Aldi makes big change at 500 stores that will make online shopping easier

ALDI is introducing a huge change to more than 500 of its stores across the country to make shopping easier for customers.

There are now over 500 Aldi stores in the UK with InPost Lockers.

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The German discount retailer hopes to have at least 600 stores with lockers installed by the end of the year.

InPost Lockers allow shoppers to easily collect and return online orders from their local store.

They are secure, lockable boxes for packages to be sent, returned or collected from.

It is a service that has been popular with online shoppers at other outlets, like those who buy and sell items from Vinted, as it saves having to wait for a delivery driver.

There are over 11,000 InPost drop-off spots across the UK.

Aldi first trialled the lockers at 22 stores across the country in December 2023.

Now they are offered at 536 stores across England, Scotland and Wales as an ongoing partnership with parcel locker provider, InPost.

And some more are expected to come in just months.

Managing Director of National Real Estate at Aldi UK, Jonathan Neale, said: “Convenience and efficiency is important to our shoppers, which is why we’re continuing to roll out InPost lockers to as many of our stores as possible.

“It has always been our aim to save our customers time as well as money, so making it easy for people to pick up or return parcels while getting the weekly shop done has been really valuable.”

CEO at InPost UK, Neil Kuschel, added: “Our growing partnership with Aldi reflects a shared commitment to offer the best everyday shopping experience for customers across the UK.

“Together, we’re helping to create a more convenient, cost-effective and sustainable way for shoppers to manage their parcels, making collection and returns as easy and accessible as possible.”

Aldi shoppers can check to see if their local store has the InPost lockers available online before visiting.

The lockers have previously been said to provide customers with “convenience” and a “seamless” shopping experience.

They allow people to not have to rely on store opening hours, or worry about waiting in shopping queues.

Introduction and expansions of the InPost lockers at Aldi stores is among many changes the retailer has been making recently.

One of its branches in London also introduced a £10 charge that is used as “pre-authorisation” to all customers entering.

At the Shop and Go store in Greenwich, London, shoppers are required to tap their card at the entrance or generate a QR code through the app to be charged £10 before being allowed inside the store.

A refund is then issued if they spend less than £10, although timing does depend on the bank or card provider used.

Some shoppers have reported being charged multiple times if they accidentally press the app button more than once

Aldi defended the pre-payment charge trial, saying in most cases refunds were processed within 48 hours.

It comes after Aldi axed click and collect services from nearly 200 of its stores last year.

The £4.99 service let customers buy online and pick up essentials like canned goods and fresh produce without leaving their car.

It was launched during the Covid-19 pandemic to provide convenience at 174 store locations, but it was something that had been intended to just be a “trial”.

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