10 Secrets Aldi Employees Are Told to Keep From Customers
Aldi keeps things simple on the surface: limited aisles, no-frills shelves, and speedy checkouts. Yet behind that stripped-down setup is a surprisingly detailed system that workers are trained to follow, including a few things they’re not supposed to bring up in casual conversation. These aren’t scandal-level secrets, but they do explain why the store runs the way it does.
There’s No Backroom Stock Like You Think
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Shoppers hoping an item’s just “in the back” are usually out of luck. Unlike traditional grocery stores, Aldi doesn’t maintain a large backstock. What’s out on the shelves is often all that’s available. Workers know that customers often ask this, but they’re trained to explain the situation gently.
Employees Have to Memorize PLU Codes
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Instead of scanning every milk jug or water bottle, Aldi employees often manually enter product lookup codes. This speeds up checkout, especially when someone purchases multiple items of the same type. New hires are expected to start memorizing common PLUs early on, particularly for high-volume products.
Steel-Toed Boots Are Required on the Job
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All store associates are required to wear steel-toed boots. That’s because they routinely operate pallet jacks and unload inventory. Aldi even reimburses workers for the cost. It’s more warehouse safety than retail fashion, and it’s strictly enforced.
Cashiers Sit Because It’s Faster—Not Easier
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Cashiers use stools instead of standing behind the register. Tests showed that sitting allows workers to scan items more quickly and with fewer errors. It looks laid back, but speed is everything. Employees are still being timed at the register, and seated scanning helps them hit their targets.
Online Orders Are No One’s Favorite
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Those Instacart orders can be a headache. Aldi employees are timed while shopping for them and often get interrupted by in-store customers. With limited staffing, juggling both can stretch workers to the limit. That’s why staff may look a little stressed during peak hours—they’re racing two clocks at once.
Sales Have Limits and Customers Still Test Them
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Aldi often caps the number of sale items each customer can purchase. These limits are listed, but shoppers try to sneak extras past the register anyway. Employees get stuck enforcing the rules, sometimes to awkward results. A common trick? Breaking purchases into separate transactions.
The Aldi Finds Aisle Creates Its Own Chaos
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The center aisle, often jokingly referred to as the “Aisle of Shame,” features limited-time products known as Aldi Finds. Employees know when those hit the floor, they’ll be answering nonstop questions and calming down customers upset about things selling out. These items don’t get restocked. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.
Some Return Requests Get Out of Hand
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Aldi’s “Twice as Nice Guarantee” sounds great on paper: refund plus replacement if you’re not satisfied. Some people push the policy by bringing back opened or partially eaten products with no receipt. Technically, it’s allowed. Still, employees quietly keep track of serial returners and occasionally deny them if they cross a line.
Price Tags Can Tell You What’s About to Disappear
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A hand-written “D” or a printed version on the tag usually means the product won’t be restocked. Regulars who catch on tend to stock up quickly. Employees are familiar with the system but aren’t supposed to discuss it unless someone asks directly.
Calls to the Store Won’t Get You Very Far
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Aldi locations don’t take customer service calls like other stores. Phone lines are mostly reserved for warehouse or corporate communication. Employees are too busy handling in-store tasks, so if you’re calling to ask about product availability, you probably won’t get an answer, mostly because there’s no one available to pick up.