on Amazon. Or special order personalized ones from M&M Mars.
KittyGaming 1 year ago
They aren't for snacking on man, sometimes bakers don't want to order expensive batches of one specific candy so this is a good thing
Load More Replies... #54
My Local Supermarket Has Package-Free Soap For Sale
Stephanie A Mutti 1 year ago
It's at a "whole foods". You can tell by the amazon Prime signs behind it. It IS an expensive shop.
Load More Replies... Rachel Pelz 1 year ago
For sale because they will no longerdo this? Often, package-free means double price (at least) in my experience. And still, place that do this usually stop it after a while because it just doesn't make them enough money :(
#55
This Bread-Making Machine Was Put In My Local Supermarket. It Even Tells You When Every Loaf Was Made
#56
This Machine Chills Your Wine Bottle Before You Leave The Store
Chewy&Go 1 year ago
I was gonna say, "chilled wine, but why?" But then I remembered there are white wines too.
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#57
This Grocery Store Has You Cut Off Your Bananas From The Branch
Ladedah 1 year ago (edited)
I'm guessing this is definitely not the US... no way in hell anyone's just leaving a knife out in a grocery store... someone's either (A) likely to get injured and sue - whether accident or purposeful - or (B) going to stab someone with it. Sad truth is, no one will ever let us cut our own bananas 🙄
GREYNOOK 1 year ago
also its just dumb, will the taste different from already chopped off from the ones you'll chop off. knife is a tool and a weapon, it can cause bodily harm even without intentions or even with intent to cause harm. wont allow that for myself.
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Soton_Sherpa 1 year ago
If only we had something in the picture to show how big that bunch of bananas is! 🤭
Sandra Armstrong 1 year ago
I watched a worker putting bananas out and as he left and I reached for a hand a large banana spider came out and ran toward the door. They are so deadly that a bite kills in minitue
#58
Walmart Sells Kids' Bikes With First Aid Kits On The Same Display
#59
My Local Supermarket Built A Little Habitat For Their Mushrooms
#60
A Plus-Size Mannequin At Target
Ivona 1 year ago
It seems strange that the clothing gets bigger from the waist down but the bra size remains on the small side. Most bigger women have large breasts so the larger size clothes need to accommodate larger breasts.
Sarah Bailey 1 year ago
I think it will be awesome if, or when designers start offering choices for different body shapes...IE.... larger leg and backside options with smaller waist options. . Most styles are of equal measurement enlargements to make different sizes.
Colleen Glim 1 year ago (edited)
If you’re going to offer plus size clothing, please add additional length! Nobody needs to see the two inches of pasty white belly because the shirt got wider and didn’t add length
Roan The Demon Kitty 1 year ago
they're calling this plus size, but it honestly seems more like this is average size these days. (and i say this as a chubby person myself. thankfully much smaller than I used to be, though)
#61
This Badminton Store Has A Built-In Court To Test Equipment Out Before Buying
#62
This Amazing Zero Waste Store Just Opened In My City
Clarissa 1 year ago
It's been my experience that these store are more expensive than regular stores, regular disposable packaging. Even for the exact same product. Sometimes a lot more expensive. Sorry but I need to go with cost effective first.
Verena 1 year ago
It is cheaper because rich countries outsource the plastic problem to poor countries. In the end the cheap customer pays a high price, by rising taxes for waste collection and disposal
Load More Replies... #63
My Local Supermarket Has A 3 In 1 Faucets
Brett Blankner 1 year ago
Actually not a good idea. Like all things integrated, one part breaks and you have to replace all three. Modular items are better for sustainability.
#64
When In Tokyo, Check Out Pigment Store. It's A Store With Every Color Imaginable, And You Can Even Mix Your Own
Kira Okah 1 year ago
Paint. This is a rare art supply shop geared for Japanese and Western painting - https://pigment.tokyo/pages/about
Load More Replies... Russ Kincade 1 year ago
I thought we had one here in my town, but it was just a pigment of my imagination.
El Cucuy 1 year ago
They are the ingredients for every color imaginable, so technically, still true.
Load More Replies... #65
"Build Your Own PC" Store Where You Can Find Every PC Part
Rodney McKay 1 year ago
They should have "recipe" printers in the store. Check off the features you want (getting a running total of the cost, to help you make compromises), and it spits out a shopping list. Include a QR code to take you to online assembly instructions using that particular kit of parts (AI should be able to create that customized tutorial). Hmm... There is money to be made with this idea.
