[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by tomwed

They sell bags for a dime. I wouldn't encourage anyone to shop there. What I find interesting is that the container looks like the name brand and sounds like it too. Look at the beer. They have one that looks and sounds like Carona and another like Heineken. It's like a montr python skit.

Not saying Aldi's is the same, but my son learned a hard, but valuable, lesson... along those lines.

He was in Mexico and found a smoking deal on a pair of high-end/expensive... Oakley sunglasses.

After wearing them for an hour though, he noticed that something (the distortion they had)...wasn't quite right.

It became apparent when he took them off, looked closely at the name...and they said "Oakey."

He also failed to notice the sign in the store, where he bought them, that said..."NO returns, NO credit."

[JSR22]

Originally Posted by ColdNoMore

Not saying Aldi's is the same, but my son learned a hard, but valuable, lesson... along those lines.

He was in Mexico and found a smoking deal on a pair of high-end/expensive... Oakley sunglasses.

After wearing them for an hour though, he noticed that something (the distortion they had)...wasn't quite right.

It became apparent when he took them off, looked closely at the name...and they said "Oakey."

He also failed to notice the sign in the store, where he bought them, that said..."NO returns, NO credit."

We just returned from Aldi's and will not return. Their brand names are very misleading. Regular brand names were pretty much within pennies of Publix.

[Bigben007]

They have a lot of generic products and they are called generic for a reason.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by tomwed

I think you're putting everyone on. You have a gift.

Not really. But, this Aldi's thing feels like a slippery slope to me. Who else charges for carts or plastic bags? How long will it take for other stores to do the same thing. I want more service, not less, especially in a retirement community.

[geofitz13]

You don't "pay" for the cart. You put a quarter in the slot, and when you are done, return the cart and get the quarter back. No carts left around the parking lot to cause damage or be in the way. Their generic products can be hit or miss, you learn what you like and don't like. Bring your own bags, far less waste to get dumped into a landfill. Aldi's is not perfect, but it has a niche.

[tomwed]

Talk about service. A friend of mine works at Publix. Way back when I shopped there and only had a couple of bags. The young person who bagged asked me if I wanted them to push the cart to my car and unload. I don't need that help.

My friend told me that the kid or whoever offered me that wants to help me for friendly/selfish reasons. It get's them out of the building, they get to talk to someone and it feels like a little break. I went back again but I just couldn't let someone do what I can do for myself. I may need that someday so I'm glad publix offers.

Who pays for all the extra workers to load the free bags, carry them to my car and collect the carts?

[Bavarian]

Originally Posted by thetruth

ALDIS and LIDI are both German owned discount grocery chains.
I for one wonder WHY. We are told that food costs in the US are among the lowest in the world. I expect some of this is due to government subsidies, low land costs, scientific farming and large sized farms allowing the costly equipment used instead of labor.
Why this foreign invasion into a local business model? I wonder but, expect it has to do with TAXES and EXCHANGE RATES,

Aldi is a German discount food store Alfred Discount" Lidl had a good sale on Ritter Sport 1Euro/Stueck.

Aldi is run like a German Store, all have quarter/Euro/DM holder, or you can buy a key ring with a pull out coin with your initial. I prefer Kaufland but Krone in same store was better.

Aldi here is always out of stock of advertised items.

I will continue to stock up in Bayern.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by geofitz13

You don't "pay" for the cart. You put a quarter in the slot, and when you are done, return the cart and get the quarter back. No carts left around the parking lot to cause damage or be in the way. Their generic products can be hit or miss, you learn what you like and don't like. Bring your own bags, far less waste to get dumped into a landfill. Aldi's is not perfect, but it has a niche.

I don't agree that you don't pay for the cart. They don't have cart return stations in the parking lot, like they do at almost every other store, even the discount stores. Aldi's expects you to return the cart to the store. Other stores hire people to return the carts to the store. Also, other stores will put your purchases in a bag, which makes perfect sense to me. It has been an expected and standard service for more than a hundred years. And, I am fine with the bags going into a landfill.

[Abby10]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Not really. But, this Aldi's thing feels like a slippery slope to me. Who else charges for carts or plastic bags? How long will it take for other stores to do the same thing. I want more service, not less, especially in a retirement community.

