Aldi, one of the most successful supermarket chains, is testing a new way to shop —without checkouts, but with an entry fee. Before stepping inside, customers need to pay a £10 deposit (approximately $12.60 in the U.S.), a move that might not sit well with everyone.

This new system is being trialed at Aldi’s ‘Shop & Go’ store in Greenwich, East London. Shoppers pay £10 at the door, and that amount is later deducted from their total bill. But here’s the catch —if they spend less than £10 or leave empty-handed, they might have to wait a few days to get their money back. Looks like Aldi wants customers to think twice before just popping in for a quick look!

Aldi’s entry fee: Pay first, shop later

At Aldi’s Shop & Go store, everyone gets charged a ‘pre-authorisation’ fee, no matter if they’re using the app or tapping their card to get in. Inside, AI-powered cameras track what shoppers grab, adding everything to their bill automatically—no checkouts, no scanning, just grab and go.

To step inside this ‘just walk out’ store, customers need to either download the Aldi Shop & Go app and link a payment card or simply tap their card at the entrance gate. If they spend less than £10, they get a refund —but how fast that money lands back in their account depends on their bank. So, if you’re just window shopping, your wallet might have to wait a bit!

Aldi has given shoppers a heads-up: “Depending on your bank, it might take a few days before the pre-authorisation charge disappears from your account.” So, if you’re expecting an instant refund, you might need a little patience.

Some customers have run into another issue—getting charged multiple times if they tap the app button more than once before entering. The only clue about this pre-charge is buried in fine print below the button: “We will authorise a small amount to validate your card.” Looks like double-tapping could come with double trouble!

Aldi explained: “This amount isn’t taken right away, just set aside. Once we know your total, we’ll either deduct it from your bill or refund the difference. If your total is higher, we’ll charge the extra.” Sounds simple enough—unless you’re just popping in for a snack.

According to Aldi’s terms and conditions, the deposit helps confirm payment details and keeps transactions running smoothly. Right now, the Greenwich store is the only Aldi Shop & Go location, having opened in 2022. This £10 pre-charge isn’t entirely new —Market Express at London’s Excel Centre also asks visitors for a similar deposit before they step inside. Looks like browsing is becoming a pricey habit!

Checkout-free shopping: A tough sell

Aldi may have been the first UK supermarket to try a fully checkout-free store, but the idea hasn’t exactly taken off. Amazon had big dreams of launching 260 ‘Just Walk Out’ locations across the UK, but those plans have quietly shrunk. Meanwhile, Tesco has only dabbled in the trend, running just four hybrid GetGo stores that mix traditional and checkout-free shopping.

Aldi’s CEO, Giles Hurley, has made it clear that the company isn’t rushing to roll out more of these futuristic stores. Instead, the retailer is putting its money on self-checkouts—because, for now, shoppers still seem to prefer scanning their own groceries over skipping the checkout altogether.

Walking the tightrope between tech and customer needs

An Aldi spokesperson explained: “This store, which launched in 2022, was built to let customers skip the checkout entirely. Instead of scanning items, they just put them in their basket, and the store’s cameras take care of the rest —just like Amazon’s Fresh stores.”

If this trial takes off, it could reshape how people shop, as retailers try to find the sweet spot between cutting-edge tech and keeping customers happy. Aldi’s gamble could pay off—or it might just be a checkout-free misstep. Time will tell!