Colleen Glim 1 year ago
Good place to stow the husband while I go shopping. Just don’t let him have the bank card
Rodney McKay 1 year ago
They should have "recipe" printers in the store. Check off the features you want (getting a running total of the cost, to help you make compromises), and it spits out a shopping list.
Load More Replies... #66
This Shop In Japan Has Display Boxes Of Chocolates To Show Exactly What's Inside Them
Colleen Glim 1 year ago (edited)
Do you know how any people will open 5he box to see what’s inside?! This is genius
Load More Replies... #67
Parking Spots At The Mall Where You Can Park Your Dog So You Can Go Shopping. It Comes With A Food And Water Bowl
#68
British Supermarkets No Longer Prints "Best Before" Date On Fresh Produce To Reduce Food Waste
Lost Panda 1 year ago
Considering that most people think everything is instantly bad after the date printed, this I like.
El Cucuy 1 year ago
This. Also, many people don't know the difference between an expiration date and a best by date. They are two totally different things but so many people thing they both mean expiration date.
Load More Replies... Ivona 1 year ago (edited)
Without a "Best by" date, how is the customer supposed to know how long this produce is good to eat?
featherytoad 1 year ago
Just use your common sense, sense of smell and taste. I drink milk about 4 days after the best buy, if it even lasts that long in the house. I just smell it or give it a small taste. Eggs I can use up to about a month past the date. If you're not sure, put the eggs in some water. If they sink, they are still good, if they float, I wouldn't trust them. Just remember, When In Doubt, Throw Out.
Load More Replies... CT 1 year ago
No need for a "best before" date, but the date when the vegetable or fruit was picked is still useful
Colleen Glim 1 year ago
Or learn to know what produce is still good. For example, squishy avocados = bad
Load More Replies... #69
Schnucks Has These New Caper Carts That Detects Everything You Put In It, And Lets You Pay Right There
Dominique Joseph 1 year ago
thought i heard that concept before. Unfortunately people are too dishonest. They will find ways to steal items this way.
Load More Replies... #70
This Nike Kids Mannequin Has A Prosthetic Leg
#71
My Local Supermarket Has A Touchpad At The Entrance So That You Can Ground Yourself And Prevent Static Shocks
Dina Lubman 1 year ago
Can we have these on playgrounds? The shocks I would get on those slides.....
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Jumping Jellyfishes 1 year ago
I usually get several shocks during a grocery store trip in winter (the handles of refrigerator/freezer doors, cans, the shopping cart itself). I learned to use the back of my hand to touch those objects before grabbing them so it doesn't hurt as much, but I still wince waiting for that telltale *SNAP!*
Rodney McKay 1 year ago
The world needs resistive wristbands for occasionally bleeding off charge to large and/or grounded objects (like your car frame).
#72
This Multi-Floored Target In Chicago Has A Cart Escalator
Upstaged75 1 year ago
My grocery store has them and I always want to giggle when I use it. :) It's really fun. Doesn't take much to entertain me I guess.
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René Sauer 1 year ago
My local Toys´r´us was on the second floor, above a supermarket. It was the first time I have seen a flat escalator, more like a ramp.
#73
A Breastfeeding Point In An Italian Shopping Centre
Rachel Pelz 1 year ago
Hope it' cosier inside. From the outside it does feel like breastfeeding is gross and must not be seen to me. But for those who like/need privacy for breastfeeding, again, hopefull, it's cosier inside. (My 2nd kid would sometimes have one meal on the underground train ;) )
Pandamonium Pandas Pandie 1 year ago (edited)
my mall has a family area where slightly older kids get to play and hang out together in a special "toddler" area and electronic rooms where teens (like me) can charge there phones and socialize, a"middle aged" area where the kids who are just between them with board games while the mother breastfeeds in a curtained room with a speaker so it can play calming sounds, nice paintings, and a massagee chair!. my fave place to be
Kris 1 year ago
Yes, because breastfeeding is disgusting and must be done hidden inside a box 🙄 I bet this is for changing dipers, not breastfeeding 🤣
Zena 1 year ago
If it's for breastfeeding, I assume it's an option for women who don't want to do it publicly in the middle of the mall, rather than their being forced to use it. Why assume?
