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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that people shopping in Aldi shouldn’t insist on packing bags at checkout

401 replies

Shell4429 · 01/11/2018 23:04

Just, this. I was shopping tonight and two customers in front of me did this and I was really annoyed. While waiting I thought that Aldi should charge a fee for people who do this. It’s not fair on customers who do it the correct way. A surcharge would work, like it did with carrier bags. If everyone insisted on doing this surely it would drive prices up.

OP posts:
shouldwestayorshouldwego · 02/11/2018 06:17

I always pack at checkout because I always use a basket. To use a trolley would be too tempting in the wtf aisle.

Thewheelsarefallingoff · 02/11/2018 06:22

I agree with you, op. I told DH off when he told me he packs at the checkout. Shocking behaviour!Grin

TidaQuel · 02/11/2018 06:22

I done a big shop at Aldi last night and saw the couple in front of me repacking all their shopping on the bench. Usually it just has kids swinging from it!

I put my items onto the belt in the order I want them to come off and be packed. Heavy items first, soft easily squashed items last. There were a couple of moments when I had to catch my shopping just as it was about to cascade off the edge, as I’d taken slightly longer to get bags to keep shape with first items, but then I’d soon catch up by taking a few items at a time. The robot like woman on the til muttered hello, then just scanned, muttered at the end and didn’t once look in my direction or make eye contact. I was surprised as usually there’s great customer service in Aldi. My packing kept up with her scanning and I’ve bedn complimented in the past for my speedy packs. What a waste of time to have to repack....

OscarWildesGreenCarnation · 02/11/2018 06:32

'Entitled behaviour' ?! You what?! I pack as fast as I can! The queues are way too long anyway and I've rarely seen the 'packing shelf' used anyway. Don't think I hold anyone up any longer than people in front of forgetting items or gassing with the till operator. Is this really a worry?!

JoyceTempleSavage · 02/11/2018 06:35

What about people who physically can't pack at break neck speed

The joy of the Aldi model is that They Don’t Have To Pack until they reach the packing area

Then they can take all day about it if they want

Monty27 · 02/11/2018 06:35

There's queues because ppl persist on breaking the packing code. You do it after you have paid, pack at the back bench! Hmm

JoyceTempleSavage · 02/11/2018 06:37

There were a couple of moments when I had to catch my shopping just as it was about to cascade off the edge, as I’d taken slightly longer to get bags to keep shape with first items, but then I’d soon catch up by taking a few items at a time. The robot like woman on the til muttered hello, then just scanned, muttered at the end and didn’t once look in my direction or make eye contact

Cause and effect

BooEekCackle · 02/11/2018 06:38

The first few times I went in there I felt stressed out when they started firing goods at me at the cashiers end. If you are an anxious person or a slow mover that is going to put you off shopping there.

BishopBrennansArse · 02/11/2018 06:39

Depends.
When DH goes he can pack at the same speed the cashier scans at - he lines the bags up in the trolley after loading the conveyor.

When I'm on my own (disabled wheelchair user) I put it back in the trolley then pack it into bags in the car as I can't lift the bags anyway, DH then unpacks the bags from the car at home.

SeasonOfTheCrone · 02/11/2018 06:43

Aldi and Lidl's packing system is how all supermarkets used to be, chuck it all back in the trolley and go and pack it at the bench. Why is it older people who hold up the queue causing us to tut and sigh when they, along with me and everyone else who was around in the 70s and earlier are completely used to packing our shopping this way. Same with the bloody dividers, they didn't used to exist you know and we used our brains and communication to ensure our shopping didn't get mixed up with anyone else's. Yet it's older people who tut and make a dramatic show of placing the divider because I don't bother [having a brain and eyes and all those other useful human things]. Aldi's chuck it in and hurry up way of doing things is efficient and far preferable to talking to someone who is worried about having a disciplinary for not 'engaging with the customers'.

Narya · 02/11/2018 06:48

I can keep up with the checkout staff at Aldi and Lidl so i don't have an issue, but there's no signs or anything to tell you that the packing 'system' is any different to, say, Asda or Tesco. The packing shelves are rarely used here and the staff never say anything. So how are people supposed to know what to do?

nottakingthisanymore · 02/11/2018 06:56

Yanbu op. It’s not how you do Aldi but a fine is a bit much.