It also has to do with being able to run a store efficiently and with less personnel. Thereby passing on a lower cost to the customers PLUS being able to pay their employees quite well compared to competitors. It is definitely a concept that has worked so far in both Europe and the US, but not all of us like the same shopping experience and that's okay. We are fortunate in this country to have so many choices.

[tomwed]

Does anyone remember what a gallon of milk costs in each store?

[tomwed]

Originally Posted by Bavarian

Aldi is a German discount food store Alfred Discount" Lidl had a good sale on Ritter Sport 1Euro/Stueck.

Aldi is run like a German Store, all have quarter/Euro/DM holder, or you can buy a key ring with a pull out coin with your initial. I prefer Kaufland but Krone in same store was better.

Aldi here is always out of stock of advertised items.

I will continue to stock up in Bayern.

They don't sell sausages in Aldis. What they do sell is the worst.

[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by Abby10

It also has to do with being able to run a store efficiently and with less personnel. Thereby passing on a lower cost to the customers PLUS being able to pay their employees quite well compared to competitors. It is definitely a concept that has worked so far in both Europe and the US, but not all of us like the same shopping experience and that's okay. We are fortunate in this country to have so many choices.

Not because I necessarily thought you weren't correct, but more because I'm one who prefers facts over feelings/emotions...I decided to look your statement up.

I am pleased to see that it's true (at least at the managerial level)...and I'm guessing also at the non-manager positions.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/deroset.../#7187ba3245dc

As the last month of summer winds down, and with recent university graduates full steam ahead on their job hunt, discount retailer ALDI is making an offer that will likely grab some attention – a starting pay of $75,000 along with some perks, including a corporate credit card, Toyota Camry and paid gas for both professional and personal use.

Why is ALDI’s U.S. operation paying so much? This starting pay comes with a job description similar to a small business owner – and similar hours too. The new graduates, who are hired directly into District Manager positions, are expected to manage a staff of thirty to fifty people, while mastering operational details (such as how many avocados to order) in order to continue making the company’s low-price, high-efficiency business model hum.

Ultimately, the chance for real leadership development may be the more important offer from ALDI. For any new graduate, the choice of which job to take out of college is usually about more than money. At a time when nearly half of college graduates are working jobs that don’t require a degree, their first professional job is an opportunity to develop leadership skills and accumulate experiences that will inform their judgment for the rest of their careers.

Although ALDI’s parent company in Germany is notoriously secretive, the U.S. division has been very transparent about what it expects of its well-paid talent.

Although I like Publix because of the convenient location, and don't even look at prices or use coupons when I grocery shop (flame-suit on...), I'll be willing to give Aldi's a chance...just because of their decent treatment of employees.

A pet peeve of mine is change (I usually donate it somewhere at the counter...e.g.-jar/cause/for the next person to use/etc.), so I guess I'll just have to remember...to stuff a quarter in my shoe for the cart.

[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by tomwed

They don't sell sausages in Aldis. What they do sell is the worst.

You're a real bratwurst...aren't you?

[Geo&Ter]

Constantly amazed on people giving their dissertation on why they don't like this or that over a quarter. Really? Are these the major problems in your lives? Not just this subject but anywhere else on this site.

[tomwed]

Originally Posted by Geo&Ter

Constantly amazed on people giving their dissertation on why they don't like this or that over a quarter. Really? Are these the major problems in your lives? Not just this subject but anywhere else on this site.

My guess is that no one wants to talk online in a public forum about all the major problems in their life.

I'll bet most of the people who write did not have the time to write when they were younger because they were going to school, serving, working and raising kids and taking care of parents. And for some this may be the first time in their life they have the time.

I feel sorry for children who spend any time checking their facebook accounts and text messaging. We didn't.

"As smartphones and other mobile devices have become more widespread, 26% of American adults now report that they go online “almost constantly,” up from 21% in 2015, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in January 2018.

Overall, 77% of Americans go online on a daily basis. That figure includes the 26% who go online almost constantly, as well as 43% who say they go online several times a day and 8% who go online about once a day. Some 11% go online several times a week or less often, while 11% of adults say they do not use the internet at all."

Writing, doing research, troubleshooting, sharing recipes keeps you engaged and communicating with others. Even with an online connection that feels pretty good. Don't you think we earned it?

Is this your first post?