The Cost of a Cart

It’s a small thing. But it might make a big impression.

I am referring to arriving in airports around the world, going to the baggage area to get your suitcase and getting a luggage cart or wagon to conveniently wheel your suitcases out. In every country I have arrived in except the United States, particularly New York City, these carts are free; in NYC they are $5.

Darn, I think to myself! What kind of welcome is this? What kind of impression is this making on our foreign guests? It’s not even the amount of money — it’s charging when most others don’t. It is petty and greedy, and I can’t believe the money collected has greater benefit than the cost of our damaged image.

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