Good and Bad Buying at Lidl and Aldi (***Please don't expire***)

Doc_N

S_uk said:

The big supermarkets may end up adding more of these 'we match Aldi' prices on more products as time goes by, but at the end of the day I just don't see how they are going to match or beat them on price overall. Not unless they start doing certain things to save on costs which I can't see the likes of Tesco doing any time soon e.g. getting rid of customer service desks, asking people to pack at packing shelves, significantly cutting the range offered etc. That said who knows, if they keep losing market share in the long term.

Having tried some of the Tesco 'Aldi Price Match' items, they're very variable.  Some are just fine - but some are absolute rubbish, and the difference is clear just from the ingredients!

Price matching with garbage isn't really price matching!

maman

Customer Service is as good as gone in Sainsburys. They have a tiny area at the end of the lottery/cigarette counter with the same staff covering both. They used the area where the desk used to be to put in even more self service checkouts. In Aldi, any member of staff will deal with a Customer enquiry. 

 I think the main cost though is the large stores. 

Rosa_Damascena

S_uk said:

One thing I've recently started to notice is how overt some of the big supermarkets are mentioning Aldi in their marketing/advertising/website. Tesco started doing their Aldi price match last year on a range of products, and the other day I noticed on a TV advert Sainsbury's have started doing the same thing and is front page of their main website. From news article:

'Sainsbury's takes on Aldi in supermarket price war'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56012719

All of which encourages me to stick with Aldi for a big shop, Its usually Lidl for day-to-day stuff, but that's because its within walking distance. I'm not sure I'm that keen on the new re-located store itself...but I know I like the products.

maman

We have a new store too. I could manage a shop at Lidl but don't like it as much as Aldi. Somehow it seems they don't have as much fruit and veg, especially veg which makes up the bulk of my weekly shop. I just go to Lidl for my favourites and stock up. 

Still concerned about the queues for checkouts in Aldi  though, which started immediately after Christmas. I've asked why and got various responses that don't really ring true. What bothers me is that customers queuing down the aisles makes social distancing impossible for those of us walking round and trying to access the shelves. 

Pollycat

maman said:

We have a new store too. I could manage a shop at Lidl but don't like it as much as Aldi. Somehow it seems they don't have as much fruit and veg, especially veg which makes up the bulk of my weekly shop. I just go to Lidl for my favourites and stock up. 

Still concerned about the queues for checkouts in Aldi  though, which started immediately after Christmas. I've asked why and got various responses that don't really ring true. What bothers me is that customers queuing down the aisles makes social distancing impossible for those of us walking round and trying to access the shelves. 

This must be location dependent.

My store has been great throughout the pandemic - or at least since I started shopping again which is probably last summer.

I've voted with my feet this week as it's half term and my sister said that B&M was rammed. Apparently, shopping with the whole family is the new "having a day out".

maman

Pollycat said:

maman said:

We have a new store too. I could manage a shop at Lidl but don't like it as much as Aldi. Somehow it seems they don't have as much fruit and veg, especially veg which makes up the bulk of my weekly shop. I just go to Lidl for my favourites and stock up. 

Still concerned about the queues for checkouts in Aldi  though, which started immediately after Christmas. I've asked why and got various responses that don't really ring true. What bothers me is that customers queuing down the aisles makes social distancing impossible for those of us walking round and trying to access the shelves. 

This must be location dependent.

My store has been great throughout the pandemic - or at least since I started shopping again which is probably last summer.

 I think you're probably right pollycat. My store has been great from March to Christmas and then this happened almost overnight. We had a new Lidl open back in the autumn, in walking distance,  and I suspect they've lost business and cut back on staff but put it off until Christmas was over. 

Pollycat

maman said:

  I think you're probably right pollycat. My store has been great from March to Christmas and then this happened almost overnight. We had a new Lidl open back in the autumn, in walking distance,  and I suspect they've lost business and cut back on staff but put it off until Christmas was over. 

A  bit like shooting yourself in the foot though as crowded stores will put more people off and with less custom they reduce staff which results in more crowded stores which puts people off...

rhcp

They've replaced the hand baskets with trolley baskets in lidl.  Not impressed!!

203846930

rhcp said:

They've replaced the hand baskets with trolley baskets in lidl.  Not impressed!!

They did ours over a year ago.

and I don;t think they have been cleaned since

maman

rhcp said:

They've replaced the hand baskets with trolley baskets in lidl.  Not impressed!!

I thought they were dual purpose with 2 handles although perhaps a bit big if you prefer to carry them. I like a trolley personally, partly because I buy a fair bit of heavy stuff like pickles and it helps to maintain social distancing in the checkout queue. 😊