'Read the inclusions': Mum makes mistake purchasing common ALDI item

“Please tell me I’m not the only idiot who didn’t read the inclusions," a mum shared. And she wasn't the only one. 

You’re on your routine shopping trip in ALDI, your trolley is filled with groceries and maybe something from the middle aisle that you didn’t know you needed until suddenly, you did. 

This time, it’s a chic yet affordable sateen bedding set.

Stoked with your find, you chuck it in your trolley and don’t think more about it. That is, until you take it out at home and realise, there’s no damn flat sheet!

If this has happened to you, you’re not alone. It turns out plenty of other shoppers have made the same mistake and missed the fine print when buying bedding.

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Image: Facebook

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"Please tell me I'm not the only idiot"

A recent story shared by a bewildered mum in the ALDI Mums Facebook group has shed light on this all-too-common blunder.

She shared, “Please tell me I’m not the only idiot who didn’t read the inclusions thinking this was a full sheet set… didn’t realise no flat was included.”

The image she shared shows the Kirkton House King Size Cotton Sateen Sheet Pack, which retails for $40.

In small writing on the front of the packaging, it says it includes a fitted sheet and two pillowcases.

Image: Facebook

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"So annoying"

Down in the comments, people shared the woman's frustrations.

“I did this too from the sale a couple years ago. Had to go to Spotlight to get a matching flat sheet," one person wrote, while another said they did the same but went to Target to find “the closest match.”

“So annoying as I had to spend even more money to buy a separate flat sheet,” wrote a third. 

"Yes, I have been caught out before by this," chimed in a fourth, who said they returned it as soon as they realised. 

But others weren't so lucky and reached the point of no return, literally. 

"I pulled them out, washed them, put them in the dryer, pulled them out of dryer not even then realising there was only one sheet until I started to make the bed,” one shared. 

Is this the beginning of the end for flat sheets?

Then amidst all the shopping fails, others questioned if this was part of a wider trend, where retailers are increasingly selling bedding sets without flat sheets. 

"Nowhere has sets with the flat sheet anymore. It’s so frustrating!" one person lamented.

Another said, "Wow! Didn’t even realise flat sheets are not being used and are being phased out. I must be still living in the past…."

And this person noted: “A lot of sets now don’t have flat sheets. Don’t like that myself, so won’t buy them."

"I couldn’t even imagine getting into a bed without one," claimed another flat-sheet enthusiast. “Bring them back!” 

And then these concerns were actualised and the flat-sheet naysayers came out in full force. 

“I usually throw out the flat sheets anyway, so I’m glad they’re starting to not include them,” said one commenter.

And someone else agreed, saying: “I can’t remember the last time I used a flat sheet! We run the aircon in summer, so we just use the duvet,” another said.

Then another added, “Yay to flat sheets going away! They’re useless anyway.”

Was the packaging misleading?

Meanwhile, others told the mum she should have been more careful.

“Read the inclusions next time,” said one woman bluntly.

“It literally says exactly what it contains… on the front of the pack,” another wrote. 

But others claimed that the packaging was purposely misleading.

"I thought a ‘set’ meant a fitted, flat, and two pillowcases. This seems really dodgy. Maybe go back and ask for a refund?" someone suggested. 

“It does say sheet ‘set’ pack. You shouldn't have to read further. It lies by omission…” noted a different group member. 

Which side do you fall on in this debate? Team flat sheet or team sweaty duvet that you definitely aren’t washing enough?

Sorry not sorry for the bias. 

Originally published as 'Read the inclusions': Mum makes mistake purchasing common ALDI item