Problems in Supermarkets in Germany

[Alberto]

IMG_20250909_083424_509.jpg (3.26 MiB) Viewed 808 times

This is why I'm not happy today.
In 13.5yr of life in Germany I have never shopped without carrying my rucksack with me. Most of my shopping is few items only, and probabbly 95% of the times I'm on the bicycle.
I intend not to follow their instructions.
Comments?

[Franklan]

There is the word "aufsetzen" on that sign...

It means that they want you to have the backpack on your back while shopping, not in your hand. And not to put items in the backpack before paying them.

Once you have all the goods in you shopping cart, you pay for them, and then - after paying - you put them in your backpack.

It is my understanding that one is commiting shoplifting as soon as one conceals property by putting it in ones backpack, pocket, suitcase etc.
Using the shopping carts or baskets provided by them is a decent way to keep the items visible and avoid any missunderstanding.

I intend not to follow their instructions.

They define the rules you have to abide on their premises. If it is your intention not to abide you have to refrain from shopping there.

[Fraufruit]

Ignore. I've shopped for 35 years with my own shopping trolley instead of pushing one of those massive carts around. Not allowed. I've never even been called out except for one time. That was because I accidentally stole a bag of cashews. The next time I went, I put one bag of cashews on the band and told him to charge me for 2 because I nicked one by mistake last time. He told me I shouldn't be shopping with my trolley. Not even a thank you for being honest. Of course, I still use my trolley. Same guy still there.

Do you put your things directly in your rucksack while shopping or do you use a basket and put stuff in your rucksack after paying?

Franklan types faster.

[kiplette]

There was a story way back when on the old forum where some dude put stuff in his backpack as he was going around the shop, intending to get it out at the till, and was done for shoplifting before he got to that stage.

I was proper shocked by the story because I had seen this behaviour in different forms - granny shoppers, backpacks, cloth shoppers, wicker baskets (particularly these) and assumed it was A OK in Germany.

Back in the UK there is no way this would be OK - use the basket/trolley provided, other bags zipped shut thank you.

It makes sense they wouldn't allow it - it takes making shoplifting easy to the next level. So no great surprise that this is now being made double clear.

Alberto, just keep your backpack on your back as you shop - easy. Use the trolleys provided, or balance everything in your hands like I usually do .

Small aside, I was once asked to open my backpack to show I hadn't nicked anything, and now Kid#4 refuses to go into that Lidl because 'they are offensive and it's too ghetto in there'.

[Alberto]

Thanks everyone

[Emkay]

IMG_20250909_083424_509.jpg

This is why I'm not happy today.
In 13.5yr of life in Germany I have never shopped without carrying my rucksack with me. Most of my shopping is few items only, and probabbly 95% of the times I'm on the bicycle.
I intend not to follow their instructions.
Comments?

I watched a documentary on Lidl where disguised former staff explained the Lidl selling tactics. Clever though misleading. One point was that customers complained about no baskets. When baskets were introduced, turnover reduced so baskets were removed. I don’t know if it’s still like that? Shelf pricing….price above the item though price directly below item is cheapest and misleading. Bio labelling etc.

[Alberto]

I watched a documentary on Lidl where disguised former staff explained the Lidl selling tactics. Clever though misleading. One point was that customers complained about no baskets. When baskets were introduced, turnover reduced so baskets were removed. I don’t know if it’s still like that? Shelf pricing….price above the item though price directly below item is cheapest and misleading. Bio labelling etc.

One of my favourites is when twice the amount costs MORE than twice as much. Contrary to what many shoppers expect. Diabolic.

Another one, seen in the UK:
Supermarket A says at your checkout they compare in real time how much you would have spent had you bought exactly the same basket in supermarkets B, and if you would have paid less in supermarkets B, they, supermarket A, refunds you twice the difference.
Of course this is enough to make you shop at A, not at B, right....?
Wrong.

The catch: at the same time supermarket B ist making exactly the same promise.

The answer: when supermarket A has apples on offer, supermarket B has actually pears on offer. So if today you shop at A you buy many apples and few pears, paying in fact less than you would pay for the same basket at B. But had you shopped at B, you would have bought a different basket: many pears, and only few apples, exactly the opposite of A. So strictly speaking both A and B are right. But they still fool you...

[Emkay]

Thanks for adding the Lidl documentary link to my last post

[kiplette]

Many years ago in Tesco, in the first years of Clubcard, the amount of points you got for tomatoes one week exceeded the cost of them, so people were buying loads of tomatoes and then giving them away in the carpark for free....bonkers.

Alberto, you'd have been making tomato sauce and putting it up in jars, I guess, and getting even better value out of the situation.

Supermarkets are nuts.

[LukeSkywalker]

One point was that customers complained about no baskets. When baskets were introduced, turnover reduced so baskets were removed. I don’t know if it’s still like that?

