Do you ever find yourself feeling rushed at the checkout at ALDI? It turns out there’s a secret reason behind why the staff scan your groceries so quickly!

A former ALDI employee has revealed the real reason why staff scan groceries at lightning speed and gave advice for getting through the register hassle-free.

A couple of years ago, ALDI introduced self-serve checkouts to their stores in Australia, a move that has sparked a lot of debate among shoppers.

During a discussion about the supermarket’s self-serve checkouts, in the popular social media forum Reddit, a former ALDI employee revealed the real reason why the staff scan groceries so quickly at the registers.

ALDI rolled out their self-serve registers across the country in 2021. Credit: ALDI

The discussion started when a Victorian customer posted a photo of the new customer-operated checkouts at their local store.

A lot of people are still getting used to operating the new machines, with some complaining that self-service actually takes longer than manned checkouts.

‘Nothing could be slower than fighting those machines,’ shared one.

‘The one that gets me is the passive-aggressive “Please take your items” if you take longer than 5 seconds to leave,’ another wrote.

Someone else complained that people sometimes had to wait several seconds between the scanning and the placing of items in the bag area. ‘Or make sure it isn’t leaning on any walls. [It] sucks,’ they added.

One social media user responded that the problem with self-serve checkouts is that the machine is designed to prevent theft rather than provide a positive user experience.

‘This doesn’t work anyway as no matter what’s going on the attendant will just return it to normal and move on. [It just creates] more work for everyone,’ they continued.

This photo sparked a debate on social media. Credit: Reddit

Some people were thankful for the new checkouts ‘slowness’, because they found the rate at which retail workers scanned through their items ‘overwhelming’.

‘At least now I can pack my groceries without them being thrown at my face! No offence to ALDI staff, but you guys are just too quick!’ One wrote.

Someone else shared: ‘Another place I don't have to interact with people now and as ex-checkout staff, it's generally quicker when I do it myself too.’

‘I think it is a recruitment test. If you scan your items as fast as the ALDI checkout operator, they offer you a job!’ A third joked.

This is where the ex-ALDI employee stepped in to explain the speed bagging.

‘We were measured on items per minute when on registers - which is shown at the end of your shift when closing out your individual till. Promise you, they're not doing it for fun,’ they said.

The former employee advised people not to pack their bags at the register as well. ‘Toss it all into the trolley/basket when scanned. Take your time at the packing bench just next to the registers, or buy those bags that hook into the trolley basket so you can kind of pack quickly,’ they continued.

It is believed that ALDI employees review and adjust their scan speed based on how quickly (or slowly!) each customer packs their items. If a shopper would like the staff to slow down, they are encouraged to request the staff to do so.

Self-checkout counters have the potential to reduce human errors in scanning items. They can also potentially reduce long waiting times, and help stores manage their resources.

However, by reducing staff-customer interaction, it becomes more difficult for shoppers to ask for help from employees. This is because fewer checkout staff are needed in stores. Additionally, understaffing could lead to poorer customer service and increase customer complaints.

Key Takeaways

• Aussie shoppers are divided over ALDI’s new self-serve checkouts.
• One ex-employee revealed that checkout workers are measured on speed (items per minute) when using the registers.
• They also advised customers to not pack their bags at the register, this allows them to take their time at the packing bench just next to the registers.

Do these new self-serve checkouts make your shopping faster and easier, or do you prefer being assisted by an ALDI staff member? Let us know in the comments below!

 

[Delaney Ave]

I am not a fan of Aldi because they offer very little in the way of employment for my local community. I also dislike the lack of choice. For example, I like having more than one tomato sauce to choose from etc.
Having mobility and chronic pain issues, I find the wait at the checkouts enormously difficult and there are no free staff to assist (unlike at Coles for instance). The self serve checkouts might actually be easier for me but there go some more jobs!

 

[Dougal]

I am not a fan of Aldi because they offer very little in the way of employment for my local community. I also dislike the lack of choice. For example, I like having more than one tomato sauce to choose from etc.
Having mobility and chronic pain issues, I find the wait at the checkouts enormously difficult and there are no free staff to assist (unlike at Coles for instance). The self serve checkouts might actually be easier for me but there go some more jobs!

The worst of all Aldi's numerous negatives is not having a service desk for queries or returns; so you have hover about at the usual sole open register to discuss with the operator whilst being glared at by those waiting in the long queue.