Are you really saving at ALDI? Discover the hidden surcharge inflating your bargain buys!
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Shoppers love a good bargain. From exciting products and half-price finds, spotting discounts and specials is always a welcome discovery.
For those of us lucky enough to live close to supermarkets like ALDI, popping in for a few items on the way home is practically routine.
And while optimising your budget is key to efficient bargain hunting, there’s one thing about ALDI that could be disrupting our attempts—and it’s easy to overlook.
ALDI charges a credit card surcharge of 0.50 per cent, which might not seem like much, but it can make a big difference if you’re buying multiple items.
For one shopper who forgot about this hidden charge, it was a costly and painful lesson!
The shopper, who had gone to grab a smartwatch for $29.99, was unaware that a surcharge was to be added to their total when they opted to use a credit card for the purchase.
‘I grabbed it immediately and, at $29.99, was thrilled at nabbing the bargain find.’
‘I paid for it using my debit credit card, and as I was walking out of the store, I glanced at the receipt and got a bit of a shock.’
‘Instead of being charged $29.99, I had been charged $30.14,’ claimed the shopper.
While the supermarket does accept credit cards as payment methods for customers, they also need to take into account the additional costs associated with processing these cards.
‘This allows customers who choose the lower cost method of payment to receive the direct benefit by way of lower prices,’ ALDI’s website explained.
So, they give customers the choice to either pay the marked prices with cash or a debit card or incur a small surcharge when using a credit card.
‘At first, I thought it was a mistake, but when I looked closer, I saw why I had been charged more than the marked price.
‘ALDI had added on a credit card surcharge of 0.50 per cent, which added an extra 14 cents to my total,’ the shopper concluded.
So to pay only the marked prices at ALDI, what do you need to do? You need to pay with cash or a debit card.
But what if you’re like the shopper above, and you have a credit card? Don’t worry—all you have to do is choose cheque or savings and enter a PIN to avoid the surcharge.
While ALDI advertises that their prices are lower than their competitors and they don’t charge any extra for credit card use, the truth is that these supermarkets likely absorb the cost with higher prices.
This one shopper’s surprise sheds light on the importance of considering how you pay at ALDI. By doing this, you’ll be able to pay the actual marked prices for your items.
So, the next time you’re out getting food, be sure to factor this surcharge into your budget and take note of the payment method best for you!
Have you experienced being charged a surcharge when using your credit card? Is it fair for ALDI to charge their customers who use a credit card as their payment method? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
For those of us lucky enough to live close to supermarkets like ALDI, popping in for a few items on the way home is practically routine.
And while optimising your budget is key to efficient bargain hunting, there’s one thing about ALDI that could be disrupting our attempts—and it’s easy to overlook.
ALDI charges a credit card surcharge of 0.50 per cent, which might not seem like much, but it can make a big difference if you’re buying multiple items.
For one shopper who forgot about this hidden charge, it was a costly and painful lesson!
Are you being charged more for using a specific mode of payment at ALDI? Credit: Shutterstock
The shopper, who had gone to grab a smartwatch for $29.99, was unaware that a surcharge was to be added to their total when they opted to use a credit card for the purchase.
‘I grabbed it immediately and, at $29.99, was thrilled at nabbing the bargain find.’
‘I paid for it using my debit credit card, and as I was walking out of the store, I glanced at the receipt and got a bit of a shock.’
‘Instead of being charged $29.99, I had been charged $30.14,’ claimed the shopper.
While the supermarket does accept credit cards as payment methods for customers, they also need to take into account the additional costs associated with processing these cards.
‘This allows customers who choose the lower cost method of payment to receive the direct benefit by way of lower prices,’ ALDI’s website explained.
So, they give customers the choice to either pay the marked prices with cash or a debit card or incur a small surcharge when using a credit card.
‘At first, I thought it was a mistake, but when I looked closer, I saw why I had been charged more than the marked price.
‘ALDI had added on a credit card surcharge of 0.50 per cent, which added an extra 14 cents to my total,’ the shopper concluded.
The ALDI shopper shared a photo of her receipt with the ‘hidden’ surcharge. Credit: Facebook
So to pay only the marked prices at ALDI, what do you need to do? You need to pay with cash or a debit card.
But what if you’re like the shopper above, and you have a credit card? Don’t worry—all you have to do is choose cheque or savings and enter a PIN to avoid the surcharge.
While ALDI advertises that their prices are lower than their competitors and they don’t charge any extra for credit card use, the truth is that these supermarkets likely absorb the cost with higher prices.
This one shopper’s surprise sheds light on the importance of considering how you pay at ALDI. By doing this, you’ll be able to pay the actual marked prices for your items.
So, the next time you’re out getting food, be sure to factor this surcharge into your budget and take note of the payment method best for you!
Have you experienced being charged a surcharge when using your credit card? Is it fair for ALDI to charge their customers who use a credit card as their payment method? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
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