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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not get why people like Aldi/Lidl so much?

365 replies

lucydogz · 07/12/2018 18:28

yes, I know it's really cheap, but, appart from some things, the food just is poor quality. When I last went there, my DH was enthused about how cheap it was, but the eggs, porridge oats, jam, mayonnaise, digestive biscuits, and plums I bought were not good at all. I see why people would shop there if they hadn't got any money, but, if you can afford to, why not go somewhere better?
If anybody can tell me about any things they do well I'm prepared to be convinced.

OP posts:
GunpowderGelatine · 08/12/2018 06:55

Last time I was in M&S the girl on the tills cocked something up when scanning and actually said out loud "Oh for fucks sake" Confused in front of customers! Going down hill that place Grin

EnglishRose13 · 08/12/2018 07:00

Aldi chocolate Hob Nobs are the best I've ever tasted.

Their cookies are shit though.

HRTpatch · 08/12/2018 07:13

I have discovered Booths.
I love it. Massive cheese selection.
And no music.

Beansonapost · 08/12/2018 07:19

Poor quality this poor quality that... only in British society. They have managed to cultivate a society where snobbery is the order of the day...

When the reality is most foods are imported and all tastes the same... but you know stick a label on and call it fancy and people will think it's much better than the very same thing in non fancy label made /grown on the same factory or farm.

Tbh the best fruits and veg I've come across was where I grew up and when I lived in Australia... well and truly FRESH!!! And far better quality than what's sold in the uk stores.

Waitrose tartar sauce is shite along with a few other things. Horrid... but they charge a premium because it's Waitrose darling!

See below; that is what an avocado looks like... picked fresh from the back yard.

to not get why people like Aldi/Lidl so much?
Dongdingdong · 08/12/2018 07:29

Agree OP - it’s Waitrose all the way for me. I love it!

Shepherdspieisminging · 08/12/2018 07:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

anascrecca · 08/12/2018 07:35

I like Aldi food, we also save money there. I like how I can get round in 30 min because it's smaller. I put three large bags in my trolley and chuck it in at the till. No packing at the shelf for me. We buy the couple of things that we can't get from there in bulk from other shops once a month. The porridge oats in a paper bag are no good. Mine has just started selling the ones in love paper bag.

anascrecca · 08/12/2018 07:36

Started selling the one in The card board box sorry not paper bag

Beansonapost · 08/12/2018 07:39

@Shepherdspieisminging

It's actually not. Since personal tastes varies.

But people are so brand loyal that something made the exact same way with a different label will automatically taste "different" not the same or be labelled poor quality.

It's quite funny.

ivykaty44 · 08/12/2018 07:41

The Aldi oats are far better quality than Tesco, they are cut larger as well.

Dark chocolate in Lidl is very good quality compared to green&blacks, Lindt and even Aldi own. I’d go with Lidl being the best if the supermarket brands

Fruit and vegetables are decent enough in Lidl but Aldi everything is packaged but still cheaper for some produce than other supermarkets

Flour for bread is fine in both

Depends I think whether you buy ingredients or ready meals

Tutlefru · 08/12/2018 07:43

We are having our local Aldi refurbished, going to have two floors! 😊 —I’m actually excited—

I like Aldi. I also like having my shopping thrown at me. Can not stand dithering of any kind. Was in Sainsbury’s and I swear I had to wait 10 minutes for the person to finish packing and chopsing. I want to be in and out. Grin

I also get some bargains from the middle aisles, I got DD some real leather boots reduced to £2 and a touch 42ltr bin for £3.99 so there. Grin

neverever1 · 08/12/2018 07:49

I have tried so many times to like Aldi/lidl and I just can't get away with it for a weekly shop. I find it's ok for cereal bread and dishwasher tablets. I don't think the stuff has much flavour. I also hate food shopping so get it delivered every week and it saves so much time

Alfie190 · 08/12/2018 07:53

I have never been to Lidl because I assume it is like Aldi. We had an Aldi in my home town 35 years ago and the quality of food was appalling and I am not fussy about my food!

My parents were poor and always looking to save money but they could not go so low. It was a one off shop, they never went back and I have never gone as an adult. The day I have to shop in one of these revolting places is the day I give up all hope in life.

SoupDragon · 08/12/2018 08:12

one of these revolting places

So, you are basing your judgement on the fact that your parents went in one once, 35 years ago?

PeroniZucchini · 08/12/2018 08:12

My fussy bugger cats will only eat those tins of Gourmet Gold... or the Aldi equivalent. If anything’s a good test of food quality it’s my two cats’ acceptance of it Grin

3WildOnes · 08/12/2018 08:12

I never think the fruit and veg are great at Aldi and Lidl. They don’t do munch (any?) organic fruit, veg or meat. I’m happy to stick with my organic fruit and veg delivery and Waitrose.

PeroniZucchini · 08/12/2018 08:16

More fool you Alfie! Grin

Btw the Aberdeen Angus specially selected mince is excellent at Aldi, as is the Lidl ‘posh’ version. The free range chicken is usually good too; the last one I bought at Waitrose smelt rank even when cooked and I think was responsible for giving my dog the shits.

Ledkr · 08/12/2018 08:21

I don't really require "an experience" when I buy food.
I just want to get in, get what I want to eat as quickly as possible and as cheap as I can and then get on with my life.
Am I shallow?

formerbabe · 08/12/2018 08:27

My parents were poor and always looking to save money but they could not go so low. It was a one off shop, they never went back and I have never gone as an adult. The day I have to shop in one of these revolting places is the day I give up all hope in life

You can't base your opinion on going to a shop 30+ years ago for gods sake!

Budget food shops when I was a child were grim...people would be really embarrassed to say they shopped in them. I remember my mum had a friend who was a skint single mum who shopped in kwiksave...she'd whisper this like it was a shocking secret that we were to never let on we knew and my mother felt sorry for her.

Shops nowadays like Aldi and Lidl are fantastic and nothing like the budget shops of the past.

Obviouspretzel · 08/12/2018 08:29

It makes me laugh when people say the meat is poor in Aldi/Lidl. If you're comparing to a good butchers or farm shop, yes. If you're comparing to another supermarket then, to me, they are pretty much all the same. Likewise for veg really.

AliceLateAgain · 08/12/2018 08:32

For me, it's the variation over time that I don't like. Sure, there are things to avoid in Aldi. For example, their ketchup is vinegary, the copy weetabix is like soggy cardboard (had to throw these away which goes against the grain for me). But it's the things that are acceptable one week but then the perhaps the recipe is changed, as noted by PP's retailers define the recipes for quality or profit, and then suddenly the pork pies are dry and disgusting.

M&S, Waitrose etc. are definitely more consistent quality. It's a bit of a lottery with Aldi & Lidl.

Bluesheep8 · 08/12/2018 08:33

I love Aldi and have shopped there for over 10 years. I shop a month at a time as I have a large freezer. I buy everything there from meat and fish to cans and fruit and veg. Also cleaning products and face cream. The quality and the prices are great. Part from corner shop type top up items, I won't shop anywhere else.

Bluesheep8 · 08/12/2018 08:35

And actually, I've bought joints of both beef and pork from farm shops and spent considerably more, then tried both from Aldi and they are better. Saw for sausages and steak.

Bluesheep8 · 08/12/2018 08:36

Same with!

policeandthieves · 08/12/2018 08:36

I have found the wine to be good in both Aldi and Lidl if you pick it carefully - and I really like the Lidl Champagne