Poll of the Day > Went to Aldi for the first time this weekend.

(+) Yeah! (+)

It was weird. It almost seemed like it was a parody of a real store. Like almost everything looks like the actual thing and then you look closely and it's named something completely generic.

At least some of the stuff is actual namebrand and the prices are lower. Never got La Croix so cheap!

tbh, it's a fucking bizarre place.

Until I watched CompanyMan's video on it, I didn't understand any of it, but the whole thing is surreal. They charge for grocery carts. they don't do grocery bags (but now CT doesn't do them anywhere, because our fucking moron governor is a fucking moron who prioritizes nonsense over fixing CT because he's a fucking moron who shouldn't have won but the Republicans threw the election by nominating another fucking moron and the DNC handed to the first fucking moron because they ran a legit crook -- I mean, a guy who went to jail for political corruption -- against moron 1 in the primaries), etc.

Apparently *everything* is a product exclusive to them, and they don't even have normal store hours.

I thought it was like a Trader Joe's, but it's more like a Trader Ghettos. (Although apparently Aldi's owns TJ's, so... wtf)

I think most of the things we find weird about Aldi's is because they're a European store that mostly carries brands that aren't necessarily local or the popular brands from other stores. They've been around in Europe for years (and Germany specifically for longer), but they're only just sort of establishing themselves in the US over the last decade or so, and they still do things the way they've always done, which isn't necessarily the way that US stores would do things.

Lidl's pretty much in the exact same boat.

ParanoidObsessive posted...

that mostly carries brands that aren't necessarily local or the popular brands from other stores.

They mostly carry their own brands, which is weird anywhere. Most European markets carry normal brands (and sometimes normal brands under other names, like Walkers instead of Lay's).

I like Aldi. The cheaper prices and rotation of items make it fun to check out every time I go there. Also racing the cashier is fun too. It's like playing Tetris to get your items in the trolley.

I really like Aldi. You can't rely on them to have everything since they seem to like letting stock totally deplete then fill the empty shelves after. And a few items I had bad experiences and don't get anymore. But it's my main stay for a lot of stuff.

Zeus posted...

Until I watched CompanyMan's video on it, I didn't understand any of it, but the whole thing is surreal. They charge for grocery carts. they don't do grocery bags

They don't "charge" for them. You put a quarter in, you get it back when you return the cart. It means they don't have to pay people to go out and retrieve the carts.
And I've seen other grocery stores w/ the same scheme that are American.
They don't provide bags for free, but you can buy big plastic bags for like 10 cents or buy or bring your own reusable ones. Again, something a lot of "budget" grocers do, not just them...

Apparently *everything* is a product exclusive to them, and they don't even have normal store hours.

I thought it was like a Trader Joe's, but it's more like a Trader Ghettos. (Although apparently Aldi's owns TJ's, so... wtf)

It's really not like TJ's...

It's a no frills grocery store where they sell mostly "store brand" products and made the running of the store as ruthlessly efficient as possible. In return, you get lower prices, much faster check out lines, and the food is almost always just as good as any other off-brand version you'd find in other stores, if not better.

And yeah, they have less hours and more holiday closings than most grocery stores, b/c while they have few employees they tend to actually pay and treat them better than other grocery chains, in my experience...

would never pay for a cart

...you get your quarter back.

it's to ensure that people actually bring the cart back to where it belongs instead of leaving them in the parking lot, because apparently a quarter means so much to everyone

but it does work so w/e

ParanoidObsessive posted...

I think most of the things we find weird about Aldi's is because they're a European store

Aldis are rather unique, even here in Europe.

streamofthesky posted...

They don't provide bags for free, but you can buy big plastic bags for like 10 cents or buy or bring your own reusable ones. Again, something a lot of "budget" grocers do, not just them...

"Budget"? It is the standard here since it became illegal to give plastic grocery bags away for free.

What was it like last weekend?

helIy posted...

...you get your quarter back.

it's to ensure that people actually bring the cart back to where it belongs instead of leaving them in the parking lot, because apparently a quarter means so much to everyone

but it does work so w/e

lol

This topic's really exposing all of the people who leave their carts out in the parking lot b/c they can't be bothered to bring it to the return area.
"OMG, it costs a quarter for a cart every time?!"

streamofthesky posted...

lol

This topic's really exposing all of the people who leave their carts out in the parking lot b/c they can't be bothered to bring it to the return area.
"OMG, it costs a quarter for a cart every time?!"

That's why the corrals exist.

helIy posted...

...you get your quarter back.

it's to ensure that people actually bring the cart back to where it belongs instead of leaving them in the parking lot, because apparently a quarter means so much to everyone

but it does work so w/e

that requires me to have change.

just have employees collect carts

Revelation34 posted...

That's why the corrals exist.

This. You bring them to any of the corrals, which is also where people grab them from when they walk into the store. There's already a system, nobody needs to have systems with quarters.

Nothing wrong with Aldi for the odd cheap products that actually taste alright or even good in some cases. I've never been a stickler for brands anyway. A acquaintance of mine actually works in a Aldi store too. Lidl is also like Aldi and I like that also. Even more so when a new store has opening very close to me.

