ALDI Has A "No Basket" Policy For Their Food Stores
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
February 29, 2012 8:11am CST
What a strange shop ALDI is. Don't get me wrong, if people want to shop there that's fine (especially when everyone is skint these days) BUT they're missing a trick with their "no basket" policy.
They DO have the large trolleys but NOT baskets you can carry. When the ALDI opened a walk away from Mum's house we found this out so were limited to buying a couple of items, the same in Carlisle. We noticed hoards of people carrying food in their arms because they refused (and quite rightly so) to use the huge trolleys as they didn't want to be tempted to buy more food.
Is this the reason why ALDI has this policy I wonder? To make people use the trolleys to put more food in them? Well, in my experience, it doesn't work!
I, for one, don't agree with it and the ALDI near us is slap-bang in the middle of a new housing estate where the cheapest house is around £120,000! If people can afford one of those (and we can't, that's for sure) they'll be off to Tesco, a short drive away, judging by the limited numbers of people we see through the windows of ALDI whenever we drive past it...all have food in their arms!!
As for the new ASDA over the road (a smaller one to replace our NETTO), I've got used to it now as the prices have come down! They also have these neat plastic baskets that have handles you can pull up so they can be wheeled about and make lots of noise on the floor to annoy John.
Guess who wheels it? Yes, "moi" as John says he "feels like a t!t" wheeling it.
Haha! I don't..in fact, the more noise it makes the better!
I, for one, don't agree with it and the ALDI near us is slap-bang in the middle of a new housing estate where the cheapest house is around £120,000! If people can afford one of those (and we can't, that's for sure) they'll be off to Tesco, a short drive away, judging by the limited numbers of people we see through the windows of ALDI whenever we drive past it...all have food in their arms!!
As for the new ASDA over the road (a smaller one to replace our NETTO), I've got used to it now as the prices have come down! They also have these neat plastic baskets that have handles you can pull up so they can be wheeled about and make lots of noise on the floor to annoy John.
Guess who wheels it? Yes, "moi" as John says he "feels like a t!t" wheeling it.
Haha! I don't..in fact, the more noise it makes the better!4 people like this
12 responses
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
29 Feb 12
Well, all of the supermarkets here have both, shopping carts and shopping baskets. Some people do not need to buy lots of stuff sometimes, so they use the basket. I prefer the wagon. Only because I do not go shopping all the time. But when I am done shopping, I have to load the car. Now the shopping carts on on magnetic locking systems. So, you cannot take the wagon to the car. So what I have to do is have my girl wait with the wagon while I get the car. That is a downside.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
1 Mar 12
I've never heard of magnetic locking systems for trolleys before. Is that to stop people stealing them? All we have to do is take the trolley to the car, unload it and John puts it back with the others and gets his £1 back (well, in his case it's a little Smiley in the shape of a £1 coin).
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
7 Mar 12
Yes the magnetic system if to stop people from stealing them. That happens all the time here. I don't know why someone would want a shopping cart anyway. Maybe some kids that might want to make a go-cart out of it or something. But here in the super market I go to it's like a mad house. I go there because it's right down the block from me and I could walk there. But you have to fight your way around in there. And the prices are great also wit the sales.
@francesca5 (1344)
•
29 Feb 12
interesting. i don't have an aldi anywhere near, so i haven't been there in a long time, there is a lidl though, and they have baskets.
it does seem strange, i never use a trolley these days, as i have a few small supermarkets near me, and i just buy food every day, as that way it is fresher and i waste less, so i find it saves me money, as i also know the prices better and i know when something has gone up, whereas i don't think i was ever as careful about prices when i shopped weekly.
aldi may be trying to trick people into buying more by making them use trolleys, or it could be a space issue, i suppose, but it does seem strange, as in an inner city area what i do isn't that uncommon, so having no baskets must be a disincentive for people buying a small amount, but more than a couple of things.
i will have to go in one next time i go past, and have a look, for some reason i am so boring i found this interesting, as i think you are right that the disadvantages far outweigh the advantages.
also i haven't seen a small asda's whats it like?
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
1 Mar 12
The small ASDAS are the old NETTO stores as they bought them out in the UK. So, eventually all NETTO stores will become ASDA Supermarkets.
The one we have over the road was very dear when it first opened. I think they tried this for a bit to see if anyone would keep going in to get ripped off..they didn't so now the prices are more like the ASDA Superstore I would think, although we don't go in there so I can't say for sure if the prices are similar.
In actual fact I'm going in there for an orange jelly, a raspberry jelly and some ice cream later on today. I have some tinned raspberries and mandarin oranges so my plan is to place them in their respective jellies. I'm also looking for some ice cream. No doubt I will get on people's nerves with the wheelie basket but I won't be the only one.
Well, I'm the most boring person on the planet so you're nowhere near as boring as me lol.
Well, I'm the most boring person on the planet so you're nowhere near as boring as me lol.1 person likes this
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
29 Feb 12
Until recently,I hadn't been in an Aldi store since the one I used in Germany 20+ years ago,as there are none near where I live in NI...there are more Lidl branches here...apart from it being a shiny new outlet,there's not much difference to what I've become used to in Lidl..the lack of shopping baskets has never bothered me in these stores as I rarely buy enough to fill a trolley,so I'd just pick up one of the leftover packing cartons and use that to carry the items,and that could go straight into the car like that..
1 person likes this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
29 Feb 12
I have wondered that too Janey. Lidl are the same. I think that it is so that you end up buying a full load rather than just a pint of milk etc. I find that you can't do a full week's shop in those places anyway but they are good for certain items - olive oil for example. The Boss insists on pushing the trolley and sends me off to "play" in the electrical or magazine sections until she is ready for me to pay or carry the shopping to the car. I prefer to shop myself as I think that I am better at it then she is. But she likes to be there so it would be churlish of me to deny her the pleasure!! LOL.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
1 Mar 12
Well, in our case John has the money of course but it's never stressful shopping with him. In fact I quite like it as he very rarely gets side-tracked into buying stuff we don't need, even when money was more readily available. A list is a must now, though.
