God, I've been waiting for this moment. The middle aisle at Lidl - that magical place where dreams and random purchases collide - is finally getting the digital treatment it deserves. And lemme tell you, as someone who once fought an elderly woman for the last bread maker (not my proudest moment), this news hits different.
Lidl is rolling out a click and collect trial that'll let you snag those random treasures before they even hit teh shelves. About damn time.
The Middle Aisle: Where Wallets Go to Die
Starting April 7th, Lidl Plus loyalty members can reserve garden stuff through the app before the official April 24th store launch. You'll pick a collection time between April 16-19, and boom - no more disappointed trudging home because that thing you wanted sold out in 4 minutes flat.
I still remember last summer when I went in for milk and bread, then somehow left with an inflatable kayak and zero groceries. My wife still brings it up during arguments. "Remember the kayak incident of 2023?" Yes, dear. I do.
The trial's kicking off with just two products - a Parkside Robot Lawnmower (£199 for Lidl Plus members, £249 for the peasants without the app) and its matching garage at £24.99 (or £29.99 without Lidl Plus).
Wait... a robot needs a GARAGE?
Apparently, these little lawn-cutting robots need their own tiny homes to protect them from rain and sun. I spent $4K on my actual car that sits outside in all weather, but sure, let's build housing for the robot lawnmower. What's next? A tiny robot swimming pool?
The mower itself runs for 45 minutes on a charge and comes with a three-year warranty. Which, if my experience with gadgets is anything to go by, means it'll break on day 366.
Jassine Ouali from Lidl (who I imagine has the most organized garden on the block) said: "We're always exploring bold new ways to enhance our customers' shopping experience and are pleased to be in a position where we can bring this latest trial to life."
Translation: "We noticed people physically fighting over discounted hot tubs and thought there must be a better way."
The brutal reality nobody talks about
Listen. Stock is limited. It always is with these middle aisle treasures. I learned this the hard way back in 2018 when I showed up 20 minutes after opening to buy that pizza oven everyone was talking about.
The look on the employee's face. Poor guy. His response: "Those sold out before I even clocked in."
I'm still not over it.
Everyone's doing it (except Aldi, those traitors)
Primark's been rolling out click and collect since their 2022 trial. Wilko brought theirs back last April with a two-hour collection window. Even Tesco's expanding their slots, now letting you collect from 12pm instead of 4pm.
But Aldi? Those heartless monsters axed their click and collect service at nearly 200 stores last summer. My neighbor actually cried. (Okay, she was going through some stuff already, but this didn't help.)
An Aldi spokesperson claimed it was "always a trial" which feels like the retail equivalent of "it's not you, it's me."
So... is this actually worth it?
If you're as pathetically obsessed with random middle aisle finds as I am, absolutely. My shed is basically a museum of "seemed like a good idea at the time" purchases.
You can find your nearest Lidl at lidl.co.uk/c/store-finder/s10023098 if you want to join the madness.
My editor bet me $20 I wouldn't be able to resist buying that robot lawnmower even though my "garden" is basically a concrete slab with three sad potted plants.
Challenge accepted.
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