Aldi's worth a 45 minute drive?

[Manda]

I have one about 3 blocks from my house and I never go there. It's tiny and kinda yucky. Although, all the homeless people mysteriously carry around all their items in Aldi bags... so they must make a really strong shopping bag.

 

[rdrjj5]

I don't know where you are in MA but there is an Aldi opening in Raynham MA on May 4th on rt 44 (just off 24) in the Staples/Bob's plaza. I've never been to one but will probably check it out when I have errands to run that way.


ETA: I also miss Spags especially this time of year. The garden shop use to be my favorite.

 

[pianoronni37]

I just went there during my lunch break and bought an entire week's supply of groceries for $36 for both DH and myself, including a few extras!

We got a decent sized pork roast, cube steak, frozen salmon, philly steak, fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, a couple of snack items, 2 boxes of chicken stock, spaghetti sauce, whole wheat pasta, spices that I was lacking, canned veggies (probably the best deal I've found - only $.55 for a can of spinach!), bread, cookies (!), frozen veggies, concentrated lemon juice, etc...

all for only $36?? That was awesome!!

 

[Cindy B]

I have one about 3 blocks from my house and I never go there. It's tiny and kinda yucky. Although, all the homeless people mysteriously carry around all their items in Aldi bags... so they must make a really strong shopping bag.

LOl.. that is true about the homeless people and the Aldi bags... I never thought about the mysterious power of the Aldi bags

 

[swilshire]

The closest Aldi's is 45 minutes from me. There seem to be many in RI and CT, but none in MA yet. I usually shop at Shaw's and Big Y and do well with double coupons, etc.

Do you find the savings at Aldi's worth while...I am curious to try it. Cash only and bring your own bags...just like Spag's used to be!!

Thanks!

I haven't read the other responses, but one opened in our area about six weeks ago. I go about once a week, but it's only about 4 miles out of the way when I travel home from work. Their milk and egg prices are the best in town (2.17 for 2% milk and 49 cents for eggs). I buy the cheese, which is a little cheaper than on sale at the other grocery stores, the sour cream which is about sale price at the other stores, and hamburger and hotdog buns (also about sale price at the other stores). Their store brand "pop tarts" are cheaper than the name brand or even the store brands.

That's about it. I haven't found any terrific deals on anything else. I did pick up a jar of salsa on my last trip but I haven't tried it.

No name brands at all. Selection very limited. Since it's a new store, the checkout lines have been terrible at times. Very irritating when they only have one or two open and several carts in line.

It will never be my only stop, but definitely worth a short detour to pick up some items.

Sheila

 

[thumpersfriend]

I was at an Aldi's in Bay City, Mi. last week for the first time. I took my mom who loves to shop there. I was surprised that it was so clean and bright in there. The produce was impressive, better than the Glens store in Standish and the frozen foods looked very interesting. Long story short, I had just shopped somewhere else and realized that next grocery shopping day I will go to Aldi's and try it. I will have to drive 20 miles. My daughter went to one in Brighton, Mi. a few weeks ago and she liked it. Who knows, the off brands may taste as good as the more expensive brand. think it is worth a try. I guess I don't think 45 minutes is such a drive.

 

[ShootingStarMom2]

To those who buy butter at Aldi's: I have only seen salted butter there, and yes it is cheaper than at the supermarket, but I do not like to use salted butter. Do they ever have unsalted?

Yes, they sell both kinds. I was there today. It's in a blue box. $1.49!

 

[ShootingStarMom2]

As for Aldi, there is nothing there I can't get somewhere else for a better price, not 1 thing.

Wow! I'd love to shop where you do. I can get milk, eggs, butter, bread, produce, and all dairy for less. Good luck if anyone decides to give it a try.

 

[abcboys]

We have an Aldis about 45 minutes or so from my house and have been there twice. While I don't think its really worth the time and money JUST to go there, we occassionally go to that town anyway as there is other stuff to do and just stop by Aldis when we can. It is a very nice and new Aldis and so far everything I have tried I have like. We only have 2 grocery stores here and neither one are that cheap. I don't have anything like a Wegmans I hear people talking about. I wish we had an Aldi's in our town. If there is other places to go I would consider going to that Aldi's but not sure it's worth a drive just for that.

I have a receipt here from my last shopping tip and some of the prices are.
gallon milk 1.89 cereal 1.89 french toast sticks 1.99 24ct popcicle 1.99 american cheese slices 1.49 cinnamon rolls 1.49 rice snacks 1.99 strawberries 1.69 instant oatmeat packs 1.49 8oz chunk cheese 1.29 bread .79 yogurt tubes 1.99 a whole pineapple 1.99 spaghetti sauce .99 butter 1.49

That's just some examples of the prices here but I'm sure they vary from different regions. Cheaper than my grocery store but I don't live in an area where they double coupons all the time and stuff like that.

 

[ShiPooOwner]

I agree with the pp's who say give it a try. It all depends on the quality of the store as there are very good Aldis and not so hot Aldis. There are several Aldis stores from which I can choose from and they vary a lot in quality. The one I prefer to go to is very clean and very well stocked. The cashiers are polite, helpful, and efficient. The produce is generally of excellent quality but I look it over carefully because it sometimes falls short. I often buy milk there as it is much cheaper than most of our stores in the area. I buy canned goods such as vegetables and soups (one of the cashiers said they are canned by a well known soup company and the same soup but Aldis name is on the can), yellow mustard, spices, bread, butter, sour cream, cream cheese, ice cream, dry onion soup mix which I use in hamburgers on the grill, meatloaf, on beef roast, etc. However, I do not like their cereals, their snack items, raisins, or their ketchup so I don't buy those there. I don't usually mind putting a quarter in the slot for a cart (you get it back when you return the cart) unless it's horrible weather. Then I wish I could just drop it in a cart corral next to my car. I also don't mind packing my own groceries in my own cloth bags because I like organizing them my way. I say give it a shot and if you don't like it, you don't ever have to go back but it's worth at least one trip. Oh, and they have the cutest Mickey and Friends pasta and Cars pasta!

 

[punkin]

Yes, they sell both kinds. I was there today. It's in a blue box. $1.49!

Thanks. I'm going to have to ask an employee at my store if they have it, because I have never seen it there. $1.49 is a really great price.

 

[Cindy B]

Wow! I'd love to shop where you do. I can get milk, eggs, butter, bread, produce, and all dairy for less. Good luck if anyone decides to give it a try.

I don't need luck. It happens all the time here without really "trying". My local Wegmans has milk, yogurt, eggs, and butter all at a cheaper price. Bread (lower end white) is the same price at Aldi's and Wegmans. The Wegmans brand cereal is cheaper than the Aldi's brand. Produce has be more expensive at Wegmans however. Some produce (bananas) is the same price. Soups are the same price.

Wegmans also offers double coupons (true doubles so 75 cents is 1.50) and more than one cashier and has many offerings.

Aldi's near me is sketchy at best. It is small, usually only one cashier. You need to bag your own groceries whereas Wegmans does it for you! If I am paying the same or less amount for the same product, I might as well get better services.

 

[julezdisney]

I have been shopping at Aldi's since I was in my late teens and I can tell you that their prices HAVE risen over the last 15 years. I now find that comparable total bill comes to around the same at Walmart OR Aldi. If you aren't a Wal-mart grocery shopper though, than it's def. cheaper than any other grocer you could find. Other posters have probably repeated this though- going their for staples and knock-off cereals can't be beat, and regular grocers for more fresh meat or for deli items.

45 minutes though? I think not.

 

[tinker&belle]

I love shopping there, it is quick to get in and out. I don't know if it would be worth it for you, it depends on what you buy. Here are the things that I buy that are ALWAYS cheaper than generic:

Almonds (MUCH, MUCH cheaper)
Wine (although not as much cause DH doesn't drink alone since I'm pregnant)
Chips, pretzels
Cheese
Fresh Salsa
Soups and broths
canned fruit
orange juice
spagetti sauce (their black label is great! Don't care for the cheap .99 stuff)
flour
sugar
butter
spices and grinding salt and peppers
extra-virgin olive oil
fruits

These are the ones I can think of off the top of my head. I can get these for half or less of what a generic costs at the supermarket. I would go and see, especially if you're headed that way anyway.

 

[Kidnurse]

I go there about twice a month. I think you won't truly know until you go if it's going to be worth it. I wouldnt make a special trip to just check it out, but the next time you're around that area, it wouldn't hurt to just stop in and see what all the fuss is about. Here's a list of the things I can always find cheaper at Aldi's:

frozen waffles 1.15
1 gal skim milk
white wheat bread
pecans
kids yogurt
shredded cheese
chips & pretzels
bacon wrapped steaks
oscar mayer deli select coldcuts
tomatoes (fresh)
cucumbers (fresh)
green peppers (fresh)
onions (fresh)
green seedless grapes (fresh)
strawberries (fresh)
bananas (fresh)
apples (fresh)
off brand gatorade (My husband cant tell the difference)
their "Fit & Active) Strawberry lemonade
ice cream pops
chicken breasts
chicken broth (canned)
beef broth (canned)
tomato sauce
tomato paste
macaroni and cheese

 

[C.Ann]

For anyone who does a lot of baking, you simply won't find prices less than Aldi's for what you need anywhere.. Just the nuts alone are "give-away" prices compared to other grocery stores and Walmart.. Flours, sugars, butter, maraschino cherries, graham pie crusts, frozen pie crusts, olive oil, canola oil, sweetened condensed milk, pie fillings, etc., just can't be beat..

For general shopping the same holds true in our area - unless there are some specific name brands you "have" to have - which in many cases I have tricked my DD and her DH into "thinking" they were name brand just by putting them in empty name brand containers..

