The Aldi Self-Checkout Hack That Will Save You A Ton Of Time
Aldi is by no means your average grocery store –- they're known for their low prices, fewer product options, and lightning-fast cashiers (Which is why Aldi cashiers sit at the registers). Their no-frills, get-in-get-out approach is probably exactly why you love shopping there –- but you may have learned the hard way that the self-checkout lane can slow you down. So here's a tip that'll make people think you work there: grab the handheld scanner.
Using the handheld scanner means that you don't have to run each item individually over the one on the counter. Taking each item out of the cart, finding the barcode, and placing it on the scale is time-consuming –- but with this method, you can simply place all your items in your cart barcode up and scan them in one go, no unnecessary lifting required. Plus, the barcodes won't be hard to find since Aldi uses gigantic ones.
Other ways to save time at self checkout
It's a good idea to separate the items in your cart into different groups (like refrigerated or shelf-stable products) while you're shopping rather than trying to do this at checkout. You can even place your reusable shopping bags or a few Aldi shipping boxes into the cart and place your items directly inside so that when you're done scanning at the checkout, you're ready to go. If you want to be super efficient, place your items into your cart facing the barcode up the moment you grab them off the shelf –- this way, you have one less step at self-checkout.
If possible, it's also best to avoid shopping at Aldi on weekend afternoons or after work hours. Of course, this isn't always feasible, but going in the morning will probably mean the line for self-checkout will be substantially smaller. Also, be on the lookout for an Aldi self-checkout attendant before you start eagerly scanning away — because I know from personal experience that there's nothing worse than waiting without a helping hand in sight. So, the next time you pop into Aldi, take a crack at self-checkout –- you might be just as fast as their speedy cashiers.