Aldi - I just don't get it and no one agrees with me

[user7654321]

All of my friends, family etc don't have a bad work to say about Aldi and say they do the majority of there shopping there for both cost saving and better quality produce.

My DH and I feel we are missing something, as based on the all recommendations, we have tried Aldi 5 or 6 times in the past 6 months or so, and have found the products not to taste as good as the well-known brands. The fruit/veg doesn't stay fresh for long etc, and we have wasted so much food that we have tried but preferred the branded version (e.g. cereal, jars of sauces). We have tried hundreds of Aldi products, but I'd say only a handful are as good as the branded version or even a mainstream supermarket's own brand. Even their nappies, which are reviewed as amazing gave my poor DS terrible nappy rash.

So, AIBU to say i actually don't think Aldi products are the same or better quality than other brands? I understand they are cheaper but the impression I get from others is that its not cost that's the driving factor for them shopping at Aldi - its there amazing quality. Why don't I feel the same? My DH and I are so confused about this that we've even done 'blind tests' on some products and the Aldi one has always been identified as the 'fake'

[Ironfloor]

You shopped at Aldi 5-6 times and yet managed to try 'hundreds of Aldi products'? How many products did you buy each time??
😒

[Fairylea]

I agree with you. But hundreds will pile on shortly to tell you how wrong you are

[OliviaBenson]

I agree with you too. Shopping their stresses me out.

[merrychristmasyafilthyanimal]

I'm with you op, I really wanted to like Aldi but the fruit and veg are just awful and not far off the price of the other supermarkets.

I did use thier nappies for DS1 but I'm pretty sure they have changed them as I have had to stop using them for DS2 because they leaked so frequently.

[Ironfloor]

For what it's worth, I disagree with you. Not all products are of inferior quality. Most of them are on par or even better. The only product that I found to be worse than name brands is cornflakes.

DH is a supermarket snob and even he agrees that Aldi products are better than some of the supermarket brands and name brands.

[OccasionalNachos]

Hyperbole is never a good way to go. Not everything in aldi is amazing, but equally not everything is shit. People have different tastes. I find the fruit & veg doesn’t last long, the raw meat is not always on good condition, and the washing powder gives DH a skin rash. However the curry sauce jars, tinned fruit & veg, cheese & snacks are all excellent value and really tasty.

If you don’t like it, don’t go...

[user7654321]

You shopped at Aldi 5-6 times and yet managed to try 'hundreds of Aldi products'? How many products did you buy each time??

A full weeks shop each time, so maybe spent about £80-£90 on about 40-50 products, 6 times over the past 6 months

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

Yanbu, I don’t get it either.

[Sallycinnamum]

I'm with you OP. The wine range is pretty good especially the pinot noir but the meat and veg is just not good quality. I just don't get the love at all.

[Snowdrop18]

I'm surprised to hear this

our Aldi is better than the other supermarkets for fresh fruit and veg - even if I am walking by one of them, I won't pop in because I feel I am paying more to get stuff that will go off faster

other than that, mostly cook from scratch but cereal, pasta sauce, yogurt, cheese, tea, coffee, fresh soup all taste good to us.

[TheQueenOfWands]

I agree. It's fucking grim.

Same price as Tesco but poorer quality.

Then you get to queue for ages and then get your shopping chucked at you.

I don't get it either.

[Raffles1981]

Anti Aldi also. I shop there and find I cannot get half the stuff I need and end up buying stuff I don't need. I just don't get it.

[Snowdrop18]

am veggie now but also found meat and veg to be much better quality.

[Heartoffire]

Our local Aldi is fantastic. Grest quality and lovely products. Can agree op

[Chienrouge]

Some stuff is good, some is mediocre, some is awful. Like most places really.

[Raffles1981]

TheQueenOfWands - that's another thing! No customer service, just get it done quickly and without a smile.

[Tansilie]

I prefer the branded version of most things.

I'll still buy the cheaper one though. I might enjoy my dinner a little bit less but I'm saving money.

[Snowdrop18]

meat and veg... I mean meat and fish!

Also I have eczema, the washing powder is fine, the washing liquid apparently lasts forever....nope, can't think of anything that's been awful.

we don't buy cake in there as that looks a bit poor but haven't actually tried it.

[Birdsgottafly]

It's personal taste and each shop varies. I know this because I shop at different Stores of both Lidl and Aldi.

My middle DD likes Aldi meat, my youngest preferes Lidl's burgers. Both Fruit and Veg last longer than my local Asda/Tesco's.

I live within ten minute walking distance of Lidl/Aldi and love a stroll around when they get their Special buys in.

I've bought shrubs from Aldi at a third of the price of other places and years later they are still growing/flowering well.

[Keepingupwiththejonesys]

I shop there and like it. I just think its a case.of people liking different things and different products work for some but not others. I love their nappies (also love tescos) yet I think pampers are terrible, a lot would disagree. People rave about M&S food, I shopped there and was really disappointed. I prefer some branded products, definitely a sauce snob and only use HP brown, Heinz red and Hellman's mayo. Just find them nicer so I pick them up when I'm out and about on other days.

[KungFuEric]

I think for a lot of people it's a value thing. They can enjoy both cereals, but they don't enjoy the Kellogg's £1.40 more enough to justify it. You do though, so you'd continue to choose Kellogg's (or any other particular brand.)

We all have our non negotiables, be it ketchup or coffee or fizzy pop. Some people would prefer to spend £30/50 a week less on the shopping for the same quantity of products and have £1500/2500 towards a holiday. Others prefer to have all their first choices of food and get more satisfaction from eating what they enjoy day in day out.

[Whatsinanameanyway201]

I only shop there because my husband likes to save the pennies. I used to rave about Aldi but the past 12 months I've found the prices have slowly creeped up and the quality has gone down dramatically. If I had my way I would 100% choose tesco or asda. I can't get half of what I need from Aldi anymore its a nightmare

[pastabest]

I don't do my main shop there as I do it online (let's face it Aldis not the easiest place to shop with babies/ toddlers accompanying you) but it's good for certain things.

If you don't try and buy like for like with familiar branded stuff like cereals then it's generally okay. So I use it for certain cuts of meat (never mince as it always seems to go off before the useby date) baby formula and snacks, washing powder, toilet roll and dishwasher tablets.

[user7654321]

Hyperbole is never a good way to go.

Do you think almost everyone we know is exaggerating how 'everything is better at Aldi'

As I said, I think a handful of the items are fine, but I get the impression that the rest of the population all think all Aldi products are amazing.

[Chienrouge]

We shop there for the price, not the quality. Only go to Aldi when we’re on a ‘tight’ month!