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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To moan about Aldi treating me like a child?

109 replies

augustmonster · 30/07/2018 11:54

Their food is great. I am happy with the price I pay for my weekly shop.

But I am sick, sick, sick of being told how I have to place my trolley at a certain way at the checkout. I have rheumatoid arthritis in one of my wrists and fingers, and I find it much, much easier to stand next to the checkout and load my trolley across my body, rather than take the weight of the goods across the length of the trolley as they would like me to stand.

The last three times I have been to Aldi, they have insisted that I need to put the trolley the way they want it. On every occasion I have said that I prefer it this way, and on one occasion they refused to let me, saying it was store policy.

Today I explained to the assistant that I find it easier to pack my bags a certain way round. He said, "Fine but we actually have a no packing policy." I think he meant that I was supposed to use the packing shelf. I laughed because I was packing faster than he was scanning (a feat, I know, but I have one of those cool Lakeland trolley shopping bags).

I was not causing an obstruction (miles away from anyone else), and I have no idea why this is policy, but AIBU to think that they can mind their own bloody business about how I load my trolley? I have no wish to start discussing my medical condition with strangers.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
ShowOfHands · 30/07/2018 13:09

Is this what they're making you do?

To moan about Aldi treating me like a child?
SlartiAardvark · 30/07/2018 13:10

The faster a till operator throws stuff at me, the slower I put it in my bag/trolley.

It's not like they're paid per customer & I resent the way they chuck it at you....

ShowOfHands · 30/07/2018 13:12

Hard to find a picture, but at ours we do this and stand next to the trolley.

To moan about Aldi treating me like a child?
Original poster
augustmonster · 30/07/2018 13:17

@ShowOfHands That is how I like to do it but they won't let me. That way I only have to reach across the width of the trolley.

They want me to put the nose of the trolley into that gap and it is a much more awkward angle for me.

OP posts:
bella2bella · 30/07/2018 13:17

This annoys me to OP!! I don't suffer any pain but I'm left handed and I find it hard to pack at some of the belts with the way they make me angle it. Drives me round the bend! But I do like their champagne...

LagunaBubbles · 30/07/2018 13:19

How on earth would anyone load the trolley in the first example on that diagram? Unless they had super long arms

Because its not like that, the trolley fits in at an angle and you simply drop all the things as they are scanned in to very easy.

ThisCannotBe · 30/07/2018 13:21

@augustmonster they want you to put the trolley into the gap it is designed to fit - you then need to stand at the side of it, in front of the cashier - not at the end of the trolley.

CrispsAndDip · 30/07/2018 13:22

On the subject of Aldi, why do their signs say "Using our packing shelf helps us keep our prices low"?

I noticed this yesterday and it baffled me.

ShowOfHands · 30/07/2018 13:23

You want to do it which way?

I'm really confused. Are they wanting you to put your trolley the way shown in my first picture or the second?

AdaColeman · 30/07/2018 13:24

The next time they say anything to you, ask to see the store's policy for helping disabled customers.

PuppyMonkey · 30/07/2018 13:26

Your diagram is bonkers - every Aldi I've ever been to, you stand where Show of Hand's diagram woman is and just bung it straight into the trolley. I have massive bags and pack direct, but lots as you say bung stuff in and pack at their leisure at the back shelf. Confused

Original poster
augustmonster · 30/07/2018 13:27

@ShowOfHands sorry, I was really unclear there, as I hadn't realised you had posted both photos.

I want to position my trolley like your first photo, but I'm being asked to positioned it like the second photo. I appreciate I don't need to stand at the very end of the trolley, but the angle is still difficult for me even standing at the side of the trolley in the second photo.

I don't have a problem with them having a policy. I just wish they would treat me like an adult, when I say that I prefer the trolley a certain way around.

OP posts:
SiliconHeaven · 30/07/2018 13:27

I’m a wheelchair user, I don’t use a trolley so at the till in Aldi and Lidl I pack into the two big bags I have, one on each arm. 50% of the checkout operators are kind and helpful; going a bit slower so I can keep up.
The other 50% are annoyed with me for being there and throw my shopping at me as fast as they possibly can.
I truly believe this is how society is spilt in the way disabled people are treated.

PuppyMonkey · 30/07/2018 13:27

Yes, they want you to put the trolley into the designated space, but you don't have to stand at the end of your trolley.

drearydeardre · 30/07/2018 13:32

I have a broken wrist at the moment but I found it was fine to position the trolley as they want it - out of interest it is discriminatory to left handed people - but hey ho that is not a claim that is possible.
Why do you find it particularly difficult - the goods are positioned after they have been scanned - at the pointy end of the trolley so quite easy to shovel in. I find it OK - in any other supermarket - I always push the trolley to the end of the till and parallel to it and find that is easier.
I can keep up with the check out person but use the packing shelf to rearrange into suitable bags and pack the frozen stuff before I return to the car.

ShowOfHands · 30/07/2018 13:37

If it's discriminatory to left handed people then you just use the till next to it which is set up in a mirror image!

ainsisoisje · 30/07/2018 13:38

I think that the cashiers are timed per transaction so don’t think that helps their customer service skills. I’d phone the store and explain you need to pack your way to the manager.

roseblossom75 · 30/07/2018 13:40

Never used Aldi but I'm intrigued now to see what you mean.

Magicstar1 · 30/07/2018 13:40

That diagram looks strange to me...maybe ours are a different layout. Is it not like this? You put your trolley in the space provided, and stand to the side beside the credit card device.

To moan about Aldi treating me like a child?
To moan about Aldi treating me like a child?
TorviBrightspear · 30/07/2018 13:41

ShowOfHands Mon 30-Jul-18 13:37:09
If it's discriminatory to left handed people then you just use the till next to it which is set up in a mirror image!

Not in my local Aldi, they're not, and this is one of the newer ones.

drearydeardre · 30/07/2018 13:44

I meant it can be difficult as a lefty - I am not calling for anti-discrimination action! and it is not always possible to use a leftie-friendly till as some of them will be closed. Smile
I would however never use the across the trolley position - it would not be comfortable. The trolley head on is so much easier.

catlady34 · 30/07/2018 13:54

I hate how they start scanning your shopping before the last customer has moved away, meaning you get immediately behind while you wait for them to pick up their stuff! I'm getting sweaty just thinking about it.

drearydeardre · 30/07/2018 13:59

catlady - I agree - usually the person in front is trying to 'pack' their goods at the till (possibly to make a point) and it creates a bit of a log-jam because you cannot get your own trolley into your preferred position until they have shifted. I feel like telling them to pack at the packing shelf if they cannot keep up Smile - and I am an old gimmer with arthritis in my hands too. (not to mention the broken wrist at the moment)

BonnieLass5 · 30/07/2018 14:02

Just say ‘I have arthritis. I need the trolley over here’. Job done.

specialsubject · 30/07/2018 14:03

not the op, but everyone else who thinks they are superior and wants to pack at the till at their own pace - piss off to sainsburys.

aldi are cheap and quick because of their system. dont like it, go elsewhere and get out of my way.