Tesco Value snobbery??

NemoToad

Buffy_the_Vampire_Bat wrote: »

What I don't understand though, is why anyone would be snobbish or funny about Aldi and Lidl? Surely they are just a German (?) chain of stores that have arrived in the UK, so are therefore selling different ranges and stuff? I just don't get it!

Quite! I wish there was a Lidl nearer to me, I miss shopping there! I lived in Germany for a year and did all my shopping there. I'm pretty sure they probably stock all the foods that I loved eating but miss so much now!

But yes, in Germany Lidl and Aldi are the big market leaders. Aldi is like the Tesco of Germany, and is far from seen as an economy option (possibly slightly more up-market than Lidl, but not by much). There are more expensive supermarkets (some selling a wider selection of organic "bio" produce) but there are also many supermarkets there that are a lot cheaper! I definitely loved Lidl though, I could ride there on my bike (or get the very cheap bus) and fill my bags (that I'd obiously taken with me) and return all my old plastic and glass bottles (to get back my deposit) for very little. No one looks at you funny if you shop there, it's just the norm. Now to petition for there to be a Lidl close to my house in York!

maypole

NemoToad wrote: »

Quite! I wish there was a Lidl nearer to me, I miss shopping there! I lived in Germany for a year and did all my shopping there. I'm pretty sure they probably stock all the foods that I loved eating but miss so much now!

But yes, in Germany Lidl and Aldi are the big market leaders. Aldi is like the Tesco of Germany, and is far from seen as an economy option (possibly slightly more up-market than Lidl, but not by much). There are more expensive supermarkets (some selling a wider selection of organic "bio" produce) but there are also many supermarkets there that are a lot cheaper! I definitely loved Lidl though, I could ride there on my bike (or get the very cheap bus) and fill my bags (that I'd obiously taken with me) and return all my old plastic and glass bottles (to get back my deposit) for very little. No one looks at you funny if you shop there, it's just the norm. Now to petition for there to be a Lidl close to my house in York!

I was just reading this in my newspaper, that those stores are just "normal" in Germany, It's only over here that we call them "Budget" .

EagerLearner

Great thread - I started to buy Value ranges around 14 months ago and have not looked back. Weirdly the main thing I have an issue with is the Value loo roll, which is £1.12 for 12 rolls. I tend to throw away the packaging straight away. Mind you, as it's quite thin most visitors can prob tell it's cheap... but I know it'll be better for the environment and my wallet and care less these days about what others think. I shudder when I think what 12 loo rolls used to cost... Does anyone know if this Value paper really lasts that much less than 12 Andrex for example? To me 12 rolls seem to last 5 weeks between the 2 of us and any friends that come over etc.£1.12 every 5 weeks seems fine to me... Other items I have been using for ages are tinned tomatoes, tinned kidney beans, foil and flour. I also now buy the own brand Sainsburys version of Petit Filous which to me are identical. But I did not like the Tesco version of the same thing...

juliapenguin

EagerLearner wrote: »

To me 12 rolls seem to last 5 weeks between the 2 of us and any friends that come over etc....

When I lived with just my son we used toilet rolls at about that rate. Now my son has left home and I live with my OH and we have been known to use A ROLL A DAY.....:eek: What on earth does he do with it??? He claims to only use a 'normal amount'. I try to persuade him to 'go' at work...

EagerLearner

juliapenguin wrote: »

What on earth does he do with it??? He claims to only use a 'normal amount'. I try to persuade him to 'go' at work...

:rotfl: I know what you mean! Although at £1.12 for 12 it must be better than the expensive stuff @ £5.50 for 12 (or whatever they charge these days)...

It works for now and we've agreed it's more important to make small cuts back on some things that we agree on, and continue to buy other stuff we really like (like wine... ). So for me, I'd rather buy some value stuff and get to enjoy my pinot x

Olliebeak

Trow wrote: »

Wally? Good on him for re-using his carrier bags - there aren't enough people that do that! And to be honest, (I don't know about Harrods bags as I have never been), but Markies bags tend to outlast the average supermaket carrier bag, they are great for reusing. And Am I not right in saying that Aldi and Lidl charge for bags, so he is actually moneysaving by bringing his own!

OK, there might be some snob value there - but better that than using once then binning carrier bags all the time!

Believe me, it was nothing at all to do with being 'environmentally aware' or 'money-saving' - just plain snobbery!

Same guy would get in his car and drive to a newsagents in the 'snob area' of Huyton rather than walk around the corner to our local housing estate one; paid £96 for 1 cushion (15 years ago!) in George Henry Lee's; bought himself a dishwasher although he lived alone; threw skanky food unwrapped into the wheelie bin oblivious of the fact that the bins were communal and I was the one who had to put them out and also cleaned them out to keep them hygienic.

Trow

Olliebeak wrote: »

Believe me, it was nothing at all to do with being 'environmentally aware' or 'money-saving' - just plain snobbery

I never said I didn't believe you - but the end result is both money-saving and more environmentally-friendly. No bad thing - even if it is accidental!

daphne~sparkle

mum2many wrote: »

which lidl coffee do you buy, tried loads of cheap brands and always end up back with either kenco rappor(or really rich if on offer). dont like red mountain either, bought a big jar and thinkit tastes cheap and nasty but dh likes it

I cant remember the name, jar went in recycling earlier this week but it had a blue lid similar colour to Kenco Rich & Smooth - it wasnt the cheapest one. Will let you know next time I go in.
I have tried a few cheaper coffees and never particularly liked any of them and when folk spot the jar they said oh I will have tea. My secret trick is doing a gradual change over, ween them off the expensive stuff. I had 3/4 of a jar of Kenco and topped it up with my lidl, gave it a good mix. Repeated the the process every time it got down to almost 1/2 way and now its pure Lidls. I kept the Lidls Jar hidden and no-one is any the wiser. Its psychological
If they notice a difference you could still do half Kenco and half Lidl will still save a fair bit.
I remember a relative saying she would never drink any tea but Tetleys and could tell the difference straight away - funny she couldn't tell it was Tesco own label (not stripy) tea she was drinking at the time :eek:

HTH
DSxXx

Olliebeak

Have to admit that Kenco Freeze-dried Decaffeinated is my favourite. But when trying very hard to cut-back on the spending (like this month and next) I go for Asda's F-D Decaff (£1.38 for 100g) - it's definitely drinkable. But I also keep in some packs of 'proper coffee' (bought on special offer!) for when we've got visitors and then the Filter Machine or Cafetiere gets used.

OH is a tea drinker and loves Twinings Every Day Blend (recently on offer in Asda so stocked up). He also likes the Punjana tea - in Asda for £1.00 a box at the moment. If we run out and I can't find anything on offer, then its Asda one-cup - like it, lump it or buys his own !

MrsE_2

Olliebeak wrote: »

Have to admit that Kenco Freeze-dried Decaffeinated is my favourite. But when trying very hard to cut-back on the spending (like this month and next) I go for Asda's F-D Decaff (£1.38 for 100g) - it's definitely drinkable. But I also keep in some packs of 'proper coffee' (bought on special offer!) for when we've got visitors and then the Filter Machine or Cafetiere gets used.

OH is a tea drinker and loves Twinings Every Day Blend (recently on offer in Asda so stocked up). He also likes the Punjana tea - in Asda for £1.00 a box at the moment. If we run out and I can't find anything on offer, then its Asda one-cup - like it, lump it or buys his own !

I HATE cheap coffee.

I like (& buy) Twinings, but would rather drink cheap tea than cheap coffee.