Zeus posted...

Most European markets carry normal brands (and sometimes normal brands under other names, like Walkers instead of Lay's).

Actually only the UK I believe call Lay's Walkers. This is because Walkers is what started first and that originated in the UK. It's still the same product though you're right.

Zeus posted...

This. You bring them to any of the corrals, which is also where people grab them from when they walk into the store. There's already a system, nobody needs to have systems with quarters.

The coin makes you bring them to the corral, and we've had them in the UK for literally all my life, and because we're not poor, broke little Americans, we use a whole pound, which translates to like $27,000 of your weird board game notes.

Kyuubi4269 posted...

The coin makes you bring them to the corral, and we've had them in the UK for literally all my life, and because we're not poor, broke little Americans, we use a whole pound, which translates to like $27,000 of your weird board game notes.

The fact there are multiple corrals placed conveniently near parking spots makes you bring them to the corral. And the US isn't so poverty-stricken that retailers need to charge a return fee on carts. What the fuck is up with your economy? Did you fall on hard times after Brexit?

This is a good example of how Europe differs from the US. Same experiences here as Zeus, and I've been to an Aldi a few times myself. Their whole thing doesn't really make sense compared to even a Walmart.

wwinterj25 posted...

Actually only the UK I believe call Lay's Walkers. This is because Walkers is what started first and that originated in the UK. It's still the same product though you're right.

It probably isn't. European stuff tends to use better ingredients so the recipe should be different than the American version. It's also why some candy is different since Nestle makes the worldwide version while Hershey makes the American version.

ITT Conservative americans get confused and mad at anything foreign to them, as usual.

TIL: I'm a conservative

Revelation34 posted...

It probably isn't. European stuff tends to use better ingredients so the recipe should be different than the American version. It's also why some candy is different since Nestle makes the worldwide version while Hershey makes the American version.

I mean in Poland I tried Lays and they taste the same to me. I eat Walkers a lot.

wwinterj25 posted...

I mean in Poland I tried Lays and they taste the same to me. I eat Walkers a lot.

European Lays would have the same ingredients.

Revelation34 posted...

European stuff tends to use better ingredients so the recipe should be different than the American version.

Cue eyeroll.

Judgmenl posted...

TIL: I'm a conservative

tbh, Cruddy Horse gets confused and mad at anything foreign to him, calling them conservative. I'm not even sure he knows what conservatism is.

Revelation34 posted... European Lays would have the same ingredients.

Kind of like how American Walkers would have the same ingredients, right? Or do you have a separate excuse for that?

Aldi is great. They've got quality stuff for cheap as hell prices. Sometimes I'll go to publix for some stuff but if you shop there all the time you getting ripped off lol

Krazy_Kirby posted...

that requires me to have change.

just have employees collect carts

If you want to pay more, then just go shop at a premium store that tacks cart return tax onto their products' prices.

Zeus posted...

Cue eyeroll.

tbh, Cruddy Horse gets confused and mad at anything foreign to him, calling them conservative. I'm not even sure he knows what conservatism is.

Kind of like how American Walkers would have the same ingredients, right? Or do you have a separate excuse for that?

That doesn't exist.

There are actually two Aldis, Aldi Nord and Aldi Sd. They split up in 1960. The stores called Aldi in the US are owned by Aldi Sd. Aldi Nord has stores in the US as well, but they're called Trader Joes.

captpackrat posted...

There are actually two Aldis, Aldi Nord and Aldi Sd. They split up in 1960. The stores called Aldi in the US are owned by Aldi Sd. Aldi Nord has stores in the US as well, but they're called Trader Joes.

We know. This is common sense.

captpackrat posted...

There are actually two Aldis, Aldi Nord and Aldi Sd. They split up in 1960. The stores called Aldi in the US are owned by Aldi Sd. Aldi Nord has stores in the US as well, but they're called Trader Joes.

So how does both Aldis own Trader Joe's if only one Aldi is Trader Joe's?

THEGODDAMNBATMA posted...

So how does both Aldis own Trader Joe's if only one Aldi is Trader Joe's?

Aldi Nord owns Trader Joes. The stores called "Aldi" in the US are owned by Aldi Sd.

Zeus posted...

This. You bring them to any of the corrals, which is also where people grab them from when they walk into the store. There's already a system, nobody needs to have systems with quarters.

With Aldi they dont have to hire another employee to collect the carts in the parking lot when people leave them wherever. Its like the one store where you dont have to worry about a wild cart getting caught by the wind and hitting your car.

If someone leaves a cart in the parking lot, another customer will bring it back to get that quarter.

I had a co-worker from Germany who got super excited when she saw one here Well, two hours away. But thats where we were staying for the week. And she went and bought a bunch of stuff. Ive only been there a couple of times myself That said, I believe there is one here now, so if shes still here, that probably made her happy

Aldi was my go to store back in NY.
The only issues I had were some of the produce wasn't necessarily the freshest so I'd usually go somewhere else for most produce.

Zeus posted...

This. You bring them to any of the corrals, which is also where people grab them from when they walk into the store. There's already a system, nobody needs to have systems with quarters.

