Are you american and did you ever shop at ALDI?

[metta]

I have never heard of it but it also does not sound like the kind of store that I would shop at.

 

[doctorsun]

There's one in town, but I've never stepped foot in it. I don't go there because from my understanding, they only take cash. When I go to the super market I have no idea how much I'll spent.

They take debit cards. No credit, though.

For those who don't know, it's a "no-frills" chain of grocery stores. Contrary to misconceptions, they're not necessarily lower-quality products. Yes, they're generic, but that's not always an indication of quality. They price their products much lower because they don't offer amenities that most stores do. For instance, you have to have bag your own groceries. The cashier scans them and puts them into another cart that you take over to the bagging counter. You have to pay for bags or bring your own, as well. And you have to deposit a quarter in the carts to take one, but you get it back when you return the cart.

It may not be glamorous, but when you're on a budget, there's no shame in shopping at stores like this.

Personally, I prefer Save-A-Lot, though. They're the same kind of store, but they have more of a selection and they take credit cards.

 

[Ekim23]

as a european i'm pretty much used to that sort of business ALDI, Lidl, ED ...

When I was in the US i didnt see any ALDI

i know Lidl is going to hit Canada tho

I really like Hard-Discounters , i even worked in one of em, that was one of the toughest job I ever done

 

[Lukeee]

For instance, you have to have bag your own groceries.

You don't do that already? Only people who can't do it themselves get that sort of help over here.

 

[DrakeCKC]

I, and quite a few caterers and cooks buy shrimp from them, good price and quality. Been shopping there for years.

 

[Fire]

Yes, and yes, though I haven't in years. Their off-brand products are usually hilarious spin-offs of the more expensive brand name, like "Aunt Maple's" instead of Aunt Jemima's, or "Mountain Holler" instead of Mountain Dew. That alone makes it worth shopping there at least once, just for laughs.

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

You don't do that already? Only people who can't do it themselves get that sort of help over here.

You don't know many Americans do you?

We like doing as little as possible. I mean the absolute bare minimum, as little as humanly possible.

 

[D-Ruby85]

Went to ALDI (and Lidl) alot (mostly for candies/chocolate/biscuit and beverages) but that was when i lived in England. However having moved to the US i havent seen any ALDI stores in Seattle or Portland ,i hear they mostly East Coast based. Grocery Outlet are kinda like Aldi and Lidi,lots of discounted produces.

 

[doctorsun]

You don't do that already? Only people who can't do it themselves get that sort of help over here.

No, we do not...not in traditional grocery stores. Most stores employ people whose specific job it is to bag groceries. That's why stores like Aldi are able to charge so much less than normal stores. They have fewer employees whose wages have to be taken out of the money they charge for their products.

 

[kevbo]

Love ALDI! We used to stock up on the frozen burger patties like crazy...

 

[MystikWizard]

Aldi is pretty much an all-generic store and definitely geared towards the lower middle class and heavily bargain shoppers. They are primarily located on the East Coast of the United States, however are also found in Great Britain and Germany (where I believe the chain is based out of). The stores are fairly small and about a third of the size of an average large chain like Kroger.

You bring a quarter to rent a cart with and when you return it and place it back, your quarter gets returned.

You have to bag your own groceries and are encouraged to even bring your own bags/boxes as I don't think they provide bags. I have seen extra boxes placed up front to use, though.

Don't expect great produce or the best quality meats, but it definitely is the place to go if you don't mind generic products and want to save some money.

 

[SonOfSlobone]

We don't have one here, but there's one about 20 miles away. Maybe I'll stop in there next time I'm over there.

But as for odd brands -- that's old news for me. I usually shop at Hy-Vee, the largest chain in Iowa and one of the biggest in the country. They have store brands for nearly everything, you save a lot of money. And I've only rarely been disappointed in the quality.

My aha moment was when I first bought Hy-Vee Raisin Brand for $2 instead of Kellogg's for $3.25. I couldn't taste any difference whatsoever. When I compared the Ingredients list, they were identical.

Which got me thinking -- why would anybody buy Kellogg's? I guess the billions they spend on advertising has really paid off.

My latest thought is that it's positively immoral to spend more for something than you have to. If you feel you must spend $3.25 for raisin bran, buy the store brand and give $1.25 to charity.

 

[doctorsun]

We don't have one hear, but there's one about 20 miles away. Maybe I'll stop in there next time I'm over there.

But as for odd brands -- that's old news for me. I usually shop at Hy-Vee, the largest chain in Iowa and one of the biggest in the country. They have store brands for nearly everything, you save a lot of money. And I've only rarely been disappointed in the quality.

