Aldi bag search

[tiger2691]

Motorcycle panniers, on the baggage hook on the trolley, not in the trolley, reasonable or unreasonable? I told the checkout operator that it was unacceptable, and he said it was company policy. Strangely enough my fairly big shoulder bag, which I was wearing, was ignored. I felt a bit sorry for the bloke tbh, I don't think he really wanted to do it.

I shop there weekly, it's not like I'm new. Anyway, I consented, but I wont necessarily do so if it happens too often. Profiling perhaps, because I bought a bottle of rum, ha!

I used to work at ALDI and they have a lot of policies that staff are meant to carry out on customers which I found uncomfortable because they made me feel like I was accusing the customer of being a shoplifter

Most of the time I didn't do them

The two I remember were if somebody bought a pair of shoes for example, you were meant to take the shoes out of the box, check inside the box and check inside the shoes

Another one was if you were sitting down at the till you had to stand up so you could see the trolley was empty. If the customer had bags in the trolley they had to be lifted out and checked under

We were also expected to go after shoplifters which I refused to do

I left after three months

That’s their policy so you respond by not shopping there rather than complaining it’s not law.

TBH I would hate being asked if it was me and wouldn’t take it lightly. I know they won’t know me but I’ve never stolen a thing in my life so would be really offended.

From the Retail Gazette:

*Shoplifting cases have surged 16% in the past three months as shoppers steal essential products amid soaring living costs, new data reveals.

It comes as retailers increase security measures to curb thieves as food inflation reached a 45-year high in October at 16.2%*

They’re just doing their jobs, piggy in the middle between their demanding managers and smirky, obstructive customers, the poor sods.

Another one here who's confused as to why you'd take motorcycle panniers off and cart them around the supermarket with you??!

Why offended? They don't know you, so how are they supposed to know give never stolen anything?

I'd feel awkward and embarrassed to be checked, I'm not going to pretend otherwise. But it's their job and shop lifting is a big problem.

This

Almost certainly the cashier doesn’t want to be checking your bags.
They are following company directives.
The cashier doesn’t know the customer is honest, especially if they forgot to put on their
“I’ve never stolen anything in my life “ badge

i had a bag search in aldi
i think it is a great idea, time consuming though.

I don't see the problem. My bags were searched in Aldi a few weeks ago. I couldn't care less because I don't steal. I think you're looking for a reason to be offended.

I'm assuming they're easily stolen from a motorbike in the car park.

If I had panniers with, say, my laptop in, I'd hardly be leaving them where they could be nicked by any passer by. I'm surprised that so many people on this thread haven't been able to work that out for themselves

@Dredel Ok, it's not normal in the sense that it doesn't happen to the majority of shoppers, but it IS normal policy and IS normal when people have large/solid bags or other things which might conceal items such a prams and wheely trolley bags.

There is a huge amount of shoplifting, particularly as times are tough for so many people. They often check bags as you go thru tills at my Aldi - actually it’s more that we show them they’re empty - panniers would have been ideally placed for nicking stuff. They have to check. Not unreasonable.

The two I remember were if somebody bought a pair of shoes for example, you were meant to take the shoes out of the box, check inside the box and check inside the shoes
Another one was if you were sitting down at the till you had to stand up so you could see the trolley was empty. If the customer had bags in the trolley they had to be lifted out and checked under

I'm not in the UK. It is entirely normal to check boxes and shoes. AFAIK they do that in posh places too.

We take a foldable box, a cloth bag and nets for loose veg. Every time we go through the check out, we show the trolley is empty, that the box is empty and wave the bags at them. Or they ask if we forget. It happens to everyone. Nobody thinks "argh they think i'm a shoplifter" everyone thinks "some people are shoplifters, and how do they know which customers it is?" and get on with our day.

It is a complete non-event. (as for pp with the Aldi that doesn't want to give receipts unless requested - point this out to the shop management. Or ask the cashier to point this out. And continue to ask for receipts)

The two I remember were if somebody bought a pair of shoes for example, you were meant to take the shoes out of the box, check inside the box and check inside the shoes

I bought a hot water bottle yesterday. The cashier actually unscrewed the top and looked inside it 🤣

Luckily, I'd put the garden furniture I was stealing in my coat pocket.

I suggest if you don't like the companies policies you shop elsewhere. They are just doing their job, you refusing for no real reason just makes it harder for them. Yes you have a right to refuse, but unless you have something to hide why would you?

Putting a bag alongside a trolley or basket is a really common way to shoplift and I always look suspiciously at people doing this.

I think it's pretty lazy though to just do a search, I tend to pay more attention to the person and only search if they've been suspicious beyond that.

Also bring a regular, nah, some of our most prolific and successful shoplifters were regular customers who bought a fair amount over the course of the week but also stole the same quantity or higher.

i keep my huge bags in my trolley

One set of panniers, secured via the strap onto the trolley hook, under the trolley handle.

Where I shop there is a card saying you should present all bags open to the cashier to check and that they have the right to look into your bags. Also in a lot of shops no backpacks are allowed (leave them at the customers desk). So I think they had every right.

You can suggest what you want, I dare say it's something you're used to doing.

Why the smirk when she's was just doing her job....
Bet she doesn't like doing it either but has to as it's company policy/supervisor might be watching.

Equally, the shop has the right to refuse to serve you.

Do you believe that you were profiled on the basis of a protected characteristic?

Because if she left them on the bike to go shopping, she'd come back to find them or any previous items she'd bought elsewhere were gone, probably.

Seems reasonable, in hard times wise if innocent fine

Seen three shoplifters. One an elderly man wearing a big overcoat who lifted some cakes. Second a young lad with a rucksack again lifting cakes. Third an elderly lady with a wheelie trolley filling it with Brita type water filters at £20 a pop.

I'd presume shoplifting has risen considerably recently

I almost walked out of Tescos after using the self service checkout without paying. It was only when the assistant called me back that I realised I hadn't paid.

It is easily done and I don't have any problems with them searching my bags at all. In fact, I would rather they did because it deters shoplifting and it keeps prices down for everyone.