Aldi

"George" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Its hit or miss. Some items are good and others are the same quality as
Walmart. For example they just put refrigerated cases in the local stores
and now have the Walmart style embalmed "fresh meat".

Yes, I did see this today. And the prices were not even good on the
meat! Also--prices were not great on cheeses and other dairy products.
Coffee was more expensive but that is because they carry "gourmet"
types--a house brand the sign says "COMPARE WITH STARBUCKS!"
and both Kona and alleged Jamaica Blue Mountain, already ground, for
$3.99 a lb. I said to myself, "put it back. You really like Harris Teeter or
Kroger store brand Columbian that runs $2.29 to $2.49, so why pay more?"
But if I liked the other kinds of coffee I might have tried it.

Quoted message said:

Some of the canned items such as corn are good. The chocolate bars are
good quality. Frozen veggies such as peas are good.

The best deals seem to be on the canned goods and things like candy,
cookies, cereal and crackers--well lower than 50% off the lowest price we
see
around here. Frozen rolls (they carry Marshall's brand, which is our
favorite yeast rolls) were on par with local stores.

Baking goods were also low. I rarely use any of the above as I don't
bake and we don't keep sweets and a lot of starchy stuff around. But
I can really see how Aldi would save a large family lots of money.

I think I will benefit most from the name brands they have on special,
and the produce. And some of the non-food items such as electronics
and kitchen utensils.

"pamjd" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The canned green beans and corn are very good. I get the basics for
baking there and have had very good imported beer! Interesting and
always changing extras along with staples. My family likes some of
the breakfast cereals more than brand name and it is much much less
expensive. Have fun.

Thanks! It was fun. I noticed the good beer, some interesting wines (small
but they were from everywhere--France, Italy, Australia) and German coffee.
It was a breath of fresh air. Best of all, it will make the other groceries
compete. Raleigh was worst off when there were not many grocery chains to
choose from. When I moved here there was no Kroger, Lowes, Hannaford, or
Fresh Market. There were just private stores, Winn Dixie and Food Lion.

"pamjd" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The canned green beans and corn are very good. I get the basics for
baking there and have had very good imported beer! Interesting and
always changing extras along with staples. My family likes some of
the breakfast cereals more than brand name and it is much much less
expensive. Have fun.

Thanks! It was fun. I noticed the good beer, some interesting wines (small
but they were from everywhere--France, Italy, Australia) and German coffee.
It was a breath of fresh air. Best of all, it will make the other groceries
compete. Raleigh was worst off when there were not many grocery chains to
choose from. When I moved here there was no Kroger, Lowes, Hannaford, or
Fresh Market. There were just private stores, Winn Dixie and Food Lion.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Janet Baraclough said:

The message <[email hidden]>
from ravenlynne <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Cheaper than our carts at one euro a pop.

In the UK you have to insert a £1 sterling coin to unlock the cart,
but you get one back when you return the empty cart; so the value of the
coin used hardly matters.

Carts here are free. We'll see how long that lasts. I complained about
no carts at a local store. The manager says they just disappear. I see
a lot of abandoned carts in my neighborhood. People have no cars, so
they just take the cart home and leave it on the sidewalk. It doesn't
take much of that and there aren't any carts left at the store.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Janet Baraclough said:

The message <[email hidden]>
from ravenlynne <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Cheaper than our carts at one euro a pop.

In the UK you have to insert a £1 sterling coin to unlock the cart,
but you get one back when you return the empty cart; so the value of the
coin used hardly matters.

Carts here are free. We'll see how long that lasts. I complained about
no carts at a local store. The manager says they just disappear. I see
a lot of abandoned carts in my neighborhood. People have no cars, so
they just take the cart home and leave it on the sidewalk. It doesn't
take much of that and there aren't any carts left at the store.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Nancy Young said:

Ugh, I've only seen those once, it was at Costco quite a few years
ago. It didn't last. What a hassle getting the carts to separate.
People would chase you down in the parking lot, waving a quarter
begging to 'buy' your cart if you're done with it?

Reminds me of buying a newspaper a few years back. A woman approached
me, saying that it didn't make sense for both of us to pay. Once you
put the money in the machine, you can take as many as you want. I
refused. She was really peeved.

It's stealing. The guy who owns the machine pays for the papers that
are taken.

