My sister has been telling me about the virtues of Aldi. She does some of her shopping there and then does the rest at a big supermarket. She reckons she saves money. I thought I’d give it a try.
I part filled my trolley and whilst I was waiting in the queue, I noticed that the girl behind the till was behaving like someone on drugs. I have never seen someone scan so many things so quickly. Bip bip bip bip.
When it was my turn I said “Can I have some bags please?”. This was my first mistake.
She said in a very fast voice “Youhavetobuybagstheyareoverthere” and rolled her eyes at me and the rest of the queue.
After doing a mental calculation of food versus bags I picked up two mega bags. Mrs Checkout was fidgeting in her chair, clearly eager to get bipping.
I gave her the bags and she put them with my shopping on the conveyor belt.
“But I’ll need those” I said.
She looked at me like I was stupid and said “Iputyourthingsinthetrolleyyoupayandthenpacktheminyourbags” she paused for breath, then spat out “overthere …” and pointed at a woman packing her bags.
I had to stare at her mouth really hard to keep up. I felt like I was in a foreign country, unable to speak the language and completely out of my depth with local customs.
She then proceeded to throw my purchases at me. Bip bip bip, tomatoes flew threw the air, bip bip, a jar of jam miraculously survived when I dived like a goal keeper, bip bip bip bip.
I didn’t know a bag of salad could hurt until it was hurled at me at 60 mph.
“Nineteenpoundsandsixtysevenpenceplease.Cashorcard?”
I felt like a contestant on Mastermind. “Erm, card?” I said quietly hoping that this was the correct answer.
Before I’d even put my card in the machine she said “Youcanputyourpininnow” and glared at me.
As I packed my bags I watched her with suspicion. She had a wild look in her eye and the sovereign rings she wore on every finger, though heavy, were not slowing her down …
I think she was an Aldi robot.
In the 24 hours since my visit I have convinced myself that in fact I can get the same items for the same price at the big supermarket.
Don’t make me go back there … please.
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Gabfran on October 16, 2009
Shopped there once – will never go back EVER. It just plain smells wrong & the biscuits look suspicious.
Mwa on October 16, 2009
I had a very similar experience. Also, it’s cold there.
zooarchaeologist on October 16, 2009
Similar experience, filled atrolley, got so scared in the queue that I left it there and ran away mumbling I had forgot my purse. Sorry, anyone in the Hatfield branch behind me in the queue…. Have actually saved loads of money eating Waitrose essentials recently, honest!
TheMadHouse on October 16, 2009
I think we must shop at completely different stores!! I shop at Aldi every week on a Thursday morning with MiniMad and we have a great time. I love the fact it is not huge, so I know where everything is. MiniMad helps with the collecting and putting in the trolley. We know all the staff on first name terms, infact they often stop what they are doing for a chat with me or the little one. Yes you need to bring your own bags, ideally and then you pack at the shelf after all your goods have been loaded in to your trolley, yes you can not pay with a credit card, but….
Good prices
Good service – at our store
smaller shop
It seems that you have had a bad experiance, I would speak to a store manager or take it up with head office, yes it is a no frills supermarket, but it is not an assault course!
Liz (LivingwithKids) on October 16, 2009
I’ve never been inside one and don’t intend to. This is the reason why.
Josie @Sleep is for the Weak on October 16, 2009
We haven’t got one!
But we do have a Lidl – similar experience. Only with more strange ‘you never knew you needed this till now’ promotions intermingled with groceries.
Like fake-fur lined trousers in one size only… or novelty soap dishes…
We go just to laugh at the weird none-brands of cereals. Choco-balls (coco pops) Flake-a-Sugar (Frosties).
Genius.
SingleParentDad on October 16, 2009
I was sold the virtues of Aldi this week, as a friend served up their steak to us. I am not entirely convinced, and currently advocate the online experience with Tescos. One of the benefits is missing encounters with the wonderful till operators.
