7 ms·

I guess I'm a weirdo who likes shopping there. Compared to Kroger or HEB I usually walk out of Aldi with a bill 50% cheaper than the other stores. We have our o

I guess I'm a weirdo who likes shopping there. Compared to Kroger or HEB I usually walk out of Aldi with a bill 50% cheaper than the other stores. We have our own bags and a picnic like basket thing we keep in the truck for Aldi stops. Yes it's "generic" but my uncle worked for a big food company that made big brand food and "generic" is often just a label change over the brand name. I can see why the rich people would think it's like shopping for food at the salvation army. No selection, a quarter to get a cart, 4-6 isles, no in car delivery, you have to bag your stuff yourself. I'll take all of those inconveniences if it means I spend 50% less per trip to the grocery store to feed us.

spiderfarmer 7y ago
The problem for me with Aldi in The Netherlands is that most of the stuff I buy there are so salty, it just tastes bad.
- switch007 7y ago
  What kind of stuff? I usually buy raw ingredients from Aldi, maybe except curries and pre-cooked rice packets if I'm very lazy. I haven't found the pre-made stuff especially salty
- eliaspro 7y ago
  The only products I encountered it so far are the frozen microwavable meals. I don't get it why they're that salty - stretching them with rice or noodles to 200% makes the saltiness acceptable.
kemayo 7y ago
The article does cover all these points about well-off people shopping there, too. In fact, it points out that "Aldi’s core shopper tends to make more money and have a slightly higher education level than the overall grocery shopper".
- kevin_thibedeau 7y ago
  Their streamlined checkout is the secret. Much better than waiting 10 minutes in line at Wal-Mart for the privilege of checking yourself out and then exiting past the "greeter" who assumes you're a thief.
  - NeedMoreTea 7y ago
    That and consistent placement that isn't constantly rearranging the whole store or order on shelves based on which brands they want to push hardest this week. Nor having 244 brands of everything competing for attention. You can load the things you do want so much faster. We mostly know exactly where stuff is going to be - as it's always been there. Sure it breaks sometimes when they add new items, or switch in the Xmas range, but compared to the majors - very rarely.
  - post_break 7y ago
    Krogers pulled me back a little with scan bag go. Scan your stuff while you shop, pay at self checkout, walk out. It's so much faster than even Aldi.
- Barrin92 7y ago
  Yes, I don't know if that's a German thing somehow exported with it, but here in Germany ALDI was always one of the places that was somehow classless, where you could meet anyone from the chancellor to bank executives to someone scraping by, everybody likes cheap and quick shopping I guess.
B1FF_PSUVM 7y ago
> a quarter to get a cart, 4-6 isles, no in car delivery, you have to bag your stuff yourself. Europe.
- briandear 7y ago
  Except in France it’s a Euro to get a cart and you can definitely get car delivery. Most of the Carrefour/Super U type stores do that. And many of their stores are at least as big as a US store. Seems like both cultures are converging.
  - sokoloff 7y ago
    I could have sworn I remembered the Euro thing was just a deposit, returned when the cart was cart was returned. Is that not the case?
    - Tehnix 7y ago
      It definitely is! You can also get these coin thingies you can have on your keychain for it. You push it in to push out the link to the other carts, and have to put the lock back in to recover the coin.
    - wvh 7y ago
      Yes; it just a psychological trick to stop people abandoning their carts in random locations or perhaps even in the middle of the parking lot.
      - wongarsu 7y ago
        Also in the rare case that a cart is abandoned someone will quickly bring it back or use it themselves. The person abandoning the cart basically pays the finder
        convivialdingo 7y ago
        At my Aldis some of the more industrious folks will happily return your cart for you to get the quarter.
Shivetya 7y ago
the crazy part about Aldi isn't just their food prices but the odd things that just show up dirt cheap. An example, a full 10x10 Gazebo that you assemble. Not with cheap like poles for full on L corners and netting. It was under $150 and just blows away stuff twice or more. The order of pricing in my area is Aldi < Wal Mart < Target/Kroger/Publix < Drug Stores. What Wal Mart is in pricing to Kroger/Publix/etc Aldi is to Wal Mart. H Though to be honest, Aldi's brand of cinnamon rolls in the refrigerated section are amazing. The pricing on fruit, like a pint of strawberries and such is just so confusing, their price is nearly half of what the big box grocery chains it just seems that no one can profit off of it. So usually for us its Aldi when we are near for the basics, Wal Mart for some name brands, and old retail for BOGOs. Yet for many it is the luxury of time which gives you opportunity to shop around
