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8 reviews for Aldi
8 reviews in English
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Review from Randy M.
Dallas, TX
5/22/2012
This is a nice little store. It's a good alternative if you just need to pick up a few things and don't want the hassle of a grocery store.
I buy a lot of avocados and mangoes form here almost exclusively. The vegetables here are really cheap and are always fresh. It's hard to beat their egg and milk prices most of the time too.
A lot of people complain about the grocery carts, and the fact that you need a quarter to rent one which is refunded. That's never a problem for since me I never buy more than a handful of items anyway. Although I can see it as a legitimate gripe. -
Review from A P.
Carrollton, TX
11/7/2011
Finally, got to check out this place after curiosity got the better of me. Boy, was this visit ever a drag.
This place is barebones spare, unadorned and completely boring. I believe that was the original intent, to keep things undecorated and strictly functional. Like big box warehouses, you'll find sundry goods stacked and packed in their original cases and pallets, ready to pick up and go. Unlike the big box stores, everything is within arm's reach, negating the need for powered vehicles to pull down the stock.
Prices are cheap--as in, grocery-store cheap. Which means, not cheap at all, just average. However, I didn't recognize 75% of the brands on the shelves--and I had to wonder about the quality of these goods. I gotta admit, I'm brainwashed by big name brand media and advertising--so much that I was rather disgusted that I couldn't find a name that was familiar to me. (Except for the occasional candy and laundry detergent.)
I did purchase a 2 pack of cheesecake from freezer section, but the checkout person couldn't look me in the eye...as if he'd rather be someplace else. In fact he seemed to be the only employee on staff on the floor--and had that look on his face like the last man on earth. Not the Will Smith version...but the Vincent Price version.
Who could blame him? The overall feel of the place was oppressively boring and unappealing. I think the one or two patrons I saw in the place shuffled down the short aisles like zombies who missed out on the buffet across the street.
Oh look, there's a Walmart across the street. Time to go some place nicer (yep, I'm shocked to hear myself say that) and alive. -
Review from Alice T.
12/21/2010
People are complaining about the quarter for the shopping cart (that you get back) and the cost for the paper bags. Not only do these things help cut costs and result in lower prices, but I think this is an environmentally friendly method that more stores should adopt. In many countries, you pay for the grocery bags. Sure, I forget to bring my tote a lot of times, but making this a habit helps reinforcing the fact that we should be using less plastic/paper. I don't think this is a valid complaint. If you don't like it, then just don't shop here.
The products that they carry are really interesting. You'd think that it would have Fiesta or 99cent store products, but they actually have a lot of cool European things. They had this German stoller (kind of like that panettone), some MARZIPAN products (delicious and impossible to find), HARIBO gummies, and even some imported cheeses, like blue stilton, gorgonzola, feta, etc. The breads all look really fresh- regular white, wheat, 12 grain, fluffy potato rolls, etc. All of their stuff looks FRESH- like Kroger signature brand, not Walmart knockoff brands. Sometimes they'll carry namebrands, like the Ghiradelli chocolate brownies.
The prices are cheap, but they aren't dirt cheap. I'm sure Walmart across the street will still be cheaper on some items or when Kroger/Randalls has a sale. But I think that they carry some higher end products compared to the traditional generics. For example, they may not have the cheapest generic jam for $1, but they have a raspberry or apricot preserves for something like $1.50. And surprisingly, they also carry chocolate soymilk, a generic version of Eggbeaters, frozen salmon/tilapia/flounder, and white crabmeat. Can your dollar store do that?
There really are some things here that are just cheap, cheap, cheap. Like the gallon milk here is 99 cents! And the pack of eggs is only 49 cents! They limit it to four each per family.
Overall, I think the store is well run and an interesting business model. It's like a convenience store, but with better products and cheaper prices. You might even find some new favorites! Don't forget to bring your debit card/cash, grocery bags, and a quarter. -
Review from Marilyn M.
Dallas, TX
3/25/2010
Curiosity got the best of me. Just had to check out this place.
Glad I went. I probably won't ever go back.
Let's start with the following: Planning is important, which is actually my strong suite. But not with grocery shopping..
Take your own grocery bags; forgot mine today. Will I keep a supply in my trunk for shopping here? Think, Not :(
Have a quarter for the shopping cart? Not usually. :( Thought I had it in my hand walking up to the cart area today, but it was instead a dollar coin which I didn't recognize. (Get those glasses checked!) Darn thing wouldn't fit into the shopping cart slot. (Where the heck did I get that?) Okay, off to a great start, an ominous beginning of things to come? After feeling STUPID, the attendant assisted me while I dug and found a quarter lurking in the bottom of my purse with people standing in line behind me. :(
ARGHH, why am I here? Go back, read the first sentence of the review. CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT !
Paying for a shopping cart even tho you get a refund - what a HASSLE !!
Debit Cards or Cash Only- not an issue for me, but may be for others.
9 cent charge for shopping bags should you forget your own (like I did today) - okay not bad, but just plain downright annoying.
