Good and bad buys from Aldi and Lidl

Doc_N

meritaten wrote: »

I was impressed! I have worked in retail for over forty years and cannot think of one store who would have done that with no quibbling!

But, looked at another way, can you think of one store which would have added an item costing that much to your bill that you hadn't bought?

This is a frequent problem at Aldi because of the till speed. It rarely happens anywhere else (including Lidl) but it happens time and time again at Aldi. Their store managers, and their senior management, know all about it but choose to ignore it - until, that is, it hits Watchdog or the papers (which it will). Then it will be - goodness, we didn't know that, how did that happen, we'll sort it out immediately. Shock, horror.

I'm a big Aldi fan (as A Badger has pointed out, more than once) but this is a serious issue and it needs sorting before it hits the headlines.

tomtombeanie

Housework*Fairy wrote: »

Has anyone recommended the magnum-type ice-cream lollies? They're delicious and as nice as magnums, only £1.99 for 6. Not sure what they are called but the brand is Gellatelli or something similar.

These are lovely, I agree. Think in aldi the brand is Giannis, but anyone looking for them will find them even if I'm wrong

They also do mini versions, a 12 pack for a similar price to the big ones...

Happygreen

ScarletMarble wrote: »

Do you know anyone that buys 100% of their food, cleaning products, booze, toiletries etc from Aldi or Lidl?

For me that is out of the question as have issues with some of Aldi's produce and all of their flavoured yoghurts. Plus you cannot get smoked paprika in their spice jars!

Never bought any of their toiletries as I buy them when they are on offer or in £ shops. For example - bottles of shower gel when they are £1 or less. My friend has sensitive skin like me and one shampoo caused her scalp to become very sore and bleed in places.I could not tell you which Aldi shampoo it was.

70% Lidl, 10 % Aldi (as we do not have one nearby yet) and 20 % from everywhere else (mainly M for good meat offers, B&M, poundshops and T).
Re. Toilet rolls - I only buy recycled so have to rely on offers as sadly neither A or L have it on regular stock anymore. But when L has the Floralys recycled it is really nice and great value, better than the blue brand. I shouldn't advertise it as it sells out within a day each time

Yesterday we had T's venison sausages (were yellow stickered) and I must say that Aldi's slimming version is so much superiour. Will only get those in the future even when not on offer. I hope they keep them in stock.

A._Badger

Regarding the overcharging, at least a contributing factor has to be the way the checkout staff are driven to scan goods at breakneck speed.

Complimenting one the other week on how fast she whipped through a pile of shopping, she looked rather nervously around and said 'we're timed' - then pulled a face.

A little too ruthless, perhaps...

WantToBeSE

I have always been a fan of Lidl and Aldi, but was really disappointed this week. I bought a pack of peaches (as part of their S6) but obviously didn't look close enough at them, as when I got them home I found that they were all 'bad'. No point taking them back either, as I live a 20min drive away.


However, I still stand by the fact that they are great value for money, just not on this occasion!

Doc_N

A._Badger wrote: »

Regarding the overcharging, at least a contributing factor has to be the way the checkout staff are driven to scan goods at breakneck speed.

Complimenting one the other week on how fast she whipped through a pile of shopping, she looked rather nervously around and said 'we're timed' - then pulled a face.

A little too ruthless, perhaps...

I'd go further. It's more than a contributory factor - I suspect it's the sole cause, and instore managers have confirmed that.

Their excuse never varies. It's a stock response. They accept that staff are targeted on till speeds (1000 items an hour, I understand) but argue that it's essential to keep prices down. Then they say that the overcharges arise because of training issues, apologise, and make the refund.

Nobody is prepared to deal with the issue - though I'm confident that they will once it gets escalated to such an extent that the bad publicity backfires on them.

The odd thing is that Lidl staff are also targeted, but overcharging complaints relating to Lidl are much less common. I suspect their tills are better programmed, and better able to cope with the speeds.

PenguinOfDeath

I'm another that was over charged in aldi yesterday, bought an item which was marked as £2.99 down from £4.99. When at home, I discarded the label (hate labels even if I'm throwing the packaging away ) opened the item, but later checked my receipt t see it had been charged at £6.99!

I managed to retrieve the packaging and label from the bin, am I best just going to a till when it's quiet and pointing it out?

DCFC79

PenguinOfDeath wrote: »

I'm another that was over charged in aldi yesterday, bought an item which was marked as £2.99 down from £4.99. When at home, I discarded the label (hate labels even if I'm throwing the packaging away ) opened the item, but later checked my receipt t see it had been charged at £6.99!

I managed to retrieve the packaging and label from the bin, am I best just going to a till when it's quiet and pointing it out?

Yes go to a till when not busy or ask 1 of the assistants you can find on the shopfloor, I'd say evenings (before they close) are the quietest I reckon.

maman

A._Badger wrote: »

Regarding the overcharging, at least a contributing factor has to be the way the checkout staff are driven to scan goods at breakneck speed.

Complimenting one the other week on how fast she whipped through a pile of shopping, she looked rather nervously around and said 'we're timed' - then pulled a face.

A little too ruthless, perhaps...

I'm sure there are many contributory factors to overcharging. I'm now in the habit of stopping while still in the store to check my receipt.


Unfortunately, exactly the same happened to me in Sainsbury's last week so now I've resolved to check my receipt in all shops.

tronator

PenguinOfDeath wrote: »

I'm another that was over charged in aldi yesterday, bought an item which was marked as £2.99 down from £4.99. When at home, I discarded the label (hate labels even if I'm throwing the packaging away ) opened the item, but later checked my receipt t see it had been charged at £6.99!

I managed to retrieve the packaging and label from the bin, am I best just going to a till when it's quiet and pointing it out?

I almost always check the receipt after I paid and before I pack my stuff. I also have a shopping list app on my phone, which gives me the total of my shopping in my cart.