Earlier this week, Aldi launched its highly anticipated “Aldi Blind Box” promotion, intending to capitalize on the viral internet trend of surprise unboxings. The concept was simple: Go to AldiBlindBox.com at noon Eastern Time every day during June 22-25 and claim a free, themed box of groceries shipped straight to your door.
However, the reality of the promotion quickly led to viral outrage. Because Aldi had legally allocated only about 100 free boxes per day for the entire nation, the minute inventory vanished in seconds. In addition, the website’s digital queue system left hopeful customers stuck in a checkout line for 30 to 45 minutes, only to ultimately be hit with a “sold out” notification.
Furious shoppers flooded TikTok and Reddit, criticizing the company for trapping users in a line for items that had already been claimed.
Aldi Responds with 5,000-Box ‘Encore’
In a statement to The Packer, Aldi addressed the overwhelming response and customer frustration directly, announcing a surprise final drop that largely increases the prize pool.
“Earlier this week, Aldi introduced its first-ever Blind Boxes with four daily drops. And, well, fans showed up. Like, really showed up,” an Aldi spokesperson said. “So, this Friday, based on record demand, Aldi is dropping 5,000 more Blind Boxes. Why? Because when the fans get loud, Aldi responds with an encore.”
The new Encore Box will feature a mega-mix of the week’s previous themes, including craveable snacks, fiber-forward picks and protein powerhouses.
How to Claim the Friday Encore Drop
While the quantity has been dramatically scaled up from roughly 100 boxes per day to 5,000 boxes, Aldi confirms that the digital claim mechanism will remain the same:
- When: Friday, June 26, 2026, at exactly 12 p.m. ET.
- Where: Log onto AldiBlindBox.com.
- How: Select the “Encore Box,” enter your shipping information and submit.
Aldi is directing users to its official Instagram account for further specific details and important checkout tips ahead of the Friday launch.
In its statement, Aldi also addressed the chief complaint of the week: the frustrating digital checkout line that left users hanging. The company provided a detailed note explaining why the queue behaves the way it does, clarifying that a spot in line is not a guarantee of a box: “NOTE: The queue helps manage high web traffic during popular drops by limiting how many customers can check out at once. When demand is high, customers are placed in line and moved through checkout as space becomes available. The queue cannot reserve inventory, change your position or be manually adjusted, and it may continue moving even after all boxes have been claimed.”
With 5,000 boxes now on the line instead of 100, shoppers will possibly have a better statistical chance of scoring a free box on Friday.
Your next read: Aldi’s Blind Box Giveaway Sparks Backlash