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#74
My Local Tokyo Grocery Store Sells Loaves Of Bread With 4, 5, Or 6 Slices. Each Has The Same Total Volume Per Loaf. They Only Change The Thickness Of Each Slice
René Sauer 1 year ago
*lol* I remember the first time I watched a japanese youtuber make a sandwich. he pulled a slice of bread and I was like: " WTF is that? That´s like 2-3 times the size of a slice in my country"
Lost Panda 1 year ago
This is the norm in Japan. What sucks is if you want a loaf of bread, you have to go to a bakery or a store's store (think Sam's Club on a smaller scale)
#75
A Pet-Friendly Mall With A Dog Bathroom
dog pride 1 year ago
awww my doggo would love that so much he would have his face like this Screenshot...babdd6.png 
#76
The Supermarket In My Hometown Eliminated The Packaging Of All Frozen Products (Including Meats And Veggies)
Kalikima 1 year ago
I wouldn't use that, there's something about that that just grosses me out..
Kalikima 1 year ago
Especially since the scoops are in with it, and the handle that everyone touches is touching the food..
Load More Replies... Kelly Scott 1 year ago (edited)
I don't know about other countries, but I'll never get something out of an open bin in a US grocery store. I've seen so many kids open the candy and spice bins, take something out, lick it, and throw it back in. Or they run their hands through the bin or cough into it or play in it. The parents do nothing when it's pointed out and most of the times the store employees do nothing as well. I've seen kids do the same thing in the vegetable departments, but at least I can reach to the back to select stuff and I scrub it when I get it home.
Mary Peace 1 year ago
Not only does it seem unhygienic, but when you get home, can you remember what everything is without labels, etc?
#77
My Grocery Carts Have A Sensor To Make Sure You Go Through The Checkout
René Sauer 1 year ago
Some supermarkets in Germany have that technology to stop people from leaving the property of the market with the carts.
#78
My Supermarket Prints Brain Teasers On The Back Of Its Receipts
Pernille 1 year ago
Where I live you have to ask for the receipt, it is no longer automatically printed.
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
I wish that were the case where I live. Here they will ask you if you want one, but if you decline it is often still automatically printed, they just throw it out.
Load More Replies... Colleen Glim 1 year ago
Because I want to bend my brain after having grocery shopped? Which is mind bending enough as it is? Give e some coupons or even thought of the day c**p. Not a puzzle that I’m going to need to sort out if you know, you know
#79
Local Grocery Store Has Self-Checkout On Carts
WindySwede 1 year ago
We have a handscanner here, and then you scan everything as you go, and pack things as you go. Then just tap your card at exit and then you're done. In comparison this seems bulky! BHS-toppbi...de86cd.jpg 
somnomania (she/her, queer) 1 year ago
i want this so much, it would make life so much easier! places like walmart have this option, to scan with your phone, but only if you have walmart+
#80
This Storefront Uses Tinted Sheets Of Plastic To Show You What The Jacket Would Look Like In Different Colors
#81
This Meat Market Has A Meat Vending Machine Outside Just In Case They're Closed
#82
This Store Sells Brussels Sprouts Still On Their Stalks
BookFanatic 1 year ago
Our Jewel-Osco does that. First time I saw them I had no idea what they were.
Mary Peace 1 year ago
I've seen them sold like this here in England. But I don't buy them anyway.
#83
Grocery Store Near Me Has A Pineapple Cutting Machine
Rachel Pelz 1 year ago
It does have the machine. Just not working, but it's still there :D
Load More Replies... Lost Panda 1 year ago
I recently started seeing fresh squeezed orange juice machines here in Japan. ￥350 a cup, my wife and kids tried it said it was good. I have yet to get up the nerve to spend that much for a cup of OJ
#84
This Supermarket In Hong Kong Has A Mini IKEA In The Back
Glen Ellyn 1 year ago
I wonder what it carries... A flat-pack breadbox that you need to assemble? 🤭
#85
This Grocery Store In Kentucky Sells Containers Of Lucky Charms Marshmallows
Colleen Glim 1 year ago
I wish. I refused to buy lucky charms for my kids because they would eat all the marshmallow and leave the cereal behind. Nothing says tasty like stale lucky charms with dirty kid hands seasoning
#86
A Cool Guide To Bananas, Found At A Shop
Pernille 1 year ago
I have had grilled bananas in the Caribbean, they were stuffed with muscovado sugar and drizzled with rum before grilling,and they were delicious.
Load More Replies... Roan The Demon Kitty 1 year ago
browning bananas taste the best imo, really sweet. but totally brown is just too mushy to actually eat so into the cake/banana bread it goes. (fun fact: they can be used as an egg substitute in cakes)
Colleen Glim 1 year ago
Prefer to use them in smoothies at that point. The one recommended isn’t ripe enough and I don’t like the texture of frozen banana in smoothies
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Mary Peace 1 year ago
Because when they turn black, they are mostly sugar!
