The Pros and Cons of Aldi?

[gctattoo]

I just saw yesterday that they're building an Aldi near me. I've never been to one. I know they don't accept coupons so that's definitely a con. Could anyone tell me what are the other pros and cons of the store? And how it compares to shopping at regular grocery stores? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[jonjaktez]

The pros are you can get items their that you do not have coupons for, cheaper than the grocery store. Their cream of ... soups, I think are better than the store brand soups. I also buy milk, eggs, bread, produce, chocolate baking chips, bagged boneless, skinless chicken, cranberry juice and other items I can't think of right now.

[bethanyam]

I've shopped their a couple of times, there is one in a town near me, and I found a few good deals especially on milk and produce. A couple of things to remember is to have a quarter for the carts (you get it back when you turn it back in) and to bring your own bags or be prepared to buy them. You also have to bag your own groceries. I'm not sure if they are all the same, but I find the cashiers a little rude at the one I have went to. She wouldn't let me bag while she was checking the items out, I had to wait till she was done then step out of line to bag my groceries. Like I said I have shopped there a couple of times, but I don't go out of my way try to find deals there.

[summermay]

I go for the produce. Most times it's so much cheaper than anywhere else.

I also get:
can fruit
english muffins
strawberry jelly
buns

[CW&M Mom]

They have a lot of great stuff there...so if you are never finding a coupon for a certain product...take aldi.

Just take a quarter with you...or you can't get a cart.

[Linzrenee]

I usually go to get milk, eggs, flour, sugar, chocolate baking chips, juice and sometimes cereal. Just things that I don't have coupons for as it is cheaper. I have found that their produce isn't as good. It spoils faster for me but they have a money back guarantee so you can take it back and they refund your money if you are not happy. I don't like their bread but that's just a personal preference. Most of their stuff is great quality but it's something that you will have to try and see if you like it.

[ptcygofalcons]

Buying stuff there that you have a tough time finding coupons for is good advice - other wise you can find better deals at other grocery stores (especially for those of us who live in the land of doubles).
The things we buy there are - ground turkey chubs,bagged chicken breast, saltines, powdered sugar,onion soup mix, cherry pie filling, canned crushed pineapple,produce ( especially bananas ) and a few other items I can't think of right now.
I have found thier products to be of good quality and the produce to be fresh and good looking.

[bugweena]

Produce, milk, eggs, cottage cheese, store brand cream cheese, half & half, fresh cut flowers, seasonal items on markdown, bread, canned veggies, and seasonings.

If I can pair a sale and coupons, then some of these items I purchase at other stores. Our ALDI employees are very nice. LOL, they do not like for you to bag items as they go--they shoot the items over the scanner and into the buggy lightning fast! Ours has a counter where you can pull over and bag your groceries.

If you forget to bring bags they usually have some boxes you can find (or empty the ones are are mostly empty) to carry your groceries home.

OP, you should definately check them out. Don't forget your quarter (I keep one in a special place in my car so I always have one!)

[jonjaktez]

Don't forget your quarter (I keep one in a special place in my car so I always have one!)

I need to put one in a special place. I normally have one in my pocket book or car and the other day, DH needed quarters and I gave him all of mine without thinking and went to Aldi's without one. I had to run down another customer and get his buggy and give him $.25.

[dionada]

It's a good place to go to stock up on stuff you can't seem to get good deals on anywhere else. They have 1 lb rolls of frozen ground turkey for $1.19, so I'll stock up on that and use it in most recipes that call for ground beef.

One thing I've liked from there that surprised me was their roast beef lunchmeat. The only thing I've tried from there and disliked is their yogurt. The large vanilla tubs are fine, but the small cups are just gross to me.