Aldi is "shockingly cheaper" than Walmart?

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RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
78,794
266
116
Ours has standard metal ones, smaller than the gigantic walmart ones. I usually go ferengi and collect carts from the parking lot while i'm taking mine back. Sometimes there are none, but others, there will be 3-4. Free money

Thanks for posting this, you just made my day

Since we don't have a reputation system here, I'll give you 5 bars of GPL (gold-pressed latinum) instead.
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,389
1,778
126
There's definitely a market for this kind of store... The brands they carry are ones you've never heard of. Around here there's a similar food market called Save-A-Lot....but they typically are dealing with more name-brand products that are overstocks or near expiration.

The grocery store business is pretty cut-throat because the stores themselves are the warehouses. If they don't sell a particular item within X days, they have to consider dropping the product and filling the shelves with what does sell... That's why we all have those little customer loyalty cards so they can track when particular customers are regulars and know how much of what to stock....

Aldi's design is all based on covering the basics and key products they can buy for cheap and move.... On average, we shopped there once a month to save money on certain items, but it did come at the price of time. Had Aldi not been so close to Walmart in our last city, we probably wouldn't have bothered making the trip....but it was on the way to the big store.

In my current city, they're building a new Aldi right now near my office...so Aldi is obviously still expanding.
 

Ruptga

Lifer
Aug 3, 2006
10,247
207
106
Aldi is the only place I know of where I can reliably get good chocolate for cheap. Also all their price tags include the cost per unit, which is great. Their selection is always more limited than a grocery store, but they're great if you're poor and don't need a lot of groceries.
 

brianmanahan

Lifer
Sep 2, 2006
24,302
5,731
136
aldi is pretty much the only place i shop for food. it's awesome and cheap. they are all over ohio and have been for 20+ years.

oh yeah, i also bought a computer from aldi back in 2002. it was also a good deal.
 
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quikah

Diamond Member
Apr 7, 2003
4,086
664
126
Aldi's parent company? owns Trader Joes so there may be a few Trader Joes items in an Aldis.

Aldi was split into 2 companies in the 60s (Nord and Süd, north and south in German). Trader Joe's is run by Aldi Nord (they bought the chain in the '79), Aldi stores in the US are run by Aldi Süd. I am not sure how that relates to how their goods are sourced.

Haven't been in an Aldi since I moved out of the Midwest in '90s, but Trader Joe's is generally pretty awesome.
 

Childs

Lifer
Jul 9, 2000
11,450
7
81
I don't think there are any Aldi stores around here, but we started getting Walmart Neighborhood Markets. They sell some large versions of things that you can't really find anywhere else, for pretty cheap. I normally go there when I need some baking supplies. A 16oz bottle of McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract or pure almond extract is only like $7. They also sell neat stuff like chopped Heath bar bits for $2-3.

That being said, I still rather shop at a super Safeway or Nob Hill for common items. The price difference isn't that great, and cleanliness and location are just as important. The Walmart markets are...like Walmart. I bought a rotisserie chicken at the neighborhood market just last night when I bought Heath bits, and it wasn't that good. Kinda hard to screw up rotisserie chicken, but it was like it was overcooked in spots, and undercooked in others. I don't think they actually use a rotisserie!
 

lupi

Lifer
Apr 8, 2001
32,539
260
126
never heard of it till a couple of mentions recently here. just checked the store locator and there is about 8 of them here...from 102-118 miles away don't think I need to visit that badly.
 

M0oG0oGaiPan

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2000
7,858
2
0
digitalgamedeals.com
I don't think there are any Aldi stores around here, but we started getting Walmart Neighborhood Markets. They sell some large versions of things that you can't really find anywhere else, for pretty cheap. I normally go there when I need some baking supplies. A 16oz bottle of McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract or pure almond extract is only like $7. They also sell neat stuff like chopped Heath bar bits for $2-3.

