Right of Way in a Supermarket Queue at ALDI

Lmookieconster on 20/02/2022 - 15:03
Last edited 20/02/2022 - 15:34 by 1 other user

I've put myself in a slightly embarrassing situation in the morning and hope to get some opinions on whether I did the wrong thing or not.

I was at Aldi earlier today doing my weekly shopping. It was announced that a new checkout was opening up as soon as I joined a queue, so I started pushing my trolly towards it. The lady who was in front of me in the old queue turned to me and demanded that I should let her go first since she had queued up earlier than me.

Opening up new checkouts is of course quite common at Aldi, and as far as I have observed whoever is closest to the checkout that is about to open would join the new checkout. I wasn't in a rush, and I've always made it a point to give way to the shopper behind me if they are paying for just a few items. However I don't have a high tolerance for self-entitled people as well, so I refused to give way, which caused a brief scene.

Was I being an a-hole?

Poll Options

  • 102
    Yes
  • 728
    No
Food & Grocery

Related Stores

ALDI
ALDI

Comments

  • th123 on 20/02/2022 - 15:08
    +112

    first come (physically to the open register), first served

    • Scrooge McDuck on 21/02/2022 - 07:08
      +18

      Gentlemen, start your engines!

    • Windows98 on 21/02/2022 - 10:58
      -6

      I don't believe this to be true.

      Aldi has unofficial rules and etiquette due to its different nature compared to other shops where there are limited to no situations like the OP has which are open to interpretation.

      • People behind an old lane when a new one is opening need to either wait or ask the people in front if they want to swap.
      • People loading their tonne of groceries onto the belt should let at least one person with a single item waiting behind them to go first.
      • you do not pack your bags neatly while their being scanned, holding up the line
      • you always take the Aldi catalogue when asked, regardless of how many of the current issue you currently have. Just out of politeness.. /s
      • DaHuntz on 21/02/2022 - 11:33
        +7

        agreed with all above except catalogue, why would I want to bring home something I don't need? I always say "No thank you" when offered the catalogue.

        • Windows98 on 21/02/2022 - 13:53
          +7

          Note the /s at the end of that one..

          • gorge on 22/02/2022 - 17:40
            -1

            @Windows98: i thought that meant your whole comment was sarcasm

      • geoffs87 on 21/02/2022 - 13:48
        +3

        Just because a retailer sets their offering as “different” doesn’t mean us as consumers need to change our shopping behaviours to meet the expectations of the retailer. They’re the ones profiting.

        • Ozbargainasaurus on 22/02/2022 - 18:03
          +1

          No-one forcing you to shop at Aldi right?

      • digitalbath on 21/02/2022 - 18:50
        +7

        No such thing as “unofficial ALDI” rules.

      • scottishdave on 23/02/2022 - 15:16
        +1

        re "People loading their tonne of groceries onto the belt should let at least one person with a single item waiting behind them to go first."

        I wasn't impressed when woman was loading up her bags at the belt a couple of weeks ago and went up to her and explained to her nicely, "At Aldi you take all the groceries into the trolley and pack your bags over there". She stopped packing her bags and put the rest from the belt into her trolley. She might have been an Aldi first timer?

        I was just wondering how most of us Aldi shoppers developed this understanding of the Aldi rules without being trained in it? Osmosis?

  • Mechz on 20/02/2022 - 15:08
    +74

    Nah, first in best dressed for newly opened checkouts. Maybe let someone in that has like 1 or 2 items if you have a trolley full though.

  • CrispyChrispy on 20/02/2022 - 15:08
    +13

    Was I being an a-hole?

    No? Not really. If you left first to go to the new checkout, you should be first in the line in that new checkout.

    If she started walking first, then she would have right of way I guess.

    • mookieconster on 20/02/2022 - 15:49
      +12

      There was no race to get to the register :). I just started walking towards the new register as soon as I the green light started blinking, and she started her demands while still being the tail of the old queue.

      • ozbaragan on 20/02/2022 - 16:16
        +26

        ignore that Karen. She was not the only person in line, there are other people waiting at other registers. Why should she be given priority?? first come first serve.