Load More Replies... #87
The Grocery Store Gave Me A Bag That Can Be Reused Up To 125 Times
Kelly Scott 1 year ago
They tried that here. They banned plastic bags in exchange for plastic bags that are for more than one use. The result? People only used them once anyway and now MORE plastic is being tossed. So now they're going back to paper bags. Of course, now we have to use MORE paper because the bags seem to be made of tissue paper and the handles on them break if you breathe on them, so either we put less in the bag and use more of them or double bag. Wouldn't you think these idiots could figure this stuff out ahead of time?
Colleen Glim 1 year ago
Find a few decent reusable bags and, ya know, reuse them?
Load More Replies... Incognito11 1 year ago
1 reusable bag = 70 classic plastic bags. So unless you reuse that bag at least 70 times you're not doing the environment any favours
Mary Peace 1 year ago
I don't count how many times I use my re-usable bags, but over a few years it must be more than 70. Also some were 2nd hand, from charity (goodwill) shops to start with, so had already been used a few times.
Load More Replies... Rachel Pelz 1 year ago
Oh yeah...those cotton bags. Most German households have tons of them. Once you wash thm, they look...different.
Mary Peace 1 year ago
My cotton bags have been washed and they look fine, no different so far.
Load More Replies... #88
This Grocery Store Has Digital Price Tags On The Shelves
catastrophegirl 1 year ago
this i do not like because some stores are planning to use these for "dynamic pricing" in nefarious ways. https://www.thestreet.com/retail/kroger-has-alarming-plans-for-digital-price-tags-lawmakers-say
Missy VanWinkle 1 year ago
Yeah, I've read where these can be used for "surge" pricing -- to increase the price during rush hours at lunch, after work, etc. Not a fan of that possibility.
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
I just realised why these aren't common in Australia. Supermarkets have to put a unit it price (how much it costs per 100ml for example) and it doesn't look like there would be enough room on them.
#89
The Supermarket I Work At Sells Horizontally Sliced Bread
Skogsrået 1 year ago
We use these kind of breads in Sweden to make "smörgåstårta", you are free to google it. Sounds weird but is delicious.
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talliloo 1 year ago
horizontally cut bread has many uses. great for making canapes, mini sanwiches, toast points, just about anything you do with regular bread but regular slices aren't quite big enough. especially like this for things that you do when you slice the crust off. just try it and have fun
Karen Ballou 1 year ago
Makes pinwheel sandwiches. My mom used to order these in red and green for Christmas parties from a local mom and pop bakery.
#90
This Store's Carts Have An Actual Tablet On Them, Where You Can Search For Anything You Need
Mary Peace 1 year ago
That's amazing, especially if they update it when things are moved around because of special promotions, seasonal offers, etc.
#91
My Local Walmart Is Using A Beach Ball To Show How Effective The Fans They Sell Are
Igor914624 1 year ago
Not a new thing. I remember seeing that in the 70s with vacuum cleaners and fans.
#92
This Mall In Kuwait Has A “Touching Snow” Area
Stephanie A Mutti 1 year ago
My arabic is a bit rusty but it says "for your information".. because they don't have snow.
Load More Replies... Colleen Glim 1 year ago
Maybe you don’t quite understand snow. Having never seen, experienced it before. As far as I’m concerned, they can have all of it
#93
Vending Machine In My Mall Filled With Diapers, Kids Snacks, And Other Kids Conveniences
Glen Ellyn 1 year ago
Good thing it's "filled with diapers" rather than "filled diapers." 🤭 Sorry, I couldn't resist.
Rachel Pelz 1 year ago
Some bigger drugstores here have tables for changing a diaper where you get a new one (have to ask assistant for it). Well, maybe used to...haven't checked for a long time.
#94
These Shopping Carts Have Produce Bags Attached To Them
JoNo 1 year ago
Produce bags made of plastic are banned here (Australia) and have been replaced by biodegradable ones instead. These look to be thin and shiny; they may be biodegradable bags. It is very difficult to buy some produce without a bag, namely grapes, beans, cherries. I only use bags for those types of fruit and vegetable but usually re-use ones from a previous shop.
Load More Replies... Mary Peace 1 year ago
The way they're hanging on the cart makes me think they'll come unrolled and some will get wasted.
