Aldi testing at a single location $12 USD deposit to enter store in exchange for not having to check out.

[GON]

Interesting idea, a single Aldi location in Britain is testing a concept of being charged $10 pounds ($12 USD), to enter the store. By paying the entry fee, one no longer needs to checkout.

Reported that cameras are the primary method to see what is in a shoppers cart. One downside, if one spends under $12 USD, the refund to the consumer's credit card can take three to four days. If one buys $47 USD if groceries, the consumer is charged $35 USD automatically when departing the store.

https://www.eldiario24.com/us/aldi-shoppers-pay-to-enter-store/

 

[spasm3]

I shop at aldi on occasion. But not if they institute the above policy. I can't see that going over well in the US.

 

[Wrenchturner44]

Amazon has an on-going vision project for point of sale check out. They have tried it in several Amazon / Whole Foods locations. I think it has been successful for some items but for others where weight or quantity of the items varies (think produce or meat items) the system doesnt work well enough using vision technology so I think they have supplemented it with RFID tag technology.....which also has it's own limitations.

 

[Nukeman7]

I shop at aldi on occasion. But not if they institute the above policy. I can't see that going over well in the US.

I agree with you 100%. This requires that you keep a credit card on file with Aldi, even if you only shop there once. Also, a certain sector of Aldi shoppers pay with cash, not credit. I also don't see this going over well.

FYI, Sam's Club has a slightly different concept with their SCAN AND GO touchless app. checkout.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Welcome to the future.

 

[JHZR2]

Welcome to the future.

Perhaps, but the future wouldn’t require a $12 deposit just to enter. It would just have a laser cannon cleanly zap and incinerate thieves, and sense with high accuracy what you’re putting in a cart.

I’d prefer a scan gun attached to the cart, and high, severe consequences for folks caught leaving with stuff they didn’t scan.

Even that I’m not sure would go over well.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Perhaps, but the future wouldn’t require a $12 deposit just to enter. It would just have a laser cannon cleanly zap and incinerate thieves, and sense with high accuracy what you’re putting in a cart.

I’d prefer a scan gun attached to the cart, and high, severe consequences for folks caught leaving with stuff they didn’t scan.

Even that I’m not sure would go over well.

As a programmer/analyst, I have to wonder the reason for the $12 deposit? The application had to be thought through and designed, right? Of course application success is never a straight line...

Interesting times ahead. My strong belief is the world is at a technological inflection point. We see it everywhere. Automation. Data capture. AI... If the Aldi experiment works and is honed, there is the promise of cost and time savings across the board.
Change is the only constant.

 

[JHZR2]

As a programmer/analyst, I have to wonder the reason for the $12 deposit? The application had to be thought through and designed, right? Of course application success is never a straight line...

Interesting times ahead. My strong belief is the world is at a technological inflection point. We see it everywhere. Automation. Data capture. AI... If the Aldi experiment works and is honed, there is the promise of cost and time savings across the board.
Change is the only constant.

I figure the $12 is some sort of loss prevention risk offset.

If you pay $12 you can afford to not steal chewing gum. And they know who you are in theory.

I agree that if honed properly, it could create a new paradigm because of the removal of lines.

 

[spasm3]

I figure the $12 is some sort of loss prevention risk offset.

If you pay $12 you can afford to not steal chewing gum. And they know who you are in theory.

I agree that if honed properly, it could create a new paradigm because of the removal of lines.

Yes theft prevention. You can't get in without them knowing who you are.

But i don't like the card info stored on file, just another way to get hacked/ identity stolen.

 

[GON]

I figure the $12 is some sort of loss prevention risk offset.

If you pay $12 you can afford to not steal chewing gum. And they know who you are in theory.

I agree that if honed properly, it could create a new paradigm because of the removal of lines.

Concur fully with your assessment.

Supplementally, the $12 USD deposit may encourage the consumer to spend $13 USD minimum, rather than wait a few days for the refund of any amount spent under $12 USD.

 

[AutoMechanic]

I’ll pass. I’m not an Aldi fan anyway. I buy name brand stuff. I hate their quarter for buggy policy too. They could at least accept the $12 in cash. I don’t want to use my card all the time.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I figure the $12 is some sort of loss prevention risk offset.

If you pay $12 you can afford to not steal chewing gum. And they know who you are in theory.

I agree that if honed properly, it could create a new paradigm because of the removal of lines.

I get that, I was wondering why $12? The deposit also dissuades lookieloos as well as thieves. But then again, shoppers often buy more than they had planned; stores want more shoppers, not less.

My guess is the deposit encourages shoppers to spend at least $12. The number was not pulled out of thin air.
The deposit value should not dissuade potential shoppers from entering while increasing minimum transaction totals.

 

[Lubener]

I wouldn't shop at a store that had such a policy.

 

[daves87rs]

Won’t work here

 

[Jetronic]

As a programmer/analyst, I have to wonder the reason for the $12 deposit? The application had to be thought through and designed, right? Of course application success is never a straight line...

Interesting times ahead. My strong belief is the world is at a technological inflection point. We see it everywhere. Automation. Data capture. AI... If the Aldi experiment works and is honed, there is the promise of cost and time savings across the board.
Change is the only constant.

I guess it's to check the credit card is active.

 

[Greenbeforeblue]

OK it's early and I haven't had enough coffee. If you pay 12 bucks to enter the store. get a cart full of groceries and don't check out, isn't that a cart full of groceries for 12 bucks?

 

[GON]

OK it's early and I haven't had enough coffee. If you pay 12 bucks to enter the store. get a cart full of groceries and don't check out, isn't that a cart full of groceries for 12 bucks?

If I read the article correctly, no need to checkout. The store is able to know exactly what you have in your cart, and will charge you automatically as you exit the store.

 

[Zee09]

I guess the point is to do away with jobs. Too much drama for me and I'm not a Aldi fan.

 

[CharBaby]

There is s grocery store in my area that is considering having carts that track you items and then you just pay instead of scanning all of you items at the attendant checkout or self-checkout. IDK when this is going to take place.

 

[shortyb]

Local Circle K stores in my area have the self-checkout scanning tables. Put all your stuff on the scanner pad and it will supposedly give you a total that you then pay with a card. This is designed to free up the cashier to take care of other things, but it seems everytime I've been in one, the cashier has to stop what they are doing to "fix" the scanner and complete the sale manually. Lines back up, customers get impatient, always some sort of colorful language gets used. I'll pass.