Think you're a savvy Aldi shopper? You might be making these common mistakes that drive other customers—and employees—totally (discounted) bananas. Here's how to shop smarter.
11 Bad Habits Aldi Customers Should Stop Doing
Published on Jun. 17, 2025
I love Aldi. Like, LOVE it. One of my biggest heartbreaks about moving away from the Midwest was losing my near-daily access to this glorious grocery unicorn. Back in Minnesota, it felt like there was an Aldi on every corner. But here in Colorado? Nada. Zilch. Not even one. I miss it so much that when I go back to visit family, I literally leave space in my car so I can stock up on my Aldi favorites. Do I have priorities? Yes. Are they mainly chocolate-focused? Also yes.
If you’ve never been to an Aldi, you are missing out. It’s the holy grail of grocery shopping: a discount store with surprisingly high-quality goods. (Fun fact: It’s owned by the same parent company as Trader Joe’s and carries many of the same products—just with different labels and lower prices.) You can get everything from organic avocados to European chocolate to canned tomatoes and even a 6-foot inflatable Santa Claus for $14.99. (Not a joke. I bought one and named him Krispy Kringle.)
And then there are the shoppers: a mix of bargain hunters, ultra-efficient pros, tired moms, college kids in pajamas and the one lady who’s always singing. Aldi attracts a wide range of customers—and each one has their own quirks.
“I love working at Aldi, and most of the time our customers are fantastic, but there are a few behaviors that become real problems, mostly around the checkout process,” says Jill O’Flaherty, an employee at a Minnesota Aldi location.
Agreed. As much as I adore Aldi’s quirky layout and low prices, there’s sometimes a dark side to the experience: Some shoppers have bad grocery store etiquette that can turn the store’s smooth efficiency into utter chaos. And yes, I’m including a few of my own former faux pas here, because growth is real.
So we scoured Facebook and Reddit to find out the pet peeves of Aldi’s shoppers and workers. Whether you’re an Aldi regular or a quarter-cart newbie, read on to discover the worst behaviors to drop—and what to do instead—so we can all enjoy our budget groceries in peace.
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Calling it “Aldis”
Look, I’ll admit it: I am so guilty of this one. I grew up calling it “Aldis,” and old habits die hard. I know I’m not alone.
“My wife hates that I call it ‘Aldis’ and corrects me every time,” Joe R. says. “Now I do it just to annoy her. It’s our love language.”
It’s true, there is no s at the end—not plural, not possessive. Just Aldi. Maybe it feels like there should be more to the name because the experience is so extra. Or maybe our brains are just conditioned to add an s to stores (Kohl’s, Kroger’s, Smith’s). Either way, it’s technically wrong even if it feels right in your soul.
Do this instead: Say it with me: Aldi. As in, “I’m going to Aldi. I’ll be back in 10 hours with cheese, margarita mixer, kidney beans and an inflatable kayak.” But if you do slip up, no shame.
Getting aggressive about the quarter swap
Aldi has a brilliant cart system that requires a 25-cent deposit—you stick a quarter into the slot on the handle to unlock the chain. Your quarter chills there until you return the cart to the corral and reattach it, at which point you get your coin back. Simple. Efficient. Kind of genius.
Yet, there’s always that one person: lurking around the cart return like a shark, demanding someone’s cart and quarter exchange with the energy of a hostage negotiation. It’s hard to tell if they didn’t know about the quarter, forgot their quarter or are waiting to mug you. I’ve been approached more than once by someone insisting I give them my cart—with the quarter still in it. Some will even “offer” to return it for me (translation: keep the cart and the quarter, then stroll off into the sunset like they’ve completed a heist). It can get super awkward, especially for new shoppers who don’t yet understand the unspoken Aldi cart etiquette. Sometimes, people just want to return their cart in peace and reclaim their coin without feeling like they’re being shaken down.
Do this instead: If you want to “quarter fish,” just be polite. Ask, don’t demand. Most Aldi regulars are more than happy to help, especially if you’re upfront and kind about it. And if someone spots you a cart and says to keep the quarter? Pass it on. Leave yours in the slot for the next person and keep the good Aldi karma flowing.
Leaving garbage or unwanted items in random places
Aldi stores are famously efficient—and famously compact. Which means even a little bit of mess goes a long way. Unfortunately, some shoppers treat the shelves like a donation drop-off, abandoning half-drunk coffee cups, rejected items or thawing bags of frozen peas wherever it’s most convenient (for them).
