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'

[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.

[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.

[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)

[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.

[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!

[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.