I'm am partial and this post will for sure be bias. Now you've been warned.
I recently took a chance and changed up my grocery shopping routine. I don't know what I was thinking, I like, I mean I LOVE Wegmans. There is no better grocery store. They have Amazing customer service, friendly employees, clean beautiful stores, great amenities, and I love their brand. Good quality, a great selection, and good prices. However - in this day and in this economy I think I could look and just see if anyone else if giving better deals. So, I gave Aldi a shot.
My first experience with Aldi was a few years ago, when we lived here before, but having moved back I just stuck with Wegmans - NYC doesn't have normal grocery stores, I was happy to have a big enough isle to walk down and pass someone with a cart and still have plenty of room. I wasn't going back to a small, limited selection any time soon - if I could help it! Back to the good deal part. I heard this place had good prices, limited selection, but it was worth it. I gave in and gave it a try. I had to run and grab just a few things, so I thought that would be a good time to check out Aldi again. I was sourly dissipated, embarrassed and confused.
There are a few 'rules' for an Aldi shopper -
1 - bring your own bags
2 - if you don't get a cart, you can't use the cart they put your things in after they ring them up at the counter.
I knew about the bag thing, but had forgotten about the cart thing, and the lady at the check out was kind in reminding me that I couldn't take the cart that she had put my things in - very confusing! Meanwhile my 2yr is trying to run around. Great, I'm 'that' mom! It was more attention than I wanted, clearly I'm the 'new' one today. After that uncomfortable experience, I thought really hard about what I should do. I looked around on line to read about All the other rules of Aldi that I might have missed and took a deep breath. Now I have committed to giving it a try for a month to see if its really worth it. I did return, this time with both girls, I got a cart, and off I went up and down the 3 isles. I did most of my shopping there. I decided I won't buy our meat or our fresh fruits and veggies there however. I was pleased when we got home with our purchases knowing the price savings I had. It'll be our little experiment to see how much we really save buy going there.
Over all, I think its best to know what your getting into - ie. the 'rules' of Aldi. I'm not too thrilled about now having to make two trips to two different stores, but if it's going to save us money, I guess its worth it.What about you - what are some ways your save, or whats your favorite store to shop at, or maybe your favorite product you'll go somewhere else for. I'd love to hear!
Rebecca -
I recently took a chance and changed up my grocery shopping routine. I don't know what I was thinking, I like, I mean I LOVE Wegmans. There is no better grocery store. They have Amazing customer service, friendly employees, clean beautiful stores, great amenities, and I love their brand. Good quality, a great selection, and good prices. However - in this day and in this economy I think I could look and just see if anyone else if giving better deals. So, I gave Aldi a shot.
| {photo credit} |
There are a few 'rules' for an Aldi shopper -
1 - bring your own bags
2 - if you don't get a cart, you can't use the cart they put your things in after they ring them up at the counter.
| {photo credit} |
I knew about the bag thing, but had forgotten about the cart thing, and the lady at the check out was kind in reminding me that I couldn't take the cart that she had put my things in - very confusing! Meanwhile my 2yr is trying to run around. Great, I'm 'that' mom! It was more attention than I wanted, clearly I'm the 'new' one today. After that uncomfortable experience, I thought really hard about what I should do. I looked around on line to read about All the other rules of Aldi that I might have missed and took a deep breath. Now I have committed to giving it a try for a month to see if its really worth it. I did return, this time with both girls, I got a cart, and off I went up and down the 3 isles. I did most of my shopping there. I decided I won't buy our meat or our fresh fruits and veggies there however. I was pleased when we got home with our purchases knowing the price savings I had. It'll be our little experiment to see how much we really save buy going there.
| {photo credit} |
Over all, I think its best to know what your getting into - ie. the 'rules' of Aldi. I'm not too thrilled about now having to make two trips to two different stores, but if it's going to save us money, I guess its worth it.What about you - what are some ways your save, or whats your favorite store to shop at, or maybe your favorite product you'll go somewhere else for. I'd love to hear!
Rebecca -
I was inspired by your Aldi question to check it out myself. I've been there before, but this time I price shopped a bit. Same as you, I like my local store - my favorite Piggly Wiggly is locally owned and its seen amazing changes and improvements since he bought it a year ago.
ReplyDeleteThe results?
1-Meat is actually CHEAPER or the same price at The Pig - especially on sales - and it's FRESHLY prepared in Piggly's meat dept. (after seeing food inc and how they prepare food, I'm a little pickier)
2-Realizing how important customer service is - at our local store, there is rarely a wait in line, baggers ALWAYS pack and load the cart - AND help load heavy items in my car (especially helpful when pregnant)
3-Buying Local - sometimes it's worth the little extra. This owner in particular invests heavily in our community and brings jobs. He even wound up hiring me freelance to do his social media work - Aldi's doesn't do that. The little I save elsewhere would have had me lose out on a good business (and neighborly) relationship.
So, when I can, we go to our Piggly... I consider it voting with my dollar.
Great points Jen! There is something to be said and not taken lightly about good service - places have it or the don't. Like these points, and I'll post something about this at the end of my little trial period w/ shopping here over the next month : ) thanks for the comment!!
DeleteGrowing up on Ohio I remember when we got an Aldi. With 4 children my parents LOVED it! I thought it was a bizarre store that had off-branded items (and yes the cart issue was weird!), but after visiting my then-boyfriend, now-husband in Germany I saw Aldi and was so confused. He told me it was a German store and very popular. Who knew it had it's roots in Germany! I think the bring your own bag rule is definitely carried over from Europe because they tend to be more green than the US.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Aldi is good for some things but not everything. Now with my own family I understand how expensive grocery shopping can be and am excited to learn that there is now an Aldi in Manhattan. I'll have to plan a visit soon! My sister's gone a few times already and says the prices have been kept pretty low - I feared they'd jack them up since it's NYC.
I could see myself at the checkout at Aldi with my 2-yr. old doing the same thing! My friend really likes Aldi too, and warned me about their rules. Thank goodness, 'cause I would be totally unprepared. I'll have to try it out soon. We have Kroger here and I usually go there with my Kroger card. For every $100 that I spend I save $.10 on gas. Not too bad. I do a little couponing, but not real well... Gotta save where we can, though, right?! Thanks for your post.
ReplyDelete