AITA? Strategically Getting into The Back of a Very Long Checkout Line in ALDI, Knowing That a Second Checkout Will Be Opened

AustriaBargain on 21/02/2024 - 03:56
Last edited 21/02/2024 - 10:31 by 1 other user

So I'm sure you know the situation, Aldis keep as few checkouts open as possible and when the line gets too long they'll ping someone to open another one and the people at the back of the long line get to be first in line at the new checkout.

So when I'm checking out and I see a very long line I'll kind of hang back a bit and let other people join the line before I hop into it, knowing that another checkout will open and I can be the first in line for that because the people at the back of the line join the new checkout. Anyone who has already unloaded some stuff on the conveyer belt, or is stuck in front of someone, has already made their bed.

Poll Options

  • 42
    You're the asshole
  • 48
    You're a genius
Food & Grocery

Related Stores

ALDI
ALDI

Comments

  • Clear on 21/02/2024 - 05:57
    +2

    I use the self checkout. No need to line up.

    • AustriaBargain on 21/02/2024 - 06:04
      +2

      Most Aldis near me don't have self service yet. But I would use it too. Sometimes I buy less than I'd like just so I know I can bag it quick enough at the checkout.

    • MrMcHairyHead on 21/02/2024 - 08:37
      +2

      I have never seen an Aldi with a self checkout. I thought they were deliberately not having them to reduce theft.

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 21/02/2024 - 08:49
      +3

      Self checkout is the only reason I’ve started to go back to Aldi tbh.

      I’m only there for the ground coffee beans, and the chicken burrito bowls. So good to just get in and get out.

      • Clear on 21/02/2024 - 08:54
        +1

        Unpopular opinion. Their beans aren't that good 😝

        • Jimothy Wongingtons on 21/02/2024 - 08:56
          +1

          Yeah but I can tell the office the beans are @WatchNerd approved

          I also find Nescafé 43 unironically palatable… so maybe don’t trust me on my taste of coffee.

  • timthetoolman on 21/02/2024 - 06:17
    +9

    I'm passionate about this topic, and I think it tells a lot about a person.
    You're a POS and it's even worse that you do it on purpose.
    Let the people in front of you who've already been waiting go ahead.

    That's why some people don't let others go through with just a couple of items coz it's a freaking jungle there

    • mapax on 21/02/2024 - 06:46
      +7

      First in best dressed getting to the new checkout unless it’s someone with just a few items.
      At aldi the (profanity) is the person with a lot of items not giving way to the person with just a few.

      • timthetoolman on 21/02/2024 - 07:05
        +4

        Funny that you expect a level of common courtesy if you only have a few items (to save them the time of waiting for a whole trolley to be unpacked), but you won't extend that same courtesy to the people who were there before you who now need to wait even longer.

        • mapax on 21/02/2024 - 07:17
          +1

          I don’t get it, if that person wants to go to the new checkout they can. Unless you shop at a shit tier aldi the vast majority of people are courteous and anyone from any position in the line can move across.

    • iNeed2Pee on 21/02/2024 - 09:30
      +1

      I totally agree. People are POS. Simple, if everyone had the same courtesy as us, the world would be a better place. Unfortunately some people are flat our dogs.

  • pegaxs on 21/02/2024 - 07:46
    +12

    Yes, YTA, because it should be offered to the people who have been waiting the longest.

    If I turn up at a checkout and they open a new lane and just tell me to come across, I always offer it to the people in front of me who have been waiting longer.

  • foxmulder on 21/02/2024 - 08:02
    +1

    You know that this is true, rather than just waiting behind a long line, you always be in watch of new checkout opening.

    By the way, Aldi self serve doesn't check your bags and trolley, that's a plus if I bring things from other store so no hassle to open them all. And another from recent news that Aldi self serve system didn't check weight when you put them to the platform after you scan them. Winning. No hassle of the need to wait for staff member.

  • ihbh on 21/02/2024 - 08:03
    +1

    AITA

    No, but you're a bit passive and silly. I just wait at the next empty checkout; ask for a new aisle to open, etc.

  • altomic on 21/02/2024 - 08:12

    I stand to the side of the queue and when the aldi staff look up to see how long the queue is (because they will be thinking "do I need another checkout open?") then I try to make eye contact and give them a nod (yes, you need to open another queue)- and usually they will nod back and I start moving towards the unopened check out which then opens (as they can open the check out remotely from a little control panel beneath each register).

    i will let someone with one or two items go ahead of me (If i'm doing a big shop).

    one of the 2 my local aldis just got self serve, so that's easy. the other one is still pure checkouts.

