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

Cornucopia

It's something we have discussed in this thread before - maybe the BBC even saw it here?

It's "Aldi/Lidl price match", which is a pretty meaningless claim unless they are taking positive steps to maintain comparable quality rather than just formulating products down to a price point for the purposes of comparison.

Unfortunately, aside from more highly regulated areas, making meaningless or cynical claims isn't against ASA rules (and the ASA isn't the most proactive or aggressive regulator, anyway).    I guess the trick would be to look out for any big supermarket advertising that makes a price match claim about a specific product, where that product is objectively not equal to the Aldi/Lidl comparison item.   Even then, I could see the ASA chucking it out.  

Marketing, eh?, it's often as much about what they don't say as what they do say.   It's good that our concerns have been borne out by some journalistic diligence, though.  

Cornucopia

I don't think I'd seen Sugar Free Clear Mints at Lidl before (only at Aldi).   But I had a voucher, so I tried a few different flavours of the Sugar Free sweets, and the Mints are excellent.    The Aldi ones are typical "glacier mints" if anyone remembers those - quite sweet with a mild flavour.   The Lidl ones have a stronger flavour and not just one flavour note, but something a bit more interesting.  

Katiehound

Just bought Aldi's  Poppy & barley cologne.... not my usual scent but nice (and not as expensive as the original!)

Lots of seasonal stock now in Aldi -puddings, mince pies, stollen, choc santas etc.........

maman

I have the Aldi Scarlet Rose which is a really good dupe for Jo Malone Red Roses. Unfortunately, I think it's a special so will have to try another fragrance when it runs out. Thanks for the heads up @Katiehound. 

pickled_tink

Katiehound said:

Lots of seasonal stock now in Aldi -puddings, mince pies, stollen, choc santas etc.........

What are the prices like this year? 
The price hikes last year really put me off buying the things I’d usually buy… no chocolate praline marzipan bars for me 😭😆

Rosa_Damascena

Katiehound said:

Just bought Aldi's  Poppy & barley cologne.... not my usual scent but nice (and not as expensive as the original!)

Lots of seasonal stock now in Aldi -puddings, mince pies, stollen, choc santas etc.........

I like that it is a light scent, accepting that unlike the usual eau de parfum I go for it doesn't last all day. Also Aldi has sent out a statement regarding Monday's Panorama (not that I bothered to watch it).

Lidl is also stocking lots of Christmas goodies now.

PLRFD

What was the Panorama about ?

mikb

PLRFD said:

What was the Panorama about ?

This ... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0m0vrmlzgyo  ? Tesco price match subterfuge ...

Katiehound

Sorry, didn't note the seasonal prices, I was a bit gobsmacked to see folk buying mince pies! which go out of date in November! No, I didn't look but chatted to someone who was buying them.
I remember their open top ones, with a lattice? & shaped like a little flan (rather than sloping sided) were very delicious.

HouseMartin567

Katiehound said:

Sorry, didn't note the seasonal prices, I was a bit gobsmacked to see folk buying mince pies! which go out of date in November! No, I didn't look but chatted to someone who was buying them.
I remember their open top ones, with a lattice? & shaped like a little flan (rather than sloping sided) were very delicious.

But is it just societal convention that tells us we should only eat mince pies at Christmas?! I would eat them all year round if available 😂 The first ones I saw/bought this year were the Lidl basic ones and I think they were about £1.40. I’ll take a look at the Aldi offering this weekend; last year they did some delicious ones with a crumble topping.