Thread: What's with ALDI?

"phaeton" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> About 10 years ago I went to an ALDI store in Chicagoland with this
> girl at the time. The shopping cart deposit system was kind of silly
> to me. The store wasn't the cleanest, and nothing was on shelves. It
> was all stacked on rows of pallets in varying states of disrepair.
> Everything I picked up and looked at, from canned goods to dry goods
> to boxes of cereal to jars of pickles was expired. Most of it was
> within 6 months to a year past the expiry date, but some things were 2
> to 5 years past. I asked her "WTF?" and she said that that's what
> ALDI was- a clearance store for 'expired but still good' goods.
>
> I couldn't believe it.
>
> Lately however, i've been getting ALDI sales ads with the other
> mailbox stuffers. These tell a completely different story, like ALDI
> is just another (smaller) grocery chain. They even have meat and
> produce, whereas the other store only had frozen lunchmeat and produce
> (which I was afraid to even look at).
>
> I haven't been to an ALDI since that first store. I take it that that
> one is a completely inaccurate example of what ALDI is?
>
> -J

I have never seen an Aldi like you describe, matter of fact I have never
seen a store that sells expired goods.

Tom

On Thu, 31 Dec 2009 12:14:03 -0800 (PST), phaeton
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I haven't been to an ALDI since that first store. I take it that that
>one is a completely inaccurate example of what ALDI is?

I have no idea. I only see ALDI mentioned here.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

sf wrote:
>
> On Thu, 31 Dec 2009 12:14:03 -0800 (PST), phaeton
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >I haven't been to an ALDI since that first store. I take it that that
> >one is a completely inaccurate example of what ALDI is?
>
> I have no idea. I only see ALDI mentioned here.

This is pretty informative. It agrees with the observations
of the OP. I don't think I'd care to shop there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldi

On Dec 31, 3:14*pm, phaeton <blahbleh...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> About 10 years ago I went to an ALDI store in Chicagoland with this
> girl at the time. *The shopping cart deposit system was kind of silly
> to me. *The store wasn't the cleanest, and nothing was on shelves. *It
> was all stacked on rows of pallets in varying states of disrepair.
> Everything I picked up and looked at, from canned goods to dry goods
> to boxes of cereal to jars of pickles was expired. *Most of it was
> within 6 months to a year past the expiry date, but some things were 2
> to 5 years past. *I asked her "WTF?" and she said that that's what
> ALDI was- a clearance store for 'expired but still good' goods.
>
> I couldn't believe it.
>
> Lately however, i've been getting ALDI sales ads with the other
> mailbox stuffers. *These tell a completely different story, like ALDI
> is just another (smaller) grocery chain. *They even have meat and
> produce, whereas the other store only had frozen lunchmeat and produce
> (which I was afraid to even look at).
>
> I haven't been to an ALDI since that first store. *I take it that that
> one is a completely inaccurate example of what ALDI is?
>
> -J

Are you sure it was Aldi? They carry very little name-brand stuff,
almost all their goods are various store brands. The stores in my
area (which have only opened in the last 6 months or so) are clean,
well-lighted, with a row of pallets at the start, but shelving
elsewhere.

They're prices are very low for dairy and eggs, I won't buy meat
there, I don't use much in canned goods, and their produce varies from
ok to almost gone. I do like their frozen fish, and during the summer
they had some good fruit pops in the freezer as well.

I will check the expiry dates on the name-brand stuff next time I'm
there, now that you've got me curious, but otherwise, it sounds like
the store you went into was an aberration.

