Aldi customer blasted after sharing 'genius' register hack
Aldi customers are all too familiar with the store's fast-paced checkout system, and now one customer has come up with a "genius" hack to get around it.
The hack has since been shared several times across a number of Aldi fan Facebook pages, with curious shoppers wondering whether the method would actually work or not.
The hack involves spreading groceries with a 30cm gap between them across the conveyor belt. The aim is to give shoppers more time to pack their groceries on the other end of the register.
"In your face Aldi," the caption on the image reads.
"Just so we have time to pack," the shopper wrote of their cash register trick.
Aldi’s cashiers are known for their speedy service, often sending shoppers scrambling to pack their groceries into their trolley.
The post has attracted hundreds of comments from Aldi shoppers, sparking a heated debate.
Some said they loved the idea and had already started doing something similar.
“I sort of do similar every time. Not spaced apart like that but in single layer along the belt. I never stack items on top or one another,” another customer admitted.
“I also put things together like frozen foods, fresh vegs etc. But then the cashier will start to stack my same items together while getting payment off the person in front of me.”
“Well duh !! That’s how I do it … maybe not that spaced out but and I also make sure it packs into my bag in a logical order,” another shopper said.
“Round of applause, this is genius,” commented another.
Fellow shoppers brand Aldi register hack 'selfish'
But some shoppers weren't convinced, labelling the register hack as "selfish" and "inconsiderate".
“If you are selfish enough to do that I hope they really throw them at you. Common sense using a trolley isn't too difficult. Wake up morons or better still go back to Woolies and pay a lot more,” one person said.
“Don't do this. Then a line of people have to hold their groceries for ages because ALDI has no baskets & no-one has coins for the trolleys,” another customer commented.
“If you get a system down and use the packing bench to pack like you’re supposed to then it’s really not that hard to keep up with the person on the register.”
“What if an elderly or disabled person was behind and couldn’t put any of their groceries down and the operator goes along with it wouldn’t you feel terrible?” said a third.
A former Aldi employee also advised against it, saying it doesn’t actually work because cashiers can move the conveyor belt to move groceries up.
“When I worked at Aldi and people did this, I would hold the first item back from the sensor with my arm until everything piled up,” the ex-employee said.
Aldi’s in-store changes
Aldi has recently introduced a number of changes to their registers in-store, giving customers more options at the checkout.
Back in June, the German retail giant introduced self-serve checkouts in 10 NSW stores as part of an in-store trial, with each store receiving six to eight machines.
Part of the trial also includes introducing baskets, a long-awaited feature customers have been wanting to see in their local stores.
The feedback on the new registers in-store has been ‘overwhelmingly positive'.
"Shoppers also commented that they enjoyed the choice and appreciated the convenience of having a quick and easy option when only shopping for a few items," Aldi Australia Store Operations Director, Robert Eichfeld told Yahoo News Australia.
“We anticipate the trial will appeal to our regulars as well as attract new customers, who are purchasing only a few items at a time – and we’ll also be introducing Aldi baskets in all trial stores to aid these small and quick shops."
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