That being said, I still rather shop at a super Safeway or Nob Hill for common items. The price difference isn't that great, and cleanliness and location are just as important. The Walmart markets are...like Walmart. I bought a rotisserie chicken at the neighborhood market just last night when I bought Heath bits, and it wasn't that good. Kinda hard to screw up rotisserie chicken, but it was like it was overcooked in spots, and undercooked in others. I don't think they actually use a rotisserie!

lol i've definitely gotten into the checkout line at costco with nothing but rotisserie chicken. it's good and cheap.
 

NoTine42

Golden Member
Sep 30, 2013
1,387
78
91
The grocery store business is pretty cut-throat because the stores themselves are the warehouses. If they don't sell a particular item within X days, they have to consider dropping the product and filling the shelves with what does sell... That's why we all have those little customer loyalty cards so they can track when particular customers are regulars and know how much of what to stock....
.
I call BS on that loyalty card argument.

Before loyalty cards, they had enough info to track most orders by checking acct# and/or CC#

They knew which products were bought with other products

What meaningful data point does the loyalty card really give the store (besides and address as a marketing lead?)
 

Subyman

Moderator <br> VC&G Forum
Mar 18, 2005
7,876
32
86
Aldi is just a Save-A-Lot. If you like frozen food then it'd be great for you.
 

Cerb

Elite Member
Aug 26, 2000
17,484
33
86
Aldi is just a Save-A-Lot. If you like frozen food then it'd be great for you.
The schnitzel and pretzels they get once or twice a year, sure. The rest of the frozen food is junk.
 

feralkid

Lifer
Jan 28, 2002
16,577
4,659
136
never heard of it till a couple of mentions recently here. just checked the store locator and there is about 8 of them here...from 102-118 miles away don't think I need to visit that badly.

I wouldn't refer to something 102-118 miles away as "here".

Much more of a "way over there" kind of situation.

 

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
30,989
8,701
136
Do they have that great chocolate section in the US?

Its pretty much just that that I pop in for occasionally.
 

Double Trouble

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
9,272
103
106
They put an aldi's near me a year or so ago, and I decided to try it out. Won't be doing that again. I don't mind their lack of selection or no-name off label products (it's expected), but it's a big pain in the ass to shop there: you have to put quarters to get a shopping cart (I don't carry change anymore, so that's a pain), you don't get shopping bags, they don't bag the groceries, they have so few checkout lines it takes forever, and they don't even take credit cards (so no 6% grocery cash back from Amex).

Saving a few bucks is not worth the hassle IMO. If I was really trying to scrape every penny I'd consider Aldi, but I'll pay a few extra bucks to be able to use credit cards, get shopping carts, get grocery bags, get customer service, not have to wait in lines etc.
 

Gillbot

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
28,830
17
81
Yes. Aldi's is cheaper than walmart. By far.

The only difference being Walmart's produce is of better quality. We hardly ever buy produce at Aldi because it's just plain nasty. But their pantry goods are top notch, and usually have less crap ingredients in them comparatively than Walmart generics and are regularly cheaper. I believe Aldi off-labels name brands which is how they get away with a lot of this.

We normally get our bulk staples at Costco, fill in a lot of our weekly goods at Aldi (bread, bagels, cheese, other specific pantry goods), and then fill out the rest of our fresher perishables at Kroger.

Oh, and you don't need grocery bags - When Aldi's stocks the shelves, they put the stuff out in cases. They allow, encourage even, you to use the boxes that are nearly empty. So, when I'm done getting my groceries, I take a quick walk up an aisle and grab 3 or 4 large boxes. After the cashier rings everything up - which is far quicker than it is in line at any other place where the cashier also has to bag things, I take my cart up to the front bagging counter, and divide all my stuff into the boxes. Frozen stuff in one box, refrigerated stuff in another box, cans/boxes in a 3rd box. It's a hell of a lot easier just sticking 3 boxes into the trunk of the car, rather than 20 plastic bags. And, taking the groceries into the house is far easier as well.

