Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think Lidl packing policy is bonkers...?

192 replies

malificent7 · 07/01/2021 13:03

I take my shopping bags to Lisl. At the till they think they are safer/ customers are quicker if they put their shopping in a basket 1st then took basket over to side and pack there coz of COVID..
I pointed out to the cashier that I would ve in the shop less time if i put shopping straight into my bags and walked out...id also be near her the exact same amout of time. Am i thick or something?
In effect customers are packing twice/ loitering longer.

OP posts:
Rosebel · 07/01/2021 14:27

It's always been like this in Aldi and Lidel. Why argue with them about it?
The whole point of those supermarkets is that they are cheaper and quick and a lot of that is because they don't have customers holding up the queue by packing.
I bet you were really popular holding up the queue by arguing about it. If you want to pack at the till go to Asda

starfishmummy · 07/01/2021 14:27

I just have the big trolley bags open in my trolley - I just put things into those as quickly as I put in the trolley. I just stick them in anyhow so Im not faffing making sure they are in the right bag etc, i put squashables last on the conveyor so they go on the top of the bags. No cashier has complained yet.

movingonup20 · 07/01/2021 14:28

@Sh05
Self checkout is being rolled out - we got it during the last lockdown, was closed one Monday to install install them but they lost the discount section (a shame)

movingonup20 · 07/01/2021 14:29

@Gwenhwyfar

I fancy myself for the world championships in supermarket packing! Definitely a life skill Grin

itsgettingweird · 07/01/2021 14:30

Our Aldi suggested/requested customers took trolly to car and loaded bags there.

It's so much easier! I have my bags for life open in boot and can sort it easily into fridge in cool bag etc.

Next time I see those trolly bags that hooks on a trolly I'm buying some! It's got to be the same theory and so much quicker than lacking a bag for life in a trolly or trying to do it on the shelf.

But that is always how Aldi and Lidl have operated. It's what keeps their prices down.

Lottle · 07/01/2021 14:32

What I found really weird was that you can't take baskets past the till. So I had a basket full. But couldn't pack at the till or take my basket past the till. How many arms do they think I have?!

MintyMabel · 07/01/2021 14:33

It slows them down staff at Lidl and aldo are targeted for speed they have to scan so many per minute In order to receive the higher pay

This is not true.

unmarkedbythat · 07/01/2021 14:35

People who try to pack at the till in Aldi and Lidl should be put in the stocks (unless they are one of the few who can do it as fast as the staff can put items through).

Iwantacookie · 07/01/2021 14:38

Just have ikea bags open in your trolley shove everything in at the till. No need to use the shelf at the back.
What pisses me off now is when people try to queue jump instead of using self service.

Wendyhause · 07/01/2021 14:40

My local Lidl has one particular young female check out operator who is unbelievable. The other day I needed approx. a dozen items and I swear she whizzed them through the belt in under 10 seconds (I wish I had timed her!) and once they were through I was struggling to pack them into my bag. I commented with a smile at how fast she did her job and all I got back was a blank look. What happened to customer service or even a pleasant facial expression?

Justcallmebebes · 07/01/2021 14:43

Use the self check out instead"

"They don't exist in Lidl"

They do in Leicester city centre

MrsBeltane · 07/01/2021 14:44

Neither of the Lidls near me use that policy for packing. Never been to Aldi.

annevonkleve · 07/01/2021 14:47

Not RTFT but agree OP.

See also self serve tills where you can't use your own bags (even though some of them meant to permit it) so have to put everything through and then put in bags. Would be much quicker to pack straight into bags, pay and go.

Itsokthanks · 07/01/2021 14:48

Must vary from store to store. No change at our local, we can still pack at the till.

Sinful8 · 07/01/2021 14:52

@malificent7

I take my shopping bags to Lisl. At the till they think they are safer/ customers are quicker if they put their shopping in a basket 1st then took basket over to side and pack there coz of COVID.. I pointed out to the cashier that I would ve in the shop less time if i put shopping straight into my bags and walked out...id also be near her the exact same amout of time. Am i thick or something? In effect customers are packing twice/ loitering longer.
Piddle don't have packing areas in thier tills.

You get your stuff put it on the conveyer and then put it back in your basket/trolley.

They have low margins they need you through and gone ASAP, no one cares if you're packing by the window they only care if the teller is having to sit and wait for you.

2pinkginsplease · 07/01/2021 14:53

We’ve shopped in Lidl for a few years always packed at the till, I didn’t even know there was a “rule” about packing at the shelf until I read it on here.

I’m just as quick packing into bags than putting it back in the trolley. There is no way I’m putting it back in the trolley to lift it all back out and pack into bags,, how time consuming is that?

A few of the staff at my local Lidl are more interested in checking their phones under the till than scanning quickly anyway. So I’ve usually got plenty time to pack,

murbblurb · 07/01/2021 14:53

chuck it all in your trolley, leave the store and pack at your car. If you came on foot, chuck it all in a bag and sort it outside.

get out of the shop as quick as you can. Outside is safer.

Wendyhause · 07/01/2021 14:53

Just to add my local Lidl does not have a self serve till and nor do they have a rule where you can not pack your shopping straight into your own bag.

Perhaps it is individual store managements who make the rules?

KatieJaneGreen · 07/01/2021 14:57

No point saying it to the cashier. They are just doing their job.

And in quite difficult circumstances.

Wearywithteens · 07/01/2021 14:58

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

skodadoda · 07/01/2021 14:59

Since the Covid outbreak Aldi ask that you pack at your car. I generally pack just outside the store entrance where it’s still undercover.

Meepmeeep · 07/01/2021 15:00

@JerichosPenisInADeadChickHat

"Use the self check out instead"

They don't exist in Lidl

Yes they do. Not all stores have them but they definitely exist.
Gwenhwyfar · 07/01/2021 15:01

@Wearywithteens

So interesting how large corporate profit-making entities have successfully brainwashed customers into being their drones saying ‘you HAVE to pack at the shelf’. Actually it’s a supermarket - they can’t enforce you to do jack shit other than pay for the goods.

It’s so Orwellian.

They can enforce their rules or deny you entry so yes, they can 'force' you.
RedMarauder · 07/01/2021 15:03

@Grenlei I know you do Wink

I live in London so pre-Covid visited different ones in different areas of London. I also use to work around the country and use to find random ones on walks/runs, which I would later shop at. With Lidl it meant I could find special buys from previous weeks, plus some Aldis and Lidls are simply better than others.

malificent7 · 07/01/2021 15:04

Its not logical though and meant i was in store 5 mins longer than necessary.

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread