Supermarkets - all changing
Discussion
The ongoing supermarket war for customers is alive and well, the big five have been battered by those pesky German newcomers.
This week we went grocery shopping as usual except decided to give Aldi a look in. Completely different approach to the big five in presentation terms, price and service. The shopping felt like a 'needs must' with nothing particularly attractive in terms of the product presentation. For us it really was a. are of we need this, this and this with zero special offers to side track us.
Prices are fairly low, certainly lower than our usual fare, that's a good thing for us.
Choice is more limited regarding products, but the products are all good quality and certainly all of the basics are fine.
The checkout was good, very busy but handled extremely well. Seems like the staffing at the checkout is computerised and very efficient. Dispute the shop being busy we were out in next to no time, impressed.
Onto to our usual supermarket, by contrast they have a long way to go with every aspect. The checkout was terrible with long queuing and half the tills closed. Plenty of self checkouts which were also busy, and I object to using them anyway.
Just our observations, nothing scientific of course, just a customer perspective.
This week we went grocery shopping as usual except decided to give Aldi a look in. Completely different approach to the big five in presentation terms, price and service. The shopping felt like a 'needs must' with nothing particularly attractive in terms of the product presentation. For us it really was a. are of we need this, this and this with zero special offers to side track us.
Prices are fairly low, certainly lower than our usual fare, that's a good thing for us.
Choice is more limited regarding products, but the products are all good quality and certainly all of the basics are fine.
The checkout was good, very busy but handled extremely well. Seems like the staffing at the checkout is computerised and very efficient. Dispute the shop being busy we were out in next to no time, impressed.
Onto to our usual supermarket, by contrast they have a long way to go with every aspect. The checkout was terrible with long queuing and half the tills closed. Plenty of self checkouts which were also busy, and I object to using them anyway.
Just our observations, nothing scientific of course, just a customer perspective.
Why do you object to self checkouts? Do you realise there German chains are also rolling them out.
And I think you are in a honeymoon phase/have a particularly bad normal supermarket, as Aldi's near me often have most of the checkouts closed and long queues. Their checkout workers have aggressive targets of how many they have to scan per mili second too along with other sharp practices such as making a Lorry driver who has just driven for x hours also do the unloading.
I use all the supermarkets as being in London they are all nearby, pro's and cons. Tesco is my most hated though, as their ethics seem the lowest of all.
And I think you are in a honeymoon phase/have a particularly bad normal supermarket, as Aldi's near me often have most of the checkouts closed and long queues. Their checkout workers have aggressive targets of how many they have to scan per mili second too along with other sharp practices such as making a Lorry driver who has just driven for x hours also do the unloading.
I use all the supermarkets as being in London they are all nearby, pro's and cons. Tesco is my most hated though, as their ethics seem the lowest of all.
Edited by hyphen on Tuesday 27th June 12:03
We converted to Aldi about 18months ago, and we are now saving £90 a week even with a 'top-up' shop for a few branded items at Sainsbury's.
There is nothing wrong with the quality of zee German discounter, and I think in some cases the products are better then Tesco's et al.
You're right about the 'only sells what you need' stock, but that is what saves you money.
I've also noticed that we throw less stuff away now as well, as I suppose its because we are buying less impulse purchases
Just my experience.
There is nothing wrong with the quality of zee German discounter, and I think in some cases the products are better then Tesco's et al.
You're right about the 'only sells what you need' stock, but that is what saves you money.
I've also noticed that we throw less stuff away now as well, as I suppose its because we are buying less impulse purchases
Just my experience.
Unfortunately my wife does all the food shopping and currently won't embrace the German chains despite a new mega Lidl opening quite near to us which is actually quite nice to be in.
I drop into to Aldi or Lidl myself on occasion specifically when one of their special offers has caught my eye and invariably pick up a few other bits + booze for which both chains offer excellent value for money.
I'd happily embrace it as it would really simplify the weekly shop as the choices you have to make are narrowed and the pricing transparent. It really pisses me off in the traditional chains when the slap those red £5 or similar stickers on a pack of chicken making it look great value when really the pack below it on the shelf is a better deal in terms of £ per kg but has no red sticker. In the German chains you just get one sized pack of chicken breasts and that's it. I think it could save us a fortune in the long term.
