How Do You Return a Product to Aldi?

Last Updated on July 8, 2020

Returning a Product to Aldi

EDITOR’S NOTE: In March, Aldi changed its return policy because of the global pandemic, but has since lifted the pandemic return policy

Sometimes a purchase doesn’t work out, and you need to return an item to the store for a refund. Sometimes this is the case with products purchased at Aldi. The discount retailer does accept returns and give refunds, and the process is not difficult. I’ve shopped at Aldi for years and have returned two things.

Return #1: A Rain Barrel

A while back, I purchased a Special Buy rain barrel from one of my local Aldi stores. When I made the purchase, I got some attention and questions from fellow customers and a friendly Aldi security guard (depending on location, some stores have a security officer who hangs out up front near the cash registers) who were curious about how the giant rain barrel worked.

After hauling the thing home, opening it up, pulling out the manual, and looking over the setup instructions, I realized attaching the rain barrel to one of my house’s downspouts was going to be more work than I anticipated and required making some extra purchases at a hardware store. There was nothing wrong with it, but I decided that particular rain barrel at that time was not right for me. I might install a different rain barrel at some point in the future, but not now.

The next day, I tucked the instruction manual and small parts back inside the rain barrel and drove it back to the Aldi store where I purchased it. With my receipt in hand and feeling slightly sheepish, I lugged the giant rain barrel in through the store’s regular entrance, and at the start of the first aisle I walked through an opening in the shelving that led straight to the front of store in the area between the cash registers and the bagging shelves.

The sole cashier who was ringing up customers was not the same employee who rang up my purchase the day before. He looked politely but skeptically at my rain barrel — which is one of Aldi’s more unusual, large, and infrequent Special Buys — and said, “You have a return? Did you buy that here?”

The security guard I had chatted with the day before happened to be standing nearby and spoke up. “Yes, she bought that here,” she said.

The cashier nodded and asked me to wait a minute while he finished ringing up one more customer who had been in line, and then he pushed a few buttons on the register and handed me cash. I originally paid for the product with a credit card, but he said the store gives cash refunds, and I was fine with that.

I got a few questions again from curious customers who wanted to know what the rain barrel was and how it worked. There was enough interest that I’m sure it sold soon after I returned it.

Then I put my cash refund in my wallet, headed out the door, and went on with my day. Easy peasy.

Return #2: A Hand Held Steam Cleaner

Almost a year later, I bought a steam cleaner that let me down. You can read my thoughts on the steam cleaner at this link. Anyway, I packed it back into its box and took it to a different Aldi store (not the store where I purchased the rain barrel) in my area to return it.

This time, I was instructed to stand in line and was told the cashier would process my return when I got to the front of the line. The cashier said, “Please, don’t tell me it didn’t work,” indicating the steam cleaner. I told her it worked, but not very well. She then scanned my item, called the manager out to input a code or do some other manager-y thing, and asked me to swipe the credit card I used to make the purchase. I signed a small receipt, and the cashier handed me my old receipt back along with a new receipt indicating the product had been returned and my card had been credited.

It was a different experience compared to when I returned the rain barrel, but it was still fast and easy, with few questions asked.

What to Know When You Have a Return:

Now that I’ve returned a few products to Aldi, I can offer some observations.

  1. Aldi may give you cash back even if you purchased the item with a credit or debit card, or the store may credit your card. I’m not sure if Aldi’s policies changed during the time between my two returns or if it just depends on what store you visit.
  2. You may feel like you are imposing by approaching a cashier who is busy ringing up a line of customers, but Aldi’s cashiers are used to processing the occasional return. They will know what you want when they see you walk up carrying an item, and they will either process your return right there, right away, or they’ll politely ask you to go through the line. Aldi saves money by not staffing a separate customer service counter like traditional grocery stores, and that savings gets passed on to you.
  3. Returning a product to Aldi is a quick experience. A cashier can handle your return in a minute or two.
  4. If you live in a large metropolitan area like I do where there are several Aldi stores, and if you are returning a Special Buy item that is less common, you may have an easier experience if you return it to the same store where you purchased it. You are not required to do so, though. Technically, any Aldi store should be able to accept your return and offer a refund, but because not every store gets every Special Buy item that is advertised, if you return your Special Buy product to a different store, the employees may not be familiar with that product. My rain barrel was unique enough that the cashier questioned it even at the store where I originally purchased it. The steam cleaner was a common item in all stores in my region, so it was not a problem returning it to a different store than where I purchased it.

Overall, my experiences have been easy and not as embarrassing as I worried they might be. Aldi employees deal with returns quickly and professionally, and you are soon on your way.

Aldi does offer a “Twice as Nice Guarantee” to refund your money and replace your product for free if it is defective or otherwise bad, but that only applies to Aldi house brands (the rain barrel was not) and the barrel wasn’t defective in any event. The steam cleaner wasn’t technically defective either; it simply wasn’t that great to begin with. If you have benefited from the double guarantee, we’d love to hear about your experience in the comments.

Have you returned a product to Aldi for a refund? How was your experience? Share your story in the comments.

(Photo by GotCredit)

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About Rachael

Rachael is the Co-founder of Aldi Reviewer. When she isn't busy shopping at Aldi, she enjoys cooking, gardening, writing gothic romance, and collecting more houseplants than she probably should. You can learn more about her at rachaelsjohnston.com.

