Aldi Pricing “Scam”?

[RedAngie]

I’m not a frequent Aldi shopper. For starters the closest one isn’t particularly convenient, and they don’t carry some items I need, like lower sodium products.
But the products I did try are satisfactory.

Last week in Los Angeles one of the local TV news stations had a story about Aldi’s pricing labels. They put some “sale” stickers over the regular shelf labels leading shoppers to believe the products have been reduced in price. Yet the regular labels underneath show the “sale” price as the everyday price.

I went to the closest Aldi yesterday since I was in the area to check.







There were at least a dozen other similar situations throughout the store.

On the LA news story the store manager refused to comment and corporate sent a self-serving BS statement about the practice.

 

[RedAngie]

I do like how Aldi’s packaging mimics well known name brands and some of their house brand names are amusing, like Happy Harvest canned diced tomatoes and Dakota Pride canned kidney beans.



Fish flakes?? The stuff you feed to your aquarium fish??

I found this amusing so I bought it. They’re probably putrid.

 

[Schneewittchen37]

Nice going. Like Crazy Eddie.

 

[LuvOrlando]

When I walk into an Aldi I have pretty much agreed to being in an alternate universe and I'm good with that ; )
They were very close to the family home, had the lowest priced staples like eggs, milk and everyday veggies AND beautiful affordable flowers which started me in the habit of keeping them on the table to cheer up the place.

Where we are now has Trader Joe's which is also it's own universe of brands, cheap staples and pretty but inexpensive flowers.

 

[BrianL]

It's not that different than what so many stores do that have a "regular price" and then a percent off - but the product is ALWAYS that percent off. It's just a psychological game. Either the current price is worth it to you or it isn't and you make your decision based on that.

 

[kdonnel]

I believe that that is just the new price for those items so the savers tag and the regular tag are the same price.

If you had been in the store before the savers tag was added the regular tag would have read the higher price.

At least that is how I have seen the 24 packs of purified water get priced at my local store.

 

[eticketplease]

It's been a long time since shopping at CVS but they would list items in their flyer at the regular price but it was perceived as being on sale since it was in the weekly sales flyer.

 

[georgina]

I like Aldi mostly for produce, canned veggies, eggs, and dairy staples. I don't really care about the price tag issue, whether it is on sale or not. If I am OK with the price I buy it.

 

[focusondisney]

I believe that that is just the new price for those items so the savers tag and the regular tag are the same price.

If you had been in the store before the savers tag was added the regular tag would have read the higher price.

At least that is how I have seen the 24 packs of purified water get priced at my local store.

Yea, are those the new “rolled back to 2019” prices they announced for some items?

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I know several people who work for Aldi corporate. A lot of their food is by the same manufacturer as the name brand, just the packaging looks different or has a different amount in it.

 

[eticketplease]

I know several people who work for Aldi corporate. A lot of their food is by the same manufacturer as the name brand, just the packaging looks different or has a different amount in it.

That might be, but they don't seem to follow the same recipe!!

The snacks are never as salty and cookies are not as sweet.

Not saying that is a bad thing as lower sodium/sugar is generally a good thing but they just don't have the same taste even when comparing to name or other store brands

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I don't worry too much about what's a sales price vs. a regular price. I know the prices of the items I usually buy and I know if I'm getting a good deal or not. For example, Fuji apples at my local store run anywhere from 99 cents to nearly $3 a pound. If they're at the higher end, I just don't buy them that week. If I see that they're at $1.49 a pound or less, I get some. I never pay more than 50 cents each for Keurig pods. Even if a box is "on sale" I do the math to see how much I'm paying for each pod. If it's over 50 cents, I won't buy it. My son loves Baked Lay's potato chips. I won't pay over $3.99 a bag for them, and even that's a bit high. If I wait to get them at Walmart, they're more like $3.49. Supermarkets definitely play games with the pricing and labeling to make you think you're getting a good deal. The key is to know your prices and so you can judge if you're getting a deal or getting ripped off.

