LIDL is no longer worth wasting a journey to do your shopping at. The level of frustration from long queues, broken self service machines and constant stock shortages means you are better off just going to a mainstream supermarket where you can easily get everything in one stop. LIDL did have a compelling argument several years ago, but especially since Covid, improving price and quality competition from other retailers has left them trailing. Farewell LIDL, you tried, but failed. Here's the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak...
In January, I bought a pack of rechargeable AA batteries for use in my cycle lights, but didn't try to use them until February. When I did, I discovered that they were too large and were such a tight fit, that it would be impossible to remove them for recharging, so I rushed back to LIDL and demonstrated the size difference with other batteries from several well known brands. The reason the LIDL batteries are oversized appears to be because they have been dressed up with a glittery paper(?) covering, in order to make them more appealing. In fact, the covering has already started to come off, after trying to fit them in my lights.
LIDL agreed that they were larger than the Duracell and other batteries I brought in to demonstrate and agreed that they did not fit into the battery compartment I also brought in to demonstrate, but they were not interested in refunding me, 'Because it was more than 28 days since the sale - and that is the law,' or words to that effect. I explained that they were not applying the Consumer Rights Act 2015 correctly, but they were not interested.
For the record, my rights are:
0-30 days: You can claim a full refund for goods that are of unsatisfactory quality, unfit for purpose or not as described.
30 days-six months: You must give the retailer one opportunity to repair or replace it before you can claim a refund.
Six months or longer: You must give the retailer one opportunity to repair or replace it before you can claim a partial refund, and the burden of proof is on you to prove the product is faulty.
If you'd prefer a repair or replacement in the first 30 days you can ask the retailer, but it cannot refuse to give you a refund.
The bottom line is, I will be giving LIDL a wide berth from now on. In any case, as mentioned above, I'm sick of the long queues, broken self service machines and constant stock issues - and unhelpful staff.