I drop into to Aldi or Lidl myself on occasion specifically when one of their special offers has caught my eye and invariably pick up a few other bits + booze for which both chains offer excellent value for money.
I'd happily embrace it as it would really simplify the weekly shop as the choices you have to make are narrowed and the pricing transparent. It really pisses me off in the traditional chains when the slap those red £5 or similar stickers on a pack of chicken making it look great value when really the pack below it on the shelf is a better deal in terms of £ per kg but has no red sticker. In the German chains you just get one sized pack of chicken breasts and that's it. I think it could save us a fortune in the long term.
hyphen said:
Why do you object to self checkouts? Do you realise there German chains are also rolling them out.
And I think you are in a honeymoon phase/have a particularly bad normal supermarket, as Aldi's near me often have most of the checkouts closed and long queues. Their checkout workers have aggressive targets of how many they have to scan per mili second too along with other sharp practices such as making a Lorry driver who has just driven for x hours also do the unloading.
I use all the supermarkets as being in London they are all nearby, pro's and cons. Tesco is my most hated though, as their ethics seem the lowest of all.
Interesting stuff, the Aldi we used in new, about 18 months, but it's fairly small with only about 7. checkouts. Sort of toe in the water feeling perhaps.And I think you are in a honeymoon phase/have a particularly bad normal supermarket, as Aldi's near me often have most of the checkouts closed and long queues. Their checkout workers have aggressive targets of how many they have to scan per mili second too along with other sharp practices such as making a Lorry driver who has just driven for x hours also do the unloading.
I use all the supermarkets as being in London they are all nearby, pro's and cons. Tesco is my most hated though, as their ethics seem the lowest of all.
Edited by hyphen on Tuesday 27th June 12:03
I dislike self service checkouts owing to my feeling that the more customers that use them the less staff they employ. My trust that the savings are passed onto the customer by self service checkout use is zero. Having said that I will use self service if I have just a few items and the staff tills are queuing.
I was not aware that the German supermarkets were/are rolling out self serve checkouts, but I suppose it's inevitable to help them maintain thier growing customer base, Some of us are just stuck in our ways I suppose.
Really dislike the poor ethics illustrated by the big 'T' supermarket, I know people that have worked for the Company, dreadful experience for them. Say no more.
I go to Lidl and Aldi as my main shop now, mainly on quality but also the price.
Used to go to Sainsburys but the quality was getting worse and staff just didnt care. For example I used to buy their baked in store loaves of bread but when I cut into them there was huge pockets of air, at least 25% of the bread was missing. Prices were going up and up too so it was time to look elsewhere, ASDA was cheaper but the quality of the fruit and vegetables was worse. Lidl is ideal, great bread, fresh and ripe fruit and vegetables, low prices, milk for example is £1.75 at sainsburys and £1.05 at Lidl for the same size.
They may not have the huge range, but what they do sell is quality stuff.
Used to go to Sainsburys but the quality was getting worse and staff just didnt care. For example I used to buy their baked in store loaves of bread but when I cut into them there was huge pockets of air, at least 25% of the bread was missing. Prices were going up and up too so it was time to look elsewhere, ASDA was cheaper but the quality of the fruit and vegetables was worse. Lidl is ideal, great bread, fresh and ripe fruit and vegetables, low prices, milk for example is £1.75 at sainsburys and £1.05 at Lidl for the same size.
They may not have the huge range, but what they do sell is quality stuff.
Europa1 said:
crankedup said:
Not sure how to reply to that! Can't visit? Don't need to visit? Partner loves shopping? Have scurfs to shop for you? Grow your own? Click delivery.
Not sure you meant "scurfs". 
We used to have food delivered as I absolutely hated doing the weekly/fortnightly shop in Sainsbury's as it would literally kill an evening, it would take 2 hours and then once home it would be another hour or so to pack away (but then I think that was more to do with the wife making an easy job quite hard) and then about 2 years ago an Aldi opened locally.
Since then we have been Aldi converts, we have saved a fortune, probably 30%-40% on our shopping bill and I don't actally mind going there as you can always find some obscure thing to try and as it is small and the checkout staff are so efficient I can be in and out with my weekly shop in 45 minutes.
Sure there are some things that I have to go to Sainsbury's for but 90% of my shop comes from Aldi.
The problem with the big supermarkets is choice; there is far too much, with us the vast majority of our meals are made from scratch so we don't need the miriade of jars or packet sauces that are on offer, I was in JS today and I reckon their "World Foods" aisle alone would take up a third of the whole of the Aldi, situated a few hundred yards away, great if you like the convenience of packet sauces but I just don't need that, I can make pretty much all they have on offer with bits in my cupboard and the added bonus is there are no additives or crap in my sauces.
Tinned tomatoes; Aldi has value chopped and whole and normal chopped and whole, that is it, JS has value, normal, fancy, organic, all available in chopped or whole and then with herbs, with olive oil, with basil etc and then there are also the brands with similar offerings. If I want tinned tomatoes with garlic and olive I buy normal tinned tomatoes and add garlic and olive oil myself.
Yes the environment isn't as nice but TBH I don't care as I don't live there I only shop there.
I have heard that Aldi are looking to build another 2 in our town as the one that I use has been a huge success and is one of the busiest in the UK, not bad for a middle class home counties town, however I do have friends who refuse to shop there but they are snobs.
Since then we have been Aldi converts, we have saved a fortune, probably 30%-40% on our shopping bill and I don't actally mind going there as you can always find some obscure thing to try and as it is small and the checkout staff are so efficient I can be in and out with my weekly shop in 45 minutes.
Sure there are some things that I have to go to Sainsbury's for but 90% of my shop comes from Aldi.
The problem with the big supermarkets is choice; there is far too much, with us the vast majority of our meals are made from scratch so we don't need the miriade of jars or packet sauces that are on offer, I was in JS today and I reckon their "World Foods" aisle alone would take up a third of the whole of the Aldi, situated a few hundred yards away, great if you like the convenience of packet sauces but I just don't need that, I can make pretty much all they have on offer with bits in my cupboard and the added bonus is there are no additives or crap in my sauces.
Tinned tomatoes; Aldi has value chopped and whole and normal chopped and whole, that is it, JS has value, normal, fancy, organic, all available in chopped or whole and then with herbs, with olive oil, with basil etc and then there are also the brands with similar offerings. If I want tinned tomatoes with garlic and olive I buy normal tinned tomatoes and add garlic and olive oil myself.
Yes the environment isn't as nice but TBH I don't care as I don't live there I only shop there.
I have heard that Aldi are looking to build another 2 in our town as the one that I use has been a huge success and is one of the busiest in the UK, not bad for a middle class home counties town, however I do have friends who refuse to shop there but they are snobs.
Edited by HTP99 on Tuesday 27th June 12:33
bloomen said:
I find you can't do a complete shop in Aldi or Lidl. There are many items they don't sell. I can't be arsed to trudge around two places and I've never been that impressed by what they have on offer.
Agreed. And where I live the store locations are high traffic areas and the parking minimal.
I've been a couple of times, but the few quid saving isn't really worth it IMHO.
Grocery shopping isn't a huge % of my outgoings so I'll stick with Sainsburys for now.
crankedup said:
Europa1 said:
crankedup said:
Not sure how to reply to that! Can't visit? Don't need to visit? Partner loves shopping? Have scurfs to shop for you? Grow your own? Click delivery.
Not sure you meant "scurfs". bloomen said:
I find you can't do a complete shop in Aldi or Lidl. There are many items they don't sell. I can't be arsed to trudge around two places and I've never been that impressed by what they have on offer.
Likewise.Last time I went in was to do a big booze shop before a party. The beer selection was thoroughly underwhelming, albeit cheap (£1.20ish/500ml of decent ale versus 3 for £5 at Co-op), and the wine was cheap - but turned out to be utterly bland. We've totally given up buying food from there, after having several things where the packaging would have been tastier. The German Embassy Aldidl twins leave me utterly underwhelmed.
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff