A 75-year-old pensioner from Merseyside has been banned from his local Aldi store after a checkout row turned sour, all sparked by a quip to a staff member to “go to Specsavers.”
Anthony Taylor and his wife, Regina, both regulars at the Aldi on Washington Parade in Bootle, say they were shocked when told they could no longer shop there after more than a decade of loyalty.
A Routine Shop Gone Wrong
The incident unfolded during the couple’s usual monthly grocery trip. For ten years, they’d shopped the same way, placing one of each item on the belt and telling the cashier how many more were in the trolley.
But this time, a staff member insisted they unload every single product. Mr Taylor, who suffers from osteoarthritis, refused, explaining that lifting heavy items was difficult.
When the cashier said she couldn’t see what was in the trolley, Mr Taylor replied: “The member of staff demanded that we had to empty the trolley. She said she couldn’t see what was in the trolley, so I said she needed to go to Specsavers.”
“If she could not see what was in the trolley, she needs glasses,” he added. The remark didn’t go down well. Moments later, the situation escalated.
Ban After Heated Exchange
Mr Taylor says the store manager intervened, removed their trolley, and ordered them to leave.
“The manager then came over and took the trolley from us and told us to leave the store. I know it doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things, but there I had put a pound in the trolley, so I went back in and I asked for the pound back,” he told the Liverpool Echo.
Aldi later alleged the couple had been verbally aggressive towards staff, a claim the Taylors deny.
Mr Taylor admitted using strong language only when a security guard allegedly grabbed his arm, saying, “get your f*****g hands off me,” as he feared losing his balance.
“I am very old school. I’m old enough to have been brought up in a very different era, an era where you do not swear in front of women, he explained.
We are embarrassed and we are incensed by it… We have shopped there since the store opened, and now we are traveling three or four miles to get our shopping.
“We just want an apology and to be able to do our shopping at our local Aldi.”
Aldi’s Statement
A spokesperson for Aldi said the Washington Parade branch was unaware of Mr Taylor’s mobility issues.
“Our colleagues work hard to provide great customer service, and we don’t tolerate any form of abusive behavior in our stores.
In line with our policy, all products must be scanned through the till at the point of sale; however, our colleagues are always happy to assist customers who may need a little extra help,” they said.
The Taylors remain banned from the store, a decision that has divided opinion locally. Some see the punishment as harsh, while others believe staff should never face disrespect, even in jest.
