'Check your receipt' Aldi shoppers warn fans of yellow stickers using self-checkouts
ALDI shoppers have warned anyone who is a fan of yellow sticker discounts to check their receipts when using self-checkouts.
Customers can find a range of food and other items at a reduced price in a number of supermarkets, usually at the end of the day.
You can usually recognize them thanks to a yellow sticker, which also indicates the cheaper price, but at Aldi they are actually red.
But observant bargain shoppers are reminding people that if you scan these items at the Aldi self-checkout, you risk missing out and risk paying more.
Several consumers claim to have been victims of the supermarket misstep and are now calling on others to be aware.
One shopper shared a photo of her shopping and her receipt to the Aldi UK shopper Facebook group, revealing she was charged full price for the food without getting the promised discount at the till.
The shopper said: “After seeing everyone's great discounts, I saw some in the store this morning.”
“Unfortunately there was no discount at the checkout.”
Hundreds of customers replied to the post explaining that the problem is related to Aldi's self-checkout system.
Customers must call an employee who then enters the savings manually, as this is not done automatically like at other stores.
One customer said: “I always check that the discounted items go through the checkout or ask the cashier before paying.”
“I don't understand why Aldi can't introduce a ticketing system that the self-service checkouts recognize?” third user stated
Another said: “It's rubbish that they don't tell you at the self-checkout to ask for every item so they can get a discount.
“I noticed the first time I did it it wouldn't come off and I had a girl take it off.
“Every time I'm at the checkout and see someone with a discount, I tell them to be sure to ask. So many people don't know this.”
This way you avoid missing out on Aldi discounts
Anyone who picks up a discounted item and pays at the self-checkout must call an employee to apply the discount.
Alternatively, they can pay at the manned cash registers, where an employee must pass on the cheaper price without asking.
For anyone caught, Aldi customer service is the first point of contact to file a complaint.
You can do this in store or by calling 0800 042 0800. It is best to keep evidence of the problem, such as the purchase receipt and photos of the items.
And shoppers have shared even more tips to make the whole thing easier and ensure you get your money's worth, including checking your receipt before leaving the store.
One of them said: “I always put discounted items at the front and make sure the stickers are facing up.
“It's not like other supermarkets where there is a new barcode. These discounts have to be done manually by the staff.”
Another supported the idea, saying: “The best tip is to put all the discounts together, sticker side up, on the checkout belt at the beginning or end!”
A third said: “I always keep the discounted items separately and last, and I always point out to the cashier that they are discounted items – and I check the receipt before I leave to make sure all the discounted items are discounted .
“I do this because they haven't been in the past and only discovered this when I got home. I'm very careful about that now because they do have a short date in them.”
A retail expert previously warned that shoppers should be more vigilant when scanning their groceries.
Consumer champion Scott Dixon, known as “The Complaints Resolver,” says he's even been caught out by the same problem.
He told The Sun: “This is a problem I have experienced and it is frustrating to have to wait for staff to duplicate the job you are doing for them.
“Shoppers should be vigilant and check their receipts before leaving the store, as checkout staff often make mistakes by scanning groceries too quickly.”
He believes the problem can be “easily” solved by adopting the same systems used by rivals.
Other retailers such as Asda and Tesco use systems that can scan discounted items at self-checkouts.
Meanwhile, a food boss has said self-checkouts are encouraging people to steal.
H Forman & Son chief executive Lance Forman said it was a “sad fact of life”.
He said: “Self-service really annoys people, especially older customers, and they think that if you're not prepared to protect your goods, you can't care too much about them.
“If you leave your front door open, people will come in and steal.”
The company produces smoked salmon, one of the most stolen items.
How to save money at Aldi
Aldi is known for its already low prices, so every day you visit the budget supermarket you're likely to come across a bargain.
But there are a few things you can do to save even more money.
Reduced prices usually apply on Wednesdays, so that's one of the best days for shopping.
Every fortnight, Aldi hand-picks six products for its Super Six offer, so make sure you check those out.
However, the deal is renewed every two weeks, shoppers only have a short period to take advantage of the offers until they are changed.
The red stickers in Aldi usually indicate that an item has been reduced in price, so they should keep their eyes open when looking for discounted food.
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