Does anyone shop at ALDI?

[David Kent]

Does anyone shop at ALDI?
I read that Americans don't like ALDI as they charge a quarter deposit for the shopping trolley (Cart to you) The seemed to start in poorer areas and are now moving into more upmarket areas.
Our local supermarket is ALDI 5 minutes walk, but nearly two miles driving. We shop there quite a lot as it is quicker. Not so far to walk from the car park, and because of their quick scanning, you get through the tills much quicker.

They have small staff and even the manager operates the till when neccesary.

We use a larger supermarket for a large shop. Over here in many supermarkets you have to put a £! coin in the trolley.

In France I have never been in a supermarket where you don't have to put an 1 or 2 euro coin in the Caddie or Chariot (trolley, cart) Although many hypermarkets will give you a token for the caddie if you ask at customer service. You have to collect your caddie from the car park and return it after.

 

[JonC]

Does anyone shop at ALDI?
I read that Americans don't like ALDI as they charge a quarter deposit for the shopping trolley (Cart to you) The seemed to start in poorer areas and are now moving into more upmarket areas.
Our local supermarket is ALDI 5 minutes walk, but nearly two miles driving. We shop there quite a lot as it is quicker. Not so far to walk from the car park, and because of their quick scanning, you get through the tills much quicker.

They have small staff and even the manager operates the till when neccesary.

We use a larger supermarket for a large shop. Over here in many supermarkets you have to put a £! coin in the trolley.

In France I have never been in a supermarket where you don't have to put an 1 or 2 euro coin in the Caddie or Chariot (trolley, cart) Although many hypermarkets will give you a token for the caddie if you ask at customer service. You have to collect your caddie from the car park and return it after.

In Germany Aldi was our main grocery store (this was 1995-1999).

All of the stores required a coun (a mark?) for the carts and you got it back when the cart locked back.

We use Aldi (have here in North Augusta and did in Nashville as well). I never bought enough here to get a cart so I don't know if it's common with all US stores.

 

[Revmitchell]

Does anyone shop at ALDI?
I read that Americans don't like ALDI as they charge a quarter deposit for the shopping trolley (Cart to you)

I have never heard of nor do I know anyone who thinks that.

 

[InTheLight]

There isn't an Aldi's near me. My sister has an Aldi's near her and loves shopping there, though she said there is a learning curve to get to know their brands.

I have heard they charge you a 25 cent deposit on the shopping cart which you get back when you return the cart. I don't think that is a factor causing people not to shop there.

Nearest one to me is about 5-6 miles away.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL

 

[Rob_BW]

I have to drive past virtually every other type of grocery store before I get to an Aldi. And I haven't had the best luck with their produce.

Now, they built a Lidl right up the road, and I like them a lot more. Wonderful bakery, but like ITL said, takes a bit to get their brands.

 

[GoodTidings]

I would not buy anything from Aldi. It is nothing but off brand, and I mean really off brand stuff. I tried a version of hamburger helper that they sell when I was at a friends house who shopped there, and it was absolutely horrible. I stick with major supermarkets. He and his wife shop there pretty regularly, but that's just not for me.

 

[JonC]

I would not buy anything from Aldi. It is nothing but off brand, and I mean really off brand stuff. I tried a version of hamburger helper that they sell when I was at a friends house who shopped there, and it was absolutely horrible. I stick with major supermarkets. He and his wife shop there pretty regularly, but that's just not for me.

Kinda. They have some German brands I liked when living in Germany (they were not considered "off brand" there.

I wouldn't buy their produce or meats.

 

[Reformed]

I go to Aldi all the time. I pass on their produce. They have good cheeses and bratwurst.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Jerome]

Aldi is headquartered in Germany, where there are two companies named Aldi. One operates the dumpy stores in America; the other one, the decidedly more upscale Trader Joe's shops.

 

[Rob_BW]

Kinda. They have some German brands I liked when living in Germany (they were not considered "off brand" there.

I wouldn't buy their produce or meats.

We go to the new Cost Plus World Market for all of our foreign cravings now. Had the wife pick up some Turkish Delight for the kids, after my daughter finished reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. She and her brother both took one bite and into the trashcan it went. So worth it, though.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I go to Aldi all the time. I pass in their produce. They have good cheeses and bratwurst.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

Good German stuff, pricing much better than most stores... I also buy produce and bread at a great value. Up here I can save up to 25 % on my grocery bill. Fantastic!!

