What You Need to Know Before Your First Trip to ALDI
The ALDI cult is real and powerful. The fans of the chain love its special approach to customer service as much as they love the low prices, and they quickly preach it to everyone they meet.
The German grocery chain will open 130 new stores next year, according to CNN. It turns out that ALDI’s cost-saving features – small shops, limited staff, fees for plastic bags and carts you have to rent a quarter and a half – really pay off. So, if you have never entered the ALDI market and do not quite understand its essence, soon everything may change. Here’s everything you need to know before your first trip.
It really is no frills
In exchange for low prices, ALDI shoppers have to put in a little more effort than other stores. You must deposit a quarter to unlock the grocery cart, which means you must lock it back in order to get your quarter. Plastic bags are eight cents apiece, so you’ll either have to pay or plan ahead and bring your own. Finally, you need to pack your own groceries, but there is a handy little shelf in the front of the store just for this purpose.
This has been described as ” brutal efficiency, ” but to me that’s common sense. Fewer bells and whistles mean less overhead and, in turn, lower prices for consumers – and all you have to do is bring in a quarter and a couple of packages . This is a fair deal for me.
Stores may be smaller than you are used to
Compared to large Wegman’s or Safeway, ALDI stores take up less space and offer a much smaller selection of products. There isn’t much product redundancy either – ALDI sells a wide variety of potato chips, but there aren’t eight different brands of sour cream and onions – and almost everything except the staples is constantly changing.
This is very similar to love or hate. Personally, I like it. The small selection makes it easy to explore your store’s layout, which means you can get in and out in 15 minutes if you’re lucky. I also love that there is always something new to try: since I mainly buy food for buffets and refrigerators from ALDI, all those seasonal snacks and cheeses are just bonuses. The downside, of course, is that you may not find every last item on your list, but I think it’s worth a try.
They probably won’t have your brands
Like its subsidiary Trader Joe’s, you won’t find big brands on ALDI – in fact, with the exception of some La Croix and Coca-Cola products, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a well-known brand product in my store. keep. Instead, almost everything is sold under private labels such as Simply Nature, Carlini, Baker’s Corner, and Special Selected . If you’re loyal to certain brands, the ALDI equivalent is still worth a try: I’ve found that what ALDI lacks in brand awareness is more than offset by quality and price.
Always read weekly announcements
Since they don’t make coupons, viewing weekly ads is a must before every ALDI trip. There is one weekly ad for online grocery sales, as well as in-store discounted ads at your local store, including ALDI Finds – weekly sales of seasonal homeware, dishes, toys, and even furniture and clothing.
ALDI finds are one of the best things about this store. I have a ton of their utensils — silicone spatulas, cups, mixing bowls, a waffle iron and an enamelled cast iron Dutch oven — all of which I use all the time. It is much more than just kitchen equipment. To give you an idea, this week’s ALDI Finds in my store includes a $ 49.99 hammock and stand, a $ 24.99 adjustable folding table, a 36-can padded refrigerator for $ 14.99, and a ton of pool and pool accessories. toys for outdoor activities. The downside is that these items are extremely popular and prone to sale – be sure to check the advance announcements for next week’s offers when planning your purchase. New items usually appear on Wednesdays and Sundays, so these are the best days to try and buy the item you are eyeing.
Whether you like ALDI’s unique style or not, if you want to save on groceries, this is undoubtedly a great place to shop. Just don’t forget the quarter and reusable bags.