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

Murphybear

YoungBlueEyes said:

I did a little top up shop this morning in Aldi. They've a new (?) system that doesn't allow you to buy 2 boxes of paracetamol and 2 hayfever tablets at the same time. I said I thought that only applied to painkillers but the woman on the till didn't have any further details. Computer says no, literally. She didn't mind putting them through as a separate transaction though, but still. Something to be aware of from now on folks.

Edit - a wee while ago I got a load of little bottles of port in Aldi - reduced from iirc £7.99 to £1.99. I asked the till person was that right and she said yep. They were kicking them out to make way for those pouches of freezable cocktail nonsense and needed the shelf space. I wonder if your co-op needed the olive oil space for something more profitable seasonal @Murphybear? A good find, whatever the reason

We tried to buy 4 boxes of paracetamol in Lidl - tried buying 2 boxes each but that didn’t work so we had to go elsewhere.

The annoying thing is that 3 of the boxes were for other people, we live in sheltered house with 33 other people and many don’t go out very much so we offer to buy anything they need when we are out and about.  

Rosa_Damascena

Murphybear said:

YoungBlueEyes said:

I did a little top up shop this morning in Aldi. They've a new (?) system that doesn't allow you to buy 2 boxes of paracetamol and 2 hayfever tablets at the same time. I said I thought that only applied to painkillers but the woman on the till didn't have any further details. Computer says no, literally. She didn't mind putting them through as a separate transaction though, but still. Something to be aware of from now on folks.

Edit - a wee while ago I got a load of little bottles of port in Aldi - reduced from iirc £7.99 to £1.99. I asked the till person was that right and she said yep. They were kicking them out to make way for those pouches of freezable cocktail nonsense and needed the shelf space. I wonder if your co-op needed the olive oil space for something more profitable seasonal @Murphybear? A good find, whatever the reason

We tried to buy 4 boxes of paracetamol in Lidl - tried buying 2 boxes each but that didn’t work so we had to go elsewhere.

The annoying thing is that 3 of the boxes were for other people, we live in sheltered house with 33 other people and many don’t go out very much so we offer to buy anything they need when we are out and about.  

The size and quantity restrictions came in a good couple of decades ago, and had the intended effect - of averting self-harm through excessive paracetamol consumption. It's a slow and miserable death.

maman

The odd thing is @Rosa_Damascena is that in the £shop, they sell paracetamol at 3 for 2.🤔

HillStreetBlues

maman said:

The odd thing is @Rosa_Damascena is that in the £shop, they sell paracetamol at 3 for 2.🤔

I've always wondered about that.

Rosa_Damascena

maman said:

The odd thing is @Rosa_Damascena is that in the £shop, they sell paracetamol at 3 for 2.🤔

And so do market traders! Unlike regulated pharmacies retailers operate in a high trust environment, and those businesses that put safety above profit are to be commended. All it will take is a single high profile £shop suicide for a bit of scrutiny to be apllied.

Cornucopia

A quick Google shows that the issue is the difference between guidance (not to sell more than 2 packs of Paracetamol, and not to have multibuy offers); and the law, which is that more than 100 tablets must not be sold.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6012d8a1d3bf7f05be4d1e87/Appendix_4.pdf

Rosa_Damascena

Cornucopia said:

A quick Google shows that the issue is the difference between guidance (not to sell more than 2 packs of Paracetamol, and not to have multibuy offers); and the law, which is that more than 100 tablets must not be sold.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6012d8a1d3bf7f05be4d1e87/Appendix_4.pdf

Indeed, but £shop et al choose to ignore best practice and that speaks volumes about their business ethics. Lets not pretend the MHRA has any teeth.

Back to Aldi - I am a bit disappointed at how expensive their decorative (outdoor) plant containers are. They appear not to be reduced to make a bit of space for new lines.

YoungBlueEyes

The limited quantity of painkillers has been in force for, what, a decade now? I understand the reason behind it, it makes sense. But I was buying 2 paracetamols and 2 hayfever tablets. I'll see if I can find someone with some proper knowledge about it when I go shopping tomorrow. 

I'd say keep your eye on the gardening stuff in there Rosa. They won't have it hanging around for too long cos they'll have Christmas Halloween back to school things in soon...

MrsStepford

From 7th July, my Lidl has Ernesto 5 litre stainless steel saucepans for 17.99, a Salter 3 tier electric steamer for 19.99, a pack of three stainless steel sieves for 4.99 and Tefal pressure cookers for 49.99. 

maman

I've been disappointed with how few plants have been on sale in Aldi this summer. They've usually been good for some cheap and cheerful colour. This year they had very little and very limited variety. ☹️

I ended up in the local garden centre. I do love my black petunias but not the price. 😁