I agree that you can't do a weekly shop in ALDI which makes their decision not to have baskets even stranger.
1 person likes this
@mysticmaggie (2498)
• United States
29 Feb 12
Although you and many of your neighbors are smart enough to carry your goods in your arms, there are enough who will grab the cart and, yes, pick up extras, that they make it a financially sound decision not to have baskets.
I can tell you, I would be one of those people. Why? Because my arms are too weak to carry more than a couple of items. If I try to stack them full, I end up with shoulder pain and having to take medications that are really bad for my bleeding ulcer.
I would also end up buying several more items, simply because my memory is horrendous, and if I write a list, I forget it at home! lol
Hugs,
Maggie
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
1 Mar 12
Haha! I like it! We took a list into Morrisons the other day and I even guessed (out by about £2) how much the shopping would be. We're getting really good at following lists!
@randylovesdar (4932)
• United States
29 Feb 12
That is odd that they do not have a smaller baskets for people to carry instead of having to push those heavy carts. I noticed that Walmart does not have small baskets either. In order to prevent me from buying too many groceries I usually carry the items I need in my hands and if my hands get full then I stop buying. I wonder if these store owners know that there is a recession going on and that people are trying to save money instead of spending money.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
1 Mar 12
As far as I know ALDI have always had this policy of "no baskets" and I cannot understand why as it's so awkward carrying more than - say, 3 items in your arms at once. I really do think they are losing out on trade and the fact our ALDI is in a new housing estate..well, they've definitely missed a trick there as no way they will pop in there for their weekly/monthly shop, plus the fact the smaller ASDA will have most of what they want and they will probably use TESCO for a bigger shop. ALDI can be too specialist at times and it can put people off.
1 person likes this
@Galena (9110)
•
1 Mar 12
I do find that annoying. same with Lidl.
they do have some very good value and decent quality stuff though.
another thing that annoys me in Lidl is that the only way out is through the tills. so if you don't buy something you have to squeeze past everyone to get out. it feels like they're trying to embarass you into buying something
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
1 Mar 12
Yes, it was like that in our old Netto store. Fortunately, the design of the ASDA replacement has addressed that issue although the self-service tills that have sprung up do away with staff, in my opinion. At least they've got the ace wheely-baskets though, I love them!
@BarBaraPrz (47596)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
29 Feb 12
You could always bring your own basket... just like in the "good ol' days".
@nanknibbs (31)
•
29 Feb 12
Yes, I agree, if they don't supply a basket, take your own or a bag you can fill.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
29 Feb 12
If we did that here they'd think we were shoplifting, such is the paranoia!
1 person likes this
@shaggin (72216)
• United States
1 Mar 12
I've never really paid attention but I think that the aldis near me does have hand baskets but I could be wrong. The shopping carts they have are all connected by a chain and if you want to use one you have to put a quarter in. When you are done loading your groceries into your cart you have to take the cart back and put the chain back in and relock it to get your quarter back. Its kind of inconvient but it saves them from having to have workers go out and get the carts that are being left all over the parking lot. Its keeps the carts from being stolen as well as if a big gust of wind come along and smashed into the side of someones car. I've seen that happen plenty of times. I'm guessing if they dont have baskets its to keep people from stealing them.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
1 Mar 12
We have those big shopping carts as well but we have to put £1 in 'cos it's Rip Off Britain but at least we get it back (John uses a Smiley), unlike the airports. Yup, they've introduced a similar system for their trolleys (at Manchester Airport I think) but the difference is..you don't get your money back.
Like I said, Rip Off Britain!
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
29 Feb 12
I've not been into an ALDI in awhile. Here we also have to pay a quarter, that ofcourse we'll get back, just to use the bugggies. I understand that as it's an anti-theft system. I have noticed I never see a basket at aldi's but I don't find it to be a bad thing. I see people carrying somethings up, yes, but most of the time they use the oversized carts, atleast when I've gone to shop there.
I suppose I figured that no small baskets was just a way for them to save money so that we could save money.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
29 Feb 12
But why have the over-sized trolleys though? I can understand them wanting to save money but I reckon the one near us MUST be losing money due to their no basket policy. No-one will do a weekly/monthly shop in there because the likes of Tesco are too tempting for them. We go the other way to Morrisons!
1 person likes this
@CTHanum (8234)
• Malaysia
1 Mar 12
I think they did that on purpose like you said they want the customers to buy more so they don't provide you with the basket. Every hypermarket here have both, trolleys and baskets along with the one that you mentioned above that John dislike it very much. I don't use the basket with wheel on it, I can feel the same like John, I prefer to use trolleys if I need to buy more things~(^^)(^^)@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
1 Mar 12
Trolleys can have a mind of their own, veering off into directions you don't want them to go in. Not had one for a while though as Morrisons seems to have brand new ones.
Hoorah!
@changjiangzhibin89 (16784)
• China
1 Mar 12
Nowadays,many stores are trying to improve their service and make things convenient for the shoppers.What's the matter with ALDI ? It is just their wishful thinking that this way shoppers may buy more food than they planed to do.Don't they see that so many shoppers have food in their arms? But then,I wonder what the ALDI shop will do if someone uses the huge trolley but has a couple of items in it?
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
1 Mar 12
I really think a lot of the customers have the food in their arms BECAUSE the trolleys are so big and don't want to be tempted in filling it. Mind you, they'd empty the shop if they did!
