topic Re: A question re Aldi's....... in Kitchen

A question re Aldi's.......

donasmom — Tue, 06 May 2014 20:53:31 GMT

We are moving to Ohio within the next 3 weeks and I noticed that Aldi's seems to be one of the stores in our area. Looked it up online, but was would like some opinions.

Thanks!

Re: A question re Aldi's.......

rustysmom — Tue, 06 May 2014 21:06:22 GMT

I also live in Ohio (born and raised), Columbus, the state capital. What part of Ohio are you moving to? Aldi is great. They have great prices and I have not found anything there that I have not liked. The Appleton Farms hams are wonderful and there danish (cheese is my favorite) is great. I also buy my facial wash and facial moisturizer there, forget the name of it, but love it and it is reasonably priced. If you have never been, you will love it. PS - Also, the chicken salad is one of the best I have ever tasted. On occasion they have it with cranberries and almonds in it, it is really good too, but hubby only likes chicken salad without all the nuts and fruits in it. He calls those "girlie" salads. LOL.

Re: A question re Aldi's.......

Allegheny — Tue, 06 May 2014 21:10:26 GMT

I frequent Aldi's. They are a bag yourself store. While they have bags you can purchase, it is more economical to bring your own. Another thing they do which may be different for you, is you pay a quarter for your shopping cart, which is returned when you replace the cart.

They have very good prices on fruits & vegetables, cheeses, eggs. It may not be a store where you would be able to get everything on your shopping list, especially if you are brand particular. I have tried many of their different products they are very good and prices are usually much less in most cases. During the holidays many of their candy and cookies are imported from Denmark and are exceptional.

When they first appeared in our area, I wasn't sure I cared for them, but as time went by and a few more trips I came to appreciate having one fairly close. I had once heard they were established by the same people who have Trader Joes' I am not sure if this is true or if there is still an affiliation.

Re: A question re Aldi's.......

FunkyHulaGirl — Tue, 06 May 2014 21:10:48 GMT

Love, love, LOVE Aldi! Best prices in town, and top quality on everything, but if there's something you're not entirely pleased with they both refund your money AND replace it. You can always find the "basics" - milk, dairy products, flour, breads, produce, etc. - and apart from that you never know what you'll come across, as they have specials every week - anything from garden supplies to kitchen toys to furniture to ???? Yesterday I went in for some lemons, and saw they had purses and makeup!

The regular items are always in stock, but - since the stores are fairly small - other things "rotate" - sometimes they'll have German, Italian, or Mexican foods, for example. I've learned that when I find something that I like that isn't a regular item to stock up on about 3 months' supply, until they get it in again.

Most things are packaged under their own names, but are produced by major companies - General Mills, etc.

Their German desserts (in the freezer) and their Italian gelato are wonderful I love that their breads and rolls are made without HFCS. Oh, and their imported chocolates...

I think you'll love Aldi - check them out at Aldi.com to see what's currently on special.

Re: A question re Aldi's.......

FunkyHulaGirl — Tue, 06 May 2014 21:12:41 GMT

Oh, and you have to put a quarter in to get a cart...but you get it back when you return the cart - the idea being they don't have to hire someone to round them up from the parking lot.

And as someone pointed out, you have to bring your own bags, or else you can use boxes they provide. When I remember I take a bunch of my plastic grocery bags and leave them on the bagging counter for people to use.

Re: A question re Aldi's.......

emmysmom — Tue, 06 May 2014 21:15:56 GMT

LOVE Aldis, just discovered it this winter! Big savings, the meat has been good, the dairy! The avocados are great, they were $.33 last week! Fruits good..veggies, fresh and frozen. Last week I got 2 flameless candle lanterns with timers, $7.99, got 2. They were selling out fast! The prices are less then Walmart..!

Re: A question re Aldi's.......

CLEM — Tue, 06 May 2014 21:17:44 GMT

I wish I had an Aldi here in Philadelphia.

Re: A question re Aldi's.......

FunkyHulaGirl — Tue, 06 May 2014 21:20:38 GMT

True, emmiesmom - I like their slogan of, "If we matched other stores' prices we'd have to charge you more!"

I've gotten sheet sets there, small furniture....even a pool!

Allegheny - Aldi and Trader Joe's are run by two brothers from Germany (one each chain). I guess that's why they offer so many German products, at least at Aldi. (We don't have a Trader Joe's here...yet.)

Re: A question re Aldi's.......

Hershey2 — Tue, 06 May 2014 21:39:07 GMT

They don`t take credit cards or checks. Since I use credit card for the cash back I don`t shop there often. They do have good meats and produce but not a huge selection.

Re: A question re Aldi's.......

Bandwife23 — Tue, 06 May 2014 22:14:47 GMT

donasmom - Oh, you are in for a treat! We love going to Aldi! The one in our area has been here for about 4 years, but we were already familiar w/it bc we previously lived in a college town in KY & it was a very popular place. My hubby & I laughed bc when they first opened here, people were quick to say they weren't gonna shop there bc it looked like a "here today, gone tomorrow" place. SO high society and MISINFORMED! Like others have said, they have good deals on several things. The only groceries we get @ Walmart now are things that we know for a fact won't be @ Aldi...and that's not much. Aldi's lunchmeat is good(brand name is Lunchmate) oh and if you are a pizza person, they have take & bake pizzas that are out of this world! We used to get those pizzas @ walmart. At Aldi, they are between $4.99-$5.99 in our area(KY) & come in 12" & 16". We haven't ordered from a pizza chain in YEARS.

