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What's hot and what's not at Aldi/Lidl/Netto Article Discussion Area
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beyond_skint wrote: »Are you able to look for another job? They are few and far between at the mo, but if I was that unhappy I'd be looking frantically.
But I will still be shopping there for my food. If I stopped shopping everywhere there were unhappy staff, I would be very limited.
I love my aldi's for shopping.
I understand where you are coming from, but this is not a simple matter of "unhappy staff" it's a matter of them working above the law and being able to get away with it with no come backs. Cheapest is everything these days but guess you also would be the sort of person to buy imports from India produced in sweat shops without a second thought just because it was cheap? There has to be a moral line drawn whether you're skint or not. It's like someone said on the tv the other day when everyone has money they care about what sort of life the poor chicken had but when they're skint it all goes out of the window and they couldn't care less - human nature I guess and when you're backs against the wall
I am obviously disgruntled but I never thought I would be treated in this manner in this country in this day and age. It's not an isolated thing it's not a new thing either it's just the way they work but that doesn't make it right does it? I suggest next time you visit you take the time to ask a member of staff whether they experiences are the same as mine and I can guarantee, as long as you don't speak to one of the many "managers", that their experience will be exactly the same as mine.0 -
Schamansky wrote: »You are legally entitled to your breaks.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/WorkingHoursAndTimeOff/DG_10029451
Just take your legal breaks, no matter what they say. There is nothing they can do about it. Any possible repercussions from management are in breach of existing employment law and may well give you a case of (constructive) unfair dismissal.
They also have no legal leg to stand on when it comes to unpaid labour through unpaid overtime. Economic climate or not, it's not that easy to sack somebody who has the law behind him. Maybe give ACAS a ring.
There are companies out there (and from what one hears, the two German discounters are among the worst) who systematically create a work culture in which employees are deliberately pushed into forfeiting their legal rights. But there is no way they can make anybody go along with that. In such contexts, "gievance procedure", "tribunal" and "constructive dismissal" can be magic words. Your popularity may plummet very noticeably, but sacking is not a legal option. They may well look for other reasons to get rid of you, but as long as you cover your back, you're safe.
It was ACAS I rang re the breaks and they told me to "take it up with my employer", no one wants to know, you're on your own. I even contacted the Health and Safety executive because sometimes you're on the till for 10 - 12 hours without a break but they past me from one department to the other and that's how I ended up speaking to ACAS. It's not just me who's fed up it's everyone who works there, even some of the lower managers.
As for looking for another job you'd better believe it. From this week all our hours are cut and to make up our contracted hours they are using up our holiday entitlement to date so some of the days we're not required are down as holidays - nice eh?
On the face of it the pay looks good but if you look at it with all the breaks you don't get, all the extra hours you stay behind and arrive early I'd be surprised if you got minimum wage when it was all taken into account.
And to think it was us who won the war :rolleyes:0 -
Firstly, leave the war out of it and be assured that 95% of all UK directors and 80% of area managers are Brits.
Secondly, if you want to go to war instead of just whining in public, make a list of all complaints, keep a diary, and get involved with an employment lawyer. Also, use the grievance procedure. Be aware that any deterioration you suffer in consequence of your grievance, including hour cuts, strengthens your case. Aldi have already lost quite a few tribunal cases or settled them out of court. Google the name Mark Haddon. They also lost a few unfair dismissal cases against store assistants, with considerable compensation paid out. You're not up against the Wehrmacht here. They are certainly playing on your doing nothing.0 -
Schamansky wrote: »Firstly, leave the war out of it and be assured that 95% of all UK directors and 80% of area managers are Brits.
Secondly, if you want to go to war instead of just whining in public, make a list of all complaints, keep a diary, and get involved with an employment lawyer. Also, use the grievance procedure. Be aware that any deterioration you suffer in consequence of your grievance, including hour cuts, strengthens your case. Aldi have already lost quite a few tribunal cases or settled them out of court. Google the name Mark Haddon. They also lost a few unfair dismissal cases against store assistants, with considerable compensation paid out. You're not up against the Wehrmacht here. They are certainly playing on your doing nothing.
Firstly be assured that it was a joke, you know ha ha type, get a sence of humour, my father fought in the second world war thanks. For your future reference the smilie was a clue.
Thanks for the information on behalf of all downtrodden, used and abused "whiners", guess the same was thought about Nelson Mandella when he "whined" about the way coloured people were being treated. Thank you for your empathy and concern.0 -
Has anyone noticed the trend at Lidl to stock branded goods? For instance, the pharmaceuticals are now mostly from the big suppliers, their own, much cheaper, items are no longer stocked. For instance, Lemsip is often referred to as a typical rip off but it has now replaced their own much cheaper and equally effective brand.
In the tools section, the name Stanley is common but the tools are inferior but more are expensive then their own items. Similarly they offer Finish dish washer tablets at many times the price of their own brand; at the moment they are both available.
I have been a fan of Lidl for many years but I am starting to have doubts. Thank heavens we still have Aldi!
Billhum
Yes agreed, I've noticed an increase in branded goods too, especially in Lidl. I know some might say it gives everyone choice but, when you think about it, it doesn't really. It lessens the range of alternative cheaper items that Lidl can offer. After all if people want branded goods almost all the other stores stock them.
I also notice that the branded grocery items they stock are in the more expensive categories; like nappies, baby food, soft drinks and personal toiletries. These are lines that are high margin for retailers. I'd say it's likely Lidl are getting some of this stock free from manufacturers. They are probably desperate to get onto the discounters shelves. So a mutually beneficial little arrangement for Lidl and the manufacturers, but one I fear, were the customer will eventually lose out.0 -
Firstly be assured that it was a joke, you know ha ha type, get a sence of humour, my father fought in the second world war thanks. For your future reference the smilie was a clue.
Thanks for the information on behalf of all downtrodden, used and abused "whiners", guess the same was thought about Nelson Mandella when he "whined" about the way coloured people were being treated. Thank you for your empathy and concern.
1) Joke seen, understood, and taken. Two of my grandfathers fought (without any ideological enthusiasm) and both were lucky to survive. My father was born in 1941; so he didn't see much action himself.
2) The way that Aldi treat staff is not at all typical for German companies. They, and especially Lidl, have a very bad name for quite a few of their antics, and that's worldwide. Google. Keywords: Czech Republic, surveillance, trade unions, Schelsky, Haddon.
3) Both companies will bend existing employment law until legally challenged, in which case they just pay out, since they don't want that sort of publicity hit the fan. Unfortunately, they are rarely challenged down the legal route, and that's why they get away with their cranky ways. Like with you.
4) Get it now? In my last post, I handed you on a silver plate what you need to do in order to get a substantial chunk of compensation out of your employer, taking the legal route. So a bit more appreciation would seem appropriate.0 -
Schamansky wrote: »1) Joke seen, understood, and taken. Two of my grandfathers fought (without any ideological enthusiasm) and both were lucky to survive. My father was born in 1941; so he didn't see much action himself.
2) The way that Aldi treat staff is not at all typical for German companies. They, and especially Lidl, have a very bad name for quite a few of their antics, and that's worldwide. Google. Keywords: Czech Republic, surveillance, trade unions, Schelsky, Haddon.
3) Both companies will bend existing employment law until legally challenged, in which case they just pay out, since they don't want that sort of publicity hit the fan. Unfortunately, they are rarely challenged down the legal route, and that's why they get away with their cranky ways. Like with you.
4) Get it now? In my last post, I handed you on a silver plate what you need to do in order to get a substantial chunk of compensation out of your employer, taking the legal route. So a bit more appreciation would seem appropriate.
Perhaps I have a sick sence of humour but not much to laugh about at the moment being as my oh went bankrupt recently, there I go feeling sorry for myself again and whinging :rolleyes:
Thank you :beer:0 -
Cheerio and Prost! :beer:0
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Shop there regularly. Here's the stuff that gets general approval round ours:
tortillas
dark German sunflower bread (try it toasted with peanut butter, egg salad or cheese)
tropical fruit juice with vitamins
cloudy Lemonade/pink Lemonade (when in stock)
sundried tomatoes in olive oil
Greek goodies (jarred beans, stuffed vine leaves etc.)
the better balsamic vinegar (short, roundish dark bottle)
whole pepper in a grinder bottle
smoked cheese (Rauchen kaas)
parmesan cheese
French camembert
butter--they often have Anchor for less than Tesco store brand
evaporated milk, .50p (I like it in my coffee)
canned chili--it's more American-style than Brit-style, my son likes it a lot
potato wedges
hashbrowns
ice cream, esp. the coffee and cream flavour they have sometimes
tortilla chips
Kettle chips-style potato crisps (59p/bag at one point)
Belgian chocolate
Black Forest ham
not so hot:
my cats turn up their noses at Lidl canned cat food
I find their veggies big, coarse and nasty, esp.compared to the cheap, lovely stuff at my neighbourhood Asian greengrocers
a lot of the packaged meat is the same water/chemical-injected rubbish the supermarkets sell. Cheaper, yeah, but YUCK. My son does like the frikadellen burgers, but if it's "meat," he'll eat it :rotfl:
unsure:
peach yogurt is quite an odd consistency and flavour, not sure if it's good or not yet0 -
I can't understand all the negative comments about Netto food. It is the only shop that mainly deals in Named brand items across its range so the quality will be the same as any other supermarket. But the prices are considerably less. Some examples: Nescafe Gold Blend £3.99 for 200g, Kellogs cornflakes (giant box) £ 1.59 - similarly Rice Krispies,Shredded Wheat etc from time to time - Large box of Yorkshire Tea £1.99, the list could go on.
And for wine drinkers this is cheapy heaven. I've been drinking a superb South African Reserve Chenin Blanc for £2.99, you can currently get 2 bottles of Wolf Blass Reserve Chardonnay for £8 (Usually nearly that for 1 bottle in Tesco) Gonzales Fino sherry for £4.99 a litre (£5.89 in Morrisons) etc, etc,etc.
In fact I would say that Netto gives the best value for money for any wine drinker across the cheap and middle range of wines.
Check it out.
On Aldi I would offer a word of caution. I have been an Aldi shopper for 30 years and it is certainly value for money. But they are moving up-market. Their target customer is increasingly M&S and Sainsbury and the prices are beginning to reflect this. The quality is usually superb (not the bread and instant coffee), especially their Tevion range of electronics -German Made with everything that implies - but it is no longer the cheapest store across the ranges. Probably still the best value for money though.
Oh, and if you want to buy their fruit amd veg don't visit the store after lunch. The shelves will be nearly empty and they don't replenish 'til the next day.
quote=MSE Archna;discussion/151386]This thread is specifically to discuss the content of theTo discuss or ask a question about the article: click reply[/quote]0
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