Aldi Just Made a Major Change to This Beloved Store Feature

One thing that sets Aldi apart from other grocery stores is how it cuts costs. You need a quarter to unlock a shopping cart, bags come with a price, and the aisles are quiet because the retailer doesn’t play music. The biggest benefit of these differences? Lower prices for customers.

But its prices are not the only thing that brings shoppers into the store. Many people appreciate its policies too. The “Twice as Nice” guarantee allows you to return any product that doesn’t meet your satisfaction. Not to mention, Aldi removed synthetic colors from its private-label products years before the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) banned Red dye No. 3.

And because the store has such a loyal fan base, changes don’t go unnoticed. Recently, Redditors were disappointed to see that a fan-favorite breakfast item had altered its recipe.

Now, the store’s checkout process is changing, and some say that if it affects their location, they plan to shop elsewhere.

Aldi Gets Rid of Self-Checkout From Select Stores

In recent years, Aldi has installed self-checkout kiosks at select locations across the U.S. One of the benefits of this change is reduced wait time for shoppers. The transition proved to be especially convenient for those running in to grab a couple of quick dinner items or one of the newest “Aisle of Shame” finds.

Recently, however, customers have noticed that self-checkouts in their stores have disappeared. “It’s been about two weeks since I went to my local Aldi. Since then, the self-checkouts have all been removed,” one Redditor wrote. “It’s back to waiting 10-15 minutes since there’s always only one lane open. Does anyone know what happened and why?”

The comment section quickly filled with speculation about the cause. “Too much theft at self-checkout. Many places are removing them for that reason,” wrote one person whose comment received almost 250 upvotes.

“It actually hurts our OE, (overall efficiency) then the store gets less hours for the employees. Along with theft,” added someone else. 

An Aldi spokesperson told Allrecipes that the reason some self-checkouts are disappearing is because the retailer is refining its checkout process to better address customer needs. “As part of this process, we have adjusted checkout formats in select locations to ensure we’re offering the best shopping experience possible while delivering exceptional value,” the spokesperson explained. “Self-checkout will remain available at many Aldi stores.”

Shoppers Respond to Aldi’s Self-Checkout Closings

Despite Aldi’s efforts to enhance the customer experience, many feel that closing self-checkout will make their grocery trips less efficient. “So now we’re back to things being thrown into the cart, unpleasant cashiers because they’re swamped, and long lines. I’ll think twice about shopping there now,” wrote one displeased shopper. 

A few Redditors said they would prefer to shop elsewhere if Aldi’s self-checkout option were to disappear from their stores. “If mine removes them, I’d be giving far more business to Winn-Dixie,” one person wrote. “The only time I’d ever consider shopping at Aldi would be near closing on Sunday night. Otherwise, I’m not subjecting myself to a 20-minute wait behind eight full carts,” added another.

And while the majority feels strongly that the removal is a mistake, others welcome the change. “So good that they’re removing them. It means more checkouts will open up. I don’t get paid to scan my own shopping or receive a discount,” said one user who is pleased with the change. “I’m happy to go through a checkout with a few things and keep someone in a job.”

At this time, Aldi has not released a list of which locations will be affected. It’s best to contact your local store manager for more information about whether and when self-checkouts may be changing near you.