Gold medallist shares alarming truth behind her fear of shopping at ALDI
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Shopping can be a therapeutic experience for many. It lets shoppers stroll through aisles leisurely, carefully selecting items from the shelves.
However, for others, like Liz Ellis, former Australian netball captain and Commonwealth Games gold medallist, a trip to the supermarket can be a source of anxiety, particularly regarding the checkout experience at ALDI.
During a candid segment on The Project, Ellis shared her personal discomfort with the German supermarket chain's checkout process, despite ALDI's reputation for offering lower prices on a basket of goods compared to its competitors, Woolworths and Coles.
Research from the consumer group CHOICE highlighted ALDI’s cost-effectiveness. An average basket of household items costs $51.51 at ALDI, while the same items would cost $68.58 at Woolworths and $69.33 at Coles.
However, the savings aren't enough to sway Ellis, who expressed unease with ALDI's efficient but frenetic checkout system.
'If I started a supermarket, I wouldn't do ALDI's way of doing the checkout. It gives me such anxiety,’ she explained.
The speed at which items are scanned and the expectation for customers to bag their own groceries quickly can be overwhelming for some shoppers, including Ellis.
‘All the stuff gets thrown at me! I'm like, "Okay!”.’ she added.
Her co-host, Georgie Tunny, echoed Ellis's sentiments, suggesting that the pressure to pack groceries rapidly might deter some customers from shopping at ALDI despite the potential savings.
‘I legitimately think that puts a lot of people off because, let's be honest, it is a convenience thing,’ she said.
Convenience, it seems, is still a significant factor for many when choosing where to shop.
The discussion also touched on broader issues within the Australian grocery market. Waleed Aly, another co-host on The Project, shared his observation:
‘The most revealing aspect of this report to me was Coles and Woolworths' prices seem to be higher in areas that don't have an ALDI,’
‘That says to me while there are all sorts of things with cost of supply and supply chains, ultimately it seems the prices we're paying are not out of necessity but out of competition.’
Aly advocated for introducing more supermarket chains in Australia, arguing that increased competition could help drive down prices.
‘Where you don't have anything beyond the two in your area, you'll pay a higher price because there's no reason not to. Why would they charge you less?’
‘You can say you want ALDI's market share to be greater, but then it's three. When you travel overseas and you see there's eight or something. You speak to people there, and they say you get slammed on groceries. I think it's clear why.’
In related news, most Australian grocery shoppers prefer Woolworths and Coles over ALDI, citing location and convenience as key factors.
A consumer psychologist suggested that Woolies and Coles provide a more engaging shopping experience. Read more about this story here.
Does the checkout process at ALDI or any other supermarket cause you stress? Do you prioritise convenience over cost, or vice versa? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below.
However, for others, like Liz Ellis, former Australian netball captain and Commonwealth Games gold medallist, a trip to the supermarket can be a source of anxiety, particularly regarding the checkout experience at ALDI.
During a candid segment on The Project, Ellis shared her personal discomfort with the German supermarket chain's checkout process, despite ALDI's reputation for offering lower prices on a basket of goods compared to its competitors, Woolworths and Coles.
Research from the consumer group CHOICE highlighted ALDI’s cost-effectiveness. An average basket of household items costs $51.51 at ALDI, while the same items would cost $68.58 at Woolworths and $69.33 at Coles.
Liz Ellis avoided shopping at ALDI due to the anxiety experienced during checkout. Credit: Shutterstock
However, the savings aren't enough to sway Ellis, who expressed unease with ALDI's efficient but frenetic checkout system.
'If I started a supermarket, I wouldn't do ALDI's way of doing the checkout. It gives me such anxiety,’ she explained.
The speed at which items are scanned and the expectation for customers to bag their own groceries quickly can be overwhelming for some shoppers, including Ellis.
‘All the stuff gets thrown at me! I'm like, "Okay!”.’ she added.
Her co-host, Georgie Tunny, echoed Ellis's sentiments, suggesting that the pressure to pack groceries rapidly might deter some customers from shopping at ALDI despite the potential savings.
‘I legitimately think that puts a lot of people off because, let's be honest, it is a convenience thing,’ she said.
Convenience, it seems, is still a significant factor for many when choosing where to shop.
The discussion also touched on broader issues within the Australian grocery market. Waleed Aly, another co-host on The Project, shared his observation:
‘The most revealing aspect of this report to me was Coles and Woolworths' prices seem to be higher in areas that don't have an ALDI,’
‘That says to me while there are all sorts of things with cost of supply and supply chains, ultimately it seems the prices we're paying are not out of necessity but out of competition.’
Aly advocated for introducing more supermarket chains in Australia, arguing that increased competition could help drive down prices.
‘Where you don't have anything beyond the two in your area, you'll pay a higher price because there's no reason not to. Why would they charge you less?’
‘You can say you want ALDI's market share to be greater, but then it's three. When you travel overseas and you see there's eight or something. You speak to people there, and they say you get slammed on groceries. I think it's clear why.’
In related news, most Australian grocery shoppers prefer Woolworths and Coles over ALDI, citing location and convenience as key factors.
A consumer psychologist suggested that Woolies and Coles provide a more engaging shopping experience. Read more about this story here.
Does the checkout process at ALDI or any other supermarket cause you stress? Do you prioritise convenience over cost, or vice versa? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below.
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