Aldi

I’ve been to Aldi’s twice now. I wasn’t aware of the procedures and how it works the first time but going in prepared was great. Excellent deals. Everything has been fantastic so far.

I had a very bad first experience at the Aldi store in Plaistow, NH today. I had been all excited to check it out because someone recommended it to me. When I arrived a thunderstorm had just hit and there was torrential rain. I made a run for it and made it into the store with my 1 year old daughter. When I got inside the store I saw that there were no carts so I went back outside to get one from under the overhang. They seemed to be all locked up (I’ve never seen this before). So I went back inside and found a cart that wasn’t in use. Keep in mind that shopping carts are absolutely necessary for mothers of 1 year olds because it’s very difficult to manage a young child who runs around pulling everything off the shelves. When I put my daughter in the seat of a cart that was not being used I was immediately yelled at by one of the cashiers in front of several customers. She said «you can’t use that because it is being used to block an empty register!» I explained to her that I couldn’t figure out how to get a cart from outside. She said you have to put a quarter into it to unlock it. I said I don’t have a quarter (and there was no way I could go back to my car to get a quarter in a thunderstorm with my baby daughter). So, I ended up trying to shop while my daughter ran around and started making messes everywhere. Needless to say I had to leave the store very soon after that and felt very frustrated that I could not pay attention to finding things on my shopping list because I was chasing my daughter around the whole time. The overall experience was awful and I found the cashier to be utterly insensitive to my needs as a mother who is simply trying to buy food for myself and my daughter. I have never heard of a supermarket that doesn’t care about helping mothers with children to buy food for their families. I think this store needs to review it’s customer service policies if it wants to retain mothers with children as customers.

Aldi Grocery Store in Plaistow, NH
The cashier clerk named Kristie needs to learn interpersonal skills when interacting with her customers. This is the third time I have had her checking out my grocery order, and I must say I will do everything in my power to avoid her. She becomes angry and then bangs the cash register as she is punching in the prices. Doesn’t she realize the Customer is Always Right? Aldi’s Store Managers have to conduct a class for their cashiers, Interpersonal Skills, 101. I will shop at another Aldi’s from now on. She is not a good asset for that company.

I’ve been here a few times.
For those who do not know, Aldi’s is a German based company that started their US stores in the Midwest, grew to the South, and is expanding in New England. They cut costs in all the places needed to give some of the best prices you’ll find.
Yes, they are set up all the same store to store.
I drop in to often grab what I need for a meal. Or sometimes everything I need for one. They have a good selection of various products, but not a ton like most stores. Sometimes less is more and in this case, it’s true.

We first went to the Aldi store in Salem, NH a couple years back and were not impressed. We knew it was a discount grocer with a lot of private label products and few smatterings of more well known brands. There used to be a similar type of chain store in Ontario in the 80s and 90s called Valdi. It was not affiliated with Aldi, but the concept and layout was the same, products in cut-​out boxes, you paid a quarter for use of the grocery cart, bought bags, or brought your own, or used leftover boxes and bagged your groceries on the big shelf. So, none of this was new to us.
The fact that the Plaistow location is a new store already was an improvement over Salem. Not Salem’s fault of course. But the product selection seemed better, and the staff were very friendly. Even chatted with the manager. I did not expect to find so much in the way of organic, gluten-​free, healthier and natural products. The fresh produce was definitely fresh, and good prices for organics. Even hamburger buns and hot dog rolls without high fructose corn syrup. Have trouble finding those in a regular grocery store without paying through the nose. These were 49 cents for an 8-​pack. Half gallons of organic milk for $ 2.39, when both Hannaford and Market Basket have raised their store brands to $ 2.59 and $ 2.69 recently. Also canned wild pink Alaska salmon for $ 2.29/14.75oz can. Lucky to get that elsewhere for $ 2.99. Also found canned sardines for $.99. Same price as Market Basket but these are from Canada, not Poland. Little closer to home.
Aldi is a German company (two separate divisions, one of which actually owns Trader Joe’s, according to Wikipedia!). My husband travels to Germany for work periodically and has browsed around Aldi stores there too. He’s brought back some German products we have a difficult time finding here. Saw a few of them at Aldi this time, particularly the seasonal goodies such as stollen (sort of a fruit bread, not to be confused with traditional fruit cake, with a marzipan filling, but they also had other varieties we’ve not seen) and pfeffernüsse (iced gingerbread cookies), among other yummy things. Manager said they are getting more German products in soon. Hopefully they will have some of my favorite dominosteine (domino squares/​stones — layers of gingerbread, apricot jelly, marzipan paste and covered in dark or milk chocolate. Love them!). Awesome sauerkraut too, and red cabbage with apples (aka Rotkohl, dare I say nearly as good as my mother-in-law’s).
I’ve been asked if they have wine at this store. I didn’t see any, but then I wasn’t looking for it. The website says they don’t. Closest store with beer or wine right now is in VT. Apparently it’s a licensing issue that they are working on and trying to get into each store. I’ll keep on the lookout for it.

I didn’t know what an Aldi’s was all about until I walked in. I have been back a few times since. Got chicken for a great price, the frozen salmon filets are $ 2 cheaper than Market Basket for the same 1 lb amount, and it was delicious. Bought some store brand pasta sauce, and it was really good, as well as kettle chips for $ 1.79. My favorite item is the trail mix; 1 lb bag for $ 1.99. Great stuff. This is a great place to save some money if they have what you’re looking for.

This location opened a few weeks ago. I’ve been to the Aldi’s in Milford, MA, before, but this was the first time I visited this location.
I liked that the store has various grocery items for significantly cheaper prices than you tend to find other places. They have off-​brands for the most part, but they do have some known brands. For instance, they carry Boca veggie burgers. An associate (maybe the manager?) was walking around the store, asking people if they needed help with anything. I saw some great deals. The best find was a Ninja Turtles table lamp for $ 12.99. I haven’t seen it anywhere else, but somebody on eBay has it listed for $ 49.99. I know it’s not worth that much, but I also know I got a great deal!
The store has a lot of space, but they don’t utilize it well. They could definitely carry a larger inventory. Also, the last aisle is set up so that it comes to a dead end when you get to the front of the store. You have to pay for a shopping bag, and the cashier didn’t bag my items; she put the bag and my items in a cart. She didn’t stay at her register. She wasn’t there when I arrived, and as soon as she was finished ringing up my items and the items of the person behind me, she walked away again.
I plan to go to Aldi’s again every now and then, but they don’t carry any of the items I typically buy; therefore, it could never be my go-​to store.