Aldi Australia launches its first self-service checkouts in a surprising backflip just years after saying they would ‘never’ be installed
- Aldi Australia has rolled out first ever self-serve checkouts in surprising backflip
- Sydney shoppers were treated to new feature at the Darlinghurst store on June 2
- The card-only self-serve checkouts are expected to roll out to 10 stores in NSW
- There will be six to eight machines installed at each store, which are part of trial
Aldi Australia has rolled out its first ever self-serve checkouts in a surprising backflip just years after the supermarket chain insisted it will never introduce them.
Sydney shoppers were the first to be treated to the new feature at the Darlinghurst store in the inner-city suburb on Wednesday, June 2.
The card-only self-serve checkouts, which are part of a trial, are expected to roll out to 10 stores across New South Wales, with six to eight machines installed at each.
The new shopping experience will help customers scan groceries faster and easier.
Aldi Australia has rolled out its first ever self-serve checkouts (pictured of an Aldi store in the UK with self-serve checkouts which were installed just last month)
In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, an Aldi spokeswoman said: ‘We make business decisions in line with our low-cost model so we can consistently provide high quality groceries at the lowest prices.
‘Since self-serve checkouts entered the Australian grocery sector, we’ve been watching with keen interest the value and efficiencies they drive for business as well as the convenience they provide customers.
‘From Wednesday, June 2, we commenced a self-serve checkout trial set to roll out in ten NSW stores, the first being Darlinghurst.’
The new feature comes just years after an Aldi spokesperson reportedly said the automated-checkouts were far-slower than their own staffed conveyor belts.
The card-only self-serve checkouts, which are part of a trial, are expected to roll out to 10 stores across NSW, with six to eight machines installed at each (picture of what the Aldi self-serve checkouts are expected to look like in Australia)
Sydney Morning Herald reported in March 2016 the German supermarket chain claimed Coles and Woolworths’ self serve checkouts were a waste of time.
Over the years, shoppers have been calling on Aldi to launch self-serve checkouts because they couldn’t keep up with the checkout staff scanning groceries at breakneck speed.
In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, an Aldi spokeswoman said at the time: ‘We currently have no plans to trial stores with self-service checkouts.
‘Feedback has told us that our shoppers prefer face-to-face interactions at registers, and that they are an important part of their in-store experience.
‘Our current store format enables us to focus on creating the best possible in-store experience, while continuing to deliver high-quality products at permanently low prices.’
Secrets of an Aldi employee: Cashier reveals WHY they scan groceries so fast
Aldi employee Brooke Hoskin (pictured) revealed that checkout staff scan groceries at breakneck speed because they are being timed by store managers
Aldi employee Brooke Hoskin revealed that checkout staff scan groceries at breakneck speed because they are being timed by store managers who constantly monitor their productivity.
Earlier this year, Ms Hoskin, from Sydney, shared a TikTok video in which she explained that workers are timed on how quickly they scan items and move on to the next shopper.
‘It’s not a major part of performance reviews, however if you’re consistently slow, managers might not be a big fan of that,’ Ms Hoskin said in the video.
The biggest reason for rapid scanning is to keep product prices and staff numbers as low as possible.
Employing less people means Aldi can maintain its famously cheap prices for customers.
It also allows the store to pay existing workers significantly higher wages than the accepted retail standard, which means employees are content and more likely to stay with the company.