        • Chandler on 21/02/2022 - 00:42
          +4

          Yeah. Should have asked everyone in front of the lady to move to the new register and stayed in the queue at the old register while silently chuckling to yourself staring at her…

        • jv on 21/02/2022 - 13:13
          -5

          Why should she be given priority??

          Because she was at the registers first and waiting longer.

          • Dogsrule on 21/02/2022 - 13:38
            +5

            @jv: False. She was not at the newly opened register first.

            • jv on 21/02/2022 - 13:39
              +2

              @Dogsrule:

              She was not at the newly opened register first.

              She was at the registers to pay before the OP.

              • Dogsrule on 21/02/2022 - 13:45
                +5

                @jv: Unless she was able to split her body into several portions, no human is capable of attending more than one register at a time. Therefore, she was at a singular register, not register(s).

                Her choosing the wrong one at the wrong time is not OP's problem.

          • Velocita on 21/02/2022 - 13:39

            @jv: Typical Jv, I hope you have a day full of missing new checkout lines being opened.

            • jv on 21/02/2022 - 13:40
              +3

              @Velocita:

              I hope you have a day full of missing new checkout lines being opened.

              There's only 1 line at Coles.

              • FireRunner on 22/02/2022 - 17:01

                @jv: The self-serve registers have a single queue but the human operated registers have individual queues (at least at my local Coles)

                • jv on 22/02/2022 - 17:16

                  @FireRunner:

                  but the human operated registers have individual queues

                  and when they open a new one, they tell which person in the next queue can come over.

                • Eeples on 04/03/2022 - 10:32

                  @FireRunner: I’ve seen at Coles automated registers with each having individual queues. They are like normal manned checkouts with the longer belts.

      • Scrooge McDuck on 21/02/2022 - 07:17

        It's not a race…

  • Savas on 20/02/2022 - 15:32
    +7

    Last week this happened to me at Coles but it was the checkout operator who told me off.

    • Anon on 21/02/2022 - 07:36
      +32

      I would have just left the trolley full there at the checkout and walked out.

      • Laserface on 21/02/2022 - 09:28
        +7

        Hero.

        • serpserpserp on 21/02/2022 - 11:30
          +19

          Who needs a cape when you can spit the dummy?

      • jv on 21/02/2022 - 13:15
        +3

        I would have just left the trolley full there at the checkout and walked out.

        Savas only had a packet of Pringles in the trolley.

      • belongsinforums on 21/02/2022 - 18:06
        +1

        What a mad lad

  • HairyChickens on 20/02/2022 - 15:43
    +9

    Need an obligatory MS paint diagram thanks.

    Karen is in the wrong

    • holdenmg on 20/02/2022 - 16:38
      +1

      I like chalk outlines. lol

    • MS Paint on 20/02/2022 - 17:32
      +2

      hairy chicken

      • Kangal on 22/02/2022 - 01:07
        +1

        Why post your hairy cock?

    • jv on 21/02/2022 - 13:16
      +3

      Karen is in the wrong

      Her name was Sandra and she had been waiting longer in the queue.

  • kyle on 20/02/2022 - 15:48
    +29

    Usually when a new checkout is about to open at either Coles or Woolies, the cashier would actually come to the existing queue and ask me to go to the new register. Solves the problem you encountered.

    • mookieconster on 20/02/2022 - 15:52
      +6

      That's exactly what I thought as well. Most other stores manage this situation well, avoiding the customers having to fight it out. Never seen at Aldi though. A cashier did side with the lady briefly today before resuming her manic scanning activities.

      • USER DC on 20/02/2022 - 20:24

        Well some karens do feel extremally self-entitled dude. that's all i would say.

    • lechuck123 on 21/02/2022 - 08:20
      +10

      Worked at Woolies for a long time and we'd always do this. Stops this exact issue from occurring, and makes both customers happy.