While we have a system, it doesnt always work. I mean, I was a cart attendant, so Ive seen some crazy stuff. And it probably helps to save money to not have to have a cart attendant

Judgmenl posted...

We know. This is common sense.

I dont think its common knowledge. Not everybody even knows of Aldi, let alone that there are two different companies. Most people probably dont know this

Cuticrusader09 posted...

With Aldi they dont have to hire another employee to collect the carts in the parking lot when people leave them wherever. Its like the one store where you dont have to worry about a wild cart getting caught by the wind and hitting your car.

If someone leaves a cart in the parking lot, another customer will bring it back to get that quarter.

Grocery stores here do not hire carriage collectors. They have idle workers deal with the carriages, usually cashiers / baggers.

But Aldi doesn't have baggers

I mean you're just providing less jobs for high school and college kids then (and not properly supporting your local community).

Judgmenl posted...

Grocery stores here do not hire carriage collectors. They have idle workers deal with the carriages, usually cashiers / baggers.

Maybe its smaller stores. Most of the bigger stores usually have them. Like Wal-Mart and Target. Some smaller stores do, too Though not all of them, of course I know that was a job many high schoolers and even some college guys got. Though, cashier was more common

Judgmenl posted...

Grocery stores here do not hire carriage collectors. They have idle workers deal with the carriages, usually cashiers / baggers.
I mean you're just providing less jobs for high school and college kids then (and not properly supporting your local community).

Aldi doesnt have idle time for their cashiers. If the store is slow, then they stock.

Many regular grocery stores are transitioning to more self checkouts so there isnt a need for baggers.

And as a result customer service will go into the dumpster and people will not go to those stores anymore.
They're actually taking the opposite direction of what should be happening. Ordering online is easy, stores exist mainly for the customer service aspect.
When I worked in a grocery store (this was a decade ago) I always enjoyed talking to some of our (mainly elderly) regulars.

Judgmenl posted...

And as a result customer service will go into the dumpster and people will not go to those stores anymore.
They're actually taking the opposite direction of what should be happening. Ordering online is easy, stores exist mainly for the customer service aspect.
When I worked in a grocery store (this was a decade ago) I always enjoyed talking to some of our (mainly elderly) regulars.

You've been wrong every step of the way in this topic lol

Revelation34 posted...

European Lays would have the same ingredients.

Lays is Lays so the American ones would be the same outside of flavours. Unless that's what you mean as some flavors are regional.

sveksii posted...

If you want to pay more, then just go shop at a premium store that tacks cart return tax onto their products' prices.

they don't do that

OhhhJa posted...

Sometimes I'll go to publix

I miss Publix. Their store brand stuff was surprisingly good. I preferred their OJ to Tropicana.

Revelation34 posted...

That doesn't exist.

Then I was having the same shit as they have in Europe, and I didn't notice any greater level of quality.

captpackrat posted...

There are actually two Aldis, Aldi Nord and Aldi Sd. They split up in 1960. The stores called Aldi in the US are owned by Aldi Sd. Aldi Nord has stores in the US as well, but they're called Trader Joes.

tbh, the history is crazy.

Cuticrusader09 posted...

With Aldi they dont have to hire another employee to collect the carts in the parking lot when people leave them wherever. Its like the one store where you dont have to worry about a wild cart getting caught by the wind and hitting your car.

If someone leaves a cart in the parking lot, another customer will bring it back to get that quarter.

And what both customers decide a quarter isn't worth it? Honestly, if I paid a quarter for a cart and had to walk fifteen feet to the FRONT of a store (instead of a nearby corral), I'd say "fuck it," and give that cart a push to the furthest part of the parking lot.

And I'm not sure any grocery store hires people for carts, that's just something their general employees do. My closest one seems to rotate who they sent out for carts, or have whoever is doing carside drops pick them up on the way back *if* that even needs to be done, which it often doesn't since most people put them in a corral.

Judgmenl posted...

Grocery stores here do not hire carriage collectors. They have idle workers deal with the carriages, usually cashiers / baggers.

Also this. Dedicated cart collectors aren't actually a thing.

tbh, it's like people thinking customers should pay a bathroom mopping fee or some nonsense to avoid hiring a dedicated janitor. Grocery stores usually don't have dedicated janitors for that, it's a general staff function.

Zeus posted...

And I'm not sure any grocery store hires people for carts, that's just something their general employees do.

Zeus posted...

Dedicated cart collectors aren't actually a thing.

False. I was one at Target. And I know plenty of stores that had them Whether they are common these days, Idk. But they do still exist

Judgmenl posted...

We know. This is common sense.

How is that common sense?

wwinterj25 posted...

Lays is Lays so the American ones would be the same outside of flavours. Unless that's what you mean as some flavors are regional.

No I mean the recipe would be different in Europe.

Zeus posted...

Then I was having the same shit as they have in Europe, and I didn't notice any greater level of quality.

You don't live in Europe.

Zeus posted...

Also this. Dedicated cart collectors aren't actually a thing.

Blatantly false.

Revelation34 posted...

No I mean the recipe would be different in Europe.

Doubtful. Although I can't be arsed to research it as they all taste the same.