Aldi - Best Supermarket?

[Eve]

Having seen the adverts I was a little surprised to see Aldi marked as Best Supermarket at the appropriate awards.

What are your views on it and what is your "Best Supermarket"?

[Dizmo]

I wouldn't say it's the best supermarket. I don't agree with their level of customer care but the products and pricing is fairly good. I prefer Tesco, not the cheapest but they seem to have a decent level of customer service.

[gness]

Countdown starts until Sunny-Dave arrives to tell you it is the best and which wines to buy.....

'Tis my favourite too.....no muzak!

[237SJ]

I love Aldi - I`ve been going there for the last couple of years. I don`t buy everything there - I get most stuff from Sainsburys but Aldi are certainly the best value for money. I just hope they keep to that principle and don`t start racking their prices up now that they have had so much positive publicity. I loved the comparision with Waitrose that was in last weekend`s paper. Just goes to show what I always thought - Waitrose aren`t that special but they are certainly very good at playing on the snob-value and convincing people that they are.

[ClaryS]

Depends which one you go to. Our local one is my main shopping supermarket and the produce is fantastic and wines superb value, shelves always stocked. I had to go to a Town about 20 miles away for an appointment so did my shop in their local Aldi it was awful - miserable staff, shelves with big gaps in where they'd run out of stuff or not had chance to fill them back up. But, overall I save around £30 a week on my big shop since changing to Aldi, including the wine, and they have some very nice 'own brand' products.

[jd_1984]

Depends how you rate "The Best"
What were the criteria I wonder?

Best for a budget and you do not compramise too much on quality, although with some products I will still buy branded stuff.

[redman41]

Obviously they don't have as large a choice of products as the big Supermarkets, but what they stock is pretty good.
Their biggest problem is Staffing levels at the Tills and enough room to pack one's Groceries. A lot of improvement needed here !
Morrisons is probably my favourite Supermarket.

[maggiebee]

I love Aldi, but can't get everything there. Usually go to Aldi first then Morrisons. Asda OK for odds and ends. Wouldn't touch Tesco with a bargepole.

[Dizmo]

If you're anything like me you probably pick a supermarket and go there because you like the atmosphere as well as the prices, availability and quality of stock, and customer service. I know nearly all the staff at my Tesco and see them out of work walking down the street. There is nothing more satisfying than greeting someone outside of work who when at work scans your groceries or in my case authorises my bag on the self service till.

[Zeuhl]

Depends on which survey or awards you use:

http://www.which.co.uk/news/2013/02/best-and-worst-supermarkets-revealed-by-which-311258/

[gness]

Morning Redman....if I ask them to open another till they are really good and will do so.
I like the no room to pack at the tils....no waiting for the ditherers...sling it in the trolley...pay and clear off to the window ledge to pack....☺

[hc4361]

Apparently lobster from Aldi is better than Waitrose's lobster.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2444912/Aldi-beats-Waitrose-discount-supermarket-plans-sell-fresh-lobster.html

Aldi tin foil, detergents, bleach, washing up liquid are all excellent quality. The tinned tomatoes (not the very cheapest) are also superb for bolognese etc. Better than the branded ones.

The fresh veg is usually much cheaper than anywhere else but I find it doesn't keep as long.

The frozen stuffed duck is delicious but often not in stock.

[redman41]

Hi gness, hope you're well ?? xx
Hope you haven't got 'noisy' neighbours like jd !!! lol

[maggiebee]

Redman! They have sex in Aldi?? Not when I'm there!

[Eve]

Mine would be Morrisons but more of a faff to get to.

I like the value of some things in Aldi as you can make a big saving but there are some things I'd rather pay a bit more for.

The one I go to always seems a bit disorganised and it can be difficult to find or get to some things.

They also aren't very disability friendly as there always seems to be stuff in the aisles (boxes, machinery, staff oblivious to customers) and the staff aren't very helpful. I don't tend to buy very much at a time as it just tends to be chucked over the scanner and into a basket then they are after you to pay to get rid of you and encourage you to take your stuff somewhere else to pack.

I wish they had those wheelie baskets like they have in places like Tesco and Morrisons, they are a godsend!

[gness]

I'm well, Redman...thank you and how do you know I'm not living next door to Jd....... ;-) x

[sunny-dave]

As promised earlier ...

... I love Aldi - the food is cheap and good, the wine is ditto.

There is a sensible amount of choice (who actually needs a choice of thirty types of bog cleaner?) - but you can get in/round/out in about a quarter of the time you would take at MorriTesBury's.

The stuff about the checkouts is just a lack of understanding of the Aldi methodology. Ideally everyone has a trolley - which their shopping is whizzed back into - they then pack at leisure away from the till - without holding up the whole queue whilst they finick about which bag to put the avocado in. The worst thing they ever did was introduce baskets (which the staff all hate with a vengeance) - it just slows everything down for everyone.

[rockyracoon]

I've never been to an Aldi, the cost of fuel to get there would balance out any savings I might make. Just decided I like Lidl a little bit though ;)

[gollob]

Waitrose in a class of it's own. Next Morrison's. Others nowhere

[diddlydo]

Aldi is very good for certain things but I defy anyone to do a whole shop there - you never know what they'll have in stock. Waitrose is the best by far, even though it can be pricey and the staff can be very snooty. Tesco is the worst by far with Morrisons a close second.

[Old_Geezer]

Depends on what you are looking for. Not a bad place for prices, but doesn't enthuse the spirit on entry.