Have you ever shopped inside a human-free supermarket? You know, those ones where you can simply take what you need off the shelves then walk out, where the store somehow knows exactly what you’ve picked up and the money is miraculously taken from your bank account.
It might sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, but these supermarkets have existed in London for several years now. Even Aldi has a Shop and Go store on Greenwich High Street where AI-powered cameras keep tabs of what you put in your basket.
But, as the Grocer reports, it seems some Aldi customers may have been taking the ‘just walk out’ concept a bit too literally and taking stuff from the store even though they might not have enough funds to pay.
In response, the store has started charging a £10 ‘pre-authorisation’ fee before customers can go through the entrance barrier. Shoppers are required to scan a QR code on the Aldi app or tap their card to get in.
But before you clutch your pearls, that money does then go towards your grocery shop. And if you don’t buy £10 worth of shopping you get a refund.
The thing is, that refund can take five to seven working days to process, which could prove an issue for those who can’t afford to be £10 down. The Grocer also points out that it’s not made clear upon entering the store that £10 will be taken out of your bank account.
It’s not the first supermarket to introduce an entry fee, though. A Market Express supermarket at the ExCeL Centre also charges £10 before someone can come in and shop. But are these shops worth the entry fee, or are they sucking the soul out of London?
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