maxine in ri

On Dec 31, 3:04*pm, maxine in ri <weed...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Dec 31, 3:14*pm, phaeton <blahbleh...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > About 10 years ago I went to an ALDI store in Chicagoland with this
> > girl at the time. *The shopping cart deposit system was kind of silly
> > to me. *The store wasn't the cleanest, and nothing was on shelves. *It
> > was all stacked on rows of pallets in varying states of disrepair.
> > Everything I picked up and looked at, from canned goods to dry goods
> > to boxes of cereal to jars of pickles was expired. *Most of it was
> > within 6 months to a year past the expiry date, but some things were 2
> > to 5 years past. *I asked her "WTF?" and she said that that's what
> > ALDI was- a clearance store for 'expired but still good' goods.
>
> > I couldn't believe it.
>
> > Lately however, i've been getting ALDI sales ads with the other
> > mailbox stuffers. *These tell a completely different story, like ALDI
> > is just another (smaller) grocery chain. *They even have meat and
> > produce, whereas the other store only had frozen lunchmeat and produce
> > (which I was afraid to even look at).
>
> > I haven't been to an ALDI since that first store. *I take it that that
> > one is a completely inaccurate example of what ALDI is?
>
> > -J
>
> Are you sure it was Aldi? *They carry very little name-brand stuff,
> almost all their goods are various store brands. *The stores in my
> area (which have only opened in the last 6 months or so) are clean,
> well-lighted, with a row of pallets at the start, but shelving
> elsewhere.
>
> They're prices are very low for dairy and eggs, I won't buy meat
> there, I don't use much in canned goods, and their produce varies from
> ok to almost gone. *I do like their frozen fish, and during the summer
> they had some good fruit pops in the freezer as well.
>
> I will check the expiry dates on the name-brand stuff next time I'm
> there, now that you've got me curious, but otherwise, it sounds like
> the store you went into was an aberration.
>
> maxine in ri- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

There's an Aldi's store here - the one time I went, there was a strong
"dairy/milk" smell by the dairy case, (like of spilled milk) which
completely turned me off.

However, my son and DIL go there sometimes and they're really picky
(and knowledgeable) about food, so I'd guess what they buy is good
quality.

The OP's original experience sounds like a mistake on someone's part
- generally, the franchise or chain is only as good as the local
manager or owner.

N.

I have been very pleased with Aldi. Our stores are clean and
friendly. I buy mostly pantry items, dairy, bread, and frozen food.
The produce does not last long. I buy:

cereal
peanut butter
crackers -- saltine, Ritz style, graham
coffee beans
macaroni and cheese
pasta
Mandarin oranges
fruit cocktail
soup
bread
milk
eggs
olive oil
yogurt
butter
mustard
applesauce
cheese
frozen pizza
ground turkey
chicken nuggets
frozen waffles
dishwasher detergent
laundry detergent
baggies, foil, plastic wrap
coffee filters

Their spiral sliced ham sold at the holidays is good. Beer and wine
are fine. I really like their Irish cream.

Tara

Tara

On 31-Dec-2009, phaeton <[email protected]> wrote:

> Lately however, i've been getting ALDI sales ads with the other
> mailbox stuffers. These tell a completely different story, like ALDI
> is just another (smaller) grocery chain. They even have meat and
> produce, whereas the other store only had frozen lunchmeat and produce
> (which I was afraid to even look at).
>
> I haven't been to an ALDI since that first store. I take it that that
> one is a completely inaccurate example of what ALDI is?

Your experience with Aldi is completely opposite of mine. We have had Aldi
here (STL) for 3 years or so and the 4 stores I have visited have all been
clean, neatly stocked with current, and mostly quality, groceries. Aldi
carries multiple lines of goods, for example 3 lines of pasta, at different
price points; depending on the socio-economic make-up of a community served,
they may offer any or all the price points. They sell, primarily,
house-brand items and carry the basic groceries, dairy and produce, with a
limited number of choices. Don't expect to choose from 40 types/brands of
toothpaste, they'll have 2 at most. Don't expect to choose from low-sodium,
no sugar added, green or any ketchup except plain-old-Aldi-house-brand.

I will not buy meat from Aldi; it is the same "enhanced" kind you might find
at WalMart. I don't want brine injected into the meat I buy, no matter how
much it allows them to lower the price. Cheese and dairy is all top notch
at very good prices; I bought eggs today for .89 cents Grade A Large - they
were a $1.49 at other stores in the area.

It is a very rare occasion that a food item will be at or near its
expiration date at the Aldi I shop. Recent specials that didn't sell out,
as well as regular stock items that have been around longer than the manager
likes, go into clearance bins and start getting marked down to move them
out. A regular stock item that hits the clearance bins will generally not
be restocked.

Basically, they keep prices low by selling housebrands, carry only what they
can sell in volume and they limit choices. Because they depend on selling
volume, stores vary in what they stock. The one nearest me is in a fairly
affluent area and carries more of Aldi's top-tier items and Aldi's "Fit and
Active" items. Another that I sometimes visit is in a ethnically diverse
neighborhood and carries more mexican and asian items than the one near me.
Another that I have visited in a relatively poor neighborhood carries only
the bottom-tier Aldi brands and way more highly-processed frozen foods
(chicken fingers, frozen taquitos, breaded-this'n-that).

Visit an Aldi; if you don't like what you see, visit a different Aldi; my
experience is that they reflect the community in which they are located.

An example of the shopping cart deposit's value was on display today; as I
left the store, a lady just pushed her empty cart into a nearby parking
place and started to walk back to her car. She walked about 8 feet, turned,
went back to the cart and pushed it to the cart corral and retrieved her
quarter.
--
Change Cujo to Juno in email address.

In article <hhjb1a$14p$[email protected]>,
"l, not -l" <[email protected]> wrote:
> I will not buy meat from Aldi; it is the same "enhanced" kind you might find
> at WalMart. I don't want brine injected into the meat I buy, no matter how
> much it allows them to lower the price.

<g> See? Now I would have written "I don't want brine injected into
the meat I buy, no matter how badly they want to screw me into buying
salt water while making me think I'm getting a low price on meat."

I have a couple within range but don't often stop ‹ mainly because I
almost never carry much cash.
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller 12/28/2009

In article
<[email protected]>,
Nancy2 <[email protected]> wrote:
> The OP's original experience sounds like a mistake on someone's part
> - generally, the franchise or chain is only as good as the local
> manager or owner.
>
> N.

And/or they may have made some big changes in management philosophies in
the ten years since the OP shopped there.
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller 12/292009

My Aldi's is the same as l, not -l. The store is very clean, well
stocked, nothing expired and yes, it is house brands. The dairy
products are excellent, good sales on butter and eggs. Speaking of
eggs, I do need a few dozen and I see she has posted they are on sale
for 89 cents. I will be stopping Friday for those and hope my store
has them for that price!

The only fresh vegetables I've bought there are whole mushrooms and
was exceptionally pleased and the price was about 75 cents cheaper
than Kroger! Can't beat that.

"Tara" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]..
>I have been very pleased with Aldi. Our stores are clean and
> friendly. I buy mostly pantry items, dairy, bread, and frozen food.
> The produce does not last long. I buy:
>
> cereal
> peanut butter
> crackers -- saltine, Ritz style, graham
> coffee beans
> macaroni and cheese
> pasta
> Mandarin oranges
> fruit cocktail
> soup
> bread
> milk
> eggs
> olive oil
> yogurt
> butter
> mustard
> applesauce
> cheese
> frozen pizza
> ground turkey
> chicken nuggets
> frozen waffles
> dishwasher detergent
> laundry detergent
> baggies, foil, plastic wrap
> coffee filters
>
> Their spiral sliced ham sold at the holidays is good. Beer and wine
> are fine. I really like their Irish cream.
>

Their frozen wild-caught salmon is good too. And bagged salad is very fresh.
The produce is best of all, though. The freshest around at half the price or
less. Also--frozen fruit, big plump blueberries etc. Luscious German
pastries and chocolates and gummis. And the corner of the store where there
are "name brand" things on sale, different most weeks. I go at least once a
month.

"phaeton" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> About 10 years ago I went to an ALDI store in Chicagoland with this
> girl at the time. The shopping cart deposit system was kind of silly
> to me.

Ever see how much lost and damages carts cost regular chains?



The store wasn't the cleanest, and nothing was on shelves. It
> was all stacked on rows of pallets in varying states of disrepair.
> Everything I picked up and looked at, from canned goods to dry goods
> to boxes of cereal to jars of pickles was expired. Most of it was
> within 6 months to a year past the expiry date, but some things were 2
> to 5 years past. I asked her "WTF?" and she said that that's what
> ALDI was- a clearance store for 'expired but still good' goods.
>

I am picking up the unmistakable smell of UTTER HORSE**** from this post. It
is not (and was never) legal to sell food past its expiration date.

On 31-Dec-2009, itsjoannotjoann <[email protected]> wrote:

> Speaking of
> eggs, I do need a few dozen and I see she has posted they are on sale
> for 89 cents.

It's he, actually 8-)

The 89 cent price on eggs at Aldi, was not a sale price; that is what they
have been for several weeks - at least here (STL).
--
Change Cujo to Juno in email address.

