What's The Story On Aldi Stores

[sounderella]

So I've seen a lot of you post about Aldi. Now I'd never heard of this store prior. What's the deal with them?? I just googled them and saw there is a store maybe about 15mi from me which is 8 mi further than my normal Ingles shopping. Is Aldi much cheaper than your standard grocery stores? I was looking at their website, do they only sell their own brands or do they sell national brands?

Please share your experiences and share if the food is good quality, stores clean, pleasant experience ect. If I'm asking, I'm sure there are other people who are curious as well.

Thanks in advance!

[rob62521]

We have two Aldi's in our town and they are clean and well run. There are deals on fresh fruits and vegetables and sometimes they have name brand items. They had been carrying Tyson already cooked chickens for a dollar less than the grocery stores. Most of their items are not name brand and you have to try something to decide if you like it or not. I buy a lot of things like mandarin oranges, cream of chicken soup, onion soup mix, fresh veggies, and dairy products there and feel they are a good bargain. They do not accept credit cards or checks, but ours accepts debit cards and of course, cash. The only time I don't recommend you go there is around the first of the month, at least here in Illinois because many folks get their checks at that time and load up.

[sounderella]

do they take coupons?

[LuxLiving]

Take a quarter for your cart! You'll get it back.

Love my Aldi's. Try the Loven 12 grain bread. Yummers!

[huffydeb2003]

I don't think they take coupons.

[Etheredge]

There not to bad really

[stressedmama]

I love Aldi!! It saves us so much money. No they do not take coupons. They usually have 1 type or brand of every product so shopping goes fast as you are not comparing 10 different brands of spaghetti sauce. Be aware that if you are looking to buy odd products such as starfruit or some peculiar spice you won't find it. The store near us is really clean and well run.

[rduell]

The only thing I don't like about them is that the other shoppers always seem to be in a hurry. There just always seems to be a "hurry" mentality there. But you can't beat their prices.

[project15]

I <3 Aldi!!! We go there all the time. They occasionally have national brands such as cheeze-its and triscuits, but most of their stuff is aldi brand and it's not bad at all. Some of my food-elitist friends have snubbed their nose when I say I shop at Aldi, but while they're spending $450 a month in groceries, I'm only spending $350.

You either have to bring your own bags or buy paper bags for 10 cents each. Even with paying for bags, you're still savings tons of money.

[MomofFour]

I really like Aldi's, I always stop there when I make a run to Wal-Mart for groceries. They have better prices on veggies, things like baby carrots, cauliflower, etc. I also get my canned veggies there- $.35 a can! You should definately check it out!

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

In December every year they sell a wonderful large stollen for about $3---It's better than the stollen at our artisan bakery.

Eggs and milk are usually the best price around.

White flour best price. I last paid $1.59 for 5 pounds. In general good for baking supplies, (nuts, baking powder, baking soda, salt sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, vanilla, cocoa, butter, liquid oils, shortening, chocolate chips, raisins and other dried fruits) though I don't think I've seen yeast there.

I buy their tomato paste and canned, seasoned, re-fried beans, though I buy my dry beans elsewhere as for some reason they aren't the best price on beans.

At one time I used to buy a lot of their ramen noodles. /

[LuxLiving]

I go out of my way to shop there. It's 18 miles to the nearest one and 21 miles to the other in my area. When I go to either I try to shop for at least two weeks worth of groceries, more if I can swing it in the budget. If I'm anywhere near close to one on other errands I make the trip. Most of the food elitists would think you were shopping gourmet anyway as much of the packaging is more 'fancy' looking than the generic yellow or even store brands look at other places.

Go check them out at least once.

I get their e-newsletter that tells the weekly specials. If you get that newsletter and see some of their special buys that you are interested you need to get after it as they won't be there on the next shopping trip. These are special buys that are there for a short while only.

I assumed you were U.S. based:

ALDI - Home page

Reminder to U.S. Aldi shoppers - they'll be closed on the 26th for Memorial Day.

[creditcardfree]

I have one near me and I've never been in it. I may just check it out!!

Do most of you who shop there bring your own bags?

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Yes, I do bring my own bags. I often take a whole lot of them with me and give them to others. You bag up your own groceries there. If I see someone who does not have any/enough bags, I will offer them my extras. Just another way to re-use.

[sounderella]

Wow thanks for all the responses! I'm going to go check it out this weekend. We have to go see the in-laws and apparently there's one on the way so I won't have to go out of my way just to check it out. It sounds good though. A lot of rules though but I guess as a company they've thought of everything from bad check fees to getting their carts returned. Makes sense.

[Scanner]

Okay all you carb-hounds. . .what about their meats?

[LuxLiving]

Scanner, I like meat. They've got meat. I'm not a meat snob so I can't say that it's particularly better or worse than elsewhere. I'll just say that I've been satisfied w/the meat I have bought there.

[stressedmama]

I've been very satisfied too. I buy their hamburger, boneless sinkless chicken breasts, brats, sausage, etc. I have not bought any meat there that has been bad. Just another good reason to check Aldi out at least once. It's just as good as the bigger grocery stores in the area, but again it's much cheaper.

[Scanner]

In general in my area, you go to Acme for meats (lancaster brands) and Shoprite for Produce.

The closest Aldi is 26 miles away. . .which begs the question. . .at gas being $4.00/gallon probably soon, is it worth it?

Maybe.

[LuxLiving]

At 26 miles it is worth it if you go prepared to Stock Up on things you normally buy. It's at Aldi's that I buy by the case.