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'

[CraftyGin]

I go to Aldi a couple of times a week. This is a new thing for me since Aldi opened near DD’s school in the summer. I typically pick up something for that evening’s meal, as well as something for the freezer and some wine. This takes less than 5 minutes.

I go to the checkout and see a couple of people ahead, and it looks like they have a lot. However, the conveyors are very narrow and the checkout staff very quick, so a long queue doesn’t mean a long time.

We are usually in and out within 15 minutes, which I rate as very efficient. And I get to open a bottle of wine when I get home.

[Bananasandwicheseveryday]

I went to an Aldi a couple of Chtistmases ago. Filled trolley with all these 'bargsins' then joined a massive queue to.pay. Only half checkouts were manned. I mentioned (moaned) to a woman next to.me and told me it was worth it. I'm afraid I replied "not to me" and just pushed my trolley to the side and left. The whole experience was soul destroying. Never tried an Aldi since.

I love Lidl though!!

Sounds similar to the time when my mum called me a few days before Christmas - she and my dad were I'll with 'flu and had to cancel their plans to go away for Christmas. She asked if I could get a few bits for them. I popped in to my local Tesco, had a basket with about £15 worth of stuff, so not much at all. I had to queue for over an hour and a half to pay. Self service tills were all closed and no self scan at that time.

All shops are busy at Christmas. Even though our Tesco now has self scan, they are often closed at busy times like Christmas.

New years week our Aldi had huge bottles of Christmas scented Zoflora. It was worth the trip for that alone!

[grannytomine]

Branches vary, my local Aldi hasn't been open for long and is clean and bright and I do save money shopping there. My local Lidl is grotty, really vile. If I am in a nearby town I go into their Lidl as it is even nicer than my Aldi. I don't think you can judge on one branch.

[SlowlyShrinking]

Gileswithachainsaw I’ve noticed that it definitely makes a difference to the products that Aldi have. There are fewer and fewer items that I have to go to Tesco for now. Aldi definitely keep an eye on Tesco, which is great because I can get the same things but cheaper (not the same brands, but I don’t care about brands anyway)

[Heartoffire]

See I love the quick checkout and I open my bags in the trolly and pride myself on fielding all the items and packing them as quickly as they are being pushed at me.

What I hate are checkout assistants who chat to me about inane bollocks as they have been told to engage with the customer. I just want in and out with one smile and a thankyou.

[CauliflowerBalti]

The fruit and veg is brilliant at our Aldi and I used to do maybe 75% of my shop there then get the bits they don’t sell at Sainsbury’s. Trouble is, I’m too lazy to keep this up. But we definitely ate better when I was, because I’d buy loads more fruit.

[WhooooAmI24601]

We have a grocer and a butcher at the local garden centre so use those for fruit, veg and meats, everything else comes from Aldi. We also have an account with Ocado and use it for when lazy days /illness/christmas deliveries but Aldi is fine for basics.

[WhyamIBoredathome]

We do our weekly shop at aldi. I think most of their dried/canned/non food stuff is pretty good. I don't notice the difference to tesco but we only ever bought own brand anyway.
Fruit and veg is hit and miss but generally ok to be honest. I have stopped buying their meat though as the quality was not great. We made the decision to eat lesas meat but buy free range from butcher when we do eat it.
I agree though that it's not a pleasurable shopping experience, stores don't look nice, the aisle of random tat is always a mess and I don't really enjoy having my shopping hurled at me buy the till person.

[Heartoffire]

I just can’t fathem anyone paying Waitrose prices. The quality is no better it’s just a marketing ploy. Still I suppose if you like ready meals then it suits those people.

Our local Aldi is bloody fantastic for quality and price. Very rarely have to queue and it’s so quick. I havnt got time to walk up and down endless isles looking at 25 different brands of tomato sauce ffs.

Our weekly shopping bill is around £30 cheaper at Aldi’s then our local sainsburys and there’s not a sliver of difference in the quality of the meat or vegs. Aldi’s steaks are delicious. Stopped going to Asda as the quality wasn’t good for meat or vegs.

[betgilroy]

I think it's trial and error.
Some items are good, some bad, some average.
I love getting a great again in places like Aldi but then for i'll shop at Waitrose for things I can be sure of the quality.
For me there's no one supermarket, it can be high end, middle ground or bargain store and i'll shop around for different things.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

We have 2 aldis and a lidl and we have pretty much every supermarket.in the case of Tesco there are also 2.

Not sure competition makes a huge difference tbh

[PasstheStarmix]

of

[PasstheStarmix]

Yeah the one near me is right next to lidles and an Asda and a Morrisons so lots do competition! I reckon ours must be busier and a bigger turn over.

[SlowlyShrinking]

I love Aldi. The Aldi near me is very near to a tesco though, so maybe that makes a difference? More competition

[PasstheStarmix]

The vegetables in my local Aldi are always lovely and fresh and i get so much more for my money. It's great.

[zoezoe32]

I feel like I’m the only one who feels this way about Aldi! I’ve tried so many times as it’s the only supermarket really local to me but I just don’t like the whole experience plus the veg is always rotten!

[PasstheStarmix]

Draylon Yes I'm blessed with a large fridge freezer however not all items I buy need to go in there. It's not technically 'a month's food' hence my weekly trips to Aldi/lidle. The bulk items are kitchen roll, washing powder, some cupboard items etc I'm a big fan of Costco as I am Lidle and Aldi. I go to Morrisons/Asda for some bits on occasion if I have time and fancy a particular item from there such as a fresh Morrisons pizza. I agree the self checkout is great if nobody is on it but there's usually always a dithering Doris ahead of me on it! And yes you're right it's much more convenient for me to queue there as it's gone in minutes.

[PasstheStarmix]

these

[PasstheStarmix]

I self-checkout as Asda thus rarely wait. At all.

I always find half of the self service machine are cash only along with a couple of broken ones and dithering people on the self service who don't know how to use it and then the assistant is no where to be seen to help th we people when it all goes wrong. When I went in before work once there was actually no machines on as they ridiculously decided to cash up at 8.30am in the morning (a peak time when everyone grabs things before work and wants to use them!) Had to leg it all the way to other end of he store where they had just one member of staff serving. The rest were crowded around the cashing up process! Give me a queue at Aldi or Lidles any day over that.

[PasstheStarmix]

Also we're in and out in minutes

[PasstheStarmix]

Your local area supermarkets sound appalling

[PasstheStarmix]

Draylon i get most from Aldi and lidles with a big Monthly shop at Costco. My Aldi and lidles next door to each other so hardly a hassle to be honest. And if you don't want o go there than stay away no need to get stressed

[Creamcheeseontoast]

Our Aldi is great. Fresh fruit and vegetables last a week.. I keep all in fridge. There's a few things I won't buy.. But generally I like it all... I save loads by going there and notice the difference when I go. To tesco instead because I'm. Lazy and it's closer lol.
Things like their own special k cereal for example is better than branded.