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AMA
Original poster

AMA Working for Aldi

104 replies

HoeAbout · 30/04/2023 07:18

I've only just left my position due to a relocation, but wondered if anyone had any questions!

Worst times to shop, best time for a click and collect, anything behind the scenes :)

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Original poster
HoeAbout · 01/05/2023 07:01

BeetleBailey · 01/05/2023 00:15

OP, thank you for answering

I'm a former employee

Sounds like you haven't experienced much of what I did

I think the store I was out didn't have much direction as it had only just opened and the manager had to go to cover another store, I only met him once and never saw him again. I left after three months

The trainee and ast manager didn't seem to know what they were doing

My time there wasn't v enjoyable. Usually had just myself and one other staff member on the floor and the most senior person hiding away all shift on the office

I shop at Lidl and often think I'd like to work there, I left ALDI nearly twenty years ago but I don't want to work evenings or wkends

Gosh it sounds like it's a completely different experience now than 20 years ago! That must have been incredibly stressful no wonder you left.

Just to say, I didn't do evenings or weekends and I had set Rota so don't let that dissuade you!

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Original poster
HoeAbout · 01/05/2023 07:03

LadyEloise1 · 30/04/2023 13:59

Why oh why why do they have loads of the Lime Basil and Mandarin and Pomegranate Noir fragranced candles ( Jo Malone dupes ) for sale, both of which I dislike intensely and rarely get in the Oud and Sandalwood one.
There are always loads of the LB&M and the PN ones left on the shelves.
Grrrr

Same in our store! No idea why they don't have less of the more unpopular ones...

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Original poster
HoeAbout · 01/05/2023 07:11

violetscarlet · 30/04/2023 14:03

Thanks for this OP.
What are your top10 products to buy in Aldi?

Ooooh so many!

The Aldi brand Specially Selected crisps taste exactly like Tyrells, there's a cider that tastes exactly like Henry Westons, I know we have quite a few products that are triple the price in Waitrose (some of the specially selected ready meals) and are the same product but of course packaged differently for Aldi stores.

I love their falafels, and the sticky toffee puddings are amazing. Their Greek yoghurt is the best I've found, and the tiger bread makes amazing sandwiches!

The big huge square crumpets are lovely, and their brand of baked beans are my favourite. They do the most delicious hazelnut baileys at Christmas it sells out instantly.

Their Prosecco is prob my top favourite. I've tried dozens and it can't be beaten.

So many things!!

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violetscarlet · 01/05/2023 21:48

Thanks @HoeAbout. I'll add them to my list.
I'll add the Lemon Posset desserts. And the 32 day aged beef.
Oh, and the dupe Grey Goose vodka.
I was a Waitrose and M&S customer up till 4 weeks ago and I'm now a convert.

userxx · 01/05/2023 21:55

user922218 · 30/04/2023 12:31

Why don't they install self checkouts?

There's 6 of them in my local store.

Inkblue · 01/05/2023 22:03

Why doesn’t Aldi sell live yoghurt? At least they don’t in my store, which is a smallish one but I haven’t seen it anywhere else. Ditto Lidl. It’s really my only complaint.

TinyKittenPaw · 01/05/2023 22:30

Can i ask about their beauty products - they are excellent covered extensively in the media but then never re stocked or rarely restocked. Do Aldi make them as dupes or are they re bottled high end products that have been over ordered else where?

Soapyspuds · 01/05/2023 22:39

It is clear that checkout workers are expected to scan everything mega quickly. Do they get annoyed when customers cannot pack their items fast enough or are they glad they can slow down?

Soapyspuds · 01/05/2023 22:40

The idea with Aldi is that you pack your items at the packing bench and not at the till, so you just fill your trolley back up as we scan it through which can be done very quickly

Follow up question.

There are no signs or comments to this effect in my store. How are customer supposed to realise this?

ExhaustedPigwidgeon · 01/05/2023 22:51

So - if you have to jump on tills really quick do you just leave your cage of chilled delivery out on the floor till you can get off tills and come back?

NotMeNoNo · 01/05/2023 23:09

I love Aldi. A store is now under construction almost at the end of our road Grin.

We've noticed the new stores have a 5 aisle layout rather than 4, so if you go up and down each aisle you end up marooned in frozen food at the back corner. Am I doing something wrong or is it to confuse people?

SgtCatherineCawood · 01/05/2023 23:13

I just thought it was universally known you use the packing benches in Aldi! It's one of the reasons I resisted using them for so long! Now I go at 8.30am after nursery drop off and it's really quiet and they don't give a monkeys I have my bags in the trolley and just chuck stuff in, probably the same rate as if straight in the trolley!

SgtCatherineCawood · 01/05/2023 23:14

@NotMeNoNo I am sure @HoeAbout will confirm or deny but I always thought this was done on purpose so you had to walk down an aisle twice and pick up more stuff 🤷🏻‍♀️

NotMeNoNo · 01/05/2023 23:17

I expect they've just added an aisle to reflect their product range has increased but it bugs me! I mean I could miss out the middle aisle but obviously a risk of missing some unknown treasure.

Treasureboxkey · 01/05/2023 23:39

I get the packing at the bench (although, I leave my bags in the car and pack straight into the boot) but... What is the expectation if I have a full basket?
Should I keep the basket and then repack at the bench (and then leave the basket where?)
Or pack directly into my bag for life?

CC4712 · 01/05/2023 23:44
  • Just prior to Christmas last year, there was a weekly TV programme. The Aldi head food buyer lady, reviewed and tasted products from small producers and the weekly winner would have their product go on sale in Aldi. It was clearly just a massive advertisement, because I never saw 1, single product in my local store. Were these products ever sold in stores? I recall a Caribbean ginger cake being one, and a frozen samosa amongst many others I was hoping to try.
  • Are staff advised to ignore the reduced labels? There are 3, different stores I can go to and all 3 have missed the discount labels on almost every visit. I now don't get reduced stock unless there is a self check out.
  • My local store, maybe 5yrs old, has no heating nor summer cooling- according to the staff. It is indeed freezing in the winter. Is this common?
IfeellikeaJoan · 01/05/2023 23:52

Are they bringing the vegan scampi back? Gutted I can't find it in my local store anymore 😭

tiktokboom · 01/05/2023 23:56

I take those enormous blue Ikea bags to Aldi (you can buy them on amazon for buttons if you don't have a local ikea).

Spread it out in the bottom of the trolley and arrange stuff on the conveyor belt so the light/delicate stuff doesn't get squished and I'm in and out like a boss, no need for the packing bench just fling in the trolley.

ThePoetsWife · 02/05/2023 07:16

Re packing -I line the trolley with huge bags for life and all items are packed straight away at the till.

I love how quick my weekly supermarket shops are.

habiller · 02/05/2023 07:56

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ.

Original poster
HoeAbout · 02/05/2023 08:14

IfeellikeaJoan · 01/05/2023 23:52

Are they bringing the vegan scampi back? Gutted I can't find it in my local store anymore 😭

A lot of the vegan lines arrive for the Christmas period, I remember the vegan scampi! You'll most likely find them back in store in November.

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Original poster
HoeAbout · 02/05/2023 08:17

CC4712 · 01/05/2023 23:44

  • Just prior to Christmas last year, there was a weekly TV programme. The Aldi head food buyer lady, reviewed and tasted products from small producers and the weekly winner would have their product go on sale in Aldi. It was clearly just a massive advertisement, because I never saw 1, single product in my local store. Were these products ever sold in stores? I recall a Caribbean ginger cake being one, and a frozen samosa amongst many others I was hoping to try.
  • Are staff advised to ignore the reduced labels? There are 3, different stores I can go to and all 3 have missed the discount labels on almost every visit. I now don't get reduced stock unless there is a self check out.
  • My local store, maybe 5yrs old, has no heating nor summer cooling- according to the staff. It is indeed freezing in the winter. Is this common?

Re the programme winners - yes they have all been in store, all winning products were available the day after each programme aired.

We took delivery the day before so it was a bit of a spoiler!

I believe they're bringing the kids' fruit roll thingies product back to store, but not sure about any of the others.

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Original poster
HoeAbout · 02/05/2023 08:20

Reduced labels - no we are definitely not told to ignore them! They can be easy to miss if the manager has labelled them under the product though or its a red package item (the stickers are red so they blend in) - if you're on a till then it's absolutely fine to point out your discounted items to the staff member, and ask them if they've done the reduction.

Heating - we have heating in the winter and air con in the summer! It must vary from store to store.

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Original poster
HoeAbout · 02/05/2023 08:22

Treasureboxkey · 01/05/2023 23:39

I get the packing at the bench (although, I leave my bags in the car and pack straight into the boot) but... What is the expectation if I have a full basket?
Should I keep the basket and then repack at the bench (and then leave the basket where?)
Or pack directly into my bag for life?

If I have a basket then I pack straight into a bag, or two bags if it's a big basket! It makes no difference time wise.

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Original poster
HoeAbout · 02/05/2023 08:28

NotMeNoNo · 01/05/2023 23:09

I love Aldi. A store is now under construction almost at the end of our road Grin.

We've noticed the new stores have a 5 aisle layout rather than 4, so if you go up and down each aisle you end up marooned in frozen food at the back corner. Am I doing something wrong or is it to confuse people?

I think it depends how you navigate! 😂

I always double back after household in aisle 4 so freezer is en route to the tills!

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