#95
A Bubble Tea Shop Gave Me A Mini Shovel To Scoop Stuff Out Of The Cup
Rachel Pelz 1 year ago
Thought it wasn't possible to have more plastic waste in bubble tea stores but here we go...
ZuriLovesYou 1 year ago
Just throw it in a recycling bin when you're done. Relax!
Load More Replies... #96
Some Stores In Korea Have A Spot To Leave Your Coffee So You Can Browse Without Carrying It Around
Kipper 1 year ago
Why would somebody steal someone else's coffee? Would you?
Load More Replies... #97
Hijab Vending Machine At The Mall
LeMurierBonjour 1 year ago
I would not visit a country that determined my being a women means I have to wear a hijab. Ridiculous concept.
Rachel Pelz 1 year ago
Dunno...if you wear a hijab regularly by choice, is that something you find useful? (Honest question). In case it isn't needed for regular hijab wearers---then is the intent to enforce the expectation that every woman wears a hijab in public? So women need to buy one and cover their face but men don't...?
Rodney McKay 1 year ago
They (have) only "got you covered" if you've already bought the hijab and put it on.
Kelly Scott 1 year ago
Those things give me the creeps. I saw a woman use the bottom part of hers to blow her nose into once. I was pretty grossed out. And before you say anything, yeah, yeah, I know - we sneeze into our armpits. That grosses me out, too.
Iampenny 1 year ago
I'm sure most hijab wearing women do not do that. I know q lot of Muslim women who wear hijabs and never once saw this happen, but I understand if you can't get that image out of your mind.
Load More Replies... #98
Target Designated Half Their Fitting Rooms Into Prayer Rooms
Multa Nocte 1 year ago
I am not familiar with these. Are they so you can pray to fit into your clothes?
Alex Kennedy 1 year ago
Among other things, our Muslim brothers and sisters like to have a space where they can pray without being the centre of attention.
Load More Replies... Kelly Scott 1 year ago
When I worked at Kinko's, I had a man ask me once if he could spread a cloth on the ground and pray, as it was time for him to do that. I told him of course he could do that. He walked over to a corner and was as discreet and respectful as he could be and then thanked me. I might have a problem with this if this were my employee, but as a customer, no problem at all.
eric p 1 year ago
Is this in a predominantly Muslim country? I can't imagine anywhere in the US where this would be necessary or used enough to justify closing an entire dressing room
Ms. Mack 1 year ago
Um, there are 4.5 Million Muslims in the US. Hamtramck, MI is predominantly muslim and several large cities have large muslim communities.
Load More Replies... Rodney McKay 1 year ago
Seems like it would be more "fitting" to put the prayer rooms next to women's clearance.
PattyK 1 year ago
Doesn’t seem appropriate in a retail center. Religion and capitalism are not copacetic.
KittyGaming 1 year ago
I think it's fine, sure strange but some religions deal with a schedule and if you have to pray at a specific time of day it feels awkward to do it in public, just respect others believes please :)
Load More Replies... Add New Image
What do you think ?
Mary Peace 1 year ago
When you saw Japan 7/11 did you scroll down? The rest of the list should appear below that. It did and always does for me.
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Fiona Aitch 1 year ago
I've always wondered why people put bananas that they buy in a plastic bag. They have their own wrappers ffs
Steve Robert 1 year ago
The paper bags used in the US are so cheap, they biodegrade before you even get to your car.
Gen X Feral 1 year ago
Right. I trust them as far as they could throw me.
Load More Replies... Gracie Mae 1 year ago
lots of great ideas here--has me wondering WHY they aren't more widely used
Mary Gibson 1 year ago
America is so behind times compared to some countries. You will never find stuff like this.
Jude Laskowski 1 year ago (edited)
Where do you live and why is everyone trying to come here?
Load More Replies... Mary Peace 1 year ago
When you saw Japan 7/11 did you scroll down? The rest of the list should appear below that. It did and always does for me.
Load More Replies... Fiona Aitch 1 year ago
I've always wondered why people put bananas that they buy in a plastic bag. They have their own wrappers ffs
Steve Robert 1 year ago
The paper bags used in the US are so cheap, they biodegrade before you even get to your car.
Gen X Feral 1 year ago
Right. I trust them as far as they could throw me.
Load More Replies... Gracie Mae 1 year ago
lots of great ideas here--has me wondering WHY they aren't more widely used
Mary Gibson 1 year ago
America is so behind times compared to some countries. You will never find stuff like this.
Jude Laskowski 1 year ago (edited)
Where do you live and why is everyone trying to come here?
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