Yahoo Finance Aldi shoppers warned about 50 per cent discount 'hack' in Australia
Aussies are trying to save money as grocery bills rise, but is TikTok the answer?
Australian Aldi shoppers trying to cut the cost of their grocery bill are being warned not to get their hopes up about a 50 per cent discount hack circulating on TikTok.
An American creator claimed Aldi shoppers could get a price reduction on products that were approaching expiry if they cited the “five-day expiration policy”.
Using a loaf of bread as an example, he imitates an interaction with a cashier to get a 50 per cent discount with a "what Aldi doesn't want you to know" headline. But this would not be the case for Australian shoppers.
Yahoo Finance understands there is no “five-day expiration policy” in Australia. Aldi does make pricing discounts when products are nearing their best-before dates.
They will be labelled by staff with discount stickers and, potentially, if you approach a staff member and ask about something that’s close, they may reduce the price, like in any supermarket.
RELATED
But it’s not a standardised policy.
Many commenters claiming to be Aldi staff pointed out the “policy” wasn’t available where they had worked, dismissing the hack.
It’s a good reminder to think about what you are consuming on social media - the information may seem relevant but there are different policies around the world, and some “finfluencers” have been known to peddle incorrect information a) because they don’t know any better, or b) to drive engagement in their content.
People commenting that the information is wrong are still seen as just that by the algorithm: engaging.
How do I save money on my weekly shop?
If you are looking to save some cash on your weekly shop, Aldi’s Special Buys come out on Wednesday and Sunday. It’s not just groceries either - the German rival to Coles and Woolworths sells all sorts on special, from TVs and bikes to their famed ski gear sale.
Aldi does not have a loyalty program like Everyday Rewards at Woolworths or Flybuys at Coles, which some have been banking to help them out with financial pressure over Christmas.
Nor does it have an online grocery-shopping function, which director of customer interaction Adrian Christie says has allowed it to focus on keeping its products between 15 and 20 per cent lower than its competitors.
He said Aldi would consider the move into e-commerce when it could ensure it wouldn’t compromise on its “price promise” after sparking speculation off the back of comments he made to a parliamentary inquiry into promoting economic dynamism, competition, and business formation.
The Australia Online Grocery Study and Report found 48 per cent of Aussies were shopping online for food, with 15 per cent predominantly ordering online. And that number is sure to grow, creating a big opportunity for Aldi.
It did trial a limited online-shopping trial last year for Special Buys but said it wasn’t the right time for expansion into the space.
Aldi did make the huge claim it saved Australian customers $3.1 billion last year, with a PwC analysis finding it had even managed to save non-Aldi shoppers by putting "downward pressure" on competitors to the tune of $675 million.
Coles and Woolworths may be bigger than the chain, but Aldi did win Australia’s favourite supermarket for the sixth time running this year, according to Canstar’s Supermarket Satisfaction Ratings.
It’s won a total of 11 times since its inception in 2011.
Follow Yahoo Finance on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter, and subscribe to our free daily newsletter.
