to think Aldi and LIDL

[winkywinkola]

are not discount supermarkets as described on the radio all the time. Nor are they selling products of lower quality. I find it irritating that this image is constantly projected in the media.

I feel they are reasonably priced supermarkets instead of the hugely expensive top three. I mean, Tesco was bitching because it only made £3bn profit last year.

The products in Aldi and LIDL are just as good/flawed as in the other supermarkets.

I think it's important to get rid of the perception of 'discount' supermarkets so that better competition emerges and the consumer can have lower prices all round.

[ElephantsNeverForgive]

They take debit cards, but the machine spat out my Mastercard first.

Our nearest Lidils may not take credit cards. I don't know, I only buy Ace juice for cash once in a blue moon.

[ElephantsNeverForgive]

They take debit cards, but the machine spat out my Mastercard first.

Our nearest Lidils may not take credit cards. I don't know, I only buy Ace juice for cash once in a blue moon.

[EmmaFreudsGivingMeJip]

Elephants I was in Abergavenny Aldi a couple of weeks ago and paid by card.

[Titsalinabumsquash]

I was converted to Aldi until I found my fruit and veg we're going mouldy the day after buying them
MySupermarket consistently comes up with Asda being the cheapest for a whole shop for us, we do get given Tesco gift cards every few months though so we still shop there a lot.

[Samedaydifferentusername]

I read on the moneysavingexpert website that they take cards in Scotland, not England. Not sure if that's try but all my local ones do (Scotland).

I love my local Aldi, the produce generally is great.

[fredfredgeorgejnr]

But they choose to, look at their press releases

www.aldipresscentre.co.uk/content/consumers_turn_their_backs_on_supermarket_deals.aspx

"Discount grocer Aldi ..."

[ElephantsNeverForgive]

Abergaveny Aldi doesn't take cards DD was she'd never been in such a strange shop.

[poppytripll]

Special - Waitrose and Sainsbury both have a policy to only use sustainably sourced palm oil in own brand products. They both have a lot of fair trade etc. I don't spend a lot on food shopping as I'm vegan, so I prefer to avoid the discounters due to their ethics (same goes for asda and tesco).

[pukkabo]

I tried aldi once last year and had to go to the tesco across the road to buy half of my shopping because aldi don't sell it. I.e almond milk, dairy free margarine but even some fruit and vegetables you'd expect them to sell. The selection was useless IMO and quality turned out to be appalling. Fruit and veg lasted maximum two-three days. So I spent exactly the same going there because I had to get the other half in another store and furthermore had to replace fresh stuff that had gone off.

I don't quite understand what everyone loves about it but there you go.

[wellthatsdoneit]

I'm a recent aldi convert. I probably don't save anything shopping there but that's because I haven't denied us any treats (as I constantly do at Tesco). I love not having to think too much about it if I 'fancy' something. If I want some smoked salmon, in it goes! And their 3.99 chenin blanc is bleddy brilliant!

The disadvantages to aldi are that a) they don't deliver and b) there is not quite enough choice on some things (eg they don't seem to do ready brek or equivalent).

[3littlefrogs]

I buy my weekly shop at Lidl and use my debit card. Saves me a fortune.

[pommedeterre]

The supply chain is more efficient for aldi and lidl in general.

[SpeedofSound0]

My local Aldi takes credit cards, the lady in front of me in a queue one day told me that it depends on the area you live in.

For instance, the lower the demographic of certain areas and the higher the levels of crimes, like fraud for example, then some stores take cash/debit cards.

I don't know if that is rubbish what she was telling me.
But having gone to an older, inner-city Aldi, there were signs on the door windows saying cash/debit cards ONLY. Undecided about that one.

Gosh, I get into some silly conversations in a checkout queue.

[beepbeep]

the lady in front of me in Lidl last night tried to use a credit card but was told they didn't accept them. I know our local Aldi don't either - maybe in varies from region to region???

[PoppyAmex]

And Aldi's produce is actually better than Tescos'. No idea how they do it but all their fruit and vegetables are tasteless and watery.

[pommedeterre]

Certainly for fresh produce it is all from the same suppliers as the other supermarkets

YANBU

[HelpMeGetOutOfHere]

I do occasionally get fed up of aldi and change to a big supermarket just for a change and then grumble and whine about what I could have spent the extra £50 on that week

[HelpMeGetOutOfHere]

I mostly shop at aldi. The lidl near me is rubbish. I didn't have time to go to the other side of town last week
To aldi so went to lidl as less than five minutes from home. I really struggled and we've run out of food already I spent more than at aldi as well and the loo roll is rubbish.

Aldi I spend £70 ish for five of us and that's a lot of fruit and veg meat fish. Quite a few cartons of juice bottles of kids flavoured water ice cream etc. I reckon if i properly meal planned and didn't buy snacks then could easily get it down below £60. Equivalent shops in sainsburys are well over £130.

I do buy organic milk and spreadable butter and teens boys branded deodorants elsewhere. But no more than £10 a week. Now I've brought it (thought we only liked jack sons wholemeal bread) the aldi wholemeal loaf is lovely.

[Owllady]

We don't have home bargains but my mil usually buys me Christmas crap from her local one :o

We have b&m though and the range. The range is fantastic

[racmun]

After reding these threads I have been for the last 3 weeks. I compared it to Ocado and so far have saved about £150. I did a big shop earlier and though it was going to about £120 but it was £65!!!


I felt a bit funny going there the first week but have got over that now - it reminds of the supermarkets you get on holiday.
The one near us takes credit card.

There's a few bits you can't get but for me it's worth it.
I think the difference is that you get quality food eg fresh chicken breast, salad and fruit for the price that processed cheap rubbish costs you elsewhere, so you actually eat better for less. Also it's not all deals if you want 1 bottle of bleach its £49 p not 3 for £1.50 or 75p each and that where I think you make the savings.

[FlockOfTwats]

I shop at Aldi and i don't think i've ever been unimpressed with any product. I will even buy meat there and i am VERY fussy about meat. I won't buy meat in tesco at all it looks vile, especially the chicken.

I do go into tesco for certain cheese though, as i like wensleydale and cranberries and OH likes applewood which Aldi don't sell. Tesco is only across the road from Aldi though here so it doesn't cost me anymore to travel.

[specialsubject]

re palm oil (whoever it was, sorry can't find it) - I think you'll struggle to find it ethically produced anywhere.

do you use it for something, or are you looking for products where it is an ingredient?

[TheSpottedZebra]

Aldi have an exciting jam making range in the Aisles of Treasure this week and I am very tempted.



Has anyone tried any of it?

[AlpacaLypse]

One of the best things about our self catering trip to Crete earlier this year was the fact that all Lidls are fundamentally alike. So getting the shopping was easy, despite the language and alphabet barrier.

[foreverforaging]

Life is so much easier with LIDL and ALDI.

No longer do I have to look at shelves and shelves of the same product with umpteen offers and try to work out which is the 'best deal'.

I can be in and out of ALDI in 20 minutes. My head just spins when I go into Tesco now.