Elephant Gone, Haedal Arrived... Emart Shopping Basket Changes Starting Today

Emart to Switch Rental Shopping Baskets to 'Paid Sales' Starting from the 12th

Emart has changed the design of its shopping baskets and switched its operation method from 'rental' to 'sale'.

According to Emart's official website on the 12th, Emart changed the rental shopping baskets to sale baskets starting that day. Originally, Emart rented out shopping baskets by having customers pay first and then refunding the deposit in cash when the bag was returned later. The amount was 3,000 won for large baskets and 500 won for small baskets, depending on the size. However, with the change in operation, from that day forward, customers must purchase the shopping baskets without any refund.

[Image source=Emart homepage]

The newly redesigned shopping baskets are made from recycled materials using discarded PET bottles. This addresses the issue that the previous rental baskets were difficult to reuse once contaminated. They are also produced in various sizes and feature a new design. This time, sea otters and various flowers are illustrated. The previous rental baskets can be returned within three years (until August 11, 2027).

Earlier, Emart had planned to switch to a paid sales method at the end of May but postponed the implementation by about three months for consumer convenience. At that time, some netizens speculated that the policy change was intended to prevent 'tricks' using the shopping baskets.

[Image source=Online Community]

The previous rental basket system allowed refunds in cash upon return even if payment was made by card, which some people exploited to gain benefits. They would pay for the basket with a card to meet card usage requirements and receive benefits, then get the deposit refunded in cash, thus gaining additional advantages.

Also, a 'card kkang' method using the baskets was shared mainly online, causing controversy. On one online community, a post stated, "If you look near the checkout, there are boxes containing 100 baskets. You take them to the self-checkout, enter a quantity of 100, purchase them, and then go to customer service to get the deposit refunded."

However, Emart explained at the time that this was a separate measure unrelated to card kkang. Emart stated, "This is a measure to increase actual usage rates for the environment."