My local Lidl has no baskets as well. I always found that odd. I only buy there on occasion and then perhaps 4-5 items which I put in a small carton box I usually find in the shop .

[Alberto]

About baskets I don't see consistent policies: some Lidl have baskets and some don't, Aldi also.
When I find baskets, I use them. When I don't, if too many items for my hands I put them in my bag and take them out at the counter. I know this is tricky because it could be theft, but I have been doing many years and so far nobody said anything.

[Sannerl]

About baskets I don't see the shops having a consistent policies: some Lidl have baskets and some don't, Aldi also.
When I find baskets, I use them. When I don't, if too many items for my hands I put them in my bag and take them out at the counter. I know this is tricky because it could be theft, but I have been doing many years and so far nobody said anything.

It's not theft as long as you pay at the till.

[Franklan]

It's not theft as long as you pay at the till.

IANAL, but be very careful with that, there are jurisdictions where this is the case, and there are jurisdictions where it is not:

German StGB §242 section 1

The German law talks about "Wegnehmen" which *can* be translated as "taking away" or "breach of another person's custody and the establishment of new custody".

It is my decision not to bring myself in a situation where a discussion about this can be started.

[Robinson100]

It is my decision not to bring myself in a situation where a discussion about this can be started.

Absolutely!

The bottom line is that we all want a quiet life, and to be able to go shopping without any bother.
Unfortunately, due to some other people abusing the system, one has to be very careful what one does.

As some of you know, I do not work for Lidl, but for a similar company, and I would say that this particular Lidl obviously has a problem with items walking out of the store, and are trying to find a solution.

The case really can be made for actually "wearing" a rucksack whilst in a store, because it makes it a bit more difficult to fill up with goodies.
Having said that, if somebody wants to steal, they will - I`ve seen customers fill up a rucksack, put it on their back and try to walk out of our store, and I`ve seen others with a bag inside of their bag, so that they could show the cashier that their bag was "empty" at the till, whilst having already stuffed the more expensive items into the bottom of the outer bag.
Whilst I`m telling stories, I also have to mention the two lads wearing hoodies, who looked to be purchasing a few bits and bobs, but were actually filling each others´hood with cigarettes at the till!!! Maybe my company should have banned customers from wearing hoodies!

[Sannerl]

It's not theft as long as you pay at the till.

IANAL, but be very careful with that, there are jurisdictions where this is the case, and there are jurisdictions where it is not:

German StGB §242 section 1

The German law talks about "Wegnehmen" which *can* be translated as "taking away" or "breach of another person's custody and the establishment of new custody".

It is my decision not to bring myself in a situation where a discussion about this can be started.

The supermarket has to proof that you wanted to steal anything.

[Franklan]

The supermarket has to proof that you wanted to steal anything.

And exactly that will be a loooooooooooooooooooooooong discussion, that nobody wants...

Why would one start that discussion, when it is obvious how not to start it?

[Fraufruit]

My Rewe just reconfigured their store where you must walk in by fruit and veg first. I always take my fruit and veg last in the top of my personal shopping cart for obvious reasons. Now, I have to walk through fruit and veg to get everything else I want and then back through to pick up my fruit and veg. Now I am forced to walk with everything around the barrier, kanoodle through the checkouts to get in line to check out. It may look like I'm walking out of the store but I'm not. It is a big inconvenience but nobody has called me out on it yet.

The barrier they put up allows for another Kasse and more self checkouts which I never use.

It's all no problem as I have plenty of time for shopping but I find it inconvenient and, well, it's Germany, isn't it?

[Emkay]

Goodness, after seeing mention of checkouts…..just had a flashback to old TT. Did Poppit/Poppet (RIP) post a little funny checkout story that got the most likes ever? Perhaps someone can remember how it went before I bodge it completely

[Sannerl]

The supermarket has to proof that you wanted to steal anything.

And exactly that will be a loooooooooooooooooooooooong discussion, that nobody wants...

Why would one start that discussion, when it is obvious how not to start it?

It's not a discussion - you stated it was against the law what you do there but it.just.isn't.
Look up the definition of theft and who has to prove it (I did), translate it from lawyer-talk to German/English - and bingo.
You're welcome.

[Emkay]

The supermarket has to proof that you wanted to steal anything.

And exactly that will be a loooooooooooooooooooooooong discussion, that nobody wants...

Why would one start that discussion, when it is obvious how not to start it?

Proof is difficult. I think there’s even some kind of zero tolerance. Years ago, my elderly mum shopped at the same supermarket for many years….Rewe I think. She put a cheap, <2€, small tube of cream next to her handbag in the pull out seat bit so it didn’t fall through the trolley. Mid shop with full trolley, she needed the ladies room. I think she even only shopped there as toilet facilities were available. She grabbed her bag to take to the WC and accidentally also the tube of cream. Of course she intended to return to her full trolley to continue shopping. Security chap nabbed her. Cost her ca. 1000€ in legal fees over a year until the matter was resolved.