Aldi now searching empty bags

MattMattMattUK

I fail to see how any reasonable person can have an issue with this.

sheramber

I bought two rolls of Christmas paper. Tey stuck out the top of my shopping bag.

I went into another shop to buy a birthday card, not realising the shop sold the same rolls of paper.

When I went to pay for the card the assitant asked me if ia had bought that paper in another shop.

I politely replied that yes I had. 

I was not offended that she had asked that. 

MalMonroe

But don't they have those alarms that are triggered if items that haven't been through the checkout are being taken out of the store, like any normal supermarket? Or had the shoplifters they had in the previous week been using silver foil inside the bags? (Learned about that from one of those police documentaries, I don't do it myself, honestly.)

Also, I wouldn't mind if they asked me to look in any of my bags since I don't believe they'd pick on me alone. (I just look so innocent.)

But since the start of the covid lockdown I've been buying online from Sainsbury's and they deliver to my door so I don't have to be checked.

The interesting thing the OP said, though, is "I have phoned Aldi and they advise this is not their policy and are going to investigate and promised to call me back."

It isn't Aldi's policy - it is a policy that's apparently just being enforced by that one Aldi store. Aldi should have a blanket policy, or no policy at all.

MalMonroe

dil1976 said:

Also you don't get a direct dial number to a store so you would have spoken to a call centre so saying it isn't company policy doesn't mean certain stores wont have a local policy in place like this.

If it's not Aldi policy, then it's not Aldi policy. Whichever store you're in.

CRISPIANNE3

Just checked online and there are a lot of unhappy shoppers. If you go online and search for the Swindon advertiser it has made front page news the store we went to.  Good to know it is not just me. 


quote

When it was his turn, he refused to put the Lidl bags under his armpit down and was told that he would not be served if he did not comply.

The shopper added: “I’m not putting my personal property on there for you to manhandle. You can ask and I can say no, you can’t demand. Even the police can’t forcefully search people’s belongings, so why does a supermarket suddenly think it can?

“The manager said there had been more thefts due to the cost of living crisis and they couldn’t afford a security guard so they made this new policy.

unquote

And good posters I am not after compensation. So there!

CurlySue2017

Browntoa said:

I regularly get asked this in Aldi

I'm not a shoplifter so I'm not bothered in the slightest being asked to help them stop thefts from the store and keep prices down 

Similar here - I personally have only been asked once but in our local Aldi, they do carry out random bag checks because I have seen them doing it.  As you say, unless you have anything to hide I don't see what the issue is with this, they have to protect their business as best they can

goater78

MalMonroe said:

It isn't Aldi's policy - it is a policy that's apparently just being enforced by that one Aldi store. Aldi should have a blanket policy, or no policy at all.

I disagree with this.  Think supermarkets should (and do) have different policies depending on the location of the store.  Some areas will be more susceptible to shop lifting and they would have a different policy to other stores where shop lifting is less prevalent.  For instance I always know I am in a rough neighbourhood when 2 chicken breasts in Tesco have a security sticker on them.  

Zinger549

If you go to Costco they check your trolley,bags and receipt as you leave but they do it for everyone. I got stopped as I was leaving Tesco once. Had bought some beer and it was in my bag in the trolley. Looked at my receipt and my in my bag and let me go. Didn't bother me.

Pollycat

CRISPIANNE3 said:

Just checked online and there are a lot of unhappy shoppers. If you go online and search for the Swindon advertiser it has made front page news the store we went to.  Good to know it is not just me. 


quote

When it was his turn, he refused to put the Lidl bags under his armpit down and was told that he would not be served if he did not comply.

The shopper added: “I’m not putting my personal property on there for you to manhandle. You can ask and I can say no, you can’t demand. Even the police can’t forcefully search people’s belongings, so why does a supermarket suddenly think it can?

“The manager said there had been more thefts due to the cost of living crisis and they couldn’t afford a security guard so they made this new policy.

unquote

And good posters I am not after compensation. So there!

Really?
Manhandle personal property?
A bag for life?

I think a reality check is in order.

Maybe a ban - either by the store - or by the shopper is appropriate.
If I was the manager of the store, I wouldn't want s customer like that.

goater78

CRISPIANNE3 said:

Just checked online and there are a lot of unhappy shoppers. If you go online and search for the Swindon advertiser it has made front page news the store we went to.  Good to know it is not just me. 

Second headline on the page by the looks of it.  The headline is a couple who walked out of a Miller and Carter steakhouse without paying.  They must not like to pay for things in Swindon!