Aldi customers are furious after discovering that the supermarket giant has adopted yet another ‘annoying’ policy from the competition.
Paper bags have been introduced in stores across the country, taking the place of the retailer’s disposable 15-cent plastic bags.
But customers complain that the 25-cent paper bags are “no good” if they’ve taken heavy items or something out of the fridge or freezer.
“They break easily and I can’t trust them not to,” said one customer furiously.
Despite customer complaints, the change appears to be permanent.
Paper bags have been introduced in stores across the country, replacing the retailer’s disposable 15-cent plastic bags
The German retailer told FEMAIL that the bags are part of a larger strategy to combat plastic waste.
“ALDI Australia has never provided free plastic carrier bags before and has decided to remove all single-use plastic tableware from its shelves by 2020, so this is the next step in its efforts to reduce plastic,” said a spokesperson.
Add: ‘More than 888 tons of plastic are removed from circulation every year.’
Daniel Baker, Sustainability Director at ALDI Australia, said the move is also in line with ‘what customers want’.
“Aussies are making more conscious choices and we want to continue to meet their needs. Ultimately, bringing your own bags every time you shop is the most sustainable option.
“We encourage customers to continue to do so, but if they can’t, our paper bags are now available. These may seem like small changes, but they all make a big difference,” they said.
But it seems that many customers are not happy with the change.
“Well different, I don’t think so,” complained another with the Aldi tagline.
“Bought one today to use… I had a zucchini, an avocado and a pre-cooked chicken breast. The bottom fell out as I walked out of the store,” complained another.
Others argue that bag changes are all part of a cycle.
‘I remember people complaining about paper bags, so plastic bags came along. Now they complain about plastic bags, so the paper bags are coming back.’
It is the second time in recent weeks that the retailer has come under fire. The first involved the decision to roll out self-service checkouts across the country.
Customers claim they prefer to do their shopping at manned checkouts and “refuse” to use self-service checkouts, especially since many can only be paid by card.
Aldi customers are venting their frustrations at the retailer’s self-service checkout, which is being installed in stores across the country after many praised the update
One woman even said she left her entire shopping cart full of groceries and walked out of an Aldi store several times when manned checkouts weren’t available.
A Sunshine Coast customer was excited to see the checkouts in her local store and shared the update online, only to receive a deluge of comments about the new system.
Aldi shoppers! So many times have I heard people say ‘why don’t they have self checkouts?’…well look what arrived at my local on the Sunshine Coast,” she wrote in a post from the Mums who Budget and Save Facebook group.
While she was excited about the new addition, the post quickly met with hostility from many who said they “refuse” to run their groceries through the unmanned checkouts.
“Often I’ve left a full cart behind and walked out. If they don’t pay someone to serve me, they can pay someone to take everything out of my cart again,” replied a disgruntled customer.
‘I don’t use self checkout. I don’t work there!’ a second agreed and another said ‘I prefer human interaction and to help people keep their jobs’.
‘Please do not. I’m doing a huge shop and the last thing I need is to spend it myself!” a fourth complained while another wrote, “Wrong. Just wrong’.
Shoppers claim they prefer to do their shopping at manned checkouts and ‘refuse’ to use self-service checkouts, especially as many can only be paid by card
However, there were many fans of the self-service checkouts who said the checkouts make it easier for those who only buy a handful of items to get through their shopping quickly.
‘I absolutely adore them. I can now carry on with my basket of things and don’t have to wait in line,” said one woman.
“Useful if I’m just going to the supermarket to pick up a basket full of groceries…I have better things to do than wait behind people with carts full of groceries,” added one mom.
“My kids love using the self-service checkouts, so they’re happy to do it for me.”
“Well, kind of makes sense as I have to pack my own bags, at least I can do it at my own pace,” commented another.
But the self-service haters had no bar and kept criticizing the tills saying the volume is “too loud” and they don’t take cash.
Aldi has addressed its checkout issues several times since it slowly began rolling out self-service checkouts in stores across Australia in 2021.
An Aldi spokesperson previously told FEMAIL: “Self-service checkouts are a quick and convenient way for customers to shop, and all ALDI self-service checkouts are card only to maximize efficiency.”
Previously, shoppers were all in front of the self-service checkouts, saying Aldi employees were “too fast” scanning their groceries.
They said many Aldi employees can shop far too quickly at the checkout to pack their things before the transaction is complete, so they were thankful for the self-service aisles.
Many said they still loved the unmanned tills but the haters had no bar and kept criticizing the tills saying the volume is ‘too loud’ and they don’t accept cash
“At least now I can pack my groceries without them being flung at my face!” I don’t want to offend the Aldi staff, but you’re just too fast!’ wrote a customer on Facebook.
In response, a former employee revealed that the computers keep track of how many items they scan per minute and gave them advice on how to get through the checkout without a hitch.
“We were measured by items per minute at checkouts – which is shown at the end of your shift when you close your individual checkout. Promise, they’re not doing it for fun,” they explained.
“Don’t pack your bags at the cash register. When scanning, throw everything in the trolley/basket and take your time at the packing table next to the cash registers. Or buy those bags that hook into the trolley basket so you can pack quickly,” they added.
Aldi employees rate and adjust their scanning speed based on how fast or slow each customer packs their groceries.
If a customer wants a cashier to slow down, they are encouraged to ask.
