Aussies in shock over 'stupid' ALDI concept store

The checkout-free UK store may sound great, but there's a big reason why no one wants the idea coming to Australia.

Over the last few years especially, ALDI has become one of the most popular supermarkets in Australia, having built a cult following with a keen eye for middle aisle bargains.

But, would it stay that way if there were a fee to enter?

According to fans in one Aussie Facebook group, it seems not.

An ALDI supermarket over in the UK has launched a unique checkout-free concept store, and now that the news has made it to Australia, locals are hoping we don’t follow suit.

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Image: ALDI UK.

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“Best have a calculator!”

An Aussie man has taken to the ALDI Fans Australia Facebook group sharing an article from the Daily Record - a Scottish newspaper.

“Meanwhile in England!!!” the man wrote in the post.

“$20 Aus just to walk in, purchases added up by camera, and $$ deducted as you leave, with you not knowing how much has been taken out until the bank statement comes.

“Best have a calculator. If you don't buy, days to get your $$ back.”

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The controversial trial

The article was about ALDI’s first checkout-free store in London, which has just recently opened to the public.

At the store, aptly called the Aldi Shop&Go concept store in Greenwich, customers must download ALDI’s Shop&Go app to enter, allowing them to enter the store, pick up their items, and then walk straight out once they’ve completed their shop, without passing through a check out.

Once they’ve left the store, they’ll then be automatically charged for their shopping via their selected payment method, and a receipt will appear in the app. The system uses specifically positioned cameras to detect which products they’ve picked up.

But, the most controversial part of the concept store is the £10 charge for shoppers entering the supermarket.

Similar to using a service like Uber, or staying at a hotel, the $20 Aussie equivalent is charged from a shopper’s account when they enter the store, and once they’re finished their shopping, it’s deducted from the final payment amount.

If they spend less than £10, or nothing at all, the money is refunded back into the shopper’s account - though there’s no guarantee when.

“Stupid idea!”

After being posted the ALDI Fans Australia Facebook group, people were completely shocked with the idea, expressing concern over the idea of money coming out of your account with no promise of it going back in immediately.

“stupid idea! People have enough going on in their lives and now have to make sure they have money in their pocket upon entry,” said one commenter.

“Pay to buy your goods???? No thanks,” another agreed.

“Imagine that we have that here, you see the catalogue and go in just to look at the Saturday special buys, not sure if you'd like them just off the catalogue pictures. You decide no, so leave $20 lighter, with it not coming back to you until Tuesday,” said a third.

“I can see them going bust real quick if they keep that up! Things are expensive enough without being charged each time you pop in to buy something, geez,” another person commented.

But, others were more worried about the use of technology in the store, having the potential to make mistakes a person wouldn’t.

“No freaking thank you! Hate all this tech,” one commenter said.

“Imagine the mistakes and complaints. imagine the fruit weighing!” said another.

“Yeah, Nah. I would walk right back out again. Simply not going to happen,” a third agreed.

Needless to say, people don’t want this coming to Australia!

Originally published as Aussies in shock over 'stupid' ALDI concept store