topic Re: Aldi?? in Community Chat

Aldi??

conlt — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 17:55:40 GMT

They are building an Aldi store in my town. Apparently it is a discount little grocery store. Trader Joes and Aldi are owned by the same company. but it is not a Trader Joes. Has anyone ever shopped at Aldi? If so what is it like? Some of the reviews on line were interesting and pretty good.

Re: Aldi??

CardinalGirl — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 18:18:41 GMT

We have one in my town and I love it! The prices are great and you can find lots of great things. You'll find many of the same things you do at Trader Joe's, but cheaper. They have a great selection of gourmet cheeses...and a wonderful frozen food department.

Re: Aldi??

pommom — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 18:38:37 GMT

Selection and variety are poor in my neighborhood store.

Re: Aldi??

terrier3 — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 18:43:45 GMT

I LOVE Trader Joe's.

I don't like Aldi's. The Aldi in my neighborhood is dirty, poorly lit and the products are sketchy. Things like butter, flour, staples are inexpensive and good.

Their produce is TERRIBLE and the frozen food is cheap and filled with preservatives. A lot of products come from Germany - the parent of both companies.

They charge per paper bag and don't take credit cards or checks - so they aren't convenient for me - I don't like to carry a lot of money.

Re: Aldi??

firstsoprano — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 19:33:44 GMT

I shop at Aldi's before I visit my large chain grocery store. I like their fresh fruit and veggies; the prices on canned fruits and veggies are really low. I have purchased cheese, lunchmeat, milk and eggs as well as baking supplies and have been quite happy with everything. The paper products are inexpensive and good quality.

Re: Aldi??

moonstone dunes — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 20:19:08 GMT

I like the cheeses, the greek yogurt is OK, it isn't like the Fage brand but it's good. The boxed cereals are MillVille made by General Mills. The Muesli and granolas are good. Lots of canned goods, most are national brands re-labeled for ALDI's.

Produce is hit or miss, much is plastic shrink wrapped. Potatoes. onions, bagged lemons and limes are good, but beware of the other out of season fruits. Pears and apples same as the ones sold last Fall. I do not buy any of the frozen foods, the pizza was marginal, crab cakes were salty cardboard and the frozen shrimp was spoiled upon opening the bag.

There are always special deals on non-food items. Toys, small electrics, Kitchen goods, camping gear, gardening stuff, his week they offered dorm supplies, sheets, etc.

Always save your receipt in case anything breaks or goes bad; ALDI is very good about returns. I've emailed them with questions and they've responded quite promptly.

Re: Aldi??

RibbonsRosesRainbows — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 21:04:07 GMT

We may be getting one here but I don't know why we have enough stores and some are family owned.

Re: Aldi??

RibbonsRosesRainbows — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 21:05:09 GMT

On 7/12/2014 moonstone dunes said:
I like the cheeses, the greek yogurt is OK, it isn't like the Fage brand but it's good. The boxed cereals are MillVille made by General Mills. The Muesli and granolas are good. Lots of canned goods, most are national brands re-labeled for ALDI's.

Produce is hit or miss, much is plastic shrink wrapped. Potatoes. onions, bagged lemons and limes are good, but beware of the other out of season fruits. Pears and apples same as the ones sold last Fall. I do not buy any of the frozen foods, the pizza was marginal, crab cakes were salty cardboard and the frozen shrimp was spoiled upon opening the bag.

There are always special deals on non-food items. Toys, small electrics, Kitchen goods, camping gear, gardening stuff, his week they offered dorm supplies, sheets, etc.

Always save your receipt in case anything breaks or goes bad; ALDI is very good about returns. I've emailed them with questions and they've responded quite promptly.

I love Muesli and they don't sell it anywhere in this town. Maybe it comes to Big Lots every once in awhile so that will be nice if we are really getting one.

Re: Aldi??

GCR18 — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 21:10:51 GMT

I find my local store dirty and unorganized. It's been a couple years, so maybe I'll give them another shot.

Re: Aldi??

Feline Fine — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 04:03:16 GMT

On 7/12/2014 terrier3 said:
I LOVE Trader Joe's.

I don't like Aldi's. The Aldi in my neighborhood is dirty, poorly lit and the products are sketchy. Things like butter, flour, staples are inexpensive and good.

Their produce is TERRIBLE and the frozen food is cheap and filled with preservatives. A lot of products come from Germany - the parent of both companies.

They charge per paper bag and don't take credit cards or checks - so they aren't convenient for me - I don't like to carry a lot of money.

