ALDI supermarkets have come under fire after a pro-cash advocate shared an image of the self-serve registers at one Melbourne store.
A member of the Call Out Cashless Businesses Facebook group posted the photo, which showed the self-serve checkout at Keysborough ALDI completely empty.
At ALDI stores nationally, all self-serve registers are card only — meaning shoppers cannot use cash to pay when they scan their own groceries.
Trends, culture and exclusive features: Sign up for 7LIFE newsletters 
The pro-cash supporter went on to claim that every customer in the store had queued up at the manned registers to avoid using the self-serve checkout.
“ALDI Keysborough. All self serve are card only and all are empty. Everyone queued at registers,” she wrote.
The post sparked a heated response from the group’s members, who were disappointed to see the card-only registers at ALDI.
“Who the f*** do all these cashless businesses think they are dictating to all Australians?” one wrote.
“We the people want the choice of card or cash — if they don’t like it leave or dissolve their business. We have had enough of all this crap.”
Another wrote: “Come on ALDI … Stay the favourite! DON’T go where the others have gone.”
A third added: “Same at Mildura now. But not being used yet because it’s not ready to go. I told the cashier that I’d rather line up for half an hour than use them.
“ALDI WAS the only supermarket here without self serve. Not anymore unfortunately.”
One more responded: “Well done not using self serve this is the best way to show them we don’t want to use card or self serve.”
‘Boycott’
Many pro-cash supporters called on other Australians to avoid using self-serve registers – and card-only payment options.
“Great to see! If people boycott all of them in every store and wait patiently for personal customer service, ALDI will get the message,” one said.
Another wrote: “Wish people would do this at Coles and Woolies.”
A third responded: “We need everyone to do this. Avoid using self service at all costs!
“I’ve left an entire trolley of goods at Coles Clayton when the two lazy staff members didn’t want to serve me and said for me to self checkout. I said ‘pigs arse’ and walked away.
“They had to put away all the stuff I was going to purchase up until that moment.”
Added one more: “I stayed and waited for a register. I used cash today. Let’s do this!”
ALDI responds
ALDI Australia Director of National Store Operations Hayden Pierce said staffed checkouts will always be available to customers who want to pay with cash.
“ALDI stores will continue to operate with both self-checkouts and staffed checkouts, so customers will still be able to choose the option they prefer,” he said. “Customers can ask an ALDI employee to open a staffed checkout if there is not one already available.“All self-checkouts will accept card only to maximise efficiencies and eliminate the additional complexity involved with cash self-checkouts.
“If customers choose to pay with cash, they can ask an ALDI employee to open a staffed checkout if there is not one already available.”