English Mum on October 16, 2009
Similar experience. How friggin ridiculous is it that you have to put everything into your trolley then REPACK it into bags? Stupid.
Their fruit is really cheap (apparently they make a loss on certain items to get people through the door), but everything else wasn’t particularly cheap and the trolley experience will mean I’m not going back either. so there.
English Mum on October 16, 2009
Oh and Mwa’s right – it’s flibbin freeeezing in the Irish ones too x
New Mummy on October 16, 2009
I love Aldi!! I don’t do a full shop there but I find its fab for fruit and veg. Mine is quite small and I’ve never had any issues there or Lidl>
The NDM on October 16, 2009
I love Aldi too. It’s good for milk, nappies and bacon. And the occasional surprise novelty electrical item.
There are always junkies, elderly Italians and German tourists wandering the aisles. The German tourists say stuff like “Ich leibe eine bargain!” and it makes me feel good about myself for reasons I can’t begin to explain.
However, I have suffered some Aldi-related stress. The credit card surcharge, for example. And also, the insistence of the check out chicks that you swing your trolley around and park it at a particular angle so you can repack the shopping in it once they’ve rung it through. They’re very very particular about it. I would feel icky about it, but ich liebe eine bargain too.
Insomniac Mummy on October 16, 2009
I’ve only been once and not since they extended it although my Dad and brother shopped there a couple of weeks ago and were happy with it.
I suspect this is because Asda brings on full scale supermarket rage in them both. Plus they shop for things like, brown sauce, corned beef and beans, not a vegetable in sight.
I might have a wander down……
Brighton Mum-Teenage Angst on October 16, 2009
I’ve always used Lidl, for tins, fruit & veg, but a couple of weeks ago thought I would try out Aldi. I can not see the logic in chucking the stuff in your trolley, to then move over and re-pack it into the bags. I had my own bags, ready in the trolley, but I wasn’t allowed(!) to use them at the check out! Same as you, I got ‘told’ to ‘move over to the side & pack your bags there’. I wasn’t impressed…I think I’ll stick to Lidl and Asda.
Sally, Who's the Mummy on October 16, 2009
I dunno. I love Waitrose as much as the next girl, but there isn’t one in the town where I live just a Booths which (hard as this may be to believe) makes Waitrose look cheap.
The Tesco superstore is basically the antechamber to Hell – it’s one of those enormous open 24-hour things where they are always re-stocking no matter the time of day, there are security guards on every aisle and the whole experience is so stressful I just can’t bear it.
I started going to Lidl this summer and one week (as an experiment) I did a direct price comparison between what I’d bought at Lidl and what it would cost at Tesco – my £31 Lidl shop would have cost £58 at Tesco.
On average I’m saving £25 a week, and over a year that’s enough to pay for me and Flea to use our Airmiles to spend this Christmas in New York doing some lovely shopping, and hanging out in Central Park ice-skating and eating hot dogs. For THAT, I’m prepared to pack my own bags and put up with the speed-of-light bipping.
whistlejacket on October 16, 2009
Never been there and don’t know where it is. Phew. My in-laws keep trying to sell Lidl to us. Apparently they have great ice cream there. But I go to Waitrose because it’s nearer and I’m a snob.
Muddling Along Mummy on October 16, 2009
I reckon I save heaps by menu planning and shopping on Ocado so I can spare myself the hell that is the supermarket itself …
That said someone spotted 7 jeans in the local costco so I might have to change my mind …
BareNakedMummy on October 16, 2009
We have no Aldi only a Lidl but I like it . We are currently eating their version of sugar puffs – which are basically the same but cheaper. I don’t do my main shop here but I do (especially these days) go there first and then Morrisons.
The fruit is so much cheaper and their strawberries last longer than Morrison’s did in the summer!!!
I’m sure if you asked my two what they loved about Aldi it would be “boxes”. To save on buying bags they leave empty boxes around that you can pack your shopping into. GENIUS, we have now an infine supply of boats, beds, and cardboard if we need it!
BNM
Scope on October 16, 2009
From where I’m sitting now, it I rotate about 130°, I will look out my balcony doors and see the Aldi across the street. Went there twice when I first moved in.
I will not be going back.
Ever.
Jo on October 16, 2009
We have Aldi here in the US and I have never been. I think I’m too afraid to go now.
Tara@Sticky Fingers on October 16, 2009
I ventured in there once because someone promised me a bargain yoga ball (which I bought when I was pregnant to sit on). Ye gods, never again. I don’t know if it was the one I went in but let’s just say the clientelle were less than inviting.
And I’ve suffered Tesco long enough to know wierd.
There was a very clearly drunk and extremely dirty man trying to reach a very highly placed packet of earbuds which just struck me as a waste of time on so many levels and a mother of 6 (oh yes) and not one was over the age of 8 and not one was wearing ‘proper’ clothes. Unless of course wearing vest and pants and wellies are now considered de rigeur in supermarkets in which case my local Aldi is the height of fashion.
Rebel Mother on October 16, 2009
Oh you made me laugh!
Sounds like the girl was off her tits on speed!
I like Aldi – its very cheap. Not keen on the people that work there though. Had a similar experience myself. Strange beings not of this planet.
How you kept your gob shut I’ll never know. You must have the patience of a saint.
Well done!
RMxx
Tamsin on October 16, 2009
There is a quite nice aldi near my work, but I only use it for snack type things, juice and fruit (when they have the offers on), apart from a few things I don’t really think it’s really any cheaper than Asda.
Though they are quite small shops and easy to do a rush round on my way home from work, plus I never get a trolley (I never get more things than I can carry in my arm) so the checkout girly scans my stuff (marginally) slower so I can pack them straight away at the till, I too hate the unpacking a trolley just to have to do it again into bags!
sister on October 16, 2009
Coward. True I don’t go as often as i used to buy once you get used to the bizarre Aldi ways it’s cool
Selina Kingston on October 17, 2009
We don’t have one of those where I live but we do have a Lidl and I can’t go in there. No no I’m sorry, I just can’t. I’m off to Fortnum and Masons now to do the Saturday shop ….
SandyCalico on October 17, 2009
You don’t get any of that nonsense at Ocado.
Although I must admit I get excited each week when the Lidl leaflet pops through the door, still haven’t been though!
aprilk on October 17, 2009
Aldi in australia is bizzare is putting it nicely, everything is still in cartons – and we get the impule item like “a waterproof digital camera at only $199″ seriously – does anyone go i need milk, eggs, and oooh look a waterproof digital camera why not?.
Plus stupid Aldi almond fingers made me sick and turned me off what used to be my favorite food.
Aldi terrifies me – but not as much as NQR or Not Quite Right – yes, we have a supermarket called that – I have never been in one and never shall – apparently items are ‘near’ useby – but the only thing i’d buy from there would be cat litter and i want my cat litter right thank you – not rejecting what the cat deposits in it, or deciding its actually a waterproof camera….(that made no sense – sorry – tired)
A Modern Mother on October 19, 2009
I like going there every once in a while for a bit of a challenge — plus you can get some bargains and brands from the contintent…
Dulwich Divorcee on October 21, 2009
Haven’t done Aldi for yonks but adore Lidl, despite the trolley wheels which always lock when you’re 20 yards from your car in the car park, meaning you have to schlepp back and forward with your stuff ….having said that, I usually use Ocado for a couple of weeks after a trip, to decompress x
Gitte on October 24, 2009
Lol, you are tremendous writer!
, very entertaining writing. I just had to leave a reply after I stumpled upon this blog.
I haven’t had any issues like those you mention in my local ALDI or LIDL stores for that matter.
ALDI , at least the ones that I have experienced have nice, fresh vegetables, fruits, good solid PC’s and I also go for their organic eggs, milk and yoghurts. I guess I’m used to their products now so I don’t need the other brands. But they are short on a range of products so for those I go to the supermarked.