Okay, small store, only 4 aisles. Hmmm, can't wait to check this out.
Yes, prices are "cheap". (I really hate that word!). IMO, it is probably a great option for the family with 2.5 kiddos who eat 4 boxes of cereal a week; ($1.89 for off brand Raisin Brand, but same @ Tom Thumb for Kellogg's on sale); and breads for packaged deli meats for that school lunch bag.
The store was crowded @ 1400 in the afternoon; for those who are willing to experiment with "off brands", which I am NOT opposed to trying, this might be a good option. Many store brands will suffice for those BRAND labels we all love. I use them too. Tom Thumb/Safeway brand Arribiata Pasta Sauce is awesome, as is Kroger's brand of creamed spinach. I am not a snob when it comes to saving a dime or two just based on brand names. Many are quite comparable.
The presentation/display of items; was I at Sam's today? Sure felt like it. The "cartons" stacked with the individual package-ings?
The only name brands I observed were Ramen Noodles, which are not in my list of foods, along with some laundry products, Certainly, not to say that the store brands are deficient in flavor and taste and functionality; just names I've never heard of.
However, gotta have my Hellman's, my Heinz, my Green Giant, my Hunt's petite diced tomatoes; my fave cheeses, etc; my bad; those are some of things I just won't sacrifice;.
In the laundry section, I did see some Tide products, & Suavitel, my fave fabric softener, which were 2-3 cents less @ Aldi's than my local Dollar General Store, but which is just mere moments from my 'hood, compared to a 15 minute drive to Aldi's.
Dairy products - no Lactose Milk which I gotta have; real downer; off brand Yogurt which I hesitate to try; butter package pricing is comparable to Kroger's & Tom Thumb's on sale. No deal here.
Produce - yep, limes were less expensive @ .15 each compared to Kroger @ 4 for a $1.00. Also, vine ripe tomatoes @ 1.99 lb, compared to about $2.49. Cherry tomatoes were again much less expensive at Aldi, saving about .60 cents. Again, wouldn't drive the extra miles just for this savings.
Ah, the most important......lean ground turkey which I purchase for my adorable fuzzy cocker (sauteed with rice, her 3x a day treat - note * my friends want to come back as my puppy * in their next life!) was $2.49 a package; same as Kroger.
Again, for those families who have a $$$ monthly grocery budget, this will probably offer some significant savings. I am a last minute frequent grocery shopper with Kroger and Tom Thumb less than 5 minutes from the crib for a quick in and out.
An important NOTE - IMO, the three most important decisions for any
business?
1) Location 2) Location 3) Location.
And Aldi opened directly across the street from Walmart @ Frankford & George Bush??? With Walmart's recent promos of roll back prices, it will be a watch & see if they survive. Hmmmm, who in Germany Corporate made that decision?
Good Luck folks!Listed in: Sadly, Places I will avoid.
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Review from Jasmine T.
Dallas, TX
10/3/2010
If you are one of those green-friendly, serious planners in grocery shopping folks who stretches every dollar and don't care for brands or labels. Then you have come to the right place. Although it is not as lively as one of the major grocery stores and they are do not have as many options as the other major chaing stores, but you do get quite a deal.
Please do not forget to bring your own sack bag for grocery shopping at Aldi because they do NOT provide plastic or any kind of paper bag to take home. If you want a bag, you have to purchase the brown paper bag before you walk in.
Another thing, if you need a cart, be sure to have a quarter in your bag with you for deposit. You need to deposit the quarter in order to get a cart, then once you put the cart back where you got it, the quarter pops back right at you.
I go there if I felt that I need to cut back on my spendings.
Warning: Do not froget to bring cash with you unless you have a debit card because credit cards are not accepted there. -
Review from Phantom S.
Beverly Hills, CA
3/30/2010
Hey, if you can cope with Tito the Tiger instead of Tony or Betty Cracker instead Crocker, this is the place for "us" and you can save a few bucks while your their, but by the word "us" I meant the other poor people in the world. I'm super happy and fully in my own opinion! they created a democratic supermarket to counter the selfish Republican place called Market St. but the whole quarter thing? A bit much, no need for that. They accept debit/cash/probably food stamps and some government cheese as payment, so throw a diaper on that screaming bastard and give him a ride in an ALDI cart for a quarter
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Review from Dan L.
Carrollton, TX
8/8/2011
This place is great I always spend 10 dollars and under here and it buys me the weekly necessities like eggs , milk, bread, chips, fresh fruit too !!! 4 stars because they need to have more people working and checking people out, the wait sucks when you only have one item and there is only one cashier working .(happens very often)
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Review from Rebecca S.
Addison, TX
3/19/2010
In case you've never heard of Aldi, this is a chain of super low price grocery stores from Germany. Seriously, think Walmart on a diet.
The basic premise is a store with a very limited number of items - maybe 1,000. Few of the items are name brand, and you have very little selection between the items. For example, there was only one type and size of canned corn. There were three types of pasta sauce, Traditional, Mushroom, and Meat, but just one size - 26 oz. You can pