To be falling out of love with lidl?

[Vistada]

I love the aldi / lidl business models, they fascinate me.

I've always liked lidl but lately I think I've fallen out of love with it because their quality is starting to take the piss.

Veg already rotten

Chicken thigh fillets that are no more than what you would find in a wing

Queues down the shop

And don't get me started on the packaging, they're clearly cutting a lot of corners here to keep prices low, manys a time lately that I've had to throw away things away upon unpacking because the packaging has broken in transit (predominantly fish / meat which is really fcking annoying)

Aibu to think lidl are at risk of losing their hard won market share as quick as they gained it if they don't stop taking the piss as currently I'd happily pay 20% more for halfway decent food

Our branch is really nice, much better than Aldi, and a lot cheaper than Tesco, Sainsbury's or Waitrose who are the other convenient supermarkets. We generally shop there but I do shop 2-3 times a week so no issues with veg going rotten

I don't shop in Lidl much as I can't do a full shop there, they don't have everything I need. I can do a full shop in Aldi though so I tend to go there instead.

Apparently though we have a "posh" Lidl due to demographics, perhaps we get better food?

Not had any issues with their fruit or veg other than raspberries which always seem to be mouldy. Love Lidl bakery, Italian week and my local store is always fairly quiet and the staff are lovely.

I agree it's a bit hit and miss OP. I find it great for bakery, deli food, some cleaning bits and a few basics (wine). It's my closest supermarket, so I use it to top up with things like milk, butter, bread and a few tins.

However, like you, I find that the fruit and veg tends not to last very well. I'll only ever buy stuff that I intend to eat within about 2 days of purchase.

I'm very lucky to have a great local greengrocers a few doors further down the street, so I prefer to buy my fresh food and eggs there.

Lidl don't give a shit about nut allergies. Open nut bins with no warning on the way in. With a kid who's anaphylactic to some nuts this is not acceptable. Thankfully dosed with meds in the aisle and left never to return.

A sketchy customer is one who looks dishevelled / smells / shouts and on occasions attempts to shop lift steak. Can be seen at a Lidls near you!

Every time I occasionally pop into my local one there seems to be people arguing loudly
Very strange as I don't find that problem anywhere else

I tended to go to Aldi for a main shop but the quality really dropped. Maybe I was unlucky that week but I had to throw a lot of one shop out after only a few days- fruit rotten inside and chicken that smelled. I go to Dunnes now and only use Aldi if I want a gin and tonic/chocolate.

I've noticed packaging going down hill in Tesco too though.

My Lidl is fine but I only go in for stuff I can't get elsewhere cheaper peashoot salad, mixed nuts and fizzy water.
You do notice M&S tastes better for some stuff but I don't think that applies to salad or veg. And theirs is unbelievably expensive.
I don't think farm shop stuff or hone grown lasts either. It's not actually meant to is it.

So many arguments about parking spaces. It was like trying to park in a circle of hungry sharks.

Do online now.

I shop at Waitrose or Sainsburys and I know that people think they are more expensive but the quality (especially Waitrose) is so much better. Personally I would rather pay more for higher quality food. You get what you pay for.

I now get fruit and veg from local independent fruit and veg shop. Much better quality less plastic packaging and supporting local business. Milk in glass bottles delivered to house along with eggs and OJ. Meat and everything else from M&S but do once a month basic shop from Lidl for absolute basics as their other food inedible.

Only go for the bakery. Fruit and veg quality is awful. Would rather pay more and actually eat it rather than throw it away. Soft fruit is particularly bad.

I wouldn't do a full shop in lidl but I've got used to what I want, their cashew nuts are great and a lot cheaper, their spices are half the price of Tesco and chilli powder is still chilli powder.

Their jars of sun dried tomatoes were 99p and yummy but the price has jumped up hugely.

Their themed weeks are good and I love the freezer bag Nasi goering.

Fruit and veg are horrid though, prefer to pay twice the price in M and S

Also and Sainsbo chicken breasts are currently the same price!

The Lidl near me is such an actual shit hole I can't bare to go in it HOWEVER the one opposite where I work from occasionally a good 35 miles from home is lovely and I always get my work food from there and enjoy it. Unfortunately some older Lidl branches seem to take pride in being as unwelcoming as possible and look like glorified holiday camp supermarket's, but if they're good they're quite nice! I have never found any issues with the products.

Our Lidl in SL6 is great. No complaints of the type of things you mention

Meant to add the one time I did see two women screaming at each other and practically coming to blows was in M and S.

They are very efficient at the tills and they move quickly though.

Are they buggery, the one near me often has an aisle’s worth of queues for the self service fills (of which at least one will be out of order) for which there will be one harassed member of staff and endless “Please wait, an assistant is coming”.

I’m quite happy to shop in Aldi and Lidl for some things like fruit and vegetables and staples (meat and dairy comes from Waitrose on welfare grounds) but the quality seems better in Aldi. I like Lidl for the bakery, chocolate and nuts but they do feel like the poor relation to Aldi. Also, I’ve rarely found nice wine in Lidl - Aldi’s can be very good.

Quite. It's highly specific to locations as well - the big Asda in Portsmouth was known as Chavda for many a year..... 🤔

Lidl is the only supermarket in our town unless you can afford a weekly shop at Waitrose (and at over double the cost I certainly can't, it's luxuries only there!).

I genuinely have never had any issues with Lidl and I've used it since the 90s. Yes some of the processed food / knock off brands can be shit, but then I don't really buy that in there - if I want a nice chicken pie or a fancy steak or a specifically brand of crisps I'll go to Waitrose.

Lidl's range of imported cheeses, meats etc are fabulous. We eat a LOT of international food and I get about 80% of my stuff here and the rest either in Waitrose or an international food shop in the city centre.

Now if we're talking ropey cleanliness, mouldy veg and dodgy meat, the international shop is it! I only buy tinned bottled or packaged items there!

I am seriously struggling with their bagged salads. There's no point buying them. Even if you eat them on the day you buy them you have to pick out brown bits. Disappointing. Waste of money. Possibly a health hazard as well.

I prefer Aldi, it feels like they’ve invested in their stores and the products are better for us. Lots of stuff I’d the same price at Tesco so not a lot of difference and they deliver.

I've had the same experience with Aldi recently and have given up on it. I used to religiously shop in Aldi, but after having a baby found M&S and the Coop much more convenient, far more expensive though. I recently decided to try Aldi again and the quality of the fresh produce was shocking in comparison. I'm not sure if the quality has dramatically declined in the last 18 months or if it has always been poor and I've just become accustomed to the better quality produce available elsewhere.

Good for potato salad though. I'm addicted to it.
Potato salad and walnuts are all I buy there.