Aldi is a beacon for anyone who wants to save on groceries, but the retail chain isn’t without its quirks. Those oversized barcodes alone are a head scratcher. If you’re used to shopping while listening to great music, don’t look for it at Aldi, because they don’t play music. If you’ve ever shopped at the discount grocery store, you may be wondering why the cashiers are all seated during the entire checkout process. In the U.S., just about all retail grocery stories have cashiers who stand while checking you out. So, what’s the deal at Aldi? It turns out that cashiers at Aldi are seated for strategic reasons. Sitting reduces physical fatigue — especially during long shifts — and a seated cashier can scan items faster with fewer body movements. At Aldi, cashiers are expected to scan items extremely fast, averaging 1,000 or more items per hour. Additionally, Aldi is a German company, and German labor unions specifically recommend seating for cashiers whenever feasible. What’s the benefit for the customer? Ideally, this operational model helps discount chains because it speeds up the checkout process, allowing shoppers to get out of the store faster so they can continue with their day.
