Okay everyone, I had the most interesting experience today. For many of you, it may be no big thing, and you may be actually familiar with the process, but for me it was a bit, well interesting. There is a grocery store in the mid-west called ALDI. It has always been described to me as a discount grocer. There was one in Missouri where we lived and that is where I first heard about ALDI. We had friends who would talk about how much money they saved, and so on, but they also said that ALDI deosn't carry common brands, and deosn't carry everything from a regular grocer. Add on top of that you have to bring your own bags, or buy them on your way out. Okay so maybe you see why I never gave ALDI a try while I lived in Missouri. Mostely because I think bags should be free.
Well after moving here I was recommended to ALDI by a gal at church who raved about their cheap canned goods and produce. Well today I went to ALDI. First, I forgot to grab bags... seriously I am sure if I go back I will forget again. But after driving 15 minutes into town, I wasn't turning around for bags. I had Holly and Alex with me, and I was husteling up to the store because Alex is heavy, and it is cold outside today. Right outside the store there are a bunch of baskets chained together... and I couldn't get one. After like 5 minutes and pure confusion, a nice guy walks up sticks a quarter in a slot and hands me a basket, and a "you're a moron look". I say thanks, and put my kids in the basket, and all the time on my way in I'm thinking, this is so not worth the trouble. If that nice guy hadn't footed a quarter for my basket, I would have bolted and went to Kroger.
But I went in and was next surprised by isles made of boxed goods and old people. They didn't seem to have a problem with the quarter baskets. I grabed a few things I needed. Milk for 1.69 a gallon, canned pumpkin for .79 a can, a pinneaple for 1.49, and some frozen veggies at .89 a bag among other things. All in all I will say it was cheap. I came away with 27 items and my total was 29.76. that is including the two 10 cent bags I purchased. And then I noticed that the checker had put all my stuff in my basket costco style, with the bags on top. I'm carrying Alex at this point who seems to hate ALDI and realize I have to bag my own groceries. I guess they figure if you bought the bags you'd want to bag it all.
I strap my kids in the car, unload my groceries from the basket into the bags, into the car, and them find out there are no basket returns in the parking lot...none. So I run the basket back up to the store and realize that if you chain it back up in line you get your quarter back. Wow, how nice of them... to find a way to ensure people put their basket back. I left the quarter for the next shopper, and left feeling giddy about the deals, and so irritated by the lack of costomer service. And what does all this prove to me? You get what you pay for!! Will I be back to ALDI anytime soon? I don't know..the jury is still out on this one. Maybe if the pinneaple tastes good...
5 comments:
I am perplexed about it too. It sounds like it might be worth it but then the thought of wrestling a quarter from my pocket while keeping an eye on my toddler and a baby in my arms makes me wonder. Then having to load my kids in the car just to bag my own groceries? I think I would say, "Hell with the quarter" at that point and just leave my basket in the parking lot so some other mother doesn't have to wrangle a quarter out of her wallet. The deals do sound good though. Do they take coupons? Then we would be talking!
Aldi is a European store and we always shopped there on our missions. I think it would be a better deal if they carried the same stuff they did in France...camembert cheese, gouda cheese, yummy fresh produce, chocolate granola cereal, awesome yogurt. So yummy. It would be a lot harder with kids though.
Merilee, You griped about paying for two bags but left the quarter in the basket? You could have had that 20 cents plus tax back in your pocket. I bet as soon as you left all those old people said, "Chump!" :) (This coming from a crazy sister who just paid 2.49 for an organic cucumber!)
I always get mad at WinCo for making you bag your own groceries. Come on, it's not that much cheaper, plus, I had to drive out of the way to get there! And, with 3 kids in tow. . . I totally wouldn't go back. They tried to pass a law here last month saying that you have to pay 20 cents for every bag you get at the grocery store, trying to urge people to use the re-usable ones. It totally didn't pass. Because everyone is like me, and always forgets to take them along.
Merilee--Please give Aldi another chance. We shopped there for over 18 years when we lived in MO. My mom was able to feed a family of 8 for about $400 a month. She had a quarter in the car called the "Aldi Quarter" that was always available for when she went there. And be sure to take the quarter back, they do that to keep the prices low so they don't have to spend all their time in the parking lot collecting carts. Also, you can bring your own bags and not have to pay for them again. I just kept a stach in the trunk and unloaded all the groceries directly into the car. That way you can buckle your kids in and then unload. Also, in Columbia, if you used their boxes you didn't have to pay for them (like you do the bags). It can be an overwhelming process when you first start going there, but the savings are so worth it. They always had the best produce in town and their fresh pineapple in the summer is delicious. Hang in there and before you know it, you will be referring other people to Aldi. I can't wait to move back to the east so I can shop at Aldi again. It's fun to see your family grow. Amy Richardson
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