topic Aldi - Say It Ain't So! in Community Chat

Aldi - Say It Ain't So!

Twins Mom — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 02:11:19 GMT

Aldi - no! DD shopped at Aldi today where there were two regular clerk-checkout areas along with new self-checkouts. I guess this is now the way of retail. I don't mind it for a few things, but for a load of groceries, its a turn-off. The only good thing is that Aldi puts UPC codes on all sides so there is less hunting while scanning. Shopping becoming more of a chore.

Re: Aldi - Say It Ain't So!

Lucky Charm — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 02:16:07 GMT

I love self checkout. And especially during the pandemic. But I was doing it a decade before. I hate going thru a line. I want to hear the price I'm being charged, not trying to see what's on the checker's screen. So many times the pricing is wrong. I'm not a fool with my money.

I also like to pack my own bags. Checkers love to put all glass jars together. Nothing sounds worse than glass clanking together.

Less hands that touch my items and that dirty belt, the better!

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kindred cats — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 02:22:59 GMT

Agree, I'd rather self check any day....goes faster!

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maximillian — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 02:23:12 GMT

There is more theft and cheating with self-checkout. Every-once-in-a-while our local news stations feature a story about someone getting caught and prosecuted, but you can bet many others get away with the shenanigans. The large corporations shrug their shoulders and count it as the cost of doing business in the world we live in.

Re: Aldi - Say It Ain't So!

Nightowlz — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 02:57:14 GMT

DH stopped by Wal-Mart the other day. He said everyone was using self checkout since there was only one cashier?

Wal-Mart needs to add a 10% off discount button for doing all the work yourself. They are saving so much money. They are complaining about loss from theft. Read some were scanning cheaper price labels for expensive items. Never would have thought to do something like that? Their checkout registers now can tell the difference if you don't scan the correct price. I'm sure it works with some things but not all. Maybe that's why they only had one cashier so they could see how their new checkout system works out?

I hope our Aldi's gets self-checkout so I can get in-out faster. Sometimes they only have one cashier.

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PinkyPetunia — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 02:57:01 GMT

I don't mind the self checkouts. My Aldi doesn't have them. I hope they get them. It gets me out faster.

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pdlinda — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 02:57:32 GMT

@kindred cats At Costco, I get the best of both worlds...I go to the self-check station with all my items (many heavy) and a clerk always hurries over to assist me zip through each one with the scanner. All I do is tap my C.C. and I'm off to the exit where someone is always there to get those heavy items in my car! It's much faster and easier than standing in any of their check-out lines!

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Twins Mom — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 03:18:04 GMT

@Sams it never fails I need assistance because something needs approval, especially liquor, card, etc. Meanwhile moving around those large packages again to scan. I just like having someone there to do. I have to load in car and unload again as it is.

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3catmomma — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 03:33:53 GMT

I love self checkout. I don't feel judged for what I'm buying and I also go weekly so it's not overwhelmingly.

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rms1954 — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 03:53:13 GMT

@3catmomma wrote:
I love self checkout. I don't feel judged for what I'm buying and I also go weekly so it's not overwhelmingly.

Judged??? By who?

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Trailrun23 — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 03:53:53 GMT

The self-checkout isn't faster when the line goes all the way to the back of the store. That happens when they only have one cashier stand open. I prefer doing it myself, but not when I have a cartful of things. They don't provide enough room for your bags when they are loaded...and you can't put them in the cart when filled until you pay. Grocery shopping really is a bigger chore now. I don't like ordering online since the lockdown....it served its purpose then...but now it is far less efficient. Never enough workers....eople don't want to work anymore.

Re: Aldi - Say It Ain't So!

Mz iMac — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 04:07:57 GMT

Cashiers in my neck of the woods are unionized. They are paid to bag. If they want me to use self checkout then pay me!

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Snowpuppy — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 04:26:05 GMT

DS told me his local CVS just went to all self checkouts.

One register for cash and another register for card payments.

Retailers will pass on the costs of theft to customers.

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catter70 — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 10:03:25 GMT

My super Walmart just redid the whole store, again. They are down to 4 registers, the rest is self check. I go pretty much as soon as they open at 6 a.m. and there are no registers open yet. I don't mind self check, but just another was to put someone out of a job.

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Ainhisg — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 11:57:21 GMT

Before the pandemic, I shopped for certain meat and some produce at locally-owned groceries. Then I would go to Aldi and on to Wal-Mart to finish up getting what I needed. It is only my husband and me, but I cook and bake a lot so buy a lot of groceries It would have taken forever to self-check my own groceries at either store. In fact, when the pandemic first started, I would go to Wal-Mart as soon as it opened to get groceries, since the shelves were being stocked at that time. No registers would be open, so I would have to check my own groceries. It would take me 30-40 minutes to do. 1) I'm slow, and 2) it's something I'm not used to doing.

A few months later after things had calmed down, I tried the free Wal-Mart grocery pick-up and have never looked back. I also found that at my Aldi store, prices went up and quality went down, plus it is farther away from my house, so it is cheaper all the way around for me to get the bulk of my groceries using Wal-Mart grocery pick-up. A roll of Jimmy Dean sausage is a roll of Jimmy Dean sausage no matter who chooses it from the case. I do still buy certain meats and vegetables from local groceries, but Wal-Mart pick-up has really spoiled me. Once in a while, they are out of things or don't use a substitution I like, but I just decline the substitution and go to our locally owned groceries. No big deal, because overall, the pickers at Wal-Mart do a great job picking, and I rarely have issues. No tipping, and they load my vehicle--what's not to like? It is such a good service that should they ever start charging for it, I would likely start paying for it.

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Ainhisg — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 12:00:24 GMT

@catter70 I've talked to several former checkers at Wal-Mart, and no one lost jobs. They moved them to stocking shelves, picking orders, or delivering groceries to cars. I know this to be true for my Wal-Mart only.

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SeaMaiden — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 12:05:11 GMT

I never do self checkout....I want to be waited on...I deserve it.

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ValuSkr — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 12:21:31 GMT

This is very good news! I hope SCO (self checkout) is at my Aldi's soon.

My long-time beef with Aldi's has been lines at checkout. Yes, the lines move quickly, but who wants to stand in line when you have only a few items. Others I know have the same complaint at different Aldi's stores, so it seems a commonality. I even wrote to the company last year with my complaint and the suggestion for SCO. Why shouldn't they have SCO? - everything else there is DIY. It fits perfectly with their business plan.

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ciao_bella — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 12:37:42 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
Cashiers in my neck of the woods are unionized. They are paid to bag. If they want me to use self checkout then pay me!

I'm not sure where you live, but most grocery store cashiers are not unionized. My daughter is a cashier at one of the largest grocery chains on the east coast, Wegmans, and the cashiers there are not unionized.

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PINKdogWOOD — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 12:46:12 GMT

@Twins Mom Our Aldi's around here have also switched almost all of their check-out points to self serve. And in fact there are more of them than there were real cashiers at the lanes. they have kept one real cashier operated.

Don't know if you noticed at your's but they also have a camera at each self serve so there's no stealing or "slipping in" unscanned items into your bag.