My first ever Aldi shop - WOW!

Jue_xx

Thank you for all the kind comments and tips! I admit, I found the checkout experience "interesting", but then I told myself it's a no-frills supermarket, so at least I'm not being charged extra for a luxury checkout experience! And I hadn't realised the checkout assistants were timed.

I will also read the parking signs carefully next time, there was a sign there but I assumed it was a 2-hour limit so didn't take much notice of it.

Re: wine: even Aldi can't save me money on that, I make my own from kits at £45.00 for 30 bottles, and it really is better than the stuff you pay £5 a bottle for! :T

I will try as many of the cheaper brands as I can, and if necessary will top up from elsewhere if we really don't like them, but so far so good, we tried the milk chocolate last night (89p) and OH and the kids said they preferred it to our usual Dairy Milk (£1.50)!

outtawork

Jue xx. I buy my hair colourant from superdrug, the last offer was 3 for £12 it's Nutrisse light brown. If it's cheaper at boots l get it from there when l have double points coupons.

DCFC79

Doc_N wrote: »

Not my experience in Germany. Products much the same as in the UK, and the only diference is that whilst the Germans (and everyone else in mainland Europe) regard it as a bog-standard supermarket, the ill-educated in the UK regard it as downmarket and substandard.

We've been made far too used to overpriced supermarkets in the UK - good that Aldi and Lidl are changing all that.

Ive not been to germany so not as experienced as yourself but from what ive see of the specials they look just the same as what we get and you get Aldi Nord and Sud.

kerri_gt

JackieO wrote: »

I use Sainsbobs basic tea bags and they are excellant value and make a good cupp.Aldi's is great for fruit and veg.This morning I bought some chestnut mushrooms for lunch and some romaine lettuce which was only 45p for two lettuces Their 15p yoghurts are very nice but only seem to stack peach or strawbeery at my local shop.The biscuits are excellent value and I stock up for my DD as her boys can make a packet vanish very quickly at times

If you have a Lidl nearby, try their Knightsbridge tea in the red box too - its £1.99 for 160 so more expensive that Sainsburys Basics, but we tried those and didn't like them. Lidl ones (and we go through lots of tea) are fine though.

FOREVER21 wrote: »

I spoke to their manager about this and apparently the checkout person is timed on all their transactions and if they fail to meet the target time they face disciplinary action, so I now sympathise with them and try to keep up!

That's the same as other supermarkets too.

Lieja

In my town all the supermarkets are pretty much on top of each other, but it still took me nearly three years to venture into Lidl! Always used Asda and Tesco basic ranges, and tempted in by the yellow sticker discounts. A colleague recommended Lidl's chickens so I decided to do my 'big shop' there one week and couldn't believe the savings! I haven't been in Asda since.

I sent the OH for tea bags while I was at work the other day, with clear directions to get the big box of Yorkshire Tea from Home Bargains. I came home to a box of 50 Twinings tea bags from the Co-Op and he was quite surprised at how annoyed I was! He doesn't drink tea, but for some reason thinks I would prefer to splash out on that while skimping on everything else...

I used to go into Aldi while I was at uni, but have never been since. Our one is next to Lidl - is it worth using or is Lidl much the same price wise?

DigForVictory

I think I hear the sound of the penny dropping.
So long as I can get the packed lunch stuff accepted, I hope to join the "why did it take me so long?!" Brigade shortly!

ska_lover

I don't see the big fuss about Aldi being so great, IMO it isn't...

A lot of the stuff is Ok- I have no problem with their actual products, but not better than most supermarkets own branded products, and then there's the parking parasites, and the extra fuel of driving to another supermarket to get the rest of the shopping that you cannot buy at Aldi..

Doc_N

ska_lover wrote: »

I don't see the big fuss about Aldi being so great, IMO it isn't...

A lot of the stuff is Ok- I have no problem with their actual products, but not better than most supermarkets own branded products, and then there's the parking parasites, and the extra fuel of driving to another supermarket to get the rest of the shopping that you cannot buy at Aldi..

Isn't the main point, though, that you're buying the same grocery items (with a different label) for around 30% less?

It depends where you live, I suppose. My Aldi has a large, free, untimed car park, it's right next door to a Tesco, and quite close also to a Waitrose. I know of another town with a Lidl, an Aldi and a Waitrose all with untimed free car parks and all within five minutes walk of each other.

Our scruffy old Tesco has lost such a large percentage of its sales to the Aldi that opened next door to it that it's had to revisit the rebuilding plans it decided to scrap (before the Aldi opened). They had the planning permission to rebuild, then decided not to bother, thinking the customers would still go there. Then Aldi opened, took a large chunk of their trade. Now they're rebuilding after all.

Trouble is, it's too late. Why would anyone go back, just to add a third to their grocery bills?

applecrumble24

Another vote for Lidl, biscuis here! You really can't tell the difference between the branded one and my OH is a biscuit expert!

davsidipp

jue,if you have a 99p shop near,they sell garnier and branded hair dyes.i stock pile when they have the colour i need.no paying 5 to 7 quid anymore for me.:D