Eventually, when the cost of the stealing gets too high, they have to
take action. No more newspaper machines. Buy from a person who gets
paid money, and drive there to boot. No more free shopping carts. Even
if you get your money back, who is going to pay for the cost of securing
the carts? The store is going to jack up prices to pay for it.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Nancy Young said:

Ugh, I've only seen those once, it was at Costco quite a few years
ago. It didn't last. What a hassle getting the carts to separate.
People would chase you down in the parking lot, waving a quarter
begging to 'buy' your cart if you're done with it?

Reminds me of buying a newspaper a few years back. A woman approached
me, saying that it didn't make sense for both of us to pay. Once you
put the money in the machine, you can take as many as you want. I
refused. She was really peeved.

It's stealing. The guy who owns the machine pays for the papers that
are taken.

Eventually, when the cost of the stealing gets too high, they have to
take action. No more newspaper machines. Buy from a person who gets
paid money, and drive there to boot. No more free shopping carts. Even
if you get your money back, who is going to pay for the cost of securing
the carts? The store is going to jack up prices to pay for it.

"Dan Abel" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

"Nancy Young" <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Ugh, I've only seen those once, it was at Costco quite a few years
ago. It didn't last. What a hassle getting the carts to separate.
People would chase you down in the parking lot, waving a quarter
begging to 'buy' your cart if you're done with it?

Quoted message said:

Reminds me of buying a newspaper a few years back. A woman approached
me, saying that it didn't make sense for both of us to pay. Once you
put the money in the machine, you can take as many as you want. I
refused. She was really peeved.

It's stealing. The guy who owns the machine pays for the papers that
are taken.

Of course it's stealing.

Quoted message said:

Eventually, when the cost of the stealing gets too high, they have to
take action. No more newspaper machines. Buy from a person who gets
paid money, and drive there to boot. No more free shopping carts. Even
if you get your money back, who is going to pay for the cost of securing
the carts? The store is going to jack up prices to pay for it.

I'm not sure I follow you. No one was stealing anything, just rather
than me returning my cart and getting my quarter back, the next
person gave me a quarter and went and did their shopping. Then
presumably they returned the cart to get their quarter back or made
a similar deal with some other person.

nancy

"Dan Abel" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

"Nancy Young" <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Ugh, I've only seen those once, it was at Costco quite a few years
ago. It didn't last. What a hassle getting the carts to separate.
People would chase you down in the parking lot, waving a quarter
begging to 'buy' your cart if you're done with it?

Quoted message said:

Reminds me of buying a newspaper a few years back. A woman approached
me, saying that it didn't make sense for both of us to pay. Once you
put the money in the machine, you can take as many as you want. I
refused. She was really peeved.

It's stealing. The guy who owns the machine pays for the papers that
are taken.

Of course it's stealing.

Quoted message said:

Eventually, when the cost of the stealing gets too high, they have to
take action. No more newspaper machines. Buy from a person who gets
paid money, and drive there to boot. No more free shopping carts. Even
if you get your money back, who is going to pay for the cost of securing
the carts? The store is going to jack up prices to pay for it.

I'm not sure I follow you. No one was stealing anything, just rather
than me returning my cart and getting my quarter back, the next
person gave me a quarter and went and did their shopping. Then
presumably they returned the cart to get their quarter back or made
a similar deal with some other person.

nancy

In article <[email hidden]>,

Edwin Pawlowski said:

"cybercat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Smithfield hams, too. Shanks (1.19 a lb) and butts (1.29 a lb). No idea
what the difference is.

Opposite ends of a ham cut in half. The butt tends to be a bit meatier.

That's quite an understatement, in my opinion. If cyberthing is looking
for a big bone, the shank is the way to go. I will never buy a shank
half again. The bone tends to burn when roasting, and the meat on the
thin end gets overcooked. Give me a butt any day!

In article <[email hidden]>,

Edwin Pawlowski said:

"cybercat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Smithfield hams, too. Shanks (1.19 a lb) and butts (1.29 a lb). No idea
what the difference is.

Opposite ends of a ham cut in half. The butt tends to be a bit meatier.

That's quite an understatement, in my opinion. If cyberthing is looking
for a big bone, the shank is the way to go. I will never buy a shank
half again. The bone tends to burn when roasting, and the meat on the
thin end gets overcooked. Give me a butt any day!

"Dan Abel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Edwin Pawlowski said:

"cybercat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Smithfield hams, too. Shanks (1.19 a lb) and butts (1.29 a lb). No
idea
what the difference is.

Opposite ends of a ham cut in half. The butt tends to be a bit meatier.

That's quite an understatement, in my opinion. If cyberthing is looking
for a big bone, the shank is the way to go. I will never buy a shank
half again. The bone tends to burn when roasting, and the meat on the
thin end gets overcooked. Give me a butt any day!

Cannibal.

"Dan Abel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Edwin Pawlowski said:

"cybercat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Smithfield hams, too. Shanks (1.19 a lb) and butts (1.29 a lb). No
idea
what the difference is.

Opposite ends of a ham cut in half. The butt tends to be a bit meatier.

That's quite an understatement, in my opinion. If cyberthing is looking
for a big bone, the shank is the way to go. I will never buy a shank
half again. The bone tends to burn when roasting, and the meat on the
thin end gets overcooked. Give me a butt any day!

Cannibal.

Lou Decruss said:

On Thu, 08 Nov 2007 04:39:06 GMT, Sarah Gray <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Most/nearly all are full of trans-fats.

True, but again, typical of what you would find in any supermarket.

A real supermarket might have [censored], but also has a better choice as an
option. Not much choice at Aldi.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> oatmeal
> applesauce
> yogurt -- my husband and sons really like their yogurt
You are lucky. My 5 YO is spoiled on good yogurt.

pretentious much? not everyone can afford 4 bucks a quart for the good
stuff.

You can't afford NOT to feed your kids good food. I went to two
different Aldi's a few years ago when a similar thread came up here
just to check them out and see if they'd changed. Same thing. YUK!
A bunch of severely over weight swine buying garbage to train their
litters to be as big as they are. The "Good Stuff" is produce and
quality meats. Neither of which Aldi has.

Lou

The Aldi by me has produce. The meat is mostly not to my standards, but
plenty of people buy meat at wal-mart and enjoy it...

The scenario you are presenting can be seen anywhere food is sold.

--

Sarah Gray

Lou Decruss said:

On Thu, 08 Nov 2007 04:39:06 GMT, Sarah Gray <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Most/nearly all are full of trans-fats.

True, but again, typical of what you would find in any supermarket.

A real supermarket might have [censored], but also has a better choice as an
option. Not much choice at Aldi.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> oatmeal
> applesauce
> yogurt -- my husband and sons really like their yogurt
You are lucky. My 5 YO is spoiled on good yogurt.

pretentious much? not everyone can afford 4 bucks a quart for the good
stuff.

You can't afford NOT to feed your kids good food. I went to two
different Aldi's a few years ago when a similar thread came up here
just to check them out and see if they'd changed. Same thing. YUK!
A bunch of severely over weight swine buying garbage to train their
litters to be as big as they are. The "Good Stuff" is produce and
quality meats. Neither of which Aldi has.

Lou

The Aldi by me has produce. The meat is mostly not to my standards, but
plenty of people buy meat at wal-mart and enjoy it...

The scenario you are presenting can be seen anywhere food is sold.

--

Sarah Gray

Bobo Bonobo® said:

Lou Decruss said:

On Thu, 08 Nov 2007 04:39:06 GMT, Sarah Gray <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

> Most/nearly all are full of trans-fats.
True, but again, typical of what you would find in any supermarket.

A real supermarket might have [censored], but also has a better choice as an
option. Not much choice at Aldi.

Quoted message said:

>> oatmeal
>> applesauce
>> yogurt -- my husband and sons really like their yogurt
> You are lucky. My 5 YO is spoiled on good yogurt.
pretentious much? not everyone can afford 4 bucks a quart for the good
stuff.

We buy good brands when they are on sale. I'm not talking Brown Cow,
but Breyer's, Dannon, or a local brand called Prairie Farms.
Not pretentious at all here. I drive a beat up '97 Wrangler, and my
spouse drives a beat up '01 Kia Rio. We just like good tasting food.

As do I. My position is, either I want the really good stuff I love (in
my case, that would be seven stars farm organic yogurt, no additives,
just milk and cultures and natural flavor) or whatever is
reasonablydecent and cheap. The yogurt at Aldi is no better or worse to
my tastebuds than any of the mainstream national brands, or other store
brands in the area.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

You can't afford NOT to feed your kids good food. I went to two
different Aldi's a few years ago when a similar thread came up here
just to check them out and see if they'd changed. Same thing. YUK!
A bunch of severely over weight swine buying garbage to train their
litters to be as big as they are. The "Good Stuff" is produce and
quality meats. Neither of which Aldi has.

