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

[lucydogz]

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.

Piss off back to Waitrose then, means less queuing for me!

I bought Aldi’s chocolate carousel for my Christmas Day dessert. It’s an absolute masterpiece. I don’t understand people who don’t like aldi, it’s fantastic. I also save £40 a week.

I agree with you op.

Mumsnet however loves Aldi and Lidl.

I agree with you about the eggs too!

To be honest it isn't actually cheap I find it's the same price as buying supermarket own brand products which are the same quality as Aldi.

There's also less choice and the checkout system where food is thrown at you doesn't appeal to me either.

Because I can get around them in 15 minutes or so, which is unheard of in Asda or Sainsbury's.

Also Lido's pretzels are where it's at.

Bruffin, they are often the same products with different labels. The quality is the same.

You need to buy the large organic oats. They're nicer than any I've had elsewhere. Ever!

@Finfintytint No I do not shop solely with dairy in mind and even with my newly acquired knowledge (thank you) I'd still rather chew off my own arse than shop in Aldi / Lidl, even for the same stuff

Aldi premium brand desserts are fantastic, sticky toffee pudding, stuff like that. Only buy at Christmas but really great.

I like all their dairy products (both Lidl and Aldi) and the free range chicken/pork is excellent.

I can't imagine what poor quality porridge oats are like, really! Own brand Morrisons are fairly dusty, but we eat industrial quantities so make do.

We buy all our basics at Aldi:veg, fruit, salad stuff, meat (not masses), dairy, eggs, cheese, plain yogurt. It's much cheaper than buying the equivalent from Tesco and I can do the shop much more quickly. I do buy a few things from Tesco - I work next to one so it's no hassle going to two supermarkets. The quality is fine.

I don't like the feeling of being rushed from the checkout in Aldi tbh

Poor quality porridge oats go into goo when cooked. Rather like wallpaper paste.

I love Lidl. I like the prices, the food quality, the cheese rolls, and the fact that they sell continental goodies that you can't get anywhere else.

I don't know how anyone can't save money though. I buy a lot of own brand stuff from Morrisons, and the shop is £40 dearer a week than Lidl/Aldi. I just like the delivery aspect but I know I'm paying for it. The difference between that and Sainsbury's is huge. Sainsbury's own brand products are all just really small, that's why they are cheaper!

@elftastic you must live in Tonbridge. It's the only quiet Waitrose I've ever come across

Just buy online and stay at home in the warm.

Elftastic, agreed! You have to weigh up convenient shopping against car parking and prices. Sometimes I shop at M and S just so I can have a calm no hassle free experience.

Aldi decaf ground coffee and Lidl Bellarom chocolate fab!

Overall stock and customer service quality is far superior to Tesco and Waitrose. For a start they're German and yer German's not going to put up with any crap.

They're customer service is much nicer and the staff themselves have said that they are treated far better than Sainsburys.

Former Waitrose and Tesco shopper. Surprised that Waitrose are still going. Genuinely cannot find anything I used to buy that is worth the extra cost because Lidl do it better and Aldi do it cheaper. Standard 3 year warranty on electrical products yet Tesco will quibble over the return of electricals by saying it has to be sent off for repair first.

No, I'll buy at Lidl and Aldi which have proved to be more robust in the first place.

the food just is poor quality.

That isn't my experience at all and they often perform well in blind tests.

I've never actually got as far as buying anything from either of them but have been to Lidl with a friend a couple of times. I can't get over the fact that if feels like you're shopping in a jumble sale. It's not for me.

I shop at all the supermarkets bar Waitrose and Morrisons, and Aldi and Lidl are fine but I'm not struck on some things. The cornflakes and the orange dilute drinks I just don't like. I don't eat meat and fish so I cant comment on those. The cleaning products are very good and the fruit and veg are fine. I think Lidl is marginally better than Aldi.

I think with all supermarkets you have to pick and choose really.

The 50% jam, I think in Lidl, is really good- you need to buy the more expensive one. Cheap jam is shit.

I’ve never really gelled with Aldi but I like Lidl. Their Greek yoghurt is lovely, household stuff, shampoo etc, nappies are excellent. Baking ingredients also ace. Chocolate is palm oil free.

I’ve switched to plastic free veg and meat by using a local farm shop and butcher, so don’t buy that there anymore, but I do the rest there. Apparently in NI they are going plastic free in fruit and veg, so I’m hoping they roll it out over here too.

I think it’s very hit and miss. Meat I’ve never had a good experience with Lidl, on the occasions I’ve bought it(and frozen immediately) it’s turned, which has become obvious when cooking due to the smell, then have had to chuck whatever I was making. LIDL yogs are great value, 8/10 for just over £1 rather than 6 at tesco. Their ketchup and mayo is great, as is bakery items. Their wine, ones we buy are £4.10/4.25 are very good.

Aldi veg I’ve found goes bad within days and we trypied their pies last week alongside some tesco ones and I wasn’t impressed, the Aldi ones were grey in colour inside(steak) whereas the tesco ones were a rich brown colour, hey definately didn’t taste as good imo. Their bailieys for £3.75 is nice though. We tried their own lynx lookalike the other day, only 50p but it was very runny, so will stick with other supermarket own brand.

I couldn’t do a full shop at either one, so I just get tesco delivered as I’m not big on brands anyway and on the occasions I’m in either one, I stock up on the bits that are ok from there.