I sure do hate ALDI!

[Jamie (K)]

Today I was in ALDI for about the fifth time, but it was only the first time I've bought anything.

You'd think that people as logical and organized as the Germans could create a logical, organized store, but the only thing logical about it is that the stuff that needs to stay cold is refridgerated. It took me about 15 minutes to find a jar of peanut butter, because looking for something specific in ALDI is more or less like playing mahjong.

One thing I have to say, though, is that ALDI always seems to locate their stores in neighborhoods where people have really horrible eating habits -- living on canned hotdogs, cheese puffs and pop -- and if they want to get their food cheap at ALDI, they have to buy things that are better for them.

In general, the only people I know who like to shop at ALDI are people who like to spend time shopping. I personally think the store wastes my time.

[Jan]

Hi,
I was buying at Aldi in Germany and it was not so bad in USA predominantly we were useing Wal-Mart and something like Kellymarkt??, and the shops vary so much between states and cities.The same products in general but for example here now not available or many poor quality stuff or damage stuff mixed with the good store.
At home I am buying since three years in cheap danish owned net "Netto". Just groccery now coming slowly more universal with many extra poor quality things available.
My friends hate in majority shops like this, but I am really happy I know more or less by mind where is what lying, and what time is relatively not too much busy.
Any attempt to make shopping somewhere else was always abandoned due to too much change in schedule.
I am able to make weekly shopping within an hour, what is probably local record (driving time included).
Only meat is sometimes a problem because I need additonaly fresh chicken necks for my dog(the cheapest and the healthiest dog food).
Because of my dog I need to patrol shops in vicinity
few times a week, it is not often but still happens that cheap dog meat is out of stock everywhere.
If you don't know a shop you easy get lost looking for something if it is Aldi or something else no matter of shop name.
An human being is quite lazy thinking creature, and shopping like driving is done many times just by mind.
Any change of place or location is causing frontal crush effect.
Regards
Jan

[Tamara]

Hi

In the town I live (UK) there are: ALDI, Waitrose, ASDA, Tesco and Sainsbury’s stores.
Mainly I use the last two (60% : 30%) and sometimes do small shopping in (rather expensive) Waitrose’s store - but not in ALDI, even though it is the cheapest one and quite close to my house, much closer than Tesco - and I had made at least three intentional attempts to get used doing shopping in it.
But no…

I can’t say that I 'hate' it… but definitely there is something in ALDY that makes it uncomfortable for me.

The same situation was with LIDL’s store that had been closed two yeas ago (I don’t know the reason). The only thing I used to buy in it was (were?) pickled cucumbers
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[Torsten]

Hi Jamie, thank you for bringing up ALDI here. You see, for us Germans it's a rare case that a German company manages to establish themselves overseas. Usually it's the other way round -- US companies grow into international corporations. ALDI is a particularly interesting example as the company is still privately hold. It was founded by the Albrecht brothers who are both in their 80ies now.

In Germany ALDI has been offering low-price computers as part of their new product strategy and those computers have always sold like hot cakes. In addition ALDI is now offering low price mobile phone services and I think they still hold quite a piece of the total food discount market in Germany which is worth a couple of billion Euros per year....
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[Yankee]

Hi Jamie

I saw my first American Aldi after having discovered Aldi in Germany. I was so surprised to see Aldi in New jersey that I was forced to go in just to compare. They are quite similar.

There are actually two different Aldis: "Aldi North" and "Aldi South". (Sort of like having "yank" and "reb" versions of Aldi. ) The American Aldis are part of "Aldi South".

I do a fair amount of shopping at Aldi here in Germany. I can usually find all the basics and the food quality seems to be more than adequate. Aldi even has frozen "poppers" now (which I was thrilled to discover.) But, still, my main complaint is Aldi's limited selection. I often end up having to go elsewhere for certain things. Take catfood, for example. The catfood at Aldi is nice and cheap. Unfortunately my cats either won't eat it or barf after eating it. So, that ultimately makes Aldi catfood extremely expensive.

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Jamie (K)]

[Jamie (K)]

[Yankee]

[Conchita]

[Cristina]

I feel like a strange creature in this world when I read your letters about the different supermarkets you know and that I have never listened of....I have never been in ALDI or LDLI or any other different than METRO,PLAZA VEA ,SANTA ISABEL,or TOTUS where I buy whatever I want because you find all there....specially in METRO a peruvian company which has a particular system... per each 2 dollars,of consume, you earn a point with those points you receive, for free,different gifts,could be towels,jewelry,trips this depends on the points you have,people there are very kind,the products are fresh,with excellent quality,and they always have sales that are really attractive

Cris
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[Tamara]

Hi

[Yankee]

[Tamara]

Amy

I looked for cornstarch (to have cooked a special sauce), but in both my cases (case studies ) I asked Tesco’s staff just 'starch'.
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[Conchita]

[Conchita]