Not only is this confusing for other shoppers (was that package of ground turkey really meant to be nestled between the tortilla chips and almond milk?), it also creates more work for employees and leads to a ton of food waste.
“This is my pet peeve,” says longtime Aldi worker Jenny Amherst. “People seem to feel more entitled to make a mess at Aldi just because it’s a discount store. But that doesn’t make it OK.”
Do this instead: If you change your mind about an item—especially perishables—just hand it to a cashier or flag down an employee. They’d much rather take it and get it back where it belongs than discover a lukewarm frozen pizza snuggled up next to the brioche.
Abusing the “aisle of shame”
One of the greatest joys of shopping at Aldi is their legendary middle aisle—affectionately nicknamed the “aisle of shame.” This ever-changing treasure trove features a rotating selection of delightfully bizarre non-food items: think inflatable foot baths, bacon-scented candles and a $3.99 mini waffle maker shaped like Pikachu. (This is where I met Krispy Kringle.)
But for some reason, some shoppers treat this sacred shrine like a full-contact rummage sale—ripping open boxes, scattering items across shelves and elbowing people out of the way to inspect a cordless electric cheese grater like it holds the secrets of the universe. (True story: I watched two people come to blows in the aisle of shame… over a pair of leggings covered with knock-off Little Mermaid characters.)
“This is messy, chaotic and honestly ruins the treasure-hunting fun for everyone else,” says Joe R., who says he’s lost his wife to the aisle of shame more than once. “I’m still parking the car and she’s already walking down the aisle of shame without me. Can you believe it?” he jokes.
Do this instead: Browse with care. If you open something, put it back neatly. And please don’t throw hands over a glow-in-the-dark shower curtain. No one needs it that badly. (And Anna, if you’re reading this, Joe would like you to wait for him before heading in to the aisle of shame!)
Letting your kids run amok
I get it. I have kids. And to a tiny human, Aldi is basically one giant snack cart crossed with an obstacle course. There are towers of cookies! Toys right at their eye level! Aisles just wide enough for a full-speed chase scene! And since the store is relatively small, it can feel harmless to let them wander a bit. “I can still see them,” you tell yourself as your toddler is halfway to the dairy section riding a pack of paper towels like a horse. But letting your kids sprint, scream or parkour through the produce section while you casually bag your groceries? Not ideal.
“I always see people letting their kids run up and down the bagging area like it’s a racetrack,” says shopper Kris N. “I’m not sure how they got the idea that Aldi is a free-for-all! It’s behavior they wouldn’t do at other chain stores.”
Do this instead: Keep kids close and calm. The best tip I discovered was to give my kids a “job”—let them count cans, hunt for the best fruit, be in charge of putting things in the cart or bag all the red items. Aldi shopping can be quick and fun with your kids, but only if they’re not reenacting scenes from Fast & Furious: Snack Aisle Drift.
Blocking the aisles like it’s your living room
One of Aldi’s most genius features? Decision-free shopping. They basically kill “paralysis by analysis” by stocking just one or two options for most items, so you’re not left weighing the existential pros and cons of 37 types of cereal or trying to decode the difference between “natural” and “organic” peanut butter. Unlike traditional grocery stores—where shoppers often stand frozen in a frozen aisle fugue state, Aldi is built for speed. Which is why there’s really no excuse to stop dead-center in a narrow aisle to scroll your phone, compare nutrition labels or run into your neighbor and chat about that rash on your dog. (You know who you are.) And since Aldi aisles are famously tight, one rogue cart can trigger a backup that rivals airport security on Thanksgiving weekend.
“It’s not polite, and I know I shouldn’t, but when people stop in the aisle, I might lightly run into them with my cart,” admits Aldi shopper Duane T. “It just makes my blood boil. Like, dude, there’s literally a line behind you.”
Do this instead: Come in with a list and a mission. Treat it like a tactical grocery strike. But if you do need a moment to ponder the pros and cons of organic fig bars, that’s totally fine—just pull over to the side like you’re on the grocery autobahn. Signal. Merge. Respect the flow. (Also, if you’re on the other end, don’t hit them with your cart. Use your nice words like a grown-up.)
