An InPost 24-hour parcel locker outside an Aldi store in Garstang, UK, has recently landed some Vinted users with fines. Multiple second-hand trading platform users reported that they went to the store's parking lot during non-business hours to drop off or pick up parcels, only to be captured by parking surveillance cameras and receive £70 automatic fine notices.

The crux of the problem lies in the inconsistency between business hours and parcel locker service hours. InPost claims that the parcel locker at the Garstang Aldi entrance is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, allowing users to drop off, pick up, or return parcels at any time. However, the Aldi store's business hours are Monday to Saturday 8 AM to 10 PM, and Sunday 10 AM to 4 PM. The parking lot is equipped with ANPR automatic license plate recognition cameras, and any vehicle entering outside business hours will be recorded, with ParkingEye automatically generating and mailing out fines.

One customer who received a fine said they couldn't believe it when they saw the penalty, and later called Aldi customer service to get it canceled, but the fine arriving at their home was still shocking. The customer pointed out that the surveillance footage clearly showed they only stayed for a few minutes to drop off or pick up parcels, and they do not plan to continue using the parcel locker until the store addresses this issue, as it is simply too troublesome and exhausting.

Aldi has been installing InPost parcel lockers in UK stores since 2023 and has since continuously expanded the partnership, with over 600 stores now offering this parcel service. The supermarket chain has said that installing InPost parcel lockers is to allow customers to conveniently send and receive parcels alongside their regular shopping. Jonathan Neale, Aldi UK's National Real Estate Director, said at the time that reaching 600 InPost parcel lockers was an important milestone, reflecting the company's commitment to making shopping at Aldi as convenient as possible for customers, and stated they would continue to pay attention to customers' lifestyles to help them save time and simplify daily chores.

In response to this matter, media has contacted Aldi and InPost for comment.

For the second-hand resale industry, this dispute exposes the disconnect between the "24-hour self-service drop-off and pickup" promotion and shopping mall property management rules: the parcel locker operator promotes round-the-clock service, but the parking lot where the lockers are located is still subject to store business hours and automatic enforcement systems. For individual sellers relying on platforms like Vinted for shipping, if the pickup point location and parking management are not properly coordinated, convenient facilities may instead become an extra cost, and it can also affect users' trust in the platform's logistics experience.

Source: Aldi issues £70 fines to Vinted users for using 24/7 parcel lockers outside Garstang store opening hours · Originally published on 2026-09-23