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Dec 01, 2023

ALDI supermarket shoppers divided after Coffs Harbour customer shares ‘rude and disrespectful’ checkout experience on Facebook

An ALDI supermarket shopper has set tongues wagging on social media after

An ALDI supermarket shopper has set tongues wagging on social media after sharing her "rude and disrespectful" experience at her local store.

Posting on a popular Facebook group, the NSW shopper said the incident took place when she was second in line at her local store waiting for another customer to finish having her items scanned.

When that customer stepped away from the register to pick up some items in the alcohol section, the shopper claims the ALDI cashier motioned for two other customers - who were waiting behind her in the queue - to move ahead and have their items scanned.

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The shopper said was annoyed that the ALDI employee had allowed the customers, who only had a few items to scan, to move forward without checking with her first.

Her story prompted a strong reaction on the Facebook group, with many agreeing that it was a "disgusting" experience and "not ALDI etiquette at all".

In her post, the shopper - who was at an ALDI on the NSW Mid North Coast - explained her frustration.

"I was in Aldi yesterday afternoon, waiting in line for the lady in front of me to finish shopping in the alcohol section," she wrote on the Aldi Fans Australia Facebook group.

"She had put one item on the conveyor belt and then went to buy alcohol. I had all of my groceries (23 items in total) up and ready to go just waiting for her.

"When the cashier had finished her groceries, she asked a person behind me who only had two items to come forward to be served without even the courtesy of acknowledgement that I was to be served next.

"The cashier must have seen the expression on my face as she when told yet another customer to come forward to be served in front of me again but with a small apology this time.

"I don't mind letting people go ahead of me if they only have a few items, but I object to the cashier doing it without checking with me first and particularly as I had been waiting patiently for the first woman who should have finished her shopping before taking her place in line for service.

"This to me is rude and disrespectful."

Many Facebook users agreed that the shopper was right to be annoyed.

"Cashier should’ve asked you if you minded letting those people through first. Common courtesy," said one.

Wrote another: "Disgusting. If that keeps happening, you will never get served."

Added a third: "I agree. I’m the same as you - always happy to let someone with only a few items go ahead but what you’re describing would really p*** me off!"

Said one more: "Don't think I would have allowed that to happen without making a lot of noise."

Added another: "Just wrong. Bad manners. Queue up when you’ve finished shopping. No need to let anyone in, no matter how many items .... a pet peeve of mine.

"My time is important too and costs me money. To go shopping, I have to pay for a carer to come to the house and then to have people who only have a couple of items constantly looking to be ‘let in’ because their time is more important than mine.

"Queue and wait your turn!"

Others said they would’ve taken extreme action if this had happened to them.

"I’d just walk out leaving 23 or so items behind on the belt," said one.

Added another: "Same, I’m on a schedule and also a very petty person I would leave my stuff and walk out. However I’ve never experienced any issues with ALDI ever so I’ve never had to do it."

Wrote a third: "After the conversation would have finished I would have left the whole shopping on the cashier's belt and walked away."

Others argued it wasn't the ALDI cashier's fault, and that it was poor form for a shopper to walk away while their items are being scanned.

"P***es me off no end when they get to the counter and then walk away because they forgot something. Why not just pay for what you have then come back into the store again and get what you forgot?" asked one.

Another wrote: "Speak up at the time. To the customer shopping for alcohol. Ask her if she's ready and if not, move her items yourself. Check out staff get abused multiple times a day by nasty customers. It's not their fault."

However some felt that the shopper should be more relaxed about the experience.

"Get over it Karen," said one.

"There are people who don't have enough to buy food. Get a grip, look around you and see the state our world is in. So you have to wait a bit longer at the check out, really?" another wrote.

A third added: "Don't sweat the small stuff. Life's too short for trivial things like this."

Said one more: "Have never at problems at my store on the Gold Coast, cashier staff are great and always calling for a new register to open when they see back up at register."

Added another: "See I’ve been the other person. I had one item while the man in front piled his stuff on the belt and ignored me. The cashier told me to come through and did my one item before starting the guys full trolley. I think it was the right thing to do."

The shopper in question hit back at suggestions she should’ve raised the issue in store and not on social media.

"If I had caused a scene and walked away, I can't see how that would resolve my complaint, maybe made things worse," she said.

"So I decided to use Facebook to show the world their fault."