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

S_uk

I always use the mini trollies to help me resist filling it with too many goodies..  

Pollycat

rhcp said:

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

I hope Aldi don't follow suit.

I always use a hand basket as I have my own shopping trolley to push. I couldn't cope with 2 things.

Rosa_Damascena

I am pleased to say that honeydew melons were back to the normal 79p in Aldi yesterday. 

In fact I was so pleased I bought 2

od244051

maman said:

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. 

But the problem with A&L is customer services (refunds etc) has to be done at the paying tills. Hate the feeling of customers' eyes staring at me when I have a refund. 

The Sainsburys my friends work at has been the kiosk/CSD in one area since the store was refurbished 15 years ago, One till is  used for refunds, unless on the odd times where CSD till is broke or colleague on CSD till is doing a long refund and manager OK's another to refund on a kiosk till.

od244051

The Lidl I use always had those trolley baskets - it has been opened for 2.5 years. Only discovered this thanks to Streetview

mikb

Pollycat said:

rhcp said:

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

I hope Aldi don't follow suit.

I always use a hand basket as I have my own shopping trolley to push. I couldn't cope with 2 things.

FYI:That was my concern when first visiting ALDI too -- I didn't want to end up in the middle of a push-me-pull-you situation. I discovered that the shallower of the wire baskets on wheels has a hook at the handle end, designed for hanging bags on. I pick up my 2-wheel shopping trolley, turn it "bulky side" toward the wire basket, and hang it on the hook. The wheels are off the floor, so it just dangles there, all the way round the shop just fine. Check to see if you can do the same with yours!

maman

od244051 said:

The Sainsburys my friends work at has been the kiosk/CSD in one area since the store was refurbished 15 years ago, One till is  used for refunds, unless on the odd times where CSD till is broke or colleague on CSD till is doing a long refund and manager OK's another to refund on a kiosk till.

You're lucky. I've been in Sainsbury's today and just one person covering everything, lottery, cigarettes and refunds. Large queue while customer seemed to be bringing back a winter wardrobe! 🤣 Probably because you can't try anything on in store these days. 

I've rarely needed a refund in Aldi but I was amused once, standing behind a father and son returning a teddy bear that would only speak in Spanish! 

Pollycat

mikb said:

FYI:That was my concern when first visiting ALDI too -- I didn't want to end up in the middle of a push-me-pull-you situation. I discovered that the shallower of the wire baskets on wheels has a hook at the handle end, designed for hanging bags on. I pick up my 2-wheel shopping trolley, turn it "bulky side" toward the wire basket, and hang it on the hook. The wheels are off the floor, so it just dangles there, all the way round the shop just fine. Check to see if you can do the same with yours!

Mine's a 4 wheeler.

I like to use a basket as it ensures that I don't do too much shopping that I can't fit it into the trolley. I sometimes go home on the bus so I don't like to get too much heavy stuff. If I can carry it around the shop in a wire basket, it will fit into my trolley and be manageable if I decide to get the bus.

But thanks for the tip - I do still have my old 2 wheel Hoppa trolley.

od244051

maman said:

od244051 said:

The Sainsburys my friends work at has been the kiosk/CSD in one area since the store was refurbished 15 years ago, One till is  used for refunds, unless on the odd times where CSD till is broke or colleague on CSD till is doing a long refund and manager OK's another to refund on a kiosk till.

You're lucky. I've been in Sainsbury's today and just one person covering everything, lottery, cigarettes and refunds. Large queue while customer seemed to be bringing back a winter wardrobe! 🤣 Probably because you can't try anything on in store these days. 

I've rarely needed a refund in Aldi but I was amused once, standing behind a father and son returning a teddy bear that would only speak in Spanish! 

It’s usually one colleague during the quiet times. My colleagues either press the buzzer for a colleague to come to help or tannoy someone.

Many Sainsbury’s are struggling staff wise as some are off with Covid (not necessarily them is unwell) and it’s the end of the annual leave year. Some colleagues have kept back some annual leave just in case things went back to normal.

Its a case of use it or lose it.

harz99

od244051 said:

maman said:

od244051 said:

The Sainsburys my friends work at has been the kiosk/CSD in one area since the store was refurbished 15 years ago, One till is  used for refunds, unless on the odd times where CSD till is broke or colleague on CSD till is doing a long refund and manager OK's another to refund on a kiosk till.

You're lucky. I've been in Sainsbury's today and just one person covering everything, lottery, cigarettes and refunds. Large queue while customer seemed to be bringing back a winter wardrobe! 🤣 Probably because you can't try anything on in store these days. 

I've rarely needed a refund in Aldi but I was amused once, standing behind a father and son returning a teddy bear that would only speak in Spanish! 

Many Sainsbury’s are struggling staff wise as some are off with Covid (not necessarily them is unwell) and it’s the end of the annual leave year. Some colleagues have kept back some annual leave just in case things went back to normal.

Its a case of use it or lose it.

Same situation at most supermarkets I suspect, one of the staff at my normal Aldi was saying exactly that just before Christmas.