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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:
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drearydeardre · 30/07/2018 14:07

what specialsubject said!

frantastic1 · 30/07/2018 14:08

yes!!!! This really annoys me too. I've had a few run ins with the staff about it and now I just ignore them and turn it around. I once had a stand off between the cashier and myself where she changed my trolley position 6 times and I kept changing it back.
She gave up eventually. I think she recognises me now because she's stopped doing it. She knows I'm not a mystery shopper.. or am I???!!!

RosaMallory · 30/07/2018 14:11

They get timed on how many items they scan in a particular time period. That might be why they ask you to do it a particular way. It is part of the employee's targets. I think they are made to go at a particular speed. It's not Waitrose!

zombie999 · 30/07/2018 14:13

We have this same arguement every week at Aldi and my other half eventually said last week "you worry about scanning and I will worry about packing" at that point I felt awful on the poor girl at the checkout but it does get me angry. When I was heavily pregnant I couldn't reach the other side of the trolley so I continued to pack at the till and when they suggested I move my trolley and then physically moved it bumping into my belly I lost my rag

Blondeshavemorefun · 30/07/2018 14:14

Agree just tell them due to arthritis that you need to pack this way to cause me less pain

What I don’t get is the no packing policy

I’ve nevee shopped in Aldi as not local - but friends do so been told

What’s the difference between putting shopping into bags and shopping in a trolley

To then have to push trolley to a shelf and take our shopping to then put bags in trolley and items back in trolley

PlatypusPie · 30/07/2018 14:15

I hadn’t realised the packing shelf was general Aldi thing - the only one near me is quite a small one, which took over a Lidl and retained their ridiculous tiny space after the till. Most shoppers have just baskets in there ( city centre, small ) and I think the inadequate queuing area would entirely seize up if trolleys were used. Most people pack in t he conventional way there ie scan and into bag, though some use the packing shelf - I am not going to put into a basket and then repack on a shelf to speed them up ( can’t see that it would particularly with a small purchase, anyway. ) The staff are mostly v nice local uni students and seem quite embarrassed by the awkward packing situation - they never try to push people to use the packing shelf.

I expect the larger Aldis are worth the effort for budget but I only find the deli stuff ( not as good as Lidl, IMO ) and some baking ingredients good value so it’s just an occasional visit - I would resent the customer unfriendly style too much for a trolley shop.

PuppyMonkey · 30/07/2018 14:16

Magicstar’s photo illustrates how ours is set up. Some tills are “left handed,” some are right.

Our store was updated last year. Are some of you shopping in older stores.

crimsonlake · 30/07/2018 14:35

Unless you are a super fast packer, no one should be packing at the till at Aldi or Lidl as it holds people up, so if you do you need to think of the others in line behind you who will be getting inpatient as we all know by now how it works. Those of you who say you do are obviously not being considerate to other people in the queue.
As for positioning your trolley, yes it is a faff and they do always check in to your trolley first. If you cannot remedy the solution best to shop in a store where they are ore considerate to the needs of customers.

drearydeardre · 30/07/2018 14:37

it is not a no packing policy - it is so much nicer (usually) to not get held up by people who carefully put everything into their bags at the till (in places like Tesco) as if they cannot separate things out when they get home.
The idea with Aldi -(and even with arthritis in my hands and a broken wrist it makes sense) is that you point your trolley with small end towards the cashier in their designated slot. As goods are scanned you put them in your trolley (and if you are sensible have pre-arranged standup reusable bags so you can throw the appropriate items into each bag) then if you want you can use the packing shelf to further sort or just leave them as they are. I do not understand what all the fuss is about.
You can pack as the goods are scanned or you can use the shelf. What you should not do to avoid annoying those in the queue behind you is carefully sort and pack while the scan is going on. Hmm

PuppyMonkey · 30/07/2018 14:38

Crimson, I assure you I can put my stuff directly into my two big Ikea bags (left open in the trolley) just as quickly as I can put them into an empty trolley. Aldi regulars like me are professionals in this regard.Grin

noeffingidea · 30/07/2018 14:48

I agree with Specialsubject.
I was in Sainsburys today and the checkout assistant took twice as long as they do in Aldis. It's very noticeable how quickly even long queues in Aldi move. I've never had a problem with staff being unfriendly either, always found them polite and cheerful.

sunglasses123 · 30/07/2018 14:53

I love the people who say they dont slow things down doing it their way. You absolutely do! People who are messing around with their goods, trying to sort them out into different bags whilst the poor cashier is trying to scan the hell out of them.

My Mum wont go to Aldi because its all a bit fast for her. There are lots of other stores to shop at. There are plenty of shops where you can take your time. Please don't spoil it for the rest of us by saying you are as quick as they are etc.

YOU REALLY ARENT!