Chewing out the cashier
One way Aldi keeps prices low is by keeping staff levels lean. This means the cashier is often the only employee you’ll see on the floor—which means they end up fielding every question, complaint and unsolicited comment from frustrated shoppers. And for some reason, people love to fixate on one very specific thing: the fact that Aldi cashiers are sitting down. What I personally see as a small but brilliant act of compassion (hello, joint health!), some people interpret as disrespectful or lazy—as if the act of resting while scanning groceries is a personal insult.
“I watched someone absolutely ream the cashier the other day for the store being messy and being out of stock of a sale item—like she had anything to do with that,” says Aldi aficionado Marta M. “Then they got mad that she wouldn’t stand up to respond. And THEN they demanded to cut the line because they ‘only had a few items.’ Meanwhile, the line was backed up halfway to the canned beans. It was a mess. I felt so bad for her.”
Do this instead: Treat the cashier like the professional they are. Be kind, be patient, and if you do have a legitimate complaint, ask (politely!) to speak with a manager. There’s usually one on-site—and they’re the ones with the power to actually help. Sitting or standing, Aldi cashiers are some of the fastest, most efficient workers you’ll ever see. And they deserve our respect—not our rage.
Bagging your groceries at the register
If you’ve ever shopped at Aldi, you know that efficiency is king. The cashiers move at lightning speed, scanning your groceries and launching them down the belt like they’re training for the Grocery Olympics. The system is simple: Groceries go straight into an empty cart at the end of the register, and then you move to the designated counter to bag your items at your own pace. Don’t try to organize your groceries on the belt. Or stand there blocking the end of the checkout lane while you slowly sort. Or—heaven help us all—attempt to bag your items right there.
“I can’t stand it when people don’t move fast enough to be out of the way before the next person’s items are being stacked into the cart,” says Aldi regular Amy O. “It’s even worse when they grab too many items but don’t get a cart—then they’re fumbling and someone has to run and find them a cart while the line backs up.”
Do this instead: Be ready. Get a cart. Know the system. As soon as your last item is scanned, roll out like you’re in a pit stop at the Indy 500, and make your way to the bagging area. You’ll have plenty of time and space there to arrange your groceries however you want.
Expecting someone else to bag your groceries
Unlike traditional grocery stores, Aldi is proudly DIY. That means no baggers, no frills and definitely no one packing up your groceries for you. The cashier’s job is just to scan your items at warp speed and get them into the empty cart. The rest is up to you.
Oh, and you also have to bring your own bags (or buy them at the register). Yet somehow, despite this being Rule No. 1 of Aldi culture, there’s always someone standing there looking absolutely gobsmacked that they’re not getting the full-service treatment.
“This has been the process as long as I’ve been shopping at Aldi, but I’m always amazed at how many people want to argue with the cashier and complain about coin carts, cost of bags or bagging their own groceries,” says shopper Lizzie V.
Do this instead: Bring your own reusable bags, or pay for a few at checkout. Then head to the bagging station to do your thing. You can sort, stack and Tetris-pack to your heart’s content. It’s not just efficient—it’s part of the quirky charm that makes Aldi, well, Aldi.
Leaving carts loose in the parking lot
The idea, of course, behind the 25-cent deposit is that the quarter motivates you to return the cart. (A small price for order and sanity!)
But whether it’s inflation, laziness or just plain forgetfulness, some shoppers still leave their carts abandoned in parking spots, in landscaping or, worse, aimed directly at your bumper. “It’s frustrating to see people just leave their carts wherever,” says Aldi shopper Amanda H. “It creates more work for employees, and they can damage cars or block spaces.”
It also totally defeats the point of the quarter-incentive system.
Do this instead: Take the extra 15 seconds to walk your cart back to the corral like the upstanding grocery citizen you are. Even better? Pay it forward. “My favorite was finding a surprise coin already in the cart slot,” Hoying says. “I didn’t have to dig through my purse, and from then on, I always left the coin for the next shopper.” (Instant karma and a standing ovation from your fellow Aldi fans.)
Ignoring the unspoken Aldi code of conduct
Aldi isn’t like any other grocery store. It has its own vibe of lean, efficient, no-nonsense. It is a magical mix of savings, speed and surprise inflatable Santas—but only if we all play by the (mostly unspoken) rules. Trying to bring in Whole Foods energy just disrupts the flow.
Do this instead: Embrace the Aldi way. Learn the system, respect the rhythm, and you’ll be shocked by how much faster, cheaper and even more fun grocery shopping becomes. So grab your quarter, your reusable bags and your manners, and let’s keep Aldi weird, wonderful and wildly efficient for everyone.
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