Aldi

With Aldi either you get it or you don’t. If you are reluctant to buy store brands and prefer nationally advertised ones, then Aldi is not your cup of tea. And I understand. Only Coke Zero for me. None of that stinkin’ Shasta or whatever that is they sell at Albertsons. I really do understand. But if you can get past that there’s a whole new world out there outside the big box. For instance, the chocolate at Aldi’s is really good and reasonably priced to boot. The produce department, though limited, offers all the essentials. Sure, you can get random items on sale elsewhere but, day in and day out you can’t do better than Aldi. And this store represents that fact very well.

I am a fan of Aldi! So what if you have to bag your own groceries and they dont’ really stock their shelves pretty like other grocery stores. If I am getting a saving due to that, that is perfect for me.
Not all their brands are something that we are acustomed to around the area but in reading labels I have found that they carry great products that in many cases have no High Fructose Corn Syrups, MSG, Preservatives and at times even Organic. I tend to save about $ 2-​$ 3 per item in most cases.
Unfortunately, I must admit that if you buy produce here you must be prepared to eat or cook it within a couple of days becuase it doesn’t last.

Aldi was just a godawful place! I was only visiting to compare against Trader Joes. It was not similar, not by a long shot.
Before I even made it inside the store I had to double back for a quarter, as I went in unawares of the quarter for cart exchange policy. Question: what is the point of this policy? Theft deterrence? Are we operating under the assumption that the average homeless gentleman is unable to procure these newfangled «quarter dollar pieces»? You know who else makes me pay a quarter for a cart: the effing airport!
In any case I double back for a quarter, so that I can pay you a deposit in order to buy stuff from you. You know who else makes me pay a deposit to buy stuff from them: the friggin’ gas company!
I eventually made it through the store and to checkout, despite the people everywhere and long lines. But my amex, or any other credit card is no good here, its debit only. I would make an obligatory DMV comparison but I’m sure you saw that coming.
I don’t think I will be back to Aldi, I would rather procure my elitist goods elsewhere and regular goods such as milk were not inexpensive enough to justify the inconvenience.

I have been here twice now, thinking I just had not given it a fair shot the first time.
Apparently, my first experience was actually a good one, and would have led to a 2 star rating, but it is quickly down rated to 1 star when the off brand products cost more than what was in the local ads for leading grocers and the cashier’s rudeness topped off a poor experience to make it plain bad.
You do have to be sure to have a quarter to get a cart (you get it back when you return the cart). I had to borrow one from my mother because I NEVER have change– I have kids, so having no cash or change is usually a given. You also need about 2 hours to get through the crowds and line. I had my own reusable shopping bags, so I did not have to pay for bags, but having to go to a separate area to bag your groceries to me is time consuming and ridiculous. They also only accept cash or debit cards, so I couldn’t use my cash back credit card, which in the long run, pays the difference in prices and reduces the pain and headache immensely!
Their canned vegetables were twice as much as Minyard’s (just a block away), and the pictures did not even look appetizing. Some of their fresh vegetables were reasonably priced, but not worth the fight if that’s all you’re getting.
The milk was only $ 1.29, but almost as cheap at Wal-​Mart. It is hormone and preservative-​free. Most of their brand products are healthier, with no preservatives, but the way they are presented cuts the enthusiasm of grocery shopping from «Do I REALLY have to?» to a «NOT A CHANCE IN HELL!»

Ugh.
I went into this store with an open mind. I didn’t care that the carts were 25 cents (you get it back, idiots) or that you pay for bags, and that’s about all I knew going in.
Blah. It’s like a tiny version of a «save» store where everything is stuck out on the aisle in boxes. For some reason I decided it’d be smart to go at 4:30 on a weekday. Well, this place only has 4 aisles to begin with and was PACKED. If I had «paid» for a cart I would have never gotten out. I needed milk and corn and other random crap, and I could see where it all was, but I was just shuffled along in the crowd like a herd of cattle. If I passed something I wanted– goodbye, no getting back to it now.
Nothing here is namebrand, though I’ve heard from others that their brands are tasty. I couldnt care less if I pay a dollar more for milk if it means I’m in an organized store where my items have been put out with care and I’m not herded through junk like I’m at a flea market on a Saturday.
Good luck getting your full shopping list completed. I found two things on my list and while they were cheaper than my Tom Thumb down the street, I was so frustrated with the lines and people and the children and the selection that I put my milk and corn back and left.

Come to San Antonio!!! If you bring a quarter, do not want name brands and are okay with paying for you bags to carry out, this is the place for YOU.
Aldi is amazing!!! Give it a try.