My aha moment was when I first bought Hy-Vee Raisin Brand for $2 instead of Kellogg's for $3.25. I couldn't taste any difference whatsoever. When I compared the Ingredients list, they were identical.

Which got me thinking -- why would anybody buy Kellogg's? I guess the billions they spend on advertising has really paid off.

My latest thought is that it's positively immoral to spend more for something than you have to. If you feel you must spend $3.25 for raisin bran, buy the store brand and give $1.25 to charity.

Amen. One of the things a lot of people don't know is that most generic brands are actually made by the big name brands, but are sold to outlets as generic products at much lower prices because they don't carry the name. So, the products are identical or nearly identical but are considerably cheaper.

 

[Eagle653]

I've been in an Aldi's once or twice, mostly to look around. They're nice enough, but I don't remember buying anything. Much of what they offer is off-brand stuff on the cheap and I've heard quality is then a problem.

The brother of the owner of Aldi's owns another chain called Trader Joe's. I got to Trader Joe's often--they have hard-to-get things and great prices and top quality. In some ways, the two chains couldn't be more different--like siblings, I guess.

 

[miketlow]

I have never even heard of that store before. I don't really eat processed foods, so I'll probably won't step in there.

They sale fresh items also!!

Any way to answer the question,yes and yes but I prefer Save a Lot which is Aldi's main competition here in St Louis and other area's...There are certain items that I get from Aldi's and Save a Lot plus the fresh veggies,frozen veggies and fruits are always cheaper than the large food chains and carts are free to use at Save A Lot!!...lol...I know some people turn their nose up at places like that but what is the point of paying far more for the same quality?..

It seems people are too caught up on the "oh that's where poor people shop"..It took the major food chains here shutting down here when there was a workers strike back in the late 90's for people to see the value that places like Aldi's and Save A Lot offer but once they did you can see the haves and the have nots in there to this day loading up!!!...lol..

 

[miketlow]

Oh and not to mention Aldi's pay their employee's quite well compared to their competition!

 

[Nick35]

Yes, American, and yes, I have been to an ALDI store a couple times. The thing that impressed me was that stools were provided for the check out people. Thought that was a nice touch!!!

 

[Kester]

They got ALDI in my part of the world.

Only ever shopped there once. I work for another supermarket chain, and I always do my shoping while at work and I end up saving money with my staff discount anyways.

 

[versatastic]

This comment makes me smile.

No, the bagboy (or sometimes the cashier) bags up the groceries unless you're at a Sak-and-Save (or its clones). (Sak-and-Saves look more like a warehouse, with unopened boxes lining the shelves—ugly, but cheaper.)

In my youth, the bagboys rolled the carts out to your car for you, and then put the bags into your trunk (boot), but that service has become extinct.

Corny, I've never shopped at Aldi's because we don't have one nearby.

Bagboys in a few cities in California still offer to help you with your cart. In San Diego, more in the richer parts, they ask everyone if they need help out. On military bases, the baggers at the commissary always help you out to your car without even asking, but you have to give them a tip. In the non-corporate markets in my hometown, the bagboys/girls help older folk or if they want to flirt with someone or take a short break.

 

[Corny]

A Lidl will open in the next few months here. I'm going to see what it is like, but I always feel bad when buying at such discounters because I know that both Aldi and Lidl (and their food/product suppliers) treat their employees really bad

Corny, check "Wo arbeit weh tut".

I boycott Lidl for the very reason. I do know a few people who work or have worked at Aldi here, and while they aren't the best payed they still talk positive about their employer.

Corny - do the stores in Europe give you your quarter/Euro's back after returning the shopping carts?

Yep, of course. Most people here have a "chip" for those, a small coin shaped piece of plasic. You can carry it around and you won't spend it for anything, so you always have your "quarter".

For those who don't know, it's a "no-frills" chain of grocery stores. Contrary to misconceptions, they're not necessarily lower-quality products.

I am surprised by the many people here who say they have a low quality. Maybe this is different? But here they are known for their *good* quality. Of course it's not "premium" but still very good for the cheap price. Oh .. and they have fresh meat here. Just the fresh vegetables are often not the nicest ones ..

Yes, they're generic, but that's not always an indication of quality.

Many "Aldi-brands" here are just relabeled expensive brands.

It may not be glamorous, but when you're on a budget, there's no shame in shopping at stores like this.

At first they had a "cheap" image here, too. Nowadays however it is really "normal" to shop there, and almost everybody does it once in a while. There is also a little but of culture around it - you can buy many cookbooks for example which only have recipes with aldi-products in them