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Article No More Special Buys Frenzy As Aldi Prepares To Launch Online

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We said it just a few weeks ago…and clearly Aldi is listening to us! The discount retailer has announced that they will no longer be coughing in the dust way behind supermarket giants’ virtual shops. Aldi is finally going online!

We suspected that Aldi’s move online would happen sooner or later. But the expense of setting up the service from scratch would have been daunting and would certainly hit their bottom line initially. We know that Aldi is all about cost-savings so we’re not surprised the company has been dragging its heels on this one.

But it now seems that shopping at Aldi from the comfort of your home is closer than we initially thought. The supermarket has hinted that they will set up online shopping starting with Special Buys and alcohol.

Oh. My. Goodness! Just imagine not getting up at the crack of dawn to join the snaking queue to get your mitts on a thermal ski glove or not getting elbowed out the way in a mission to nab the last cheap-as-chips TV. It will be just glorious simply hopping onto the Aldi website and popping a couple of Caviar creams into my virtual shopping basket, to be delivered directly to my doorstep.

Special Buys First

Aldi CEO, Tom Daunt, said the store would first dip their toes into online shopping with the popular Special Buys and alcohol, before following this up with a full grocery offer.

It has been suggested that the store may launch its online service selling its frenzy-inducing Winter ski gear.

“We had a little bit of a riot last year when we withdrew it, but I think we did so on very understandable circumstances,” he told news.com.au.

No More Ski Craziness

Mr. Daunt said that the supermarket’s annual ski sale will be back this year and will arrive in stores in the second half of May. So we could expect the online version to go live in a similar time frame.

Professor Gary Mortimer, retail expert from the Queensland University of Technology, told News Corp that Aldi’s decision to start with online Special Buys and wine is a smart move.

Tassie Will Finally Get An Aldi (Online)

“Those types of products, particularly general merchandise and apparel special buys, tend to be the type of product that you may move online to capture a new geographic market,” Prof. Mortimer said.

“So Aldi currently isn’t in the NT or Alice Springs or Tasmania, but if they were to go online with just their special buys they would immediately capture that new geographic custom.”

The Down-Side

However, he did warn that not only would providing an online service would be costly to set-up but it also may cause Aldi to lose its key point of differentiation. There aren’t any other retailers that attract massive crowds twice a week to fight over limited stock. If Special Buys are available in larger quantities online, then this may also, in turn, reduce the demand for these items..or it may be the opposite and Aldi will make heaps of money as customers don’t have to face a catfight to get their product.

Going online also means that Aldi will be in direct competition with all the other big online sellers – Amazon, Catch and Dan Murphy.

Lose Its Difference

“Aldi’s growth has been supported with the clear point of differentiation. It’s a very different experience shopping at Aldi and that’s what draws customers to the store – the lines at the front of the store on Saturday morning to capture those Special Buys is a part of the experience of shopping at Aldi,” said Prof. Mortimer.

“If you move online you lose that point of difference and I think that’s possibly why they have been hesitant to move online even until today.”

Do you think it’s a good move for Aldi to launch online? Would you buy Special Buys and alcohol from Aldi Online? Tell us in the comments below.

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Comments

  • I don’t usually ship at Aldi, so no urge to do so online

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  • I don’t think it is good as all the older people that go to the store who don’t have Internet will suffer, also it’s going to cost us customers money to get it delivered and I like to see what I am buying. It’s like shoes I’ve been caught ordering online because I live out in the country and have some too small and others too big.

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  • I’d shop online for a special buy.

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  • I shop at Aldi only occasionally but I think its great they are going online. It will be good to avoid the queues.

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  • I don’t shop much online but would be an interesting service to keep an eye on for convenience

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  • This makes so much sense, and as a non car owner I am pleased to finally have access to Aldi through this decision.

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  • Hmmmm I’m not an every day Aldi shopper because the store is not convenient to me, so I think that yes it will suit me for the Special Buys. However, I don’t shop online for any other supermarket service eg. Coles etc. so I don’t see me using it for that.

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  • I live in Tasmania so if handling, post etc isn’t astronomical this will be wonderful for us.

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  • Will be interesting to watch the prices of other products … I don’t think I’d be interested in on-line for the special buys, especially if they add postage/handling/freight. Many smaller special buys are literally bags of easter chocolates or tins of spray. Just go in the shop. A few big sellling stuff like air compressors or electric ovens.. well if you didn’t manage to pick up in store and were prepared to wait and were prepared to pay freight and were prepared not to see the product first .. then maybe on-line is the next best option. But who says there wont still be queues at the shops!

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  • I have never bothered getting up early for the specials at Aldi and hardly ever shop there. Might have a look at their on-line stuff when they start, but doubt I’ll change my ways.

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  • I love the convenience of online shopping! So will definitely check it out. Having two young kids and not wanting to drag them to the store to do a shop, this would be great.

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  • Well this should be interesting. I don’t really shop much online so this won’t really make a difference for me but will be interesting to see if it makes Special Buys easier to purchase.

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  • I’m a big fan of Aldi and I think I will utilise the online opportunities too. They have some great quality and value kids items, like a fabulous musical instrument kit I got that’s still going strong.

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  • Yes can see the good and bad here. I hope Aldi increases special buy in store stock and the online options doesn’t take more away as there’s so few already. Be good for those unable to lime up early or when there’s only 1 or 2 of an item in store. Also good for those with disabilities or mobility issues.

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  • I can see the good and bad, For those tech savvy great, but I hope people online don’t buy all the stock leaving none for instore,

    • Exactly what I thought!! People will buy up online and re-sell ????

      • I imagine there would be limits on the number of purchases?

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  • Will make things interesting

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  • I will need to check it out for sure

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  • It’s a good idea. So many times the special buys are delayed or never arrive at my store. Buying online would overcome this problem.

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  • I could see how this could be helpful.for some

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  • Not helpful for me but I hope normal online shopping will be possible too.

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