Aldi shopper outraged at checkout worker's 'rude' act

An Aldi customer who took to social media to complain about a recent in-store experience has sparked a debate about grocery store etiquette.

The customer explained that she was second in line at the Aldi Coffs Harbour checkout when the customer in front of her placed an item on the conveyor belt to save her spot, then ran off to finish her shop.

“The lady in front of me put one item on the conveyor belt then went off to buy alcohol,” the disgruntled shopper told the Aldi Fans Australia Facebook group.

“I had all of my groceries (23 items in total) up and ready to go, just waiting for her.”

When the woman got to the front of the line, she explained to the group, the checkout operator called two other customers ahead of her.

“The cashier asked a person behind me, who only had two items, to come forward and be served without even the courtesy of acknowledgement that I was to be served next,” she wrote.

“The cashier must have seen the expression on my face, as she told yet another customer to come forward to be served in front of me again, but made a small apology this time.”

The woman finished her post by sharing her thoughts on grocery store etiquette in general.

“I don't mind letting people go ahead of me if they only have a few items, but I object to the cashier doing it without checking with me first,” she wrote.

“Particularly since I had been waiting patiently for the first woman, who should have finished her shopping before taking her place in line for service.”

The customer labelled the cashier’s behaviour as “rude and disrespectful”, but Facebook users are divided over who was in the wrong.

Social media weighs in on Aldi checkout gripe

The woman’s post attracted a large number of comments from group members, who also voiced their opinions on supermarket etiquette.

Many agree with the woman’s concerns, commenting that the cashier’s behaviour wasn’t acceptable.

“The cashier should have asked if you minded letting those people through first, it’s common courtesy,” commented one group member.

“I’ve had two screaming toddlers with me and have had the cashier wave through multiple people in front of me. It’s frustrating, particularly when you’re in a rush and you have finished unpacking,” said another.

“The customer who walked away forfeits her spot. I would never make a customer wait for someone who walked away,” added a third.

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Some shoppers condemn customer: “Get a grip”

Many members of the Facebook group praised Aldi in the comments section, calling out the woman who made the original post.

“A few in-between isn't poor customer service at all, I get why she did it and I get why she didn't run it past you,” wrote one group member.

“As I travel extensively, I shop regularly at many different Aldi locations. I have never had a rude checkout person. Maybe my expectation or attitude is different,” said another.

“A little generosity goes a long way, and you wouldn’t need to vent publicly if you had a generous heart,” commented a third.

“There are people who don't have enough to buy food, get a grip, look around you and see the state our world is in. So you have to wait a bit longer at the checkout, really?” added a fourth.

Another group member added that many issues they experience at Aldi come down to customers, rather than staffers.

“My issue with Aldi checkouts isn't the operator, it's the people who don't have their card/money out, who want to chat to the operator even though the line is backing up!” they wrote.

Checkout gripe resolved

Although Facebook is in a spin over the Aldi customer’s controversial post, she has claimed that it helped her get a resolution.

“I have now gotten a written apology and the store concerned has been spoken to,” she wrote. “Thank you Aldi!”

Yahoo News reached out to Aldi for clarification about cashier policies and rules pertaining to checkout lines. Aldi's spokesperson did not wish to comment.

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