Aldi Customers in the United States Say Enough and Lidl is Already Rubbing Their Hands

Aldi has recently caused a stir in the United States with a measure that is already common in Europe. In several of its U.S. stores, customers must pay 25 cents to use shopping carts. This fee, which is a common practice in Europe, has surprised American consumers.

The reason behind this decision is to reduce the company's operating costs. Aldi charges a small fee so that customers return the carts to their place. This prevents the company from hiring more staff to collect abandoned carts in parking lots. Additionally, this system encourages cooperation among shoppers and helps keep spaces tidy.

Although this measure has worked well in Europe, it has caused mixed reactions in the United States. Some shoppers have been surprised, as they are not used to having to pay to use a cart.

Many comment on social media about their experience. One shopper, for example, noted: "Today was the first day in a month that I didn't have to carry 30 items in an empty box. I finally managed to get a coin for the Aldi cart."

Aldi Breaks the Silence

Despite the initial surprise, Aldi has explained that this system is key to keeping their prices low. They assure that the cost of the carts is necessary to avoid increasing the number of employees, which would raise prices for consumers. Instead of installing change machines, as some have suggested, Aldi prefers to stick with this model.

The goal is also to prevent carts from being left scattered outside, which could be a problem for other shoppers and vehicles. The cart return policy works by incentivizing returning them to their place to get the 25 cents back. This has been a success in Europe, where customers are already accustomed to such measures.

The practice of charging for the cart has had good results in countries like Germany, where Aldi is very popular. European consumers consider this measure an effective way to keep order and reduce operating costs, which in turn allows them to keep prices low. In contrast, in the United States, this system is a novelty, and many shoppers do not fully understand it.

In the coming months, more may adapt to this system. Although the measure remains somewhat surprising for Americans, Aldi has no plans to change it. The company continues to bet on this strategy to remain competitive and keep their prices low, which is crucial in a highly competitive market.