To not like the atmosphere in Aldi?

[Beansandvodka]

Can’t quite put my finger on it but there is something I find a-bit off putting. I went the other day and I really wanted to like it but there was a chaotic atmosphere and the people were so loud. I’m aware I don’t have to shop there but wondering if anyone else has encountered this?

It does feel like a warehouse. It will be a part of why it’s cheaper, stuff if in boxes on the shelves, not unpacked.

There's a Tesco Extra near me that makes me feel depressed, it's like it is sucking the life out of you.
Must be something to do with the size, lighting, acoustics?

I tend to wear earphones and listen to a podcast or audiobook, which helps

TEsco sometimes has black floors which can make it feel like that.

It's not for me. I checked both Aldi & Lidl out & couldn't come to terms with the open boxes & the unfamilar brands.
I don't think I'm being snobby (but you can call me one if you want!) it was, for me, so alien, not what I've always been used to in supermarkets. I just like what I know!

Well, for me, it evokes shopping in 90s Euro markets, like Penny Markt in Germany. I love it for that reason. It’s just basic, cheap, and good. I do prefer Lidl (my local one is particularly nice and the service is friendly). Aldi stresses me out more, for sure. Lidl’s better.

My local Aldi is fairly new, in a new building. The layout is fine, it isn't any louder than other supermarkets, the shelves and displays are aesthetically fine (it's still a supermarket) and the staff are all lovely and helpful. However, as soon as it gets a bit busy, there's a strange atmosphere change, like everyone gets a bit more desperate to get done and get out. Customers trying to barge through, pushing into you with trolleys, everyone avoiding eye contact, trying to rush through, it's really odd. Unless it's quiet, I tend to stick to Lidl, which never seems to get that almost feral feeling, even when it's really busy. I also tend to avoid our local Sainsbury's, which is in the very affluent next town over, because of the amount of people who will happily barge into you with a trolley, then huff at you for daring to be in their way. Before anyone asks, I don't dither about or block the aisles, so reason for the trolley barging.

Snap.

Dont like Aldi now they have the fridge doors. You cant get down that aisle anymore as its much to narrow and when people stand with the fridge doors open staring into space when they can look through the glass at the goods on display then make their choice. It puts me off going.

Seemed okay for me.

Roughly 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, <1% all other gaseous elements and compounds.

Just how I like it.

I think the fridge doors are excellent. Why waste energy needlessly?

I feel the same about Lidl. The acoustics in our local one are horrible. It felt positively post apocalyptic during COVID with all the warnings over the tannoys

I love Aldi's and Lidl because they don't play music. At least not in the stores in my area.
I have sensory issues and detest music in shops. Especially that awful racket that passes for music these days.

I have stopped shopping in Home Bargains because of the awful music they play. Makes me want to scream.

I think it depends on the individual store. I find our local m&s for more chaotic than out local Aldi, but i’ve been in other smaller / less well laid our ones that were worse!

Its a supermarket. Go in, shop, get out. Or don't. Noone is forcing youm

What 'atmosphere' do you need? Whale music and dim lighting? Or would you prefer fog, glowsticks and free ecstasy?

Good grief. The things people find to whine about. Shop elsewhere if its not 'atmospheric' enough for you.

I usually shop in Aldi on a Monday morning as I did today, it's fine, it wasn't too busy, shelves were fairly full, the only noise came from a small child whinging loudly that obviously didn't want to be there.

I was in Lidl before that and it was very quiet in there, not at all busy.

I never shop in either or any other supermarket beyond a Wednesday, far too noisy, too busy and I hate it! 😁

You're not unreasonable to feel however you do about the one Aldi store you've experienced.

I think it's a bit odd to make a sweeping statement about Aldi in general, when there are hundreds of stores all over the country 🤷🏻‍♀️

For what it's worth, our local ones are fine. The nearest one, which I go to most often, has lovely staff. Some of their products are awesome and I go specifically for (looking at you Aldi chocolate! So good!!) 😄

My local Aldi has upgraded all the fittings, so you have eye-level height freezer cabinets, for example, which makes finding things easier. They've put in lots of self-service checkouts, replacing some of the the staffed checkouts, and they have staff on hand to help when the self-service (inevitably) goes wrong. Some of the shops which haven't yet had this kind of physical upgrade feel less navigable (to me) but in fact the product ranges and choice are just the same. Lingering and browsing are obviously built into 'the shopping journey' , as you have the central aisles designed to pull customers in to check out what's available that day.

I really like it. I like the fact that the packaging is designed well (huge bar codes) to make the whole process quicker, the products are excellent and they pay the staff the best wages in the supermarket sector. My food expenditure is half of what it was when I shopped mostly at Sainsbury's. And even things like not packing into bags at the till aren't enforced - I keep three bags open in the trolley and pack fast as things come off the conveyor belt. I've never had a member of staff ask me not to pack as I go. I don't like the excess plastic in packaging, but they're not alone in that in retail.

Our Aldi and Lidl are a lot smaller than the other supermarkets, especially Tesco so maybe that’s why they feel more chaotic. There always seems to be staff wheeling massive pallet trucks about taking up nearly full width of aisle and it just generally feels a lot busier

I know right? Poor people do so lower the tone.

Bloody hell, i have read it all now.

Although free ecstasy, as a PP suggested, would be nice.

My local Aldi is fine - I go mid week around lunchtime, so it’s quiet. I don’t spend long there, 15 mins max (if I manage to get past the aisle blockers with their trollies😵‍💫)

Hell is other people.

I generally go 20:30 to 21:00 at night, and never on a weekend or a Friday night. The experience is a lot better then.

I'm not sure why so many people continue to shop on a Friday night.

What bugs me about my local aldi is when they pack their shopping at the till!

OP I know exactly what you mean! I prefer Lidl (or Waitrose!).