Ya it is quite surprising at the cost! Maybe you could place an ad on craigslist or freecycle in the wanted section. I know I don't want one that bad if I have to pay for it new!
Wowza is right. get to a thrift store. buy one
of the metal serving trays that is on wheels and just
have you laundry basket on the top .
or uses 4 screws to hold it down.
The carts I see around here look different than the ones in the link. We have carts like the ones in the link at the local laundromat but the Amish ones around here are sturdier. They look like a wheelbarrow/wagon. They have a big white plastic tub instead of a wire basket, a handle to pull them, and big chunky rubber tires.
Consider yourself very lucky then. I hate laundromats but thank God for them when the washer goes out or the dryer quits working.
We have FUNWASH in Arkansas. For some reason I expected to have some FUN there while I was WASHing. I was sorely disappointed. I think I got my own washer/dryer when I was 22. I thought I had really made it
Those are very common in Australia. So much so that you can get them at Target or Kmart. Sorry no idea where to get one here and I imagine the shipping from Australia would be insane!
My sister has a laundry basket, big sturdy thing, that when the handles are squeezed, the folding legs pop out! AAAh! I want one, but can't figure out how to fit it in the suitcase - she's in Germany.