Purplejay · 02/11/2018 06:57

I thought most people used the packing bench unless they only have a few bits. There are always people using it at out local stores. They are also pretty good about not letting queues get big at out closest one. Once queuers get past a point they open more tills.

I can’t keep up so use the bench without hesitation. I have wondered about getting some trolley bags though.

Instacrumb · 02/11/2018 07:04

I've shopped in aldi for ages and always pack at the till, and have never been told of this odd unwritten policy where I wasn't meant to. Bags in the trolley, chuck the stuff in, quicker than the people that don't pack at the till and those people are a pain in the arse, as the car park is limited so usually a one in one out, and you end up waiting for people to not only wait and go through a till but then load it into bags after as slow as they like.

Iloveacurry · 02/11/2018 07:07

We don’t have a packing bench in our local Aldi, so pack at the checkout.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 02/11/2018 07:13

I've only shopped at Aldi once and packed at the till. I didn't realise I was doing something wrong! If they're so hot on not packing at the till perhaps they need to introduce scan and shop.

Donthugmeimscared · 02/11/2018 07:13

At the Lidl near me there is no indication that the bench is for packing and as I have never seen anyone use it I guess none of us are mind readers.

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 02/11/2018 07:21

Yet it's older people who tut and make a dramatic show of placing the divider because I don't bother [having a brain and eyes and all those other useful human things

You should use your brain to help you understand that we use dividers now. Really, how much time do you save not using one? I'm with the Older People on this one.

OhLookHeKickedTheBall · 02/11/2018 07:21

A couple of months ago I had a couple of older ladies get really arsey with me for using the packing bench to pack. Confused It was a busy day and there was a queue for the benches so I'm really not sure what their issue was, especially as they seemed to follow me out of the shop afterwards without using the benches at all, with the single item they'd bought still in their hand. Most bizarre Aldi moment I'd had.

JeezYouLoon · 02/11/2018 07:21

I pack at the till, however I have ninja packing skills 

I load my shopping on the belt in a certain order so all the freezer stuff is scanned at the same time and then packed. Same with fruit and veg, tins etc bread and flowers always last so chucked on the top. Simples.

MysteriesOfTheOrganism · 02/11/2018 07:24

I'm going to throw in one of my bugbears: people who seem surprised by the fact that they have to pay after everything has been scanned. There's the pause while they digest this surprise, then the rummage into their bag and the search for the elusive purse or wallet - which is always cunningly concealed in the depths... Why doesn't it occur to them while they're in the checkout queue to have their purse/wallet ready???

Yeah, it irritates me - but I wouldn't dream of seriously suggesting they pay a surcharge I'd ban them from shopping

EekThreek · 02/11/2018 07:25

I apologised the other day to the man serving me at the till for not keeping up, after 9mo Dd2 tried to escape from the trolley seat. He told me they're not actually timed, but they don't make it common knowledge because the checkouts still work better when everyone's fast.

I'm another organised trolley beltwr, and I pack at the till because otherwise I've got to empty my trolley again to put it in bags and it's a waste of effort. Especially when shopping with aforementioned houdini baby.

vdbfamily · 02/11/2018 07:25

We shop at Lidl and Aldi and I have never in my whole life seen anyone use the benches for packing but I am glad I know what they are for now!

teawamutu · 02/11/2018 07:31

I can pack just as fast as they scan, it's all down to organising the belt and three big bags in the trolley to throw the food into. We're not all slow pokes.

Same here. I pride myself on being quicker than the cashier. I honestly think I'd be slower putting things directly into the trolley because I'd have to be more careful not to chuck stuff onto bare metal.

Also I always let people in front of me if they only have a few items so morally I believe I'm winning Grin

Oblomov18 · 02/11/2018 07:33

I too don't get it.
What's the speed difference?

You pick up an item from Aldi conveyer. Be it wine, bread or pasta. And you put it in your trolley. Or you put it in a bag, in your trolley.
What's the difference. In timing.

I don't get it! 🙄🤔