    • cuteseal on 21/02/2022 - 09:25
      +4

      That's because at Aldi they turn the annoucement/light on a good 2-3 minutes before the checkout operator is even remotely near the till or ready to serve.
      Gives people time to queue up I suppose.

      • uzz30 on 21/02/2022 - 14:29
        +5

        This is true, I'm constantly impressed at just how few staff Aldi can run a supermarket on. The staff themselves have to be a pretty adaptable bouncing from once task to the next without hardly a moment to breath in between

        Next checkout light goes on > customers load up conveyor > Aldi staff lob in and scan like their life depends on it > checkout closing light goes off > staff member zooms off to pack shelves

    • Ultimate Gattai on 23/02/2022 - 00:58
      +1

      I work at woolies, and this is exactly what we do, saves arguments and fighting, although you do get people who try to muscle their way in front which is very rude.

  • El cheepo on 20/02/2022 - 16:16
    +18

    Regardless of right or wrong theres no need for a self entitled rant from Karen.

    I generally just casually meander over when a new checkout opens and let runners/panicking people in.
    But… I would have done the same thing as you did purely for coping a mouthful about getting there first.

    If it had been a polite request i would have just let them in front, but being rude doesn’t get you rewards with me.
    No need for self entitlement.

  • bradl822 on 20/02/2022 - 16:22
    +6

    For me it more depends if they had there trolley unloaded. I will always let them go first if they havent yet hit the belt.

    • fantombloo on 20/02/2022 - 18:55
      +2

      Yeah, there's right of way and there's decency. Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

    • smartazz104 on 21/02/2022 - 07:36

      Well yeah, if they are in the process of unloading what's the point of them going to another queue…

    • USER DC on 20/02/2022 - 20:33
      +5

      When i usually go to ALDI to buy only frozen mangoes sometimes, have been offered by some people voluntarily to go ahead of them as they had trolley full of item. (Doesn't really happen often though) but nevertheless It has nothing to do with "You get what you pay for"- that happens at the register (on the pinpad at the time of payment)

      • CheapskateQueen on 20/02/2022 - 21:48
        +1

        I've also had ppl let me thru in Aldi quite a few times, which is something I've never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever experienced in WW/Coles in my entire life

    • greatlamp on 21/02/2022 - 07:18
      +1

      On the contrary, the self entitled people that have no self awareness all seem to attend Costco.

      • tasty-falafel on 21/02/2022 - 15:24
        -3

        I've been to multiple Costco's around the country and it always seems like people of asian descent are the ones that are blissfully unaware of where they are going, blocking aisles or pushing through to get free samples.

  • popsiee on 20/02/2022 - 17:02
    +1

    The Aldi's near me are ghost towns . Once upon a time in the good old days they had monster queues.

    • cosmicjul on 20/02/2022 - 20:50
      +3

      I have 3 within a 5 minute drive and all of them are always packed so I guess it’s just busy where there are still a lot of people who are… not so well off. Go figures considering houses here are $1mil+ these days

      • serpserpserp on 21/02/2022 - 11:33
        -6

        Always packed huh? You just drive around all day checking the queues at the 3 Aldi's?

        Did you know it is OK if Aldi's are not always busy?

        • misu p on 21/02/2022 - 14:48

          take a moment and think again… you will get it.

  • Mokr on 20/02/2022 - 17:10
    -5

    In theory if you see a lady with a baby you should let them through

    • bobbified on 20/02/2022 - 18:41
      +3

      If you do that in the western of suburbs of Sydney, like Penrith or Campbelltown, you might end up waiting forever! lol

      • Archi on 21/02/2022 - 06:53
        +2

        Yes. Because the entitled suburb you live in doesn't have mums shopping with their kids.

    • smartazz104 on 21/02/2022 - 07:37
      +1

      Why, most of them chose to have a baby…

    • OzzyOzbourne on 21/02/2022 - 09:10
      -1

      You obviously haven't done your equality and equity training 😊

  • moto on 20/02/2022 - 17:23
    +6

    I have an ALDI question instead if I make a new forum thread. Is it me, or does anyone else dislike it when you have a small quantity of checkout items onto the grocery conveyor belt and you’ve placed your stuff too close to the front customers groceries, then ALDI checkout staff drag your checkout divider thingy of your items on the dirty conveyor belt all the way to the next persons groceries. It’s probably just me bothered about it. Like why drag all my items with the unclean unhygienic belt.