The only thing I really don't care for at Aldi's are their chips.. Something just doesn't taste right about them, so I never buy them.. Other than that, I will buy everything I can there (usually around $95 to $120) for 2 carts overflowing with groceries - and then stop by the regular supermarket (and/or Walmart) for the "must have" name brand items (coffee comes to mind) and certain meats that aren't available at Aldi's.. That food will last me for months!!

When you're over that way give it a try.. Nothing ventured, nothing gained..

As others have said, there are good Aldi's and not-so-good Aldi's.. I'm fortunate in that all of mine are better than good - and I love saving all that money!!

As for bagging your own groceries, I prefer to bag my own.. Cashiers and baggers (the few places that still have "baggers") are always too rushed - make each bag too heavy for me - and "mix" items in bags that should never be mixed (bars of soap in with your bread; cans on top of your eggs; etc..).. So - regardless of where I'm shopping, I always bag my own groceries.. Makes it much, much easier to put all those things away when I get home..

 

[kellia]

I love Aldi, ours is very clean! Of course it's like any other store, there are some that aren't as nice. I don't get all of our food there, but they are great for "staples" and fresh produce (usually). I don't know if I'd spend 45 min unless I was going that way anyway. I usually go 1 or 2 times a month and stock up. They have great prices and I've never had a problem with their food.

I just went to Trader Joe's (1 hr away) this weekend since everyone has raved about them. We did get some cool stuff, but wow, I thought they were so expensive!! I have liked the stuff we tried so far, but good thing it's so far away!

 

[brandydandy]

Our Aldi's is 1.25 hours from me. It is brand new and wonderful. I do not go there just to go to the store, that is my only big shopping town, but I usually spend at least $150 each time, and get a ton of stuff.

We love the dried pineapple $1.39, Milk is $1.99 a gallon, the fresh produce is awesome Strawberries .99, The mini wheats are just as good and only $1.69 for a box, the have pinapple/cherrie fruit cups for $1.49 my kids love them... I usually load my cart/carts full.

We did find that we didn't like their beef hotdogs, but so far most of the other things are good. This one has a large selection of fresh meat.

We just add Aldi's into our shopping day. I wish we had one closer.

 

[Kathi OD]

Also happened to be in a town that has a Trader Joe's recently. Stopped in for the first time. Lots of unique & different foods, but I wasn't impressed with the prices like everyone raves about. Didn't want to spend that kind of money on food I had never heard of or tasted.

ITA about TJ. I have thinks I like to buy (dried fruit) but I am not convinced it is a great savings.

ITA about TJ's. Much ado about nothing, IMHO.

There are some possible problems but also some potential.

Some Aldi's are just nasty and you never know if you're going to get a good one or one of the nasty ones until you're there.

Some of their food is very good and some is very bad, but that also depends on your personal preference. Really what I used to do is if I wasn't sure, I'd buy one and try it out. If it was good, next time I'd buy several. But that's easy to do because it's not 45 minutes away. And I think the suppliers might be different depending on where you live? I remember posting on some forum a long time ago about Aldi's canned green beans the whole can was just the "ends" and awful, and someone else said they'd never had a problem with that and their canned green beans were perfect.

45 minutes means you'd need to take a cooler for anything frozen or fridged, which is some of their best stuff.

The good stuff: You can stock up for cheap! If you're up for buying a whole flat of soup, you know, someone who buys in quantity and knows what to do with it all, you can save some big bucks. And as such, if you could plan to go there once a month and do that stock-piling, it would probably even out on the gas. I don't know that I'd make a special trip because you'd have to buy a whole lot to make up for 1/2 tank of gas.

The whole bag-your-own and 25 cent shopping carts are not a biggie. Ours always has boxes and they have a counter for you to use to pack everything up.

I agree with this poster. Where we used to live, the Aldi's was nasty. The one near this house is great. If you don't mind going to more than one store for all your groceries, then it can be worth it. I'll be doing more of my shopping there, but continuing to go to Wegman's for the bulk of my shopping. FWIW, while milk at Wegman's is cheaper than Aldi's, you have to have their shopping card to get the cheap price. If not, it's more than almost everywhere else around.

 

[Cindy B]

ITA about TJ's. Much ado about nothing, IMHO.



I agree with this poster. Where we used to live, the Aldi's was nasty. The one near this house is great. If you don't mind going to more than one store for all your groceries, then it can be worth it. I'll be doing more of my shopping there, but continuing to go to Wegman's for the bulk of my shopping. FWIW, while milk at Wegman's is cheaper than Aldi's, you have to have their shopping card to get the cheap price. If not, it's more than almost everywhere else around.

Isn't the shopping card NOT a big deal? I know when Wegmans in Cherry Hill opened, you got a HUGE packet of free item coupons if you signed up for shoppers card.

I guess if you are opposed to data mining, free perks and a possible loss of privacy you don't have to get the card. I do have cards for every conceivable grocery store in the tricounty area, so that isn't a huge deal.

FWIW, BJ's milk prices are a few pennies more than Wegman's but still less than Aldi's.