These.... ^

We get most of our chocolate at Aldi, they are one of the few that label it as peanut free.
 

dud

Diamond Member
Feb 18, 2001
7,635
73
91
They put an aldi's near me a year or so ago, and I decided to try it out. Won't be doing that again. I don't mind their lack of selection or no-name off label products (it's expected), but it's a big pain in the ass to shop there: you have to put quarters to get a shopping cart (I don't carry change anymore, so that's a pain), you don't get shopping bags, they don't bag the groceries, they have so few checkout lines it takes forever, and they don't even take credit cards (so no 6% grocery cash back from Amex).

Saving a few bucks is not worth the hassle IMO. If I was really trying to scrape every penny I'd consider Aldi, but I'll pay a few extra bucks to be able to use credit cards, get shopping carts, get grocery bags, get customer service, not have to wait in lines etc.




Very well written ... I can understand very clearly why you prefer not to shop there. All of your points are valid and to think of it ... it is sort of a pain to shop at Aldi because of your points. I guess we've made the decision that we will overcome them and when you see the savings realized over going to the store across the street it really adds up. I just did a rough calculation and I think I spend about $1,300 a year there so the savings isn't really all that much.

Historically, profit margins at groceries typically range from 1 to 2 percent. However, natural, organic and gourmet food markets can enjoy higher averages from 3.5 to 6 percent. I wonder what Aldi's is? I did a little research and came up with estimates as high as 4-5%.
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
69,554
27,858
136
I call BS on that loyalty card argument.

Before loyalty cards, they had enough info to track most orders by checking acct# and/or CC#

They knew which products were bought with other products

What meaningful data point does the loyalty card really give the store (besides and address as a marketing lead?)

I emailed one chain and asked if I could get a copy of my loyalty card purchase history. "We couldn't possibly do that."
 

SunnyD

Belgian Waffler
Jan 2, 2001
32,674
145
106
www.neftastic.com
It's fun to shop at SAMs when they are closing. You can often score a free rotisserie chicken

I've gone to Walmart's Deli/Hot Bar at their closing time and gotten a few pounds of wings and chicken tenders for pennies on the dollar before. They would have just tossed them otherwise. I asked for a bucket... the employee advised me that I "really didn't want a bucket" with a wink.
 
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Gillbot

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
28,830
17
81
I've gone to Walmart's Deli/Hot Bar at their closing time and gotten a few pounds of wings and chicken tenders for pennies on the dollar before. They would have just tossed them otherwise. I asked for a bucket... the employee advised me that I "really didn't want a bucket[/i]" with a wink.

I wish our walmart was this decent..... Ours would just throw it out in front of us and make all new.
 

dud

Diamond Member
Feb 18, 2001
7,635
73
91
I've gone to Walmart's Deli/Hot Bar at their closing time and gotten a few pounds of wings and chicken tenders for pennies on the dollar before. They would have just tossed them otherwise. I asked for a bucket... the employee advised me that I "really didn't want a bucket[/i]" with a wink.



And this does not scare you?

 

SunnyD

Belgian Waffler
Jan 2, 2001
32,674
145
106
www.neftastic.com
And this does not scare you?


Nah, the peeps that work at my local wally world deli counter are pretty cool. Except for Griselda. When she's working I usually turn the other way.

Sorry... what she meant when she said that was I'd have had to pay the bucket price, instead of the "special discounted by-weight" price.

But seriously no, they're funny. They told me that if they're working and as long as no manager is around they'd rather do that then throw away the food.
 
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SlitheryDee

Lifer
Feb 2, 2005
17,252
19
81
I never thought Wal-mart was cheap as a grocery store. They also seem to have generally shittier meat and produce than regular grocery stores. If I get groceries from there it's usually a case of already being there for something else and not wanting to make another stop at a "real" grocery store. Sometimes I'll pay an extra 22% for convenience.
 
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