The ALDI here has produce. A lot of times the produce is quite good,
though very limited in variety. It does not have, as you said,
"quality meats." It does have dairy at very reasonable prices.

Quoted message said:

Lou

The cheese is remarkably good for cheap stuff. The sharp cheddar is
actually sharp!

--

Sarah Gray

Bobo Bonobo® said:

Lou Decruss said:

On Thu, 08 Nov 2007 04:39:06 GMT, Sarah Gray <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

> Most/nearly all are full of trans-fats.
True, but again, typical of what you would find in any supermarket.

A real supermarket might have [censored], but also has a better choice as an
option. Not much choice at Aldi.

Quoted message said:

>> oatmeal
>> applesauce
>> yogurt -- my husband and sons really like their yogurt
> You are lucky. My 5 YO is spoiled on good yogurt.
pretentious much? not everyone can afford 4 bucks a quart for the good
stuff.

We buy good brands when they are on sale. I'm not talking Brown Cow,
but Breyer's, Dannon, or a local brand called Prairie Farms.
Not pretentious at all here. I drive a beat up '97 Wrangler, and my
spouse drives a beat up '01 Kia Rio. We just like good tasting food.

As do I. My position is, either I want the really good stuff I love (in
my case, that would be seven stars farm organic yogurt, no additives,
just milk and cultures and natural flavor) or whatever is
reasonablydecent and cheap. The yogurt at Aldi is no better or worse to
my tastebuds than any of the mainstream national brands, or other store
brands in the area.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

You can't afford NOT to feed your kids good food. I went to two
different Aldi's a few years ago when a similar thread came up here
just to check them out and see if they'd changed. Same thing. YUK!
A bunch of severely over weight swine buying garbage to train their
litters to be as big as they are. The "Good Stuff" is produce and
quality meats. Neither of which Aldi has.

The ALDI here has produce. A lot of times the produce is quite good,
though very limited in variety. It does not have, as you said,
"quality meats." It does have dairy at very reasonable prices.

Quoted message said:

Lou

The cheese is remarkably good for cheap stuff. The sharp cheddar is
actually sharp!

--

Sarah Gray

Tara said:

On Thu, 8 Nov 2007 18:54:42 -0500, "cybercat" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I was not very adventurous with regard to the unknown brand things. I
picked up ketchup and mustard, some chunky salsa and a can of peas.

Just try the various pantry items and see what you like. It's worth a
try. Most are good. I don't think I've tried the salsa. I don't
like the mayonnaise. Duke's for me!

Tara

The olive oil is not very good, either. It would be ok for cooking,
maybe, but not dressings(though I don't hate their mayo, I prefer
Hellman's) I still think that for many, many basic pantry items, Aldi is
the way to go.

--

Sarah Gray

Tara said:

On Thu, 8 Nov 2007 18:54:42 -0500, "cybercat" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I was not very adventurous with regard to the unknown brand things. I
picked up ketchup and mustard, some chunky salsa and a can of peas.

Just try the various pantry items and see what you like. It's worth a
try. Most are good. I don't think I've tried the salsa. I don't
like the mayonnaise. Duke's for me!

Tara

The olive oil is not very good, either. It would be ok for cooking,
maybe, but not dressings(though I don't hate their mayo, I prefer
Hellman's) I still think that for many, many basic pantry items, Aldi is
the way to go.

--

Sarah Gray

Nancy2 said:

cybercat said:

Going tomorrow for the first time to take a look at the hams and turkeys. (I
am doing Thanksgiving dinner this year.) They have butterballs for $1.29 a
pound, and Smithfield hams, too. Shanks (1.19 a lb) and butts (1.29 a lb).
No idea what the difference is.

I see they carry what they call "private" brands. Any items particularly
good in these Aldi brands?

I know I have to take my own bags and a quarter for the cart rental.
Anything else?

I went into our Aldi's once, and that was enough. I didn't recognize
a single brand and the whole place smelled like sour milk. No thanks.

N.

um, duh. they don't sell the brands you see in other stores, for the
most part. that's why they are so inexpensive. Every Aldi I've been in
has been really really clean, so I am surprised that you had such a bad
experience.

--

Sarah Gray