Anyone have an Aldi? Do you like it?

[THUNDERMOUNTAINMOMMA]

We are getting a new Aldi grocery store this fall. If you have one, how do you like it? How are their prices? TIA!

 

[*pixie*dust*]

Prices are good. The majority of stuff is "off" brand. If you are not a brand name shopper there is significant savings to be had especially on staple items. They don't carry everthing but canned goods and such are markedly cheaper than other grocery stores in my area. I can't buy everything there but some things are a good bargain.

If you are unfamiliar with the stores, also know that you need to bring your own bags or you can purchase them. You also have to put a 25 cent "deposit" into the cart that you only get back if you put the cart back in the proper place. I didn't know that the first time I went and didn't have a quarter. Luckily, someone took pity on me and made change for me so I could get a cart. lol

 

[Nik's Mom]

I like Aldi's. I buy chocolate chip cookies( tastes like Chip a Hoy) for $1.99. Generic Wheat thins for $1.29, milk (2%) for $2.19, eggs 89 cents, butter (generic tastse like butter brand) 99 cents, pasta, spaghetti sauce, cheese, paper plates, spices, flour or anything for baking, etc. If fruit and vegetables look good, I will buy it there. But it's hit or miss. I can buy 6 bags worth of groceries for less than $50.

I do still have to go to the regular grocery store for other items though. Aldi's doesn't have everything that I need.

 

[THUNDERMOUNTAINMOMMA]

Thanks for your replies! Now I know to be prepared with a quarter before I go! The prices you posted look good!

 

[tinkmom2]

I love Aldi's. Just went there today. I never buy my meat there though. It is vaccume packed so you never know how long it's been there. Also bring your own bags. Our Aldi's near us is always busy. They have only one cashier open and it's always busy.

 

[jacksmom]

Ours is just okay! Kind of hit or miss!

 

[Jen117]

I used to be a die hard Aldi enthusiast.... until several of my regular products changed and the quality went downhill. No one in my house would eat them. So I changed my focus and started couponing... now I save even more than I did when I shopped at Aldi and I am buying name brand items. I was amazed. Aldi is good for some items, you have to try them and see if you like them. Walmart canned veggies are cheaper than our Aldi store now since Aldi raised a lot of their prices. Just watch closely at the prices and try some things out.

 

[rock_doctor]

They are ok. We shop only at Aldi. The products they carry are made for them exclusively so they really are not off brand. Aldi is a German chain of stores that have stores all though out Europe. So it is actually a quite a large company just not that big in the US yet. They have high end and low end products to match what you want to spend.

Be warned....they give the cashiers a specific amount of time to check you out so they hurry. Keep this in mine when the cashier is throwing your stuff into your cart like it is unwanted garbage. It isn't personal they are required to hurry as fast as they can. This is the only thing i do not like about the store and it does actually make me quite mad...

 

[disneymarie]

Thanks for your replies! Now I know to be prepared with a quarter before I go! The prices you posted look good!

I love the fresh large pizza, price just went up a bit over $6 now I think. I get my baking items and sugar, it is a 5lb not 4lb bag. The broth, eggs, and canned veggies area great.

I detest the Hotdogs!!!!!!!!! I had a large wrap shell, white,not corn looking, but it was dry fell apart and bland tasting.

Save a ton getting from there and Angel Foods off the impulse buying.
Oh I got a back pack computer bag, lots of packing, padding, for my 17" laptop there in May for $19.99. can't find anything as nice for my grandson now.

 

[DisneyDebbie]

We have a newer Aldi's, it's okay. They have a huge pizza for $5.99 in the fridge section) that I like. My main problem is that I use credit cards to build up rewards (payed off each month) and my Aldi's doesn't take credit.

 

[suzannecstarr]

I do not care for Aldi simply because so much of the food offered (at least at ours) is made in China. I am well aware that most of what I buy is made in China but not my food. They have so many issues with contamination in foods and personal health products (most notably baby formula!!!!) that I won't go near food made there and I certainly won't give it to my kids.