24 Comments

  1. I was in line behind someone returning about 4 or 5 glass bottles of something like barbecue sauce. The cashier gave the person their money back without any problems but was throwing the items away. The customer asked why they were being thrown away since they were unopened. It appeared to me that they were a sealed, non-refrigerated product, yet the cashier said that it was Aldi’s policy. So if you want to help Aldi keep their prices low, I would try to avoid buying food items that you feel you may want to return.

    • The aldes in willowick gave me a weird feeling returning something that wasn’t a food item said that they had to throw it away,well sorry that they tried away all stuff not my problem I just decided I really didn’t have the money to be buying extera stuff idontneed , nothing was wrong with it not even open was a coffee maker cold, and to find out Walmart sells it for half the price, so go head throw out good stuff

  2. I returned some canned items and the cashier threw them away as well!!
    Wow, what is this world coming to!!??

  3. Aldi has no way to know if the returned items have been tampered with. It’s a liability issue. Like Tammie mentioned, it’s a good idea at any grocery store to avoid buying food items you might decide to return. It’s not the same as returning a shirt or pair of shoes.

  4. I think everyone should wait in line to do returns, since there is no separate customer service desk.
    I was recently at Aldi to do a return, and waited in line 10 minutes, only to have someone else come up to the cashier right when it was my turn, and have their return done first.
    Their returns area easy, which is great, but they should have a clear policy: whether you need to cashier to ring up your purchase or to ring up your return, it’s all the same, GET IN LINE

    • Update: After writing the above comment, I thought that I really should contact Aldi about their inconsistent policy on whether those doing returns should get in line or just go straight up to the cashier.

      WITHIN 90 MINUTES OF MY SENDING THE EMAIL, THEY CALLED ME!!

      They apologized for my experience, thanked me for bringing it to their attention, and said they will look into the issue.
      They called me. Personally.

      I LOVE THIS STORE

      • That’s great to hear. I agree it would be a good idea to set a clear policy for all stores.

      • I too received a call after sending an email about an inferior food product. Kudos to Aldi’s for doing that. I matter is what that says to me. I am team Aldi’s!!!

    • I would have told them to get in line or they will be going to the first aid section next. What a…well you know

  5. I’m really confused about the return policy. A friends said they accept returns after I commented about how quickly I have experienced the milk going sour. I returned the gallon of milk which was about 3/4 full with my original receipt, which was 3 days old, and I was told to get another milk.

    • Perhaps they just assumed you wanted new milk, since your milk had gone sour. Did you specifically say that you wanted your money back instead, and they refused a refund? They gave me money back when I returned an opened product due to it tasting bad.

  6. Tried to return faulty hedge trimmer which was bought in 2016 shop said I had to phone manufacturer is this correct

    • Yes, the store honors returns for 90 days, after that, see your warranty and contact the manufacturer.
      It would be very unusual to find any retailer that accepts returns after two years.

  7. Refund grudgingly given although receipt was furnished and item had not been used and was in mint condition – Carnegie Victoria Australia

  8. I returned a blue market umbrella today. $14.99 plus tax. umbrella was blue and ended up getting a red one at different Aldi which I originally wanted over blue. Walked in store asked if I could just do the procedure when I did my final check out since I had other shopping to do and the cashier said yes. To make a long story short, aldi cashier had to call manager over twice to enter the credit. I actually bought a fair amount at aldi with a few pricier items, about $74 and paid $80 in cash. I didn’t add it up in my head and thought it was correct amount with the $14.99 deducted. Later that night I was cleaning out receipts in my pocket, and realized the $14.99 wasn’t credited towards the total even after the manager coming over twice. Ugh. Doubt I have any recourse now unless I go in with new receipt and can get same cashier and manager tomorrow. guessing they would have to go thru time stamp and cash register ledger from previous day. This was actually my first return ever to Aldi and I really do like Aldi as a store, but think maybe a standard procedure or handled by manager as separate transaction is probably the way to go in future.

  9. Return policy during Covid 19 confusing. Just bought two pop up sun shelters that both have damage. Web site says can return non food items with receipt for refund. Store refused return and refund. How do I get a refund?

  10. Elizabeth Veloccia

    Recent purchases a 10 foot offset umbrella, purchased end of May and set up in June 2020. Went to crank the umbrella open today and it would not open. Tried again and this time the rope that is connected? to the crank fell off. It looks it was sheared off by something in the mechanism. I went to 4 stores for product and this was disappointing to say the least. When I called customer service there seems to be no one there. it’s frustating. I don’t have the box but I do have the receipt. Do I bring it to the store??? Suggestions?

    • When you say you called customer service, is there a warranty on this product and you called the warranty provider, or did you call Aldi itself? I had problems a few years ago getting a third-party warranty provider to return my calls and emails regarding an Aldi product, so I emailed Aldi, and they got the warranty provider to finally respond to me. So that’s one possible option.

  11. My partner bought a bread maker from Aldi in November 2020. It was fine until February 2021, when all the uncooked ingredients spilled over the top of the container (it was a measured bread mix from a packet).
    Since then, she cannot get any solution from Aldi. First they said contact the manufacturer, then they closed the case. Then they offered the warranty department number, who said they couldn’t help as they only deal with electronics. Then they said as there were no more in stock, they would refund. Then they said (6 weeks later) there were some in stock so they would replace. Too late! She had bought another. She just keeps getting pushed from pillar to post, and has been told not to return the item to the checkout till where she purchased it.
    Now going to report Aldi to the Ombudsman, and doubt if we will shop there again.

  12. I have a used lawnmower to return to Aldi. It is not easy to totally clean a lawnmower. Do I just wheel it up to the checkout for a credit?

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