    • KSMLJ on 20/02/2022 - 17:54
      +1

      Yeah I don't get it as well, it takes the exact same amount of time whether they do it before they scan my stuff or after.

      But it is a minor annoyance, so I usually let it slide.

    • Loopholio on 21/02/2022 - 08:40
      +2

      That has never happened to me at my nearest Aldi. As you said, it's a never ending belt so things move when they need too. Squashing everything up isn't just pointless, things like bread and other bakery items could get caught on the edges of the belt.

    • ak47wong on 21/02/2022 - 09:50
      +5

      Yes I hate that and they love doing it for some reason. They run the belt and squeeze everyone's groceries together as tightly as possible. And it makes no sense because most of us are still trying to physically distance ourselves in the queue so the person at the end of the queue is now about 3m away from their groceries.

      • Daabido on 22/02/2022 - 21:54

        They are rated based on the time taken to scan items. Too slow a scan rate, you can get the sack.

    • wtfnodeal on 21/02/2022 - 15:50
      +1

      Just compulsive behaviour of some ALDI checkout staff? Yeah I don’t see any benefits for doing so when the human queue is longer than the item queue.

    • Palamedes on 23/02/2022 - 18:47

      I have never seen that done at the Sunshine Coast, QLD ALDI ones I go to. I do get annoyed when someone behind me pushes my divider and groceries up a bit though (happens at all places at times).

  • JimmyF on 20/02/2022 - 17:26

    It was announced that a new checkout was opening up as soon as I joined a queue, so I started pushing my trolly towards it. The lady who was in front of me in the old queue turned to me and demanded that I should let her go first since she had queued up earlier than me.

    Nope…. These things are whoever gets there first.

    Sure it pisses you off if someone behind you gets to go before you, but thats life!

    • AustriaBargain on 20/02/2022 - 18:25

      It sounds like the woman in front was going to get there first.

      • JimmyF on 20/02/2022 - 19:44

        Not to me. OP said

        It was announced that a new checkout was opening up as soon as I joined a queue, so I started pushing my trolly towards it.

        So the OP reversed up from the current queue and headed to the newly opened check out

        The lady who was in front of me in the old queue turned to me and demanded that I should let her go first since she had queued up earlier than me.

        So she would have been in front of the OP, so the OP would be the one who could get to the newly opened queue as she was blocked in by the OP. Hence her 'demand' as she queued up before the OP.

  • hasselbladsnapper on 20/02/2022 - 17:35
    +5

    No, it's the quick and the dead, I'm in my 70's and if I am quick witted and fast I have no problem in sprinting to the latest lane thats about to open!. I agree and do the nice thing by waving through 1 or 2 other shoppers with limited items.

    • SBOB on 20/02/2022 - 18:39
      +5

      my cutting remarks

      And then everybody clapped….

      • Motek Benzona on 20/02/2022 - 21:37
        -1

        You were there!!!! They did indeed, standing ovation

        • Ozpit on 21/02/2022 - 09:51
          +1

          I really need to hear what those those cutting remarks were before I make a judgement.

    • mauricem on 21/02/2022 - 10:51
      +3

      You must be a total d**ck to be proud of your remarks that reduced a woman to tears and made her fearful of you stalking her outside the store. The managers always say they see your side of it but the truth of the matter seems to be they "suggested/requested" you leave the store premises and wait in your car.

    • Lockieasy on 21/02/2022 - 12:00

      Or she could’ve just been having a bad day or had a rough life in general, which you made worse by your antics.