 

[santadog]

...Our Aldi's near us is always busy. They have only one cashier open and it's always busy.

That's exactly how ours was........ Until Hyvee opened next door: now it's a ghost town.

 

[pommfrites]

my brother is a manager for them and many of the brands are not "off brands" as many like to say, but rather ones that did not meet the standards of the "name brands". Like the pasta, it may contain a little more of this or that, or the sauce is sweeter or chunkier than they like, therefore they sell it thru Aldi with another name. So try the items and see what you like, but many are the slightly changed/different versions of the major brands. I agree about the meats though...so does many an employee. Veggies (fresh) are also hit and miss, some good some bad.

 

[WeLoveToyStory]

We tried Aldi once a few months ago, I was not overly impressed with the prices. I spent just as much there as I would have at my regular grocer using coupons. And after I went to Aldi's I still had to go to the regular grocer anyways to pick up meat and produce and a few more specific items.

Some of the items we did find were just as good as name brands...canned baked beans tasted just like Bush's, corn tortillas we thought were better than Ortega's. One thing to avoid at all cost....their version of Velveeta shells/macaroni....oh, my! My kids love any kind of mac & cheese, but absolutely detested this and I agree. It was awful! I bought two boxes, we tasted the first one and threw it out and then just threw away the 2nd box.

 

[Alesia]

I love their produce! And, trust me, I am incredibly picky when it comes to produce. When our Aldi first opened, I saved over $75 a month on fruit alone.

 

[Melynny]

We shop almost exclusively at Aldi's. We have been for several years. The Everything said above is true. We save about 30% off our food bill (or that was what it was a few years ago, I don't have anything to compare it to since we have been shopper there so long!). We are in the mid west ( St. Louis area) and When I am forced to go to a other supermarket, I am appauled at the prices.... expecially the produce, breads, crackers and cookies. There is no way that I would go back to those stores.

The neat thing about Aldi's is that they have weekly specials to change up your menu.. they have weeks that they focus on Mexican, Itialian, Summer Fare, Asian, German and more, It's really neat, and you will find you have your favorites of those too. And learn to stock up on items as you see them come available. I think they have less factories, and rotate those special weeks by region (my mexican week may be another regions asian..) Some good things to try are the Southern style breaded chicken breasts, we love the "cheap" ice cream. Hamburger and Hot dog buns are 79 cents, at our Walmart they are 1.49..Plain mustard is 79.cents. Their pickels are very very good.. I could go on. but you will have to try it for yourself

 

[Christie74]

I do shop at Aldi for a few things. Mainly the sugar, flour, milk, eggs, cheese and produce. The great thing about them is if your not happy with an item you purchase they will refund your money.

 

[lizbaby007]

Aldis is hit or miss for me. I tend to shop my local grocery store with coupons more than Aldi. The one thing that bugs me is the "limited time" items. You try something that is delicious and go back to buy more only to discover it was a one time or limited time item and is no longer carried. I don't want to stock up on something I have never tried before, but if I don't I risk it not being there anymore even if I go back just a couple days later.

 

[MELSMICE]

I shop at Aldi & also do couponing at our local grocery chains. Like a previous poster, I get baking supplies, along with eggs, cereal, juices. Flavored coffee creamer, cream cheese, juices, cereal and many other items are much less expensive.

You do have to know your prices though. There are times I can find a name brand item on sale & use a coupon at my grocery store & get a better deal.

I don't buy meat there & produce is hit or miss. I bought many pineapples there this year because they were $1.99 & our other stores were $2.99 or $3.99 for the same Dole pineapple. DH thought they were smaller from Aldi, but they looked the same size to me!

 

[Cjmuma]

Like all bargain places... You have to know your prices and watch what you are getting. I love their nacho cheese chips - I actually like them better than doritos. Their cheese is great! Much cheaper than wally world. I am in a small town, with only a couple of choices, and there are many things I only get at aldi's