We take our own bags but i've seen others buy the Aldi bags when they get in checkout. They bring in special items each week and people(in our area anyway) go nuts for them. You have to get there when that new sale starts bc if you don't, the item(s) won't be there. For ex., back in the winter they had a car seat warmer for $10. My driver's side warmer has been out for years so I made a beeline to Aldi. I got there the next day after the sale started and they were already gone! Lesson learned! A few months ago, I got 4 Sistema mugs that were cheaper than Q's price. The ice cream treats are good and so is there German brand of chocolates(Choceur). The chocolates come in different varieties and taste so good! We have found a German version of Twix that are HEAVENLY. Oh and we even get the dryer sheets, dish liquid and dishwasher tabs.

Sorry if I'm rambling, but Aldi's gets an A+!

Re: A question re Aldi's.......

donasmom — Tue, 06 May 2014 22:33:58 GMT

Thank you so much for all your input. We are moving to Wooster, Ohio. Given all you say, I am really looking forward to shopping there! Again, thanks!

Re: A question re Aldi's.......

nunya — Tue, 06 May 2014 23:03:20 GMT

I go there weekly for fruit and vegetables. Whole pineapples under $2, can't beat it. After Christmas, all the hams had a $5 off coupons on them, I bought 3 for $11 total. I just tried their chocolate bars, very good. The frozen mini eclairs are good. I really can't think of anything that I have tried that wasn't good.

Re: A question re Aldi's.......

Josefinie — Tue, 06 May 2014 23:30:27 GMT

Donasmom, I am originally from Wooster and my mother still lives there! Now I live in Columbus but visit there often. The Aldi's in Wooster has different ads on different weeks than the Columbus ads. You just never know what goodies you will find there. The last time we were there, the cashier told us that the Wooster store is expanding this summer---adding 1 add't aisle---so they will be closed for a short while. LOVE Aldi's (and you will love Wooster!)!

Re: A question re Aldi's.......

Hoovermom — Tue, 06 May 2014 23:30:35 GMT

I went there yesterday and was a bit disappointed because the veggies I bought were already sealed and packaged up. I was a little surprised at that.

Re: A question re Aldi's.......

scatcat — Tue, 06 May 2014 23:41:58 GMT

You can save a couple bucks shopping there if you can stomach the long lines, bagging your own groceries, debit or cash only and limited food selection. I am not a fan. A few things are good (brownie mix) but the store is not worth the hassle to save 5 cents on canned tomatoes. Their meat is disgusting. (But I once did get some lovely grapes there). I feel the same way about WalMart.

Re: A question re Aldi's.......

FunkyHulaGirl — Wed, 07 May 2014 00:11:05 GMT

On 5/6/2014 scatcat said: You can save a couple bucks shopping there if you can stomach the long lines, bagging your own groceries, debit or cash only and limited food selection. I am not a fan. A few things are good (brownie mix) but the store is not worth the hassle to save 5 cents on canned tomatoes. Their meat is disgusting. (But I once did get some lovely grapes there). I feel the same way about WalMart.

Actually, the lines are rarely long at any of my local Aldi stores (there are 3 nearby), I don't mind bagging my own groceries, and you don't save 5¢ on something - it's more like 1/3 - 1/2 off - sometimes even more. The meat at the ones here is also some of the best around, as is the produce - but you have to go early in the day to get the best selection.

As for debit or cash only, they're passing along the savings from having to pay credit card fees or the cost of bounced checks to the customers, which adds to the low prices.

Re: A question re Aldi's.......

bonnielu — Wed, 07 May 2014 00:15:37 GMT

Love Aldi's and will admit the first time I went in I was not all that impressed. But it grew on me. Love the quarter in the shopping cart. No need to run over carts in the parking lot. I love the rotating selections and sales. Great chocolate cake, and I don't like chocolate cake normally. I find it a treasure hunt everytime I go in. I never know what I will find. They do publish a weekly flyer and that gives me some hints on what to expect.

We have about five of them as we travel from dance to dance in our five state area.

Re: A question re Aldi's.......

scatcat — Wed, 07 May 2014 00:28:45 GMT

On 5/6/2014 FunkyHulaGirl said:
On 5/6/2014 scatcat said: You can save a couple bucks shopping there if you can stomach the long lines, bagging your own groceries, debit or cash only and limited food selection. I am not a fan. A few things are good (brownie mix) but the store is not worth the hassle to save 5 cents on canned tomatoes. Their meat is disgusting. (But I once did get some lovely grapes there). I feel the same way about WalMart.

Actually, the lines are rarely long at any of my local Aldi stores (there are 3 nearby), I don't mind bagging my own groceries, and you don't save 5¢ on something - it's more like 1/3 - 1/2 off - sometimes even more. The meat at the ones here is also some of the best around, as is the produce - but you have to go early in the day to get the best selection.

As for debit or cash only, they're passing along the savings from having to pay credit card fees or the cost of bounced checks to the customers, which adds to the low prices.

You must work there. The lines at my Aldi are long. I know you think I'm lying, but I'm not. OP asked for opinions and I gave them to her. A can of Aldi's tomatoes are not half the price of Target's tomatoes. I'm glad you like Aldi's. I do not.

Re: A question re Aldi's.......

Tzu4u — Wed, 07 May 2014 00:55:21 GMT

Also no credit card- cash or debit cards only. It takes a couple of times going there to get the hang of it. This is a no-frills store, very plain and nothing to impress. You will save a thousand dollars a year just buying your basic stuff there. I have found all of the products to be as good as, or better than name-brand.

Re: A question re Aldi's.......

donasmom — Wed, 07 May 2014 01:53:30 GMT

Thank you all again. I love our new home. I am looking forward to all the new experiences we will be having. Aldi's sounds like fun. DH and I are both retired, so waiting in line won't be a problem.