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

Bonnypitlad

I’ve recently moved and now Lidl is much closer than Aldi, I prefer Aldi but the cost of fuel it makes sense to shop nearer 
I complained to Lidl head office about the long line waiting to be served with only 1 check out open, compounded by shoppers meticulously filling their large weekly shop into bags at the checkout, the checkout operator was having to wait until they packed the backlog, and then of course they had to search everywhere for their purse
Aldi have large signs everywhere encouraging shoppers to pack their bags at the counters/ shelves away from checkout “it keeps cost down”
Lidl don’t do this, their shoppers haven’t seen the light 
On reflection now I think “ what the hell”, OK I have to wait longer in line , 1 staff at checkout is keeping their costs down even if it makes me wait
Lidl’s £1.50 fruit & veg trays of items nearing best before date are a real bargain 
“ look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves “ is my mantra

dorsetcaz

I've been shopping at Aldi for many years, I get all of my grocery shop there, except during the pandemic I had to get delivery from Asda and I really noticed the difference in price Asda tend to do some things at the same price but most that are the same price are less weight (so work out a lot more expensive, its worth checking the price per kilo). Now I often use the click and collect at Aldi, I have found by doing this, my shop is even cheaper despite the £5 charge, as I can look at all the different types of a particular product and choose the least expensive/ biggest value and check the price per kilo etc, I can also take things out of my virtual basket.... this is something that never happens when shopping in store. However, I have noticed that even Aldi's prices have gone up a lot over the last couple of months, I cant do the downshift idea in the majority of my shop as I'm already on the basic brand items in most cases. I can recommend trying the basic loo roll 6 pack as the rolls are a lot bigger than normal and last ages! (did you know we are even taxed on loo roll!!!). quote " Always keep your eye on the ball". 

Br3ndan

If you have a sweet tooth and like fizzy drinks, Aldi do a coke called ZX which I think tastes like Pepsi max, but is only 47p a bottle. I now can’t drink branded Diet Coke as I think it tastes rubbish in comparison to ZX 

wild666

maman said:

Depending on how you use cheese @Brie,  you could grate some of the block and freeze. 🤔 

Exactly what I was going to say. I use the 900g block in two weeks so it isn't going to get mould on it but you can always freeze the whole block.

wild666

Bonnypitlad said:

I’ve recently moved and now Lidl is much closer than Aldi, I prefer Aldi but the cost of fuel it makes sense to shop nearer 
I complained to Lidl head office about the long line waiting to be served with only 1 check out open, compounded by shoppers meticulously filling their large weekly shop into bags at the checkout, the checkout operator was having to wait until they packed the backlog, and then of course they had to search everywhere for their purse
Aldi have large signs everywhere encouraging shoppers to pack their bags at the counters/ shelves away from checkout “it keeps cost down”
Lidl don’t do this, their shoppers haven’t seen the light 
On reflection now I think “ what the hell”, OK I have to wait longer in line , 1 staff at checkout is keeping their costs down even if it makes me wait
Lidl’s £1.50 fruit & veg trays of items nearing best before date are a real bargain 
“ look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves “ is my mantra

I shop in Lidl at 08:00 when the store opens and I am out within 20 minutes. There is only one checkout open but at that time there is no more than one person in front of me.

Brie

wild666 said:

I shop in Lidl at 08:00 when the store opens and I am out within 20 minutes. There is only one checkout open but at that time there is no more than one person in front of me.

I've tried that a couple of times at Lidl especially if on my way to work.  Pop in to grab a sandwich or salad for lunch and croissant for my breakfast but inevitably get behind that person that is restocking the pantry at their B&B and buying 3 trolley loads of stuff.  And they never make eye contact to note you have 2 items and never hear you if you ask if they would mind you went ahead.  

Penguin_

Brie said:

wild666 said:

I shop in Lidl at 08:00 when the store opens and I am out within 20 minutes. There is only one checkout open but at that time there is no more than one person in front of me.

I've tried that a couple of times at Lidl especially if on my way to work.  Pop in to grab a sandwich or salad for lunch and croissant for my breakfast but inevitably get behind that person that is restocking the pantry at their B&B and buying 3 trolley loads of stuff.  And they never make eye contact to note you have 2 items and never hear you if you ask if they would mind you went ahead.  

I just politely ask, if they are filling the belt up & I only have a couple of things. Works most of the time.

Katiehound

If I see someone behind me with one or two items I ask if they would like to go ahead of me. However recently Aldi have installed self scan tills & I would rather use those if I don't have a stack of stuff. Sometimes the staff on the selfscan are lovely & helpful- at other times.......a pain!

Brie

Katiehound said:

If I see someone behind me with one or two items I ask if they would like to go ahead of me. However recently Aldi have installed self scan tills & I would rather use those if I don't have a stack of stuff. Sometimes the staff on the selfscan are lovely & helpful- at other times.......a pain!

I do the same - especially if you spot somebody with kids in tow or obviously trying to get in and out quickly on their break.  That's why I don't understand why others will be so oblivious.  I expect they feel they are entitled to go first as they got there first or they figure their busy day is more important than mine.  

On the other hand I've had the offer of going ahead and declined when I'm not in a hurry.  I always hope this will make people offer more often at other times.

ruralbz15

We don't have an Aldi within a reasonable distance, so I'm limited to Lidl and 2 of the "big 4".  My experience of my local Lidl is "Lidl on quality and not necessarily Lidl on price".  I'm fed up with rotten "fresh" fruit & veg.  Far too often I find a rotten piece of fruit / veg in the middle of the pack hidden under the label and single items which look ok on the outside can be going off when I cut them open, especially mangos.  And, no I'm not talking about their £1.50 boxes which is usually an expensive way of buying potatoes.  So I rarely shop in Lidl and always go to a proper supermarket for fresh produce.