To have been stressed out by Aldi

[Loveweekends10]

Just done a food shop at Aldi to save some money. It stressed me out. There was trolleys and pallets all over the place. At one point there was a backlog of people with trolleys who couldn't get down an isle. The food seemed to be stored in such a random way that I was back and forth. Then oh my god at the checkout he threw the food at me and it took 20 minutes to distress and sort my trolley out.
I cannot do that every week. AIBU?

[gordyslovesheep]

yes YABU - it's not compulsory to shop there - go somewhere else

[minifingers]

You clearly went to a badly managed Aldi.

Mine is shopping heaven.

[HecatePropylaea]

Oh god yes. It's horrible. I went there once.

You're not allowed to pack at the checkout you have your stuff thrown at you. It feels very much like 'give us your money and piss off'.

Never. Again.

I don't like feeling like I am an inconvenience.

[mrskeithrichards]

Yabu Aldi is the easiest place in the world to shop - so efficient I can be in and out in 30 minutes and I never forget anything. Nice and compact, only one type of everything so no wasting time trying to work out best deals.

You must be doing it wrong!

[Runningblue]

Sunday's never a good day to go especially first thing, as loads of people go for the twice weekly special deals which come out on Sundays and Thursday's.
So I'd say YAB a bit U- try later on on a sunday, and it's more gentle, or a weekday/ Saturday.

Also learn the things you like to buy in aldi, and top up with another supermarket. They do have a much wider range of stock than they used to, but it can be stressy trying to do a full shop if you expect the same choice of stuff you'd get in a big supermarket.

But, on the positive you're home already so time for a restorative Sunday drinkie?

[mrskeithrichards]

They don't throw food at you! They just scan it, really fast, and you put it in your trolley. You then go to the shelf and pack at your own pace. So much quicker!

[EnglishGirlApproximately]

Thats why its so cheap!

[Runningblue]

Re the packing, you must have to do it the aldi way, then it's cool.
Park your trolley at the checkout and then stack the trolley with the scanned items in a logical way - say chilled/frozen, store cupboard, cleaning etc.
don't even think to pack bags at this stage, too stressy.

It's then easy and quite soothing to pack at the long shelf behind the checkouts.

The advantage of the manic check out skills is it makes it bloody fast to whip through.

[orangepudding]

I love it there. I take IKEA bags' open them out in my trolley and shove all my shopping in them at the check out. Its so fast, find other supermarkets unnecessary slow!

[youngermother1]

Aldi is not cheaper than supermarket own ranges in my experience, so why bother?

[Runningblue]

Really? It's especially good on fruit veg dairy cold meats etc I find...

[mrskeithrichards]

It's a lot cheaper. On par with value range prices but superior quality. What are you buying that's not cheaper?

[Clary]

I agree with ussing Aldi for what you like then top up elsewhere.

I like organic butter and milk so buy them at Asda/Sainsbos, ditto some at etc; otoh Aldi is fab for fruit and veg, cereal is good, tinned stuff is fine, cheese, salami, etc.

I know what I buy there so it's quick; I don't find the packing a problem either tho I agree you need to be fast. Take the kids and hand e a giant bag each

[MrsBucketxx]

you wrong younger, you obviously dont shop around.

pack the aldi way is quicker and less stressful when packing into bags. its what your used too, people dont like change and your post op prooves it.

[BeatTheClock]

Well I quite like Aldi but I have also had my shopping thrown at me.

I get the whole Aldi checkout thing about being quick and packing it in another place blah, but nonetheless I have also thought as another tin hurtles towards me. There's no need to be quite so vigorous hostile.

(They don't hurl stuff at me in Lidl)

[Runningblue]

Tbf to the checkout sipped, I am pretty sure the aldi staff are on targets for the most items per house scanned through the till... It can be a bit scary/ rude to the unitiated!

Ps the electrical goods are generally excellent too, and all with a 3 year guarantee ...and the wine wins lots of awards.... And, the nappies are excellent.... And no I don't work for them...!

[Runningblue]

Check out STAFF - sorry..

[Runningblue]

Actually that post was just littered with iPad autocorrect shite, sorry!

[ThatsNice]

I love my local Aldi but i have been to another that is not so well kept/ managed. You absolutely have to switch your checkout routine concepts at Aldi If you try and pack your bags as you would at any other supermarket, you will get majorly stressed and they will get ticked off with you for slowing them up. I load the conveyor belt with heavy stuff at the front, so that goes in the trolley first, then as pp said, into a semi logical order in the trolley, so i can pack bags at my leisure at the side counter. I like the idea of a couple of large ikea type bags to pack in the trolley as you go tho.. :) They have some great Christmas stuff in just now :)

[peeriebear]

Ours is great. We save a bundle- popped to Asda a few weeks ago, ended up getting quite a bit and nearly dropped to the floor when the total came up.

[Sparklingbrook]

I think if you go at a different time it would be different. I have returned from Morrisons mildly traumatised this morning. 8am in the morning or 8pm in the evening our local Aldi is positively relaxing.

[PeppermintCreams]

I agree with the poster who said you are doing it wrong. It (and Lidls) is the most stress free shop ever. I would even brave taking a tired toddler with me to my local one. (Well maybe not a big shop!)

However I get there at 9am straight after the school run and have mastered the checkout routine. Easy to park. Quick to shop, and pay.

Fantastic.

[RooneyMara]

I always find I get rushed through in aldi and Lidl. It is awful, they never give you time to pack before they move on to the next person so yes it is really stressful as you feel like you're holding everyone up.

I asked why they had to do this a few months ago at Lidl. The young chap said they had to scan 30 items per minute.
I said what happens if you don't? He said you lose your job.

I don't know if this is true but no reason to suggest otherwise...I don't shop there very often as a consequence.

[Sparklingbrook]

YY Peppermint if possible avoid the weekends completely.

[RooneyMara]

Oh also I do like to go there for the reason that it's small.

Small supermarkets are SO much less stressful and intimidating than big ones.

I can see exactly why that is a nicer experience than going to Morrisons or something.

But their policy on 'speed checking out' just doesn't feel right to me.