 

[Adonia]

Does anyone shop at ALDI?
I read that Americans don't like ALDI as they charge a quarter deposit for the shopping trolley (Cart to you) The seemed to start in poorer areas and are now moving into more upmarket areas.
Our local supermarket is ALDI 5 minutes walk, but nearly two miles driving. We shop there quite a lot as it is quicker. Not so far to walk from the car park, and because of their quick scanning, you get through the tills much quicker.

They have small staff and even the manager operates the till when neccesary.

We use a larger supermarket for a large shop. Over here in many supermarkets you have to put a £! coin in the trolley.

In France I have never been in a supermarket where you don't have to put an 1 or 2 euro coin in the Caddie or Chariot (trolley, cart) Although many hypermarkets will give you a token for the caddie if you ask at customer service. You have to collect your caddie from the car park and return it after.

Yep, from time to time I shop there. I like some of their stuff but go to the bigger supermarkets more often. It's funny how the Germans seemed to have taken to the retail food business. Besides Aldi's they own some of the big American chains.

 

[Rob_BW]

So, does anyone shop at their main competitor, Lidl? I see that they've only built 66 stores in the US, all on the eastern seaboard.

 

[JonC]

So, does anyone shop at their main competitor, Lidl? I see that they've only built 66 stores in the US, all on the eastern seaboard.

Yep....sometimes.

 

[Reynolds]

Does anyone shop at ALDI?
I read that Americans don't like ALDI as they charge a quarter deposit for the shopping trolley (Cart to you) The seemed to start in poorer areas and are now moving into more upmarket areas.
Our local supermarket is ALDI 5 minutes walk, but nearly two miles driving. We shop there quite a lot as it is quicker. Not so far to walk from the car park, and because of their quick scanning, you get through the tills much quicker.

They have small staff and even the manager operates the till when neccesary.

We use a larger supermarket for a large shop. Over here in many supermarkets you have to put a £! coin in the trolley.

In France I have never been in a supermarket where you don't have to put an 1 or 2 euro coin in the Caddie or Chariot (trolley, cart) Although many hypermarkets will give you a token for the caddie if you ask at customer service. You have to collect your caddie from the car park and return it after.

I shopped there one time. Never went back because of the stupid quarter in the shopping cart.

 

[Reynolds]

Aldi is headquartered in Germany, where there are two companies named Aldi. One operates the dumpy stores in America; the other one, the decidedly more upscale Trader Joe's shops.

I shop at Trader Joe's all the time.

 

[MartyF]

It's a niche grocery store for people who like that sort of stuff.

 

[Benjamin]

Never heard of it and I typically have a pretty low opinion of off-brands so knowing that I'd probably never bother going through the door...

 

[rsr]

I shop at Aldi frequently; in fact, it's my primary supermarket. The store brands are sometimes better than the national brands, or at least as good. The Hamburger Helper knockoff, frankly, is better than the original. The store brands are much better than the Wal-Mart offerings.
Produce can be iffy; strawberries and blackberries are excellent; some other produce is not as good.
Meats are OK and ground beef (85/15) is cheaper than 73/27 at other stores.The spiral glazed hams are a bargain. The pork is generally very good.
The quarter for the shopping cart is no problem, although I usually don't use a cart and put everything in a box instead.

 

[David Kent]

So, does anyone shop at their main competitor, Lidl? I see that they've only built 66 stores in the US, all on the eastern seaboard.

Rarely as it is the other side of our town. Molst of ALDI meat here is UK sourced. Much cheaper than the main stores and theri steak if just as good, or better. Although walking Aldi is our nearest store the nearest by car is ASDA, owned by Walmart. I don't often go there as apart from a pound deposit in the trolley, you have to pay a pound deposit for the parking, although you get that back when you show your receipt to customer services, it is a bit of a nuisance. LIDL is the other side of town and when you have finished shopping you have to scan your receipt and enter your car registration number or you get a big fine if you have used their car park.
Our ALDI does not have a fresh bread bakery but LIDL does, never bought any there but it smells great. But I always make my own bread in my Panasonic breadmaker. I use ALDI wholewheat flour as it is not much more than half the price of the supermarket own brands and a third of the price or less of the brands, and I prefer it.