The message <hhjtai$43k$[email protected]>
from "cybercat" <[email protected]> contains these words:


> "phaeton" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > About 10 years ago I went to an ALDI store in Chicagoland with this
> > girl at the time. The shopping cart deposit system was kind of silly
> > to me.

It's standard practice in Britain.
In Europe many people still walk to the smkt , so stealing trolleys to
take heavy purchases home, is a temptation to some.

Janet

Janet Baraclough wrote:
> The message <hhjtai$43k$[email protected]>
> from "cybercat" <[email protected]> contains these words:
>
>
>> "phaeton" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>>> About 10 years ago I went to an ALDI store in Chicagoland with this
>>> girl at the time. The shopping cart deposit system was kind of
>>> silly to me.
>
> It's standard practice in Britain.
> In Europe many people still walk to the smkt , so stealing trolleys to
> take heavy purchases home, is a temptation to some.

Some people steal carts here, too, but if it's for the convenience
of carrying heavy purchases, that 25 cents would not be a deterrent.
It costs at least that much to call a cab to come get you. Just the
phone call, not the fare and tip.

nancy

"Janet Baraclough" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]..
> The message <hhjtai$43k$[email protected]>
> from "cybercat" <[email protected]> contains these words:
>
>
>> "phaeton" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>> > About 10 years ago I went to an ALDI store in Chicagoland with this
>> > girl at the time. The shopping cart deposit system was kind of silly
>> > to me.
>
> It's standard practice in Britain.
> In Europe many people still walk to the smkt , so stealing trolleys to
> take heavy purchases home, is a temptation to some.
>
> Janet
Here, it's generally the down and outs that steal them for bottle picking
(getting the deposits back for booze). One supermarket has installed
special brakes on the carts that activate as soon as you try to leave the
store (they employ people to carry your groceries to your car).
Graham

On Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:28:46 -0600, Melba's Jammin'
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I have a couple within range but don't often stop ‹ mainly because I
>almost never carry much cash.

Do you carry a debit card? My local Aldi stores take debit cards.

Tara

The message <XJn%m.1841$[email protected]>
from "graham" <[email protected]> contains these words:


> "Janet Baraclough" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]..
> > The message <hhjtai$43k$[email protected]>
> > from "cybercat" <[email protected]> contains these words:
> >
> >
> >> "phaeton" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >> news:[email protected]...
> >> > About 10 years ago I went to an ALDI store in Chicagoland with this
> >> > girl at the time. The shopping cart deposit system was kind of silly
> >> > to me.
> >
> > It's standard practice in Britain.
> > In Europe many people still walk to the smkt , so stealing trolleys to
> > take heavy purchases home, is a temptation to some.
> >
> > Janet
> Here, it's generally the down and outs that steal them for bottle picking
> (getting the deposits back for booze).

We used to have bottle deposits (a source of income in my childhood)
but not for years now.

One supermarket has installed
> special brakes on the carts that activate as soon as you try to leave the
> store (they employ people to carry your groceries to your car).

In the UK, usual practice is for the shopper to push the trolley out
to the carpark and load their own car from it..
The trolleys are stashed in the car park .
Many of the carparks have a brake-activator at the exit, to prevent
their trolleys being taken away.

Janet

The message <lCn%m.27163$[email protected]>
from "Nancy Young" <[email protected]> contains these words:

> Janet Baraclough wrote:
> > The message <hhjtai$43k$[email protected]>
> > from "cybercat" <[email protected]> contains these words:
> >
> >
> >> "phaeton" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >> news:[email protected]...
> >>> About 10 years ago I went to an ALDI store in Chicagoland with this
> >>> girl at the time. The shopping cart deposit system was kind of
> >>> silly to me.
> >
> > It's standard practice in Britain.
> > In Europe many people still walk to the smkt , so stealing trolleys to
> > take heavy purchases home, is a temptation to some.

> Some people steal carts here, too, but if it's for the convenience
> of carrying heavy purchases, that 25 cents would not be a deterrent.

No wonder! Out deposits are one pound (UKP)..

> It costs at least that much to call a cab to come get you. Just the
> phone call, not the fare and tip.

Most urban smkts here either have a freephone line for customers to
call a cab; or a cab rank at the door with cabs
waiting for custom.

Janet