MangoApplePear · 30/07/2018 14:53

I had no idea about this policy!! Explains a few weird encounters with staff who were scanning very aggressively!

Topseyt · 30/07/2018 14:58

This is one of the reasons I no longer shop at Aldi.

I have an injury to my right arm which means I can no longer keep up at the tills.

Other reasons were poor quality fruit and vegetables that went mushy within a day, plus the fact that I couldn't do a full shop in there as they didn't have everything we wanted.

There are Aldi products that I like (moser roth chocolate, specially selected frozen cheesecake etc.), so occasionally I will go in, but the till experience has in the past been very off-putting. I will be doing the best I can, but I object to having my shopping virtually fired at me through the till. I am glad to read here that they might be relaxing that a little. It was unpleasant.

I prefer scan and pack in Tesco, with the hand held barcode scanner. Works better for me, and is pretty quick.

specialsubject · 30/07/2018 15:00

I imagine like anywhere staff will vary, and it is clear from here that Aldi prices and quality also vary. Our town one is brilliant, pleasant friendly staff despite the pressure and the food is....good. No music, no annoying banners, no loyalty cards and no moving stuff round. Shopping is a chore and anything that gets it done quick works for me. A supermarket is not a social centre.

but then I don't expect veg to last a week, to be all the same shape etc, and I accept that sometimes things I want aren't available.

SimonBridges · 30/07/2018 15:16

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.

Because the quicker they get the shopping through the less staff they need on tills. Less staff is less overheads and therefore they need to make less money on each products. The check out staff have targets to meet. They need to chuck stuff through. Just put it back in the trolley then go to the shelf of shame to pack it.

As said before if you want to take your time and have a nice chat to the check out person then go somewhere else. Part of the deal with Aldi is that you don’t get the customer service that you do with say Waitrose which costs more.

RB68 · 30/07/2018 15:23

I always pack BUT i load the conveyor in the order I want to pack, have the bags setup in the trolley to literally just take of the till and put in trolley.

I don't mind a good process but I do get cross when they are scanning and shove things up for big items and knock things off the end - so e.g. loo roll - just hand it to me to put on the trolley ffs

I also know they do need to allow for people with disabilities otherwise they are breaking the law.

thecatsthecats · 30/07/2018 15:33

sunglasses

Pfft. I've been shopping at Aldi since before the checkout operators were even born, I tell ye.

I have a system like RB68. I stack everything on the belt - quickly! - in the order it needs to go into bags. I have my bags ready and waiting upright for things to go in. If I make an error, tough, I live with it, don't faff around fixing it then. My card ready for payment in an easily accessed pocket.

I have had to wait a second or two for an them to be passed on to me by the cashier before, as I'm ahead of them. Pfft, I say.

PuppyMonkey · 30/07/2018 16:11

Sunglasses - just because you can’t do it, please don’t doubt those of us who really REALLY can. Grin

Tisgrand · 30/07/2018 16:23

Sorry to derail slightly but where do you all get bags which stand up while empty? I can't use very big ones like ikea bags as i can't lift anything too heavy so prefer medium size bags. It really slows me down when items are being flung at me and I have to take the time to open up the bags!

PurpleCrazyHorse · 30/07/2018 16:24

I was delighted when the checkout operator showed me how to put my trolley at the end. I went from novice to intermediate Lidl/Aldi shopper and felt I should earn a badge or something. Still not fast at packing so do still sling it all into the trolley and use the shelf (mostly because I take in one small bag and fill up a whole trolley!)

I think you'll just have to say that you have arthritis in your hand and need to put the trolley this way. They probably think you're a novice and have no idea. I expect they do also want to see there's nothing underneath, so could you put your trolley at 90 degrees into the end slot so it's side onto the checkout operator?

Spudlet · 30/07/2018 16:24

Nope. You stack the stuff in the trolley as you go around into order. You unload onto the belt in order -cold stuff together, then have stuff like tuns and bottles, bread and squashy things last. You have your bags open and you shove it all in - which you can, because it's all coming in the approriate order.

Original poster
augustmonster · 30/07/2018 16:39

@Tisgrand The ones I bought from Lakeland don't seem to be sold any more, but they are similar to this. Total game changer. You pack your shopping as you buy it, unpack it onto the conveyor belt in the same order and repack it when scanned.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B012NODR8C/ref=cmswwrcppapi_vdZxBbF6D59A4

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Original poster
augustmonster · 30/07/2018 16:40

@PurpleCrazyHorse yes, that is how I would like my trolley, exactly how you have described. However, they won't let me!

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PurpleCrazyHorse · 30/07/2018 16:48

I think just put it that way and say you have arthritis, I wonder if they just keep wanting to educate you. Failing that speak to the manager. You're out of the way and they can see your trolley is empty.