Just unbelievable new charges at Vons!

[faeryedark]

Originally Posted by Trojan13 First of all it isn't a public restroom. I am sure the store does not want any random person off the street to come in and use the bathroom. Second, have you really never seen this before?? I know it sucks to have to pony up a whole quarter but I believe that it is to deter homeless people rather than squeeze more money out of consumers. Most of the stores that do this have tokens for paying customers. Did you ask????

Wow, we don't have aVons, but I thought pay toilets were athing of the past. I'd pity the pregnant lady who rushes to the bathroom and winds up having an accident because maybe they're new to the store and don't know it's a pay toilet, or the person with aweak bladder, irritable bowel etc.

[wannabefree]

Back in the day...(I'm 53) almost all restrooms had that. I think it was a nickle. Each restroom had a free one but it was always gross. I was just thinking about that recently and how it had stopped being a common practice.

I grew up in rural western Pa. by the way so I don't know if that was common all over the U.S.

I've never seen it in Fl/Al.

[ocean_brez]

My Vons started doing this too about a year ago. On the upside, the tokens are free at the C.S. counter and the bathrooms have been much cleaner since this started. The downside is that there is only one female and one male bathroom and so you have to wait to use it if is already being occupied.

[Mexi]

Found an article about it. Can Vons in the Marketplace charge to use its restrooms?

Originally Posted by Trojan13 First of all it isn't a public restroom. I am sure the store does not want any random person off the street to come in and use the bathroom. Second, have you really never seen this before?? I know it sucks to have to pony up a whole quarter but I believe that it is to deter homeless people rather than squeeze more money out of consumers. Most of the stores that do this have tokens for paying customers. Did you ask????

Umm, yes it is.
According to the heath and safety code, food establishments, including restaurants and grocery stores larger than 20,000 square feet, are required to provide public toilet facilities.

[deeann7]

Thank you to all who have posted your opinions.
I just wanted to add
This store and my area in general do not have a problem with homeless people.
I shop at CVS, Walmart, Albies, Staters, 99 cent store and many others.
Only vons has a pay to use bathroom.
Vons prices are so high I think they can afford to provide a free restroom and someone to keep it clean.

[gimmiegimmiemine]

The Vons I go to has tokens or quarters too. You can't go under a door as it's the outside door, not a stall door. It is only a single use bathroom, so there is only one man's and one woman's and that part is bad if you have to really go and need to wait. They do give out bathroom tokens at customer service and if you ask nicely they'll give me a few so I don't have to ask next time. I always put them on an outside pocket of my purse too.

[cjfrugal]

One of my Vons also started this but they leave the womens door unlocked and only the mens need the tokens

[vcasares]

Just an FYI, you might want to just try and check if the door will open without putting money in. As mentioned above, there are many businesses that will leave the door unlocked, but have a place to put in money just to make it look like you need to pay. I used to work in a restaurant located on a pier that used this system. It sure prevented the public from coming in just to use the bathroom and then leave. Knowing this info has really come in handy for me, just wanted to share.