Is that a problem for you?

Re: Aldi??

Feline Fine — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 04:05:19 GMT

On 7/12/2014 RibbonsRosesRainbows said:
On 7/12/2014 moonstone dunes said:
I like the cheeses, the greek yogurt is OK, it isn't like the Fage brand but it's good. The boxed cereals are MillVille made by General Mills. The Muesli and granolas are good. Lots of canned goods, most are national brands re-labeled for ALDI's.

Produce is hit or miss, much is plastic shrink wrapped. Potatoes. onions, bagged lemons and limes are good, but beware of the other out of season fruits. Pears and apples same as the ones sold last Fall. I do not buy any of the frozen foods, the pizza was marginal, crab cakes were salty cardboard and the frozen shrimp was spoiled upon opening the bag.

There are always special deals on non-food items. Toys, small electrics, Kitchen goods, camping gear, gardening stuff, his week they offered dorm supplies, sheets, etc.

Always save your receipt in case anything breaks or goes bad; ALDI is very good about returns. I've emailed them with questions and they've responded quite promptly.

I love Muesli and they don't sell it anywhere in this town. Maybe it comes to Big Lots every once in awhile so that will be nice if we are really getting one.

Amazon.com has muesli, including the low-fat kind (healthier).

Re: Aldi??

CardinalGirl — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 06:52:57 GMT

I wanted to add that the Aldi's we had before was old, poorly lit and kind of dirty feeling, like other posters have said. I never shopped there. However, they built a beautiful, new store here a couple of years ago. I shop there regularly, now.

As someone else said, they don't take checks or credit cards. They do take debit cards, though, which is what I use.

Re: Aldi??

HHC1 — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 11:43:55 GMT

There is a new store in my neighborhood. Their inventory is mostly "off brand". They offer non-food items (folding chairs, umbrellas, tables etc.) at good prices. I love their hot fudge topping. I think the brand is Berryhill.

Re: Aldi??

irishmama5 — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 13:39:36 GMT

The Aldi's by me is small and dirty. CASH ONLY. I buy certain items. This week watermellon $4.00

Re: Aldi??

emmysmom — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 13:44:50 GMT

I started going to Aldi's a year ago. Their prices are great! You have to pay in cash or use a debit card. They also have nice specials, I got my flowers there, 2 flameless candle lanterns, a darling kitchen mat and (I'm eyeing a bean bag for my son's room.. $14.99) You can't beat their prices and I feel their quality is great!

Re: Aldi??

DoubleDog2 — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 16:38:11 GMT

Love Aldi's - we drive about 90 miles round trip every week to shop there. If you don't like something they will give you your money back, no questions asked. I use our debit card (the ONLY place I use it) and can get $$ back if necessary. No ATM fees.

Re: Aldi??

151949 — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 16:46:25 GMT

We had one near us when we lived in pa but I found the off brand foods often had a funny taste, so I only shopped there a few times. However, the store was bright and clean.

Now the closest Aldis to where we live in Fl is about a 45 min drive and I would not drive that far as it would use up all the savings on gas. We have a Save a lot in our neighborhood that seems to be the same type of store and the produce is very fresh so I shop there. I still have to take my own bags.

Re: Aldi??

millieshops — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 17:09:27 GMT

Yikes. No credit cards! Glad I didn't drive out of my way to check out the new store about 10 miles from me.

I'll go some day when I'm in their neighborhood, but that could be a long time from now. It doesn't sound like anything special for a shopper who lives and pretty much eats alone at home. Am I right or wrong here?

Re: Aldi??

terrier3 — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 17:14:42 GMT

On 7/13/2014 millieshops said:
Yikes. No credit cards! Glad I didn't drive out of my way to check out the new store about 10 miles from me.

I'll go some day when I'm in their neighborhood, but that could be a long time from now. It doesn't sound like anything special for a shopper who lives and pretty much eats alone at home. Am I right or wrong here?

Nothing special at all.

Re: Aldi??

MikafromTopeka — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 17:37:33 GMT

We've had one here for over a decade. When my kids were little and we went through a lot of crackers and cereal they were great but now every time I stop in (maybe every other year) and stock up my husband turns his nose up at almost everything. He says things taste like cardboard or something. He's in his early sixties' and I think his taste buds are messed up. The kids didn't complain.

They accept debit but not credit.

Some products could come from Germany but they also contract to manufacturers to make their own lines (brands).

Their canned chicken is usually a good deal for sandwiches.