- NeedMoreTea 7y ago
  I spent ages ignoring the aisle of crap for being so cheap it clearly can't be any good. Then one year we found some sleeping bags for £10 or £12. Bought one and it turned out to be better made and designed than "proper" outdoor brands selling for £40 or £60. So went back for another before the offer switched. They're lasting much longer than the brands ever have too. We've had some absurdly priced bargains in the years since. Tesco and Asda (Walmart) have own-brands that cost more and are consistently simply crap, and to be avoided. So you learned to mostly avoid them, unless broke. Sure, Aldi do a few things badly, and a few things to avoid, but mostly they cured us of any remaining interest in preferring brand names over supermarket's own. So many brands got bought and became rubbish themselves anyway. The tiny few we do care for still, Aldi seem to stock.
  - achillesheels 7y ago
    Yours is a fascinating anecdote in the history of private labeling, which originated in the U.K. recession in the early 80’s wherein retailers began store brands to lower prices out of necessity to keep customer loyalty. Having spent the last 4 years in sourcing, I can say I am excited to try store brands because I know most of the time marquee brands are more expensive because of their unit cost of marketing. I strongly speculate this is the main reason for Kraft Heinz’s struggles.
msla 7y ago
I remember Aldi from Missouri, twenty-odd years ago now, and I don't have any negative memories of it. It's Poor Person Costco: They spend nothing on looks and it shows, but they don't have the bulk or the high-end products. The only reason I wouldn't shop there now is that I don't usually carry any pocket change these days. Maybe I would if I could walk to one where I live.
- nyolfen 7y ago
  i keep a quarter in my car specifically for aldi
  - nickpsecurity 7y ago
    Exactly. They make it seem so hard, esp "don't carry cash folks." I keep about $2 in quarters in my car. At least one is for Aldi, most are for air if I need it, and an extra few on whatever might come up. The latter are often drink machines.
    - bkyan 7y ago
      Air? For putting more air in your tires?
      - nickpsecurity 7y ago
        Yes. They've been asking for more quarters lately, too. Some will give it to you free (complementary air) if you buy something in the store. Others stay extra greedy.
- nickpsecurity 7y ago
  I'm a new member to Costco. I started describing Aldi as like a dollar store version of Costco. It wasn't and definitely isn't after the remodel: it's smarter than Costco on product side. It's like an evolution. That I can get more stuff from Aldi at lower prices with acceptable to great quality proves it. What Aldi is doing, selling products singles in cases, is what Costco should be doing in majority of situations. They're already doing a version of it for those special, treasure-hunt-style items like people describe for Aldi. A lot of them are way overpriced, though, compared to some upscale competitors. I'd adjust it to balance giving people brands they can brag about but aiming for more sales growth. Also, I can't tell you how many times I'd have bought something at Costco if it wasn't a megapack, humongous size, etc. Some corroboration for my hypothesis in the fact that most of Costco's food doesn't move quickly in my visits there vs Aldi, Kroger, Walmart, Dollar General, etc. The latter stores have whole sections of shelves wiped out with lots of individual items going low. Stockers are usually all over the place stocking those isles with hardly any stocking at the Costco outside clothes and perishable foods. Even perishable they're mostly date or quality checking. Although it could be key to strategy, I'd like to see them at least experiment with smaller sizes on meat, bakery, prepared items, and common non-refrigerated.
quacker 7y ago
> 50% cheaper Hmm, more like 25% cheaper, imo. But I guess it depends what you need to buy and if you go after sales/specials and what not. Aldi does have great prices, for sure. I still love HEB though. Their bakery section is amazing (especially the fresh warm tortillas), their produce and meat is excellent, and the prices are still pretty good. HEB also has prices online with specific aisle locations for many products (was helpful when looking for frozen yuca/cassava a bit ago).
- sonofaplum 7y ago
  HEB is the GOAT of grocery stores!

spiderfarmer 7y ago

The problem for me with Aldi in The Netherlands is that most of the stuff I buy there are so salty, it just tastes bad.

switch007 7y ago
What kind of stuff? I usually buy raw ingredients from Aldi, maybe except curries and pre-cooked rice packets if I'm very lazy. I haven't found the pre-made stuff especially salty
eliaspro 7y ago
The only products I encountered it so far are the frozen microwavable meals. I don't get it why they're that salty - stretching them with rice or noodles to 200% makes the saltiness acceptable.

kemayo 7y ago

The article does cover all these points about well-off people shopping there, too. In fact, it points out that "Aldi’s core shopper tends to make more money and have a slightly higher education level than the overall grocery shopper".

kevin_thibedeau 7y ago
Their streamlined checkout is the secret. Much better than waiting 10 minutes in line at Wal-Mart for the privilege of checking yourself out and then exiting past the "greeter" who assumes you're a thief.
- NeedMoreTea 7y ago
  That and consistent placement that isn't constantly rearranging the whole store or order on shelves based on which brands they want to push hardest this week. Nor having 244 brands of everything competing for attention. You can load the things you do want so much faster. We mostly know exactly where stuff is going to be - as it's always been there. Sure it breaks sometimes when they add new items, or switch in the Xmas range, but compared to the majors - very rarely.
- post_break 7y ago
  Krogers pulled me back a little with scan bag go. Scan your stuff while you shop, pay at self checkout, walk out. It's so much faster than even Aldi.
Barrin92 7y ago
Yes, I don't know if that's a German thing somehow exported with it, but here in Germany ALDI was always one of the places that was somehow classless, where you could meet anyone from the chancellor to bank executives to someone scraping by, everybody likes cheap and quick shopping I guess.

B1FF_PSUVM 7y ago

> a quarter to get a cart, 4-6 isles, no in car delivery, you have to bag your stuff yourself. Europe.

briandear 7y ago
Except in France it’s a Euro to get a cart and you can definitely get car delivery. Most of the Carrefour/Super U type stores do that. And many of their stores are at least as big as a US store. Seems like both cultures are converging.
- sokoloff 7y ago
  I could have sworn I remembered the Euro thing was just a deposit, returned when the cart was cart was returned. Is that not the case?
  - Tehnix 7y ago
    It definitely is! You can also get these coin thingies you can have on your keychain for it. You push it in to push out the link to the other carts, and have to put the lock back in to recover the coin.
  - wvh 7y ago
    Yes; it just a psychological trick to stop people abandoning their carts in random locations or perhaps even in the middle of the parking lot.
    - wongarsu 7y ago
      Also in the rare case that a cart is abandoned someone will quickly bring it back or use it themselves. The person abandoning the cart basically pays the finder
      - convivialdingo 7y ago
        At my Aldis some of the more industrious folks will happily return your cart for you to get the quarter.

Shivetya 7y ago

the crazy part about Aldi isn't just their food prices but the odd things that just show up dirt cheap. An example, a full 10x10 Gazebo that you assemble. Not with cheap like poles for full on L corners and netting. It was under $150 and just blows away stuff twice or more. The order of pricing in my area is Aldi < Wal Mart < Target/Kroger/Publix < Drug Stores. What Wal Mart is in pricing to Kroger/Publix/etc Aldi is to Wal Mart. H Though to be honest, Aldi's brand of cinnamon rolls in the refrigerated section are amazing. The pricing on fruit, like a pint of strawberries and such is just so confusing, their price is nearly half of what the big box grocery chains it just seems that no one can profit off of it. So usually for us its Aldi when we are near for the basics, Wal Mart for some name brands, and old retail for BOGOs. Yet for many it is the luxury of time which gives you opportunity to shop around

NeedMoreTea 7y ago
I spent ages ignoring the aisle of crap for being so cheap it clearly can't be any good. Then one year we found some sleeping bags for £10 or £12. Bought one and it turned out to be better made and designed than "proper" outdoor brands selling for £40 or £60. So went back for another before the offer switched. They're lasting much longer than the brands ever have too. We've had some absurdly priced bargains in the years since. Tesco and Asda (Walmart) have own-brands that cost more and are consistently simply crap, and to be avoided. So you learned to mostly avoid them, unless broke. Sure, Aldi do a few things badly, and a few things to avoid, but mostly they cured us of any remaining interest in preferring brand names over supermarket's own. So many brands got bought and became rubbish themselves anyway. The tiny few we do care for still, Aldi seem to stock.
- achillesheels 7y ago
  Yours is a fascinating anecdote in the history of private labeling, which originated in the U.K. recession in the early 80’s wherein retailers began store brands to lower prices out of necessity to keep customer loyalty. Having spent the last 4 years in sourcing, I can say I am excited to try store brands because I know most of the time marquee brands are more expensive because of their unit cost of marketing. I strongly speculate this is the main reason for Kraft Heinz’s struggles.

msla 7y ago

I remember Aldi from Missouri, twenty-odd years ago now, and I don't have any negative memories of it. It's Poor Person Costco: They spend nothing on looks and it shows, but they don't have the bulk or the high-end products. The only reason I wouldn't shop there now is that I don't usually carry any pocket change these days. Maybe I would if I could walk to one where I live.

nyolfen 7y ago
i keep a quarter in my car specifically for aldi
- nickpsecurity 7y ago
  Exactly. They make it seem so hard, esp "don't carry cash folks." I keep about $2 in quarters in my car. At least one is for Aldi, most are for air if I need it, and an extra few on whatever might come up. The latter are often drink machines.
  - bkyan 7y ago
    Air? For putting more air in your tires?
    - nickpsecurity 7y ago
      Yes. They've been asking for more quarters lately, too. Some will give it to you free (complementary air) if you buy something in the store. Others stay extra greedy.
nickpsecurity 7y ago
I'm a new member to Costco. I started describing Aldi as like a dollar store version of Costco. It wasn't and definitely isn't after the remodel: it's smarter than Costco on product side. It's like an evolution. That I can get more stuff from Aldi at lower prices with acceptable to great quality proves it. What Aldi is doing, selling products singles in cases, is what Costco should be doing in majority of situations. They're already doing a version of it for those special, treasure-hunt-style items like people describe for Aldi. A lot of them are way overpriced, though, compared to some upscale competitors. I'd adjust it to balance giving people brands they can brag about but aiming for more sales growth. Also, I can't tell you how many times I'd have bought something at Costco if it wasn't a megapack, humongous size, etc. Some corroboration for my hypothesis in the fact that most of Costco's food doesn't move quickly in my visits there vs Aldi, Kroger, Walmart, Dollar General, etc. The latter stores have whole sections of shelves wiped out with lots of individual items going low. Stockers are usually all over the place stocking those isles with hardly any stocking at the Costco outside clothes and perishable foods. Even perishable they're mostly date or quality checking. Although it could be key to strategy, I'd like to see them at least experiment with smaller sizes on meat, bakery, prepared items, and common non-refrigerated.

quacker 7y ago

> 50% cheaper Hmm, more like 25% cheaper, imo. But I guess it depends what you need to buy and if you go after sales/specials and what not. Aldi does have great prices, for sure. I still love HEB though. Their bakery section is amazing (especially the fresh warm tortillas), their produce and meat is excellent, and the prices are still pretty good. HEB also has prices online with specific aisle locations for many products (was helpful when looking for frozen yuca/cassava a bit ago).

sonofaplum 7y ago
HEB is the GOAT of grocery stores!