Aldi has undergone a dramatic boom in fame in the U.S., with the store’s bargains sending stock flying off shelves. Yet while you’re learning how to decipher Aldi’s price tags to get the best deal, there’s another mystery at play. Why are the cashiers so fast? We all love a swift swipe, but surely that level of speediness can’t hinge on personal preference alone? You’re correct to be a little suspicious because Aldi’s cashiers are actually timed and scored on their performance.
The faster cashiers scan, the happier their management will be. The exact timing goals vary on a store-by-store basis, but former employees have reported expectations of scanning an item every second. The cashier’s performance is scrutinized from the moment they scan that first item to the very second you pay. It’s one of those facts about Aldi you should know as a frequent shopper and another big reason to be extra kind to your cashier. Not everyone appreciates that extent of micromanagement; it’s a big factor behind cashier stress, especially if a customer specifically asks them to slow down.
While the speed of goods flying through cashiers’ hands is ruffling a few feathers, Aldi’s fast-paced approach yields undeniably efficient results. There’s a reason why Aldi is known for lightning-fast checkout. Many of its stores also utilize savvy strategies like wraparound barcodes to quicken up the process. Aldi is full of speed-inducing secrets — timing cashiers is just one of them.
The secrets behind Aldi’s speedy swiping
Behind the scenes, Aldi has gradually implemented tiny efficiency boosters, including timing their staff. Ever wonder why Aldi cashiers always sit down at the register? You guessed it; this strategy is linked with increased efficiency, aka seated staff swipe faster. Employees are even judged on the frequency with which customers pre-insert cards for payment (a time-saving hack that shaves back a few minutes per workday). That’s a lot of pressure, isn’t it? Aldi runs a tight ship.
Interestingly, Aldi doesn’t just time its employees’ average swipe-per-minute. Multiple countdowns are ticking. One of these is how quickly their cashiers move between customers. Next time you’re shopping? Hurry up and get your items on the conveyor belt. You’re very likely letting the team down.
It might sound intense, but some staff thrive on this approach. “Personally, I love our system,” explained one employee on Reddit, “I like to compete with myself and my coworkers to see who is fastest, who gets the most compliments.” Still, not everyone appreciates the constant pushing. “The faster you go, the more they want,” one former employee scathed on Indeed. The company’s need for speed is clear, but it certainly relies on a specific set of strategies.
