Good and Bad Buys at Lidl and Aldi stores (***Please don't expire***)

Sea_Shell

I always feel a little bit awkward doing an Aldi shop, if at the same time I need to return something, even when I have the receipt from that previous shop.

I much prefer having a separate customer services desk, front of house ...but then it keeps costs down I suppose.

Brie

Sea_Shell said:

I always feel a little bit awkward doing an Aldi shop, if at the same time I need to return something, even when I have the receipt from that previous shop.

I much prefer having a separate customer services desk, front of house ...but then it keeps costs down I suppose.

If I have something to return I have that in a bag rolled up inside another shopping bag and normally go directly from the door to security to let them know in advance of me going around the shop.

njm123

Could be a long shop if they insist on searching my bags.

I walk and carry a backpack which I use to carry the heavier Items, and the shopping bags I'll be using.   It's also used a store for a lot of tote/carrier bags etc (12 at the last count) and I tend not to empty those out at home unless I know I'll need the space in the backpack, which is very rarely.

YoungBlueEyes

Had a bit of a run-in with the girl on the till in Aldi this morning. She was slinging my stuff down that hard I had to gently say something. Which made her worse. So when a tin actually bounced off then end of the roller belt thing I said to her "Christ sake, just let me go open my car and you can fling it straight in the boot!" The manager overheard it all from the till behind us, and when he came over I got the distinct impression I wasn't the first person that had run into her and her attitude... 

So if I run in to more like her and have my bags searched on top of it, that might be me back to Lidl  

maman

They can't seem to make up their minds what they're doing in my local Aldi. Possibly, it's left to individual managers to try to cut down on shoplifting which is likely to have increased with the cost of living crisis. 🤔

We had self service tills installed some time ago. Customers were ushered to use them but they were too small for a full shop. They took note and installed 4 tills with extra large packing areas.👍

 About a month ago, I went to start unpacking my trolley and the assistant stopped me and said large trolleys weren't allowed. I asked why and he said it was to reduce theft. I took exception to the idea that I planned to steal anything so he called a manager. The manager (possibly to appease me) said it was all Health and Safety issue with large trolleys. This made no sense as I was the only customer there! He said small trolleys were OK. 

The following two weeks I used a small trolley and all was fine. Last week, a notice had appeared saying 25 items only. I didn't count my items (possibly 25+) but all went through with no comment. Today I was again the only customer and had a large trolley. The assistant came over, looked and questioned how many items. I told him it was hard to keep up as the 'rules' keep changing. He said it was OK as not busy. 

My gripe is that they've cut down on the number of staffed checkouts open ( just 1 this morning) presumably to save money but making me jump through hoops to use the self service. 

Who knows what the rules will be next week? 🤣

Brie

Had a lovely visit to Aldi this aft.  Got my bits (from shelf into my bag) and went to the self service so I could unload a pile of coins (due to lack of banks available).  Chap supervising was doing the full Tigger bouncing about being jolly, bounced over to me, made sure I had a coin till (only 50% take cash), bounced around to everyone else needing help.  Spotted I had a bottle of demon liquor and bounced over to remove the security tag while I was still pumping in my pennies.  Bounced over to help the person next to me and apologised for bouncing too close to me with his big armful of bags.  Almost gave me the giggles!!!

Cornucopia

My local Aldi installed self-service tills a few months ago, and I think they work quite well.    There's almost always a member of staff on-hand, and I've had them variously greet me, offer card or cash payment, offer to check in my empty box(es), and show me how to slot a small trolley into the spaces in the till for minimum inconvenience to other customers.

In fact, the only issue I have with them is that they tend to leave a number of them out of service if they are not busy.   I assume this is some kind of theft prevention measure, but they don't seem that sure of the rules as to when they should be opened if a queue builds up.   I suppose I should query it.

Rosa_Damascena

Mine too - works efficiently IMHO. Although no one ever asks me for a proof of age at the till 

Brie

Rosa_Damascena said:

Mine too - works efficiently IMHO. Although no one ever asks me for a proof of age at the till 

Yes but then I got into trouble in one place as no one was there watching over us all and I bought some drink.  And the silly machine decided to not give me a receipt.  Which meant I had no proof to show I'd actually paid for the drink and they tried to confiscate it as if I was thieving!!  

General_Grant

Brie said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

Mine too - works efficiently IMHO. Although no one ever asks me for a proof of age at the till 

Yes but then I got into trouble in one place as no one was there watching over us all and I bought some drink.  And the silly machine decided to not give me a receipt.  Which meant I had no proof to show I'd actually paid for the drink and they tried to confiscate it as if I was thieving!!  

So what then happened?
Did you demonstrate that the machine you used wasn't printing receipts?
Were you able to prove that your card had been debited?