ALDI shoppers are confused over 'hidden fee' at checkout
- Replies 13
There has been a heated discussion among confused ALDI customers on social media over a small, easy-to-overlook detail on a checkout sign and the 'hidden fees' that are added at the register.
In a popular Facebook group, an ALDI customer who went to the store complained that they were charged an extra fee when they used their debit card to make the purchase.
'THIS was the sign. Although it only says Visa and Mastercard, it also DISPLAYS the EFTPOS logo. (So maybe I just thought EFTPOS was included),' wrote the woman in her Facebook post, adding a photo of the sign in question.
It read: 'In order to continue to offer top quality at incredibly low prices - guaranteed, we advise that a 0.5 per cent surcharge will apply to all Visa or Mastercard transactions (including contactless transactions) to cover additional costs.'
At the bottom of the sign, you can also see the logos for Visa, Mastercard, and EFTPOS.
At some ALDI stores, the sign was hung high above the check-out area. Credit: 7News.
Before this change, ALDI shoppers were aware that tapping their debit cards at the register would result in a surcharge; however, if they inserted the card, the fee would be waived.
The fact that the new sign states that an additional charge will be applied to all transactions, however, led to confusion among regular customers.
'ALDI should not [have] put the EFTPOS logo on that sign,' one person wrote in the comments section. Another agreed and added, 'This definitely makes it sound like it's all transactions; I'm so confused.'
ALDI confirmed that there will not be a surcharge incurred for the transaction if the customer inserts their card and chooses the ‘savings’ option.
'All Visa and Mastercard transactions (credit account) are charged this fee regardless if a card is inserted or tapped,' the employee said. 'All EFTPOS (savings/cheque account) transactions do not get charged a fee regardless if the card is tapped or inserted.'
Shoppers are shocked that they are getting charged extra at the checkout. Credit: Reddit.
On ALDI's website, customers can find the following information about the surcharge.
'We also accept all major credit cards, except American Express and Diners Club. Please note, however, that there is a 0.5% surcharge on all credit card purchases to cover the cost of the service,' the website reads.
'ALDI offers Visa and MasterCard as payment methods for customers, as well as contactless transactions; however, there are very high costs associated with accepting these cards.'
'Rather than ALDI inflating prices across the board to compensate for the credit card acceptance costs (like most of the retailers do), ALDI instead allows customers to make the choice as to the payment method they prefer.'
'This allows customers who choose the lower cost method of payment to receive the direct benefit by way of lower prices.'
Now that you read it here, folks – make sure that you avoid paying with the Tap-and-Go method! Every saving, no matter how big or small the amount, counts these days!
Have you ever been in a similar situation where you were charged more at the register? Were you aware? Tell us about it in the comments!
In a popular Facebook group, an ALDI customer who went to the store complained that they were charged an extra fee when they used their debit card to make the purchase.
'THIS was the sign. Although it only says Visa and Mastercard, it also DISPLAYS the EFTPOS logo. (So maybe I just thought EFTPOS was included),' wrote the woman in her Facebook post, adding a photo of the sign in question.
It read: 'In order to continue to offer top quality at incredibly low prices - guaranteed, we advise that a 0.5 per cent surcharge will apply to all Visa or Mastercard transactions (including contactless transactions) to cover additional costs.'
At the bottom of the sign, you can also see the logos for Visa, Mastercard, and EFTPOS.
At some ALDI stores, the sign was hung high above the check-out area. Credit: 7News.
Before this change, ALDI shoppers were aware that tapping their debit cards at the register would result in a surcharge; however, if they inserted the card, the fee would be waived.
The fact that the new sign states that an additional charge will be applied to all transactions, however, led to confusion among regular customers.
'ALDI should not [have] put the EFTPOS logo on that sign,' one person wrote in the comments section. Another agreed and added, 'This definitely makes it sound like it's all transactions; I'm so confused.'
ALDI confirmed that there will not be a surcharge incurred for the transaction if the customer inserts their card and chooses the ‘savings’ option.
'All Visa and Mastercard transactions (credit account) are charged this fee regardless if a card is inserted or tapped,' the employee said. 'All EFTPOS (savings/cheque account) transactions do not get charged a fee regardless if the card is tapped or inserted.'
Shoppers are shocked that they are getting charged extra at the checkout. Credit: Reddit.
On ALDI's website, customers can find the following information about the surcharge.
'We also accept all major credit cards, except American Express and Diners Club. Please note, however, that there is a 0.5% surcharge on all credit card purchases to cover the cost of the service,' the website reads.
'ALDI offers Visa and MasterCard as payment methods for customers, as well as contactless transactions; however, there are very high costs associated with accepting these cards.'
'Rather than ALDI inflating prices across the board to compensate for the credit card acceptance costs (like most of the retailers do), ALDI instead allows customers to make the choice as to the payment method they prefer.'
'This allows customers who choose the lower cost method of payment to receive the direct benefit by way of lower prices.'
Now that you read it here, folks – make sure that you avoid paying with the Tap-and-Go method! Every saving, no matter how big or small the amount, counts these days!
Have you ever been in a similar situation where you were charged more at the register? Were you aware? Tell us about it in the comments!
.png){kind=icon}
