What are Aldi's prices like?

[worm761]

There isn't an Aldi's within 100 miles of me. I had one when I lived up north but that was 8 years ago. My sister is getting married in Tennessee near Nashville at the end of the month. I was thinking about maybe making a visit to Aldi's while we are there and stocking up on some stuff. Pasta, cereal, things that won't really go bad for a while. I was just wondering what the prices were like and if it would be worth a trip over.

 

[eliza61]

When Aldlis opened in South Jersey unfortunately there was a big scandal involving them repackaging meat that was past it's expiration date. That was a few summers ago, 2008 I think. Anyway, I though the prices were good but that incident scared me and I haven't been back.

 

[Cindy B]

When Aldlis opened in South Jersey unfortunately there was a big scandal involving them repackaging meat that was past it's expiration date. That was a few summers ago, 2008 I think. Anyway, I though the prices were good but that incident scared me and I haven't been back.

I don't touch meat there either. I also only go to certain ones. The one on the Camden/Collingswood border-- no. Mt. Laurel- yes, because my gym is right there.

As for prices, I find that my local grocery store is very competitive in price so I hardly have a need to go to Aldi. If I am out of something and I'm right there, I'll go in, but it is not part of my regular shopping experience. Aldi's does not take coupons,let alone double them so I have a hard time justifying spending money there.

 

[momto2inKC]

We've started doing some of our shopping at Aldi's. Some items are cheaper- dairy products (milk, eggs, cheeses, yogurt, sour cream, etc..), fresh fruit/veggies, bread products, some frozen items. The rest- pastas, canned items, snacks, etc...I can get for the same price at my grocery store.

 

[Pigeon]

You probably can look at the weekly fliers for the destination you are interested in on their website.

I agree that some things are cheaper and some aren't. Their baking supplies, snacks, crackers, cheeses, canned tomato products, Mexican items, yogurt, canned broth, dried beans, rice, bagel bites, dried fruit, cereal and ice cream are things I regularly buy. The price on pasta and sauce is a little better than the house brand at my regular grocery store but not much. I love much of their house brand make-up, better than stuff that costs five times as much. The chocolate is to die for. The take and bake pizza is great. I buy some produce. I don't buy meat there and actually usually see it cheaper on sale at my regular market.

There are also some items that aren't there all the time that can be quite good. The take and bake bread is great.

 

[mama2ella]

I only buy certain things and only b/c it is nearby

--tp
--milk
--apple juice
--bottled water
--applesauce
--the kids love their mini muffins

 

[DOOM1001]

My two closest Aldis are about 20-25 minutes away and about 40 minutes away,when you have 7 Publix supermarkets,3 Winn Dixies,a Target and Wal Mart with grocery stores all within a 10 minute drive I just never get to Aldi.I have been inside of them as they're both fairly new to my area and I was curious.My first impression was of a dollar store with a grocery store,that was the one twenty minutes away,I also went to the one 40 minutes away and that one was nicer.The prices were pretty good,milk was a dollar less than Publix and most of the items with their unusual brands were also cheaper.As others have said I wouldn't touch meat from there but if they built one within 5-10 minute drive from me I would shop for some stuff there.My closest publix is like 3 minutes away and still is my main store followed by a Wal Mart about 10 minutes away.One question I have for regular Aldi shoppers as both times I've been in one there's only been one register open,is that normal?

 

[mama2ella]

One question I have for regular Aldi shoppers as both times I've been in one there's only been one register open,is that normal?

yes unless they are super busy. It is part of their whole concept to not have very many staff so they can save you $$ on the food.

 

[Schmoodle]

I've been an Aldi's shopper for 2 years and loooove it. I think the prices are great. Yes, they do vary, but overall my bill there is usually just a bit more than half what I would pay at Safeway or Giant Eagle, and also overall I find the quality is quite good. We prefer their cereal bars to Nutrigrain, their chocolate is to die for, their fresh (refrigerated) salsa is really good, I could go on. What I really love is that I can be in and out in less than 20 minutes with my weekly shopping done. I should note that I don't buy meat, dairy, eggs, or produce there, but that's just personal preference as I prefer to get that stuff from local farmers. On occasion I'll buy their 3-lb bags of frozen chicken pieces, but rarely fresh meat.

 

[dhardawa]

I went about a week ago and wasn't impressed. I went for milk because theirs is so much cheaper, but there wasn't a gallon of skim milk in the whole place. Things like crackers were cheaper, but the boxes were smaller so when I figured it by the ounce, it was about the same as Wal Mart. I ended up buying a few cans of fruit for a few cents less and a box of soft pretzels for 12 cents less than Wal Mart. I won't be making the trip again.

 

[tar heel]

The absolute biggest savings I've found is baking ingredients, especially nuts, dried fruit, etc. I can make my Christmas fudge for half price if I stop at Aldi.

If I stop in I usually also buy cinnamon graham crackers, which are about a 1/3 the price of the grocery store, and produce. Price and quality tend to be really good on apples, red and yellow peppers, pineapples, avocadoes and citrus fruits. Potatoes are not the smoooth baking ones but are really cheap. Sometimes the tomatoes on the vine ($1.99 for 24 oz.) are good and sometimes they're not.

I don't buy meat there, so that isn't an issue. I don't buy factory-produced "fresh" meat anywhere, which means I don't get it at Target and Walmart either. Salt-based preservatives in stew beef -- yikes!

 

[jstbcuz]

I went there today. I bought eggs for 1.18 a dozen for large eggs. Thats atleast 60 cents savings per dozen. Their 8 ounce bar of cheese is 1.99, and everywhere else it is 2.29 or more! I like to buy my fruit there, but you do have to be careful sometimes. Today I bought a 3 lb bag of red delicious apples for 2.99, and plums and peaches too. I do buy there frozen pizza bites....I think they are 2.49 which is comparable to the store ones.

You just have to know your prices......and go with it!

 

[swilshire]

The first one that opened in town was cheaper for a while and then their prices were the same as Krogers, who takes coupons and credit cards. We stopped shopping there.

They had a grand opening of a new one today and I went. Some customers had coupons they got in the mail, but I didn't get one. Eggs were cheap, 69 cents. Milk was 10 cents cheaper than the local Krogers, but I get the senior discount on Wednesday and save 15 cents at Krogers. Coffee filters were 50 cents cheaper than advertised at our local Ingles grocery.

In other words, eggs were the only big bargain, and from experience, they'll go up in a couple of months. And the lines were very long and all the samples that had been advertised were long gone.

Sheila

 

[North of Mouse]

There isn't an Aldi's within 100 miles of me. I had one when I lived up north but that was 8 years ago. My sister is getting married in Tennessee near Nashville at the end of the month. I was thinking about maybe making a visit to Aldi's while we are there and stocking up on some stuff. Pasta, cereal, things that won't really go bad for a while. I was just wondering what the prices were like and if it would be worth a trip over.

We have Aldi's here where I live and you can definitely save a bundle on "some" things. I coupon so can buy most brand groceries cheaper at our grocery stores (especially Harris Teeter). But to give you an idea on some savings, I just got back from there and reading from my receipt I bought - 1 lb. bags baby carrots @.49, avocados (nice ones) @.49, 8oz. mushrooms @.59 (snow white & fresh), large pkg. broccoli crowns @.89 and 3#bag onions $1.69. They had celery @.49, but didn't need any, and they were out of grape tomatoes pt. @.69. They are about to open a lot closer to me so will use it even more, but mostly for produce. If you don't have good couponing opportunities like we have (and I take advantage of) you could save on more pantry staples. Their produce was top-notch today. Don't understand the prices going up there after a few months. This store has been open at least 3 years and a new one closer coming - maybe it's because we have lots of grocery competition in this area. Also, these prices were sale prices this week - varies wk. to wk. but always good.

 

[worm761]

Thanks for all the info. We are in Florida so I can't stock up on frozen or fresh foods. I was thinking pastas and cereals. I just bought a bunch of Barilla whole wheat pasta for less than 10 cents a box matching sales to coupons. I know it won't last though. We might stop in if we have some time.