We Need to Talk About Aldi Clothing Packaging
EDITOR’S NOTE: Like all posts on Aldi Reviewer, this piece is the opinion of its respective authors. Also like all posts, comments are welcome, although we ask users to be mindful of our Community Guidelines.
One product category that consistently has a presence in nearly every weekly Aldi ad is clothing. The grocer’s middle aisle always seems to be sporting some combination of apparel, from shirts and leggings to jackets and pajama sets.
Because Aldi continually sells clothing of some sort of another, it’s time we talk about a pet peeve our Aldi Reviewer writers have all dealt with regarding Aldi attire. If you’ve ever bought Aldi clothing, you’ve probably experienced this annoyance, too.
And no, I’m not talking about issues with how Aldi clothing often fits, which is another thing entirely. Today, we’re going to talk about another problem.
Simply put: Aldi clothing packaging isn’t great.
Aldi clothing isn’t displayed on hangers like at traditional clothing retailers. Instead, Aldi clothing is packaged so it can fit in cardboard boxes on pallets for easier transportation to stores. Then the clothing is sold straight out of those boxes. It’s all about efficiency for Aldi, so employees don’t have to hang or fold clothing and can spend their time doing other tasks around the store.
Most of the time, Aldi clothing is folded like what you see in the photo above. It has a sheet or two of cardboard inside. Then, it’s often wrapped in a series of broad ribbons that might have either Velcro or elastic. Cardboard labels with pictures, information about what’s in the package, sizes, and care instructions are threaded onto those ribbons.
Or, sometimes, Aldi clothing is simply folded within a complex cardboard wrapper that has front, back, and interior sections, as seen with the jeggings below.
Aldi isn’t Macy’s, or Kohl’s, or even Target. Aldi has to do what works for its unique store model. If your goal as a store is for clothing displays to look neat, tidy, and compact — at least when that clothing first hits the selling floor — then the Aldi method certainly works.
But for customers, it presents a problem.
What’s Wrong with Aldi Clothing Packaging?
While Aldi may stick with this clothes packaging method out of convenience, it makes for a less than ideal customer experience.
First, because the clothing is folded up and stuffed inside ribbons and cardboard, customers can’t hold up an item in store to get an idea about fit.
In our experience, Aldi clothing frequently fits in unpredictable and even awkward ways. It doesn’t always fit in real life like it does on the models in the pictures on the clothing packaging. This often leads to customers opening the packaging in the store to actually see what they’re buying.
We can hardly blame shoppers for doing it. Our writers sometimes do it, too. We would rather open it and see if it might fit rather than buy it, take it home, unpackage it, immediately realize it doesn’t fit, and have the hassle of attempting to repackage it and return it.
This leads us to our second point.
It’s often impossible to repackage Aldi clothing as nicely as it originally came.
Because the packaging gives shoppers a reason to tear it open, shoppers sometimes do. And the resulting assortment of cardboard sheets and ribbons makes for a mess. We often see half-packed clothing packages at Aldi.
Some of the messy packages might be because people opened packages in store to see what the clothing looks like. Then they had trouble stuffing it all back in despite their best, most conscientious efforts.
In addition, other untidy packages might have been restocked after people returned clothing that didn’t fit, and those customers also struggled to tuck everything back within the confines of those ribbons and cardboard panels.
In our view, neither of these situations is the customers’ fault. It’s because the packaging is not customer friendly.
Closing Thoughts:
We understand why Aldi chooses to package the clothing it sells in the way it does. It is minimalistic and efficient, allowing for convenient shipping and easy display in stores.
However, the way Aldi clothing is currently packed is not customer friendly.
Aldi clothing can be unpredictable when it comes to fit. With clothing all packaged up, shoppers can’t see how the clothing might actually fit. This leads many customers to open a product in store and then attempt unsuccessfully to pack it back up.
If a customer buys something without opening it and taking a good look at it in store, they have the same problem if it doesn’t fit at home: it’s almost impossible to pack it back up as nicely as it was originally packaged. Either way, it can ultimately lead to messy clothing displays in Aldi stores.
