Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To Stop Going To Aldi Because I Can't Keep Up At The Checkout?

137 replies

fakenamefornow · 30/09/2016 16:48

I'm not doing that 'packing shelf' business because that's just loading/unloading the trolley twice. I can't keep up with their Olympic shopping chuck and get my bags packed fast enough though. I should just give up and go back to Tesco shouldn't I?

OP posts:
ItIsHowItIsx · 30/09/2016 17:01

I have the bags carefully arranged in the trolley ready to just drop the stuff into. you need big stable bags or boxes would also be good. I went shopping with a friend in Germany - the packing the bags after they pay is what they do there . I don't have time for that.

x2boys · 30/09/2016 17:01

my dh is really good at this he has everything priced in his head and is rarely out by more then 50p and he s very fast and methodical when packing its me that slows him down.

AstridPeth · 30/09/2016 17:02

Thewave has it right. I bought some trolley bags for my Aldi shop a little while back and they have revolutionized my shopping experience! No fuss no hassle. No flinging it in the trolley or packing at the shelf or in the car in the rain. Nice and simple. Would def recommend them!

Ausgezeichnet · 30/09/2016 17:03

I recently applied for a job at Aldi. The application states that you'll be targeted to scan 1000 items per hour.

insancerre · 30/09/2016 17:04

I put it all back in the trolley then pack into the boot

Janey50 · 30/09/2016 17:04

To be honest,I actually prefer this way! The packing it 'on the shelf' thing means can do it in my own time,without feeling harassed or rushed by till operator or customers waiting behind me. I have rather bad dexterity and mobility problems,so I really do find it so much easier to move away from the stressful till environment to pack. BUT....to be fair,I am quite often only shopping for myself,and sometimes my DP,so I do understand that packing 10 or 15 quids worth of food etc is quite different to a massive weekly shop of maybe 100 quid! I love Aldi,I think a lot of their stuff is brilliant value and I won't buy my bakery produce anywhere else now. An almond croissant for 33 pence? You can't beat it.

Blueberry234 · 30/09/2016 17:05

Trolley bags are the way forward or suck it up and use the shelf

thenewaveragebear1983 · 30/09/2016 17:06

I go to lidl actually, but it's the same efficient scanning technique! I do find though that if I go at quieter times there's less pressure to speed pack, and no one has ever asked me to hurry up!

Redinthefacegirl · 30/09/2016 17:07

I love the speed and efficiency, I do what suitsyousir79 does and pack straight into bags for life opened into the trolley. I enjoy keeping up. Loath dithery tills now.

LynetteScavo · 30/09/2016 17:07

I always try to be faster than the check out person,in the hope of annoying them...And I place things early in the trolley in frozen etc area. I always hope they will be impressed with my efficiency, but they never even glance at my trolley.

WhoisLucasHood · 30/09/2016 17:09

Ikea bags here too, I love the efficiency.

switswoo81 · 30/09/2016 17:11

Totally agree with thewave trolley bags are a godsend. Love aldi have a sparkly new one around the corner saving a fortune.

MrsRedFly · 30/09/2016 17:11

I find I rush round aldi's- not sure if I'm preparing for the till in advance!

ragz134 · 30/09/2016 17:12

Lynette, I do this too! Nobody has ever noticed how well organised I am :(
Everything goes on the conveyer in order and gets packed directly into big Lidl (stiffer than aldi ones) bags in the trolley, I'm as quick as the scanner and don't have to bother with the shelf... (Smugly, of course.)

Biffsboys · 30/09/2016 17:13

It's like an Olympic sport ! What really annoys me though is when they say "cash or card"? Halfway through scanning ?? Well if you tell me how much it is I'll let you know !!

Original poster
fakenamefornow · 30/09/2016 17:13

I do have all my bags open and ready.....3, 2, 1, Go! Still can't keep up. All it takes is one bag to fold over from its open position and I've lost it. I'll try the 'spread the shopping wider' on the conveyor belt trick.

OP posts:
potbellyroast · 30/09/2016 17:16

Yep I agree - ikea bags.

EssentialHummus · 30/09/2016 17:23

Use a big blue ikea bag in your trolley. No double packing, no packing shelf.

Yup! In trolley, open, spread as required.

I recently went into Sainsbo's after months of weekly Aldi shops and was basically grabbing the stuff out of the poor checkout lady's hands Grin.

aus 17 items a minutes sounds fine, but then there's always a faffer, or a granny, or a faffing granny...

shovetheholly · 30/09/2016 17:26

You're not supposed to be able to pack the bags at the pace they go. You just scoop it all into the trolley, and then pack on the side of the store, where the shelf is.

I can usually get about 1/3 of my shopping into bags while they go. The whole point of the store is to get people through the checkout quickly and then have them pack in their own time. Once you get used to it, Sainos seems really, really slow and dull Wink

Unicorn1981 · 30/09/2016 17:27

I love it. The trick is to put everything on the conveyor it the right way eg bread at the end heavy large stuff at beginning. Position your bags in the trolley and chuck it all in!

ChocolateButton15 · 30/09/2016 17:28

You need to be in the right frame of mind and get your aldi game on to shop there! I put heavy things first then meat/food then veg/soft things. Huge ikea bag in the trolley or 3 big shoppers and just chuck it in. Sometimes I pick a busier queue as it gives you more time to sort the shopping/trolley out. What I don't have time to bag just chuck on top and sort at the car

PlayOnWurtz · 30/09/2016 17:30

I organise my shopping on the belt so I can pack it as they throw it at me.

BackforGood · 30/09/2016 17:32

YANBU to stop going there if you don't like it. If you are refusing to work the way the shop is set up, then you are holding up everyone else who simply loves Aldi for the very reason that it is SO much quicker to get through the till system.
It gives me the rage how slowly the queue moves / how long it takes if ever I have to go to a mainstream supermarket now.

Trying to pack your bags at the till is like choosing to drive on the motorway and then traveling at 40mph.

BabyGanoush · 30/09/2016 17:33

Like others, I just put the heavy stuff at the beginning of the conveyor belt, lighter squasable stuff last.

Then I quickly put 3 or 4 Sports Direct bags into the trolley, then Zi just chuck everything straight into the bag.

tangledg · 30/09/2016 17:34

We have a Aldi a 20 minute walk away. Only problem is with a double pushchair (we don't drive) I can't use a trolley if I'm on my own, and can only buy a few items using a basket. I have been with DP a few times who has the trolley whilst I push the pushchair. He's ace at the checkout, it's just a nightmare having to carry everything back home (tins, jars etc) we've struggled with 4 big bags for life before (our pushchair has no space due to second seat to use the basket) all uphill!

If we drove is be there all the time.