Aldi UK tests new prepayment charge.

[Mik]

If they try that here it will be the last time i shop Aldi.

https://local12.com/news/nation-world/aldi-tests-new-pre-payment-charge-for-shoppers-entering-the-store-cincinnati-consumer-checkout-free-taken-off-final-bill-grocery-affordability-refund-days-after-shop-go-credit-cards-prepaid-accounts-ai-power-cameras-products-hand-deposit-taken-banking?-fbpost

[Jolly]

Nope.

[Renauda]

Strikes me as an ill conceived blueprint for retail outlet suicide.

Aldi’s has no outlets here. Probably a good thing too.

[89th]

What is the point? To deter shoplifting? To aid in the use of the app and no cashiers? They have the "simplified operations" model down to an art, why complicate things? My wife just got back from Aldi 3 minutes ago btw.

[Horace]

I don't imagine this would be the entire reason, but, I know that if someone feels as though they have $10 credit while they walk through a store, they will be more prone to buy at least $10 worth of stuff. But the repellent force of paying for that credit just for the privilege of entering the store, is a lot to overcome.

[Mik]

Yeah, that’s how I saw it. The incremental sales may well be dwarfed by the loss of traffic.

[Renauda]

@Horace

I don't imagine this would be the entire reason, but, I know that if someone feels as though they have $10 credit while they walk through a store, they will be more prone to buy at least $10 worth of stuff. But the repellent force of paying for that credit just for the privilege of of entering the store, is a lot to overcome.

I think you might be right.

The owner of the Hi-Fi and music store at which I worked part time was always upset when people would come in the store, browse or ask a few questions and leave without buying anything. He proposed that maybe entrance fee that would be applied against a purchase would deter people with intention to buy from dropping by to browse the CD and vinyl section or make what he considered time wasting inquiries about hi-fi equipment. The staff had to work hard at talking him out of the idea.

[taiwan_girl]

I guess kind of like a disco pub that charges a cover charge, which can then be used for drinks.