That’s why — between that and the overall unreliable fit of Aldi clothing — we tend to stay away from buying most of the clothes Aldi sells.
I don’t know why, but I never thought about it. I have purchased a lot of clothing from Aldi. I always go by the pictures that they have many times on the tags, not always there but…. I can see where some would have issues.
Yes, the pictures on the tags are helpful. However, I’ve found a lot of Aldi clothing to fit awkwardly, and it’s something my friends and family have complained about as well. Hence, it’s useful to be able to see what a garment looks like unpackaged. It doesn’t always fit in real life the way it looks on the models.
I’ve never had an awkward fit,……………..so far.
Buying clothing in a grocery store is a non starter for me. I did purchase a very cute pair of rubber boots a few years back for my wife at Aldi. They leaked and fell apart within two outdoors excursions. That was the beginning and end of my Aldi couture venture.
Have bought a lot of clothes at Aldi over the past ten plus years, and have never had a problem with the packaging, nor the fit.
The only thing I ever bought from the clothing selection was a package of women’s underwear. It fit great and has lasted a long time. Frankly, I was impressed.
I don’t mind it except for so many people probably handling it. I always try to buy one from the back. I have even bought the out of package if it is the only one in the size I want.
Agree ! I purchased a pair of jeggings last year and the waist-to-hips section is way too long. I later bought a pair of shorts in the next size smaller, and the fit was too small. I did not return either, as they are wearable, but am not buying any more Aldi clothes. Even some of their athletic shoes are packaged in boxes so that you can’t take them out to try on. Bob – men are much easier to fit than women. A dozen pairs of jeans the same “size” one might actually be a good fit.
Thanks, Carolyn! My family, friends, and I have all dealt with weird-fitting clothing from Aldi for years, at what seems like a higher rate than clothing from other retailers.
I don’t buy a lot of clothing from Aldi, but I appreciate that they have reasonably priced staples. I find it’s my body that’s awkward, and I’d have the same trouble with clothing from another retailer, so I figure it’s me, not them. Like any clothing provider, items are made for the average person. I agree that it would be nice to be able to hold something up and judge it, but the one nice thing about Aldi clothing is that there is often a picture of someone wearing the clothing to help me gauge if I think that it would fit me too. If the packaging keeps the price down on workout clothing, pajamas, jackets, and the occasional dress, I’m good with it.
I have watched customers take clothing out of the package and just sling on the counter not even trying to put it near the packaging, let alone back in it. And it’s not just the clothing–people take housewares, pans, everything out and just strew it about. As a result, at my local Aldi if you don’t go the first morning things go on sale the AOS looks like it has been ravaged by drunken raccoons. Sorry, but I wish people would have more consideration for their fellow shoppers.
Sizes are all over the place, and returning garments in anything like the original configuration is all but impossible. However, I have had no issues returning clothing. One thing I learned is that I can’t actually try on underwear, so I just hold it up to something that fits to see if it does. I was able to return underwear and leggings just this morning without any issues. At least there’s that.
Since Aldi, thankfully, is very conscious about the environment, I think it’s important to mention they probably chose the limited packaging materials accordingly- with carboard that can be recycled, and ribbon that can be repurposed. I don’t mind the aforementioned inconveniences this may pose when purchasing clothing from them because I appreciate their sustainability efforts. Plus, they stand by their return policy in the event something doesn’t fit.
Yes! Good points about sustainability and the liberal return policy.
I’ve had pretty good luck buying clothes items at Aldi. While the packaging might not be customer friendly I appreciate the lower prices that that their methods allow.
I’m a huge fan of the clothes. Pants, shorts, shirts- short and long sleeves. Yes some of the items are a little off but you cannot beat the price. The quality is decent . As far as packaging, it’s super minimal. I personally reuse the ribbons on gifts, and other crafts.
I’m the oddball that Aldi’s seems to make clothing for! I’ve been pleasantly surprised by almost everything I’ve purchased! Rarely do I need to return anything, but I gotta agree that the packaging is a pain.