Aldi Australia is set to bring back its eagerly anticipated snow sale of 2021 – but the retailer has announced huge changes to the day to prevent ‘chaotic’ scenes after shoppers previously reported being nearly ‘trampled’ on during the rush.
The annual winter sale has attracted huge crowds every year, with thousands of customers lining up in massive queues stretching out the door just so they could get their hands on ski jackets, pants and accessories for a fraction of the price.
But this year’s Special Buys snow gear event will be different after the supermarket revealed it will implement ‘new, one-off safety measures’ on Saturday, May 22, to ensure customers maintain social distancing in stores amid Covid-19.
Most stores will have additional security guards on hand to help manage the safe flow of customers and manage the ‘staggered’ entry.
Aldi Australia has announced huge changes to its snow gear sale of 2021 – after previous years saw hundreds of shoppers flock to the store to get their hands on the bargain buys
Aldi Australia is set to bring back its eagerly anticipated snow sale of 2021 – but the retailer has announced huge changes to the day to prevent ‘chaotic’ scenes after shoppers previously reported being nearly ‘trampled’ on during the rush
‘Each store will stagger customers’ entry into the store in groups of 50 people every 15 minutes, until they reach each store’s density limit based on our covid Safe Plan,’ the retailer wrote on its website.
A one person in, one person out policy will then apply while the store is at capacity.
Instead of having the Special Buys items in one area, the snow gear will be ‘spread out’ on tables across the middle aisle to further encourage social distancing.
There will be bollards sets up outside the store where customers can line up safely, and extra employees working on the day to help shoppers with products.
‘We’re looking forward to welcoming you in-store to shop the return of our Snow Gear Special Buys. This range offers uncompromised quality, performance and comfort – all with stand-out style and at the best possible price,’ the retailer wrote.
‘However, times have changed since our last snow gear event, so your experience in store might be a bit different… We ask everyone coming to our stores to be patient, calm and mindful of other customers and our employees.’
Every year, huge queues stretch out the door as shoppers hope to get their hands on snow fear (picture of massive queue winding through a car park outside Aldi in 2016)
The supermarket giant has revealed it will implement ‘new, one-off safety measures’ on Saturday, May 22, to ensure customers maintain social distancing in stores amid Covid-19
The upcoming sale comes just one year after Aldi made the decision to cancel the 2020 Special Buys sale due to prioritising essential grocery items and strict coronavirus travel ban, leaving shoppers furious.
‘We’ll be back with our best-ever collection next year,’ Aldi said last year.
‘Due to prioritising our transport for groceries, and recent travel bans, we’ve decided to withdraw our 2020 Snow Gear Special Buys. We’re looking forward to sharing our best-ever collection with you in 2021. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.’
The snow gear sale has been a huge hit among thousands of shoppers in previous years, with pictures shared on social media showing lines winding through streets and car parks and shoppers scrambling to get their hands on the bargain buys.
Aldi Australia is set to bring back its hugely popular snow gear sale a year after the retailer cancelled the seasonal offer amid coronavirus travel ban
The snow gear sale has been a huge hit in previous years, with pictures showing shoppers scrambling to get their hands on the cheap buys (picture of a snow gear sale in 2017)
Customers have previously reported ‘chaotic’ scenes, including people ‘scratching’ their way to the front of the massive queues and shoppers nearly ‘trampled’ on.
Shoppers claimed they were lucky to ‘survive’ the ordeal and some revealed seeing ‘middle aged women throwing elbows and punches over a pair of ski pants’.
‘Saw a massive fight at my local Aldi in 2019 during the snow sale. Two ladies were going at it scratching, biting and pulling. Then their husbands/partners started belting each other up, it was a sight to behold,’ one shopper shared.
One shopper who braved the snow sale claimed she saw ‘crazy psycho people everywhere’ and another described the chaos as ‘the end of the world’.