ALDI has confirmed it is withdrawing a key service from more than 170 stores.
The handy feature will be gone forever within days of its launch just four years ago.
1
Aldi is selling click and pay from 174 stores from next week. Credit: Getty
The German discounter will no longer offer click and collect in 174 stores after this Sunday (August 18).
The £4.99 service allows customers to search for groceries such as canned goods and fresh produce online and then choose a pick-up location at their nearest branch.
Customers can also sit and wait in their vehicle in the car park and a member of staff can bring their shopping.
The discount chain launched the click and collect service at the height of the coronavirus pandemic in September 2020, and by 2021 it was offered in more than 200 stores.
But since then, it has begun phasing out service at dozens of branches, including 12 in July 2023.
Aldi said click and pay had only ever been offered on a trial basis, subject to ongoing review.
An Aldi spokesman said: “At Aldi we are focused on providing customers with high quality products at the lowest possible prices.
“One of the ways we keep prices low for customers is by running the most efficient supermarket operation in Britain.
“As a result, we’ve made the decision to bring our Click and Collect service to an end so we can focus on just that.”
Aldi’s latest announcement means that after August 18, the retailer will no longer offer any online services.
Ways to save money on your next Aldi shop
In January last year, The Sun exclusively revealed the retailer would be winding down its online operations by cutting back on home delivery.
Aldi set up delivery for Specialbuys in 2015, but has confirmed it will shut down the service before the end of 2023.
In 2022, the discount supermarket stopped working with food delivery app Deliveroo after establishing a relationship in 2020.
Aldi said at the time that home deliveries had never been part of the company’s long-term business model.
However, it’s not all bad news for sellers and buyers.
Aldi is looking to significantly increase the number of its stores across the UK, having previously said it plans to increase its store portfolio to 1,500 from around 1,000 it currently has.
WHAT OTHER SUPERMARKETS OFFER
If Aldi’s latest move has you thinking about taking your order elsewhere, there are plenty of other retailers still offering a click-and-collect service.
Here’s what some of the big supermarket chains offer.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s offers click and collect in 322 UK stores, with customers able to shop online and then pick a one-hour slot to collect everything.
Customers must pay a minimum charge of 50p to collect items worth £25 or more, otherwise there is a £4 surcharge.
Customers who need groceries in a hurry can order via click and collect on the same day and are charged £2 for orders over £25 and £6 for orders under £25.
Tesco
Tesco offers a click and collect option at more than 500 locations, with customers first having to book a place online before filling their virtual basket.
Customers must spend at least £25 and pay 25p for a next-day collection slot, while same-day slots are available for up to £2.
If you order a same-day pickup, you can pick up after 4 p.m. if you reserve a spot before noon.
Asda
Asda offers click and collect at 450 locations across the UK.
Customers must reserve a seat through the retailer’s website and then fill their virtual shopping cart or cart.
There are three different fees depending on the level of service you want.
You can collect from your nearest collection point within four hours of ordering for a fee of £3.50 with no minimum spend.
Meanwhile, you can collect more than four hours after ordering for £1.50 if your basket is £25 or less or £3 if it’s under £25.
Next day or later delivery is 50p with a minimum spend of £25 or £3 or your order is under £25.
How to bargain
SUN Savers editor Lana Clements explains how to find a discounted item and bargain…
Sign up for the loyalty schemes of the brands you regularly buy from.
Big names regularly offer discounts or special lower prices for members, among other perks.
A sale is when you can pick up a real steal.
Retailers tend to have occasional promotions tied to payday at the end of the month or bank holiday weekends, so be on the lookout and shop when these deals are in effect.
Sign up for mailing lists and be the first to know about special offers. It can be worthwhile to follow traders on social networks as well.
When shopping online you are always looking for discount codes or coupons to use vouchercodes.co.uk and myvouchercodes.co.uk are just two sites that round up promotions by retailer.
It’s useful to have scanning apps on your phone. The Trolley.co.uk app has a scanner that you can use to compare the prices of brands when you’re shopping.
Bargain hunters can also use B&M’s in-app scanner to find in-store discounts before staff flag them down.
And always check if you can get a refund before paying, which basically means you’ll get some of your money back or a discount on the item.
Do you have a money problem that needs to be solved? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Additionally, you can join our Sun Money Chat & Tips group on Facebook to share your tips and stories
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education