Why this Aldi table is causing so much outrage
A wooden Aldi table has caused outrage among customers online – even though it hasn’t even hit the shelves yet.
The Aldi Natural Wood Side Table, retailing for $69.99, was due to be on sale as a Special Buy item on Wednesday.
But the store said it’s had to pull the item “due to production issues”.
“It will be available to purchase on Wednesday, August 29,” Aldi Australia posted on Facebook.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
The announcement comes as the Design Institute of Australia [DIA], which represents Australian design and designers, called for table to be pulled from shelves.
The DIA claims the table is a copy of Australian designer Mark Tuckey’s Egg Cup stool, which sells for more than $550.
It also claims another ALDI product, a clothes rack, is a copy of one designed by Siobhan Glass.
A petition on the DIA’s website calls for Aldi to pull both items from shelves and apologise to the designers.
An Aldi Australia spokesperson told Yahoo7 the reason the table was not sold on Wednesday was due to a “production issue in relation to Australian Quarantine”.
“The product needs to undergo further treatment before it is sold in ALDI stores,” the spokesperson said.
“We can confirm it will be available to purchase on Wednesday, 29th August.”
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Aldi Australia’s move to pull the table also angered customers.
One Sydney shopper said people waiting outside the store this morning hadn’t been told about the recall.
“Could’ve saved annoyed customers a lot of wasted time trying to find out what was going on,” she wrote on Facebook.
Designer Mark Tuckey has been contacted for comment.
