Aldi self checkout- ‘I don’t work here so I’m not going to serve myself’.

[Teegan89]

Woman heard complaining in Aldi because there was a lack of manned checkouts. How do you think they keep their prices so low? I know there is a small percentage of people that struggle to use self checkouts but I think her attitude was crap.

Is it though? Follow the rules of the establishment and don't kick off acting like an entitled twat, and they won't have to say anything to him. The staff member listed out the options for the guy, scan it yourself, leave with no shopping or wait an hour for the manned checkouts to open.

I don't see that it was rude. In Berlin a supermarket has removed self service tills because people said they should get a discount or be paid! Good for them - the Berliners don't take any nonsense.

However, I don't mind (in fact prefer) using them when I only have a few items and there are no age-restricted items.

But when I do have a bottle of wine, I don't want to hang around for ages for a harried member of staff to get to me and would rather use a (wo)manned checkout.

I've found the Aldi self-service easier to use than some others (Marks & Spencers is the worse) and there is always someone around to help if you are really struggling.

I think I’d like living in Berlin.

I prefer the M&S ones (and Waitrose) where I am because they don't have scales so you can bag as you shop much more easily and don't have the "unexpected item in the bagging area" nonsense. I don't like the ones in Sainsburys or Lidl and won't shop in my local Sainsburys now anyway as they have the stupid barriers.

Take a quick gander around MN.

There's plenty of posters who have what you might see as off the wall opinions on everyday mundane things.

As well as very different opinions on what constitutes good manners and morals. Don't think it'll ever fail to suprise me what things others class as intolerably rude, that wouldn't even register with me!!

Everyone is different, and there's nowt strange as folk!

I witnessed a man having a massive tantrum over the receipt exits at self scan the other day. Not unreasonable to dislike them at all, but why on earth have a go at the people who have absolutely no say about the set up of a huge chain of supermarkets? Like the 17 year old helping man the self scan alone was instrumental in the idea and installation of the machines. Either complain to head office or don't shop there anymore. Don't ruin the day of someone who is just trying to do their job.

I saw this in the Times today - looks like Tesco are trying to sort out self scan tills, although they seem to be making it overcomplicated. Why not just use the system Decathlon does (I assume they don't have time to put RFID tags on every product though):

I dislike them, I prefer a person on a till.
Surely as well they wouldn't have a leg to stand on if you accidentally left with something that wasn't scanned correctly and not paid for, I have not been trained on the tills system, so if I make a mistake, it's not theft.

Tesco made my read explode last week, I couldn't find a till that would accept cash, so ridiculous. Glad they are saying cash is being used more again now, stop all this silliness.

It's a good facility for those with a few items. That will be even better at Christmas as someone with little to buy won't have to wait for full trolleys to be checked.

However I think it's should be stopped at just that, a two sided facility. It's virtually impossible to.put a trolley shop.through and some.people (like.me!) Are really slow and must be annoying to.those waiting..I am genuinely rubbish at self serve.

I haven’t used a manned checkout for about 4-5 years and much prefer scan and shop or very occasionally self scan if scan and shop isn’t working. I don’t want a checkout operator who may have been sneezing ir picking their nose putting their hands over my shopping, especially since Covid!

I honestly can’t understand people who don’t use scan and shop. Why would you want to load your trolley, unload onto conveyor belt and then load into bags, when you can just scan it, put it straight into bags, then take a minute to pay and get out!!

I only started using Aldi more regularly when they started using self scan, used to hate shopping being chucked at you at the checkout as staff had to work fast. So much more civilised now and rarely have to wait for a checkout.

all supermarkets have self check out so doing it to specifically keep Aldi's prices low doesn't quite explain anything. all supermarkets are doing it to try to remain competitive.

and the correct term is "staffed" not "manned". Not sure if that's what the other woman said or if it's just the term you used.

She's not wrong.

I'm disabled. I can't manage scanning and pushing the trolley.

If lidl brought in self scanners I'd be shopping there all the time

I prefer self checkout. I didn’t think Aldi did self checkout as the ones I’ve been to only have manned.

My Aldi doesn't have self checkout. I therefore don't shop there very much, because I only ever have a small basket worth (I do a big monthly shop at Iceland and then shop for fresh food each weekend) and hate being behind 3/4 people doing full weekly shops.

Today I went to a different one as I was going on the way home from somewhere, they had self checkout, and I was SO happy.

Admittedly this would also work if it was a basket only checkout, but I do think there are definite times where self scan is the way to go. Balance is key.

She’s entitled to her view but:

1. I’ve got no time for people who punch “down” - it’s the not the checkout staff’s fault there are no manned tills.
2. It must be exhausting to go through life being a colossal arse all the time.

I've been in an EU country where LIDL have self scan checkouts

The registers that they use seem to have never ending issues.

One of the branches has three selfscan checkouts. Always one of the three and often two of the three are inoperative.

Perhaps being from an unusual manufacturer has something to do with it ?

There aren't any yet, in the Aldi's round here. I don't generally mind them if I have a few bits that don't include anything that needs authorisation, but as soon as you do, the staff will have disappeared into the ether or be helping Mr Grumpy who has never used one before !
A local Co-op has some and the staff member on the kiosk where they take people with baskets and who need fags/lottery etc has to deal with the self checkout and the kiosk single handedly, so there is usually at least three people huffing and sighing over at the self service checkout, waiting for the staff member to help.

Our Aldi have self checkouts . I don’t use them - there is not a chance I can scan the speed they do . I now don’t let people in with a couple of items . They can use self checkout if in a rush .

I applaud her!! I never use self checkouts and have no wish to do so. I pay ever increasing amounts for the goods, and I'm not doing all the work as well. Fortunately the supermarket I use the most (not in the UK) always has plenty of checkout staff - packers as well (the two main supermarkets here pack your groceries - and they keep an eye on the number of customers and open more tills if required.

How does it keep prices low having self-checkouts? If there were none then the staff hanging around would be standing at a checkout instead. Also, once supermarkets started using them prices didn't magically drop.

Our Aldi in a small Irish town is where we all meet for a chat. Standing in the queue chatting is the best bit about shopping. Why all the stress about getting through so quick. We all know the till operators anyway and often chat after everything is scanned and paid for. I did this once in England and it sent someone into melt down. Shopping is the biggest expenditure of the week so at least take your time and get something out of it. Self service is rank and another reason not to communicate with our fellow humans.

It's a good facility for those with a few items. That will be even better at Christmas as someone with little to buy won't have to wait for full trolleys to be checked.

The supermarket I use (in NZ) has an express checkout, for 16 or less items, which is open most of the time.