  • ihfree on 21/02/2024 - 08:28

    Neither, though, possibly the store weirdo if you're hanging back and watching.

    In my experience, most Aldis in Sydney are a free for all when a new register opens. In more regional areas, people are more polite in terms of who moves.

  • Ughhh on 21/02/2024 - 08:39

    But if you're hovering around the back of the line, you're further away from the new checkout. People ahead of you, can still change lanes, and they're closer.

  • payless69 on 21/02/2024 - 09:05

    Imagine South Australians would run our government!
    Only green coloured Teslas and hippies?

    Better ask Dick Smith, he would ban Aldi tomorrow!

  • PissLUR on 21/02/2024 - 09:43
    +1

    I don't shop at aldi.

    • WatchNerd on 21/02/2024 - 10:51
      +1

      Please hand in your Ozbargain membership.

      • payless69 on 21/02/2024 - 12:34
        -1

        Is this Gerry in disguise?

  • leiiv on 21/02/2024 - 10:25
    +1

    You can do anything, first in best dressed. It is because they don't implement a queue system that has single line for all of registers so first line in queue can go to the first available register, which is the fairest you can get.
    Very easy to implement but for some reasons, most supermarkets don't bother to do that.

  • Boioioioi on 21/02/2024 - 10:41
    +2

    Hmmm I don't think its bad, you are taking a gamble. It could pay off. It might not

  • shaybisc on 21/02/2024 - 11:14

    I would hate to be an Aldi checkout person. Most of the times I've walked into Aldi to pick up a few things I end up putting them back and walking out again, because of the long line of piled high shopping trolleys waiting at a single checkout.

  • nomoneynoproblems on 21/02/2024 - 11:17

    If you have to ask if you’re YTA, then you probably are.

  • Switchblade88 on 21/02/2024 - 11:49

    I would suggest the real problem is the (profanity) policy of not paying enough employees to man sufficient registers.

  • Flying Ace on 21/02/2024 - 11:57

    You snooze you lose - I would do the same as you.

  • CrowReally on 21/02/2024 - 12:04

    Yes, but not for the reasons you suspect

  • Chandler on 21/02/2024 - 13:11

    28 YTA / 28 YAG (NTA) at time of my comment. Perfectly balanced, as all assholes should be.

    I've abstained voting to preserve said balance.

  • AussieDaddy on 21/02/2024 - 13:52
    +2

    At the Aldis I have been to, when a new checkout is opened people at the back of other lanes always go to the opened one. I've never seen anyone giving priority to the other people in front of them in the old lines. But hanging back on purpose so that you become at the front of a new line is bit exessive. What if a new checkout isn't opened for a while? Haven't you wasted your time?

    • AustriaBargain on 21/02/2024 - 13:54

      I guess it's a gamble. But my spidey senses have served me well so far.

  • Ghost47 on 21/02/2024 - 17:05
    +1

    I was in this situation yesterday where I joined a line and the new one opened, then everyone rushed to the new line. I wasn't in a rush at all so I didn't really care. I do think that if you've been waiting in line longer you should get first dibs at queuing up but I know it doesn't work that way so whatever really. People in this country are just becoming more selfish as time goes on and as our cities become more congested and crowded.

  • El cheepo on 21/02/2024 - 19:00

    YTA

    Because the fact you have to run/speed waddle to be first (and don’t lie, you do because you always get their first despite being at the back of the line) shows your an inconsiderate profanity to the other people patiently waiting.

    • AustriaBargain on 21/02/2024 - 19:17
      -1

      No, I position myself just so that I can walk slowly to the new checkout. And I have the grace to act like it was a happy accident.

      • El cheepo on 22/02/2024 - 01:47
        -2

        Given most people turn into animals in this scenario, it is extremely unlikely you carry yourself with as much grace as you imagine you do.

        To be the physically furthest and still be first involves being quick as everyone takes notice when the next checkout has a person start setting up.

        What is the rush that your time is more important then the people in front of you?

  • KangaDrew on 21/02/2024 - 19:01
    +4

    Self-checkout ALDI's are the best. No lines and no one throwing your groceries at you while you're expected to frantically pack them from a 30cm squared bench top.

  • areustillpretty on 22/02/2024 - 11:19

    My local Aldi recently installed 6 self-checkouts. One of the best things happened this year and the reason I started to go back to Aldi.

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