Coronavirus: Aldi’s solution to ‘sneaky’ toilet paper trick

Aldi has taken drastic action after shoppers began using “sneaky” measures to score more than one pack of in-demand toilet paper.

Aldi has announced drastic measures to crack down on customers using “sneaky” tactics to get around the grocery buying limits during the coronavirus outbreak.

But after revealing new stricter grocery restrictions as shelves are stripped bare by panicked customers, CEO Tom Daunt said shoppers who attempted to “game” the product policies would be handed to police.

“Together with our store employees we’ve developed new conditions of entry to our stores,” Mr Duant said.

Rules for entry into Aldi Australia’s stores now include “respecting employees and their physical space” and “practising good hygiene”.

“Do not attempt to ‘game’ our product restriction policies,” Mr Duant added. “We remind you that we will not accept any violent behaviour (verbal or physical) in or around our stores and the police will be called immediately if required.”

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Aldi has cracked down on those trying to bypass the toilet paper restrictions. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Aldi’s major move comes after it emerged parents were getting young children to line up and buy toilet paper packets on their own to get past the one pack per customer rule, a move people took to social media to blast on the weekend.

Labelling the act “un-Australian” and “sneaky”, it riled lots of feathers among frustrated customers who queued for hours to get groceries as fears grow around an impending lockdown in Australia.

“When the chips are down people think of themselves,” one person said on Facebook.

“These people are greedy and selfish,” another wrote.

One furious shopper was heard shouting “that’s un-Australian – there will be nothing left for anyone else” in a store as parents were allegedly handing their children cash to carry out the task.

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Shoppers reported customers using ‘un-Australian’ tactics to get past the buying limits on the weekend. Picture: Facebook

According to reports, parents are getting their children to line up and buy packs of toilet paper so families can take home more than one. Picture: Facebook

While some urged others not to judge, stating we “don’t know why” families might need large supplies, others shared photos of the lengthy queues to get inside Aldi stores.

“This is the line to get in my local Aldi,” one person wrote alongside a snap of a queue snaking outside the building.

Another mum shared a similar photo, writing: “This is 8am on the dot. Like really how about us mums that can’t get out at 6am.”

Some shared photos of the lack of stock inside, freezers with no food in them and shelves completely bare.

Others shared photos of empty freezers in stores. Picture: Facebook

Long lines were commonplace. Picture: Facebook

“This was 8am ALDI Casula Mall. Pushing and shoving to get to the toilet paper aisle …” one wrote.

“World gone mad, nothing more to say,” one frustrated shopper declared.

The bizarre tactic came as Coles, Woolworths and Aldi battle with an “unprecedented” demand for supplies over the weekend.

There were scenes of absolute chaos witnessed by news.com.au reporters in various supermarket stores.

There were scenes of chaos in supermarkets over the weekend, like this one in Marrickville, Sydney. Picture: news.com.au

The supermarket giants introduced new grocery limits not long after, with Aldi Australia’s CEO Tom Daunt announcing this morning the German supermarket had introduced limits on dry pasta, flour, dry rice (excludes microwave rice), paper towels and hand sanitiser – two packs per customer.

Previously, Aldi had held off introducing grocery limits, only restricting shoppers to one pack of toilet rolls.

Coles also cracked down on purchases, issuing a statement to customers on Twitter today stating it had added eggs, chilled pasta, frozen vegetables and frozen dessert to the list of restricted items – all now capped at two packs per customer.

The move came just two days after Coles added mince to a list that already included pasta, flour, dry rice, paper towels, paper tissues and hand sanitisers, all capped at two items per customer. Toilet paper remains limited to one pack per customer.

Customers lined up to wipe down their trolleys at a Coles in Sydney on Saturday. Picture: news.com.au

The line for the checkout snaked around the entire store. Picture: news.com.au

Coles has also temporarily suspended its change-of-mind policy to discourage over-purchasing.

Woolworths has also taken a tougher stance on food restrictions, with CEO Brad Banducci issuing customers a grim message about toilet paper supplies on Saturday as Australians continued to panic buy and stockpile household “staples”.

In an email sent to hundreds of customers, Mr Banducci said toilet paper “won’t be available for pick up orders for the time being”.

“Limits are now in place on toilet paper, wipes, paper towels, serviettes, rice and some other items,” he said.

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