 

[focusondisney]

That might be, but they don't seem to follow the same recipe!!

The snacks are never as salty and cookies are not as sweet.

Not saying that is a bad thing as lower sodium/sugar is generally a good thing but they just don't have the same taste even when comparing to name or other store brands

My DH has been in management for 2 major food manufacturers, including managing the plant he is semi retired from. They make their own brands, but also contract to make store brands. They’ve done products for Aldi, Walmart, Wegmans & many others. Each store can specify their own particular recipe. So each one might taste a little different, even tho they are all made in the same name brand plant. And some companies prefer certain sized packages, even specify how many packages are in the carton that’s shipped to the company. But it is the same quality of ingredients in each item, no matter whose name is in the package.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I’m not a frequent Aldi shopper. For starters the closest one isn’t particularly convenient, and they don’t carry some items I need, like lower sodium products.
But the products I did try are satisfactory.

Last week in Los Angeles one of the local TV news stations had a story about Aldi’s pricing labels. They put some “sale” stickers over the regular shelf labels leading shoppers to believe the products have been reduced in price. Yet the regular labels underneath show the “sale” price as the everyday price.

I went to the closest Aldi yesterday since I was in the area to check.

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There were at least a dozen other similar situations throughout the store.

On the LA news story the store manager refused to comment and corporate sent a self-serving BS statement about the practice.

Usually, they do this when they are planning a product permanent price raise, so you forgot that this "sale" price was the original regular price last week...

I've seen the practice at loads of different grocery chains this year...

 

[Mysterian]

I need to know how those Turkey chips taste. Nice touch adding "Gobble Gobble" to the packaging, really grabs the consumer eye.

Now I will say that the original $1.45/$1.49 price tags and the new $1.45/$1.49 tags both state "Retail Price". But what does that make the higher $1.79/$1.95 prices?

I've seen something at Gamestop where they have clearance items reduced 50%, yet some of the clearance stickers are the same price as the regular retail stickers underneath. No harm there, they're still chopping the price in half. But that's neither here not there. What do the Gobble Gobble chips taste like??

 

[jo-jo]

One thing that drives me crazy about aldi's is looking online, trying to compare price of say eggs there or Lidi's. Do search, see price in store......check lettuce....see price in store.

I have to drive by a Lidi's to get to Aldi's so where the prices are cheaper, that's where I'm stopping.

 

[AppleDumpling]

Not familiar with Aldi’s, there are none around here and I’ve never been to one. It does seem like a deceptive practice, but in the end, if you’re getting the product for a good price, does it really matter?

I too am curious about the stuffing flavored chips. They actually sound pretty good!

 

[DLgal]

It's no worse than Kohls or any similar big box department store does. Although they actually RAISE prices to then "discount" them to MSRP. That's more annoying and deceptive.

 

[QueenIsabella]

I don't see what the issue is. They are saying "save", not "sale". The price is a bit lower than the crossed-out one. I have no idea if they actually sold any at the original price. Stores do stuff like that all the time--like raising the price, then offering a BOGO. You have to know your prices going in, or look and see if the price makes sense for you.

I didn't notice the stuffing potato chips when I was in Aldi's this morning, but may have to go back and buy a bag. Just in the interest of providing information, you understand. Although I'm not usually a fan of wavy chips. But, anything for you guys.

 

[tvguy]

It's been a long time since shopping at CVS but they would list items in their flyer at the regular price but it was perceived as being on sale since it was in the weekly sales flyer.

I have a love-hate relationship with CVS.
Their pharmacy is great.
But their food items are sketchy. The two CVSs closest to me have big signs on the dairy cases saying it is the customer's responsibility to check expiration dates on products BEFORE you buy them. NO, IT'S YOUR JOB TO HAVE YOUR EMPLOYEES PULL EXPIRED PRODUCTS!