  • [Deactivated] on 20/02/2022 - 17:38
    -2

    Why are so many forum posts on this site so lame and pointless

    • Motek Benzona on 20/02/2022 - 17:39
      +3

      Well dont make one then!!!! Jeebus

    • randomusername2017 on 20/02/2022 - 18:01

      Pot kettle

      🙈🙉

    • peterpaoliello on 21/02/2022 - 08:04

      Be the change you want to see in the world @ringhole

  • Ughhh on 20/02/2022 - 17:49
    +3

    Where are the guys saying there's no 'RigHt of WaY' ?

  • John Kimble on 20/02/2022 - 17:57

    Depends if she was in front or behind your B pillar?

  • randomusername2017 on 20/02/2022 - 18:00
    -1

    👎no live stream

  • [Deactivated] on 20/02/2022 - 18:05

    Depends on how the new register was opened. If the ‘entitled person’ was told there was a new register opening and you just saw the light and queued there, then you are the AH. This happened to me once, I was told to queue up on the next register over, then the bell dinged and light turned on. The guy behind me tried to jump over before I could manoeuvre so I told him not to push in.
    If you were coming up ti the registers from a different direction other than from behind the EP, the it is up to your conscience whether you allow someone already queued to start the new register or if you go first.

  • Hithere on 20/02/2022 - 18:22
    +3

    I can't see any issues. If someone wants to push in front of me when a new checkout is opening I let them. If it makes some feral feel happy and proud of themself, good on them.

    The speed Aldi check-out chicks process the queues compared with Colesworth means it isn't that long to wait to be served.

    • [Deactivated] on 21/02/2022 - 12:44
      +1

      Aldi checkouts can be quite the spectacle sport. It's amusing when you see shoppers constantly survey the checkouts, ready to switch lanes if they think there is a chance of getting served 0.0000001 of a second quicker than if they maintained their current position.

      During lockdown, there was one occasion where I had just joined the checkout queue and was waiting for the queue to progress in order to place my items on the conveyor belt when all of a sudden, the 2 shoppers in front of me swept up their groceries off the belt and bolted for another checkout that had just opened up on the far side. Their sudden exit meant I was served next whilst they were still arguing between themselves at the far checkout as to who should be served first.

  • Benoffie on 20/02/2022 - 18:31
    +1

    Some stores do this better - the operator will come out and invite the person who is next in line at the long queue to move across.

    This not only avoids your scenario but improves overall customer service.

    Foodland are good for it.

  • Austaurean on 20/02/2022 - 18:33
    +6

    It's polite and appropriate to let the person already in the line who has been waiting longer to transfer into the newly openened checkout before you… Seeing as you just rocked up.. but a person shouldn't really be causing a scene about it.

  • Peter Enis on 20/02/2022 - 18:58
    +4

    I've made enough trips to Aldi to conclude that once I've committed to a lane I stick to it no matter what. It's just my luck when I change that the person in front wants to pay in 5c pieces or process a return.

  • hasher22 on 20/02/2022 - 20:02
    +1

    Were you wrong? No
    Were you being an a-hole and rushing towards that open lane? No
    Do customers feel entitled to go to an open lane if they queue before you in the current lane? Yes

    I shop at Aldi myself and I always have less than 10 items, if a lane opens up there are a few scenarios I play out:
    1 - If the person in front of me doesn't have many items and if their items are not on the belt already, I tell the person infront of me to go to the new open lane
    2 - If the person in front of me has a lot of items, I walk to the open lane and don't say anything
    3 - If I am not lining up and a queue opens and I am ready to check out, I walk to the open lane: First come first serve. I don't care who is in the other lane.

    Also, I think when a lane opens up, a rep should be there to scan and ready to go. There are many times when a lane opens up and people wait so long for a rep to log in, put their cash box in and start, when that happens, I could have already checked out in the current lane.

  • Piranha2004 on 20/02/2022 - 21:10

    She didnt use her indicators. Her fault not yours :P

    • Hangryuman on 23/02/2022 - 09:40

      you didn't see the Karen light flashing ?

  • iNeed2Pee on 20/02/2022 - 21:20
    +1

    Uh yes. I remember you.

    You seem to be at it again.

  • striker5950 on 20/02/2022 - 21:23
    +1

    come to ozbargain for self validity, you go queen slay

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