My MIL was a cashier at Aldi’s for many years in Western Europe. It was known as a really cheap and poor quality store there. Even though she worked there she did not shop there. She was shocked when she visited here and found out that I go there once in a while.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aldi isn't about good food. It's about cheap food.

What about Lidl?

I tried both and always left empty-handed. On the other side, I love Trader Joes.

You know, the joke is on you. Aldi owns Trader Joe. That's why both stores also have a similar feel and layout (lots of private labels, etc.).

Anonymous wrote:Aldi is disgusting. The food is bad enough but the horrible way they throw the food in a bin at checkout and make you repack it with no space to do so is demeaning.

I cannot understand who likes this place. I gave it a second shot and it was just as awful.

And the carts never work either.

I’ll happily pay slightly more at Trader Joe’s and enjoy my experience.

I don’t mind bagging my own groceries at all. But the check out at aldi is a mess and unless you’re super practiced at their flow the cashiers are nearly hostile if you take a moment too long to gtfo of their way. The flow is weird.

Aldi is disgusting. The food is bad enough but the horrible way they throw the food in a bin at checkout and make you repack it with no space to do so is demeaning.

I cannot understand who likes this place. I gave it a second shot and it was just as awful.

And the carts never work either.

I’ll happily pay slightly more at Trader Joe’s and enjoy my experience.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aldi is poor people food. What do you think?

Sure, it has some gems, but it is designed for poor people. Poor people always get fed dog food.

LOL Whatever you say, crazy!

I like Aldi. Their staples are fine and prices amazing. You don’t go there for a great cut of steak or seafood.

They actually do have good steaks, and frozen sushi-quality ahi tuna I buy ALL the time for poke bowls and spicy tuna rolls.

I’ve never had any issues with any of their chicken, pork, and beef, including steaks! But I love their fresh salmon! It’s so delicious!

I’ve not had good luck there. It’s for older and single people. And cheese board items.

I’m one of the dcum poors and I’d love to shop at Aldi, but I’ve been to so many in the Los Angeles area and they’re all terrible. Honestly the produce is better at the 99cent store. I wish I could buy my groceries there, but I end up doing Walmart because the produce (while still shitty) is better quality. It sucks being poor, but I’m a nanny and try to eat at work whenever possible because my boss has a chef and they’re always trying to feed me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aldi is poor people food. What do you think?

Sure, it has some gems, but it is designed for poor people. Poor people always get fed dog food.

Woah, no. And I hope you’re making a big fat donation to a food pantry this season. Like many people, true poverty looks very different from regular shopping at Aldi.
True poor people food is dollar general/tree. Nothing fresh. Smaller sizes, all the cans are pop top because people might not have a can opener moving quickly between places or on the street.
Until recently, Aldi was cash only. Someone once told me they couldn’t shop there because of that - they didn’t always have enough cash at the end of the month.
Aldi is for thrifty people, many of whom are wealthy because they are thrifty.

I have shopped there for several years and it was never cash only.

Anonymous wrote:Aldi is poor people food. What do you think?

Sure, it has some gems, but it is designed for poor people. Poor people always get fed dog food.

Woah, no. And I hope you’re making a big fat donation to a food pantry this season. Like many people, true poverty looks very different from regular shopping at Aldi.
True poor people food is dollar general/tree. Nothing fresh. Smaller sizes, all the cans are pop top because people might not have a can opener moving quickly between places or on the street.
Until recently, Aldi was cash only. Someone once told me they couldn’t shop there because of that - they didn’t always have enough cash at the end of the month.
Aldi is for thrifty people, many of whom are wealthy because they are thrifty.

I buy my apples at the farmers market for $2.99 a pound. They taste much better because they aren’t mealy and taste great. I wish I could find cheaper apples, but all the cheaper ones are flavorless with awful texture.

I'm a huge Aldi fan and do most of our shopping there. But I avoid a lot of the frozen fully prepared foods; for those I go to Trader Joe's. But eggs, butter, produce, cereal, cheese, coffee, flour and much more is as good as or better than Giant and way, way cheaper. Look also for their "premium" line.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP I've been to Aldi here and in the UK. The Aldi in the UK had higher quality food.

What makes an apple “higher quality”?

I'm not talking about the produce, but the processed food. Sorry for the confusion.

Not all of their stuff is imported from Europe. Most of their cookies, etc. are standard American junk just like you’d get anywhere else. Check out the chocolate brioche and brioche buns from France, though. Amazing. I’ve gotten a lot of great stuff there. Just got a jar of lemon curd that was excellent - I think made in Belgium. The “Specially Selected” stuff is nicer.

It’s just another grocery store, not “crap” and not anything super special. Lidl has a grea bakery if you’re looking for pastries.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aldi is poor people food. What do you think?

Sure, it has some gems, but it is designed for poor people. Poor people always get fed dog food.

LOL Whatever you say, crazy!

I like Aldi. Their staples are fine and prices amazing. You don’t go there for a great cut of steak or seafood.

Yep. We have moved away from buying some meat at Aldi, because the cuts just aren’t as good. But we’re able to buy better meat (not from Giant, lately we’ve been getting a farm delivery) because we save so much money buy getting almost everything else there. They often even have brand name items - Cabot cheese for example- at 1/3 the cost of giant. It’s amazing. And the “fun aisle” - can’t beat it!

That said, I have learned that the oats and honey granola bars are just not as good as nature valley. I don’t like the stone mill seasonings. The organic stuff is fine. DH doesn’t like the Aldi canned tomatoes (for chili). But those are just personal preferences.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP I've been to Aldi here and in the UK. The Aldi in the UK had higher quality food.

What makes an apple “higher quality”?

I'm not talking about the produce, but the processed food. Sorry for the confusion.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aldi is poor people food. What do you think?

Sure, it has some gems, but it is designed for poor people. Poor people always get fed dog food.

LOL Whatever you say, crazy!

I like Aldi. Their staples are fine and prices amazing. You don’t go there for a great cut of steak or seafood.

They actually do have good steaks, and frozen sushi-quality ahi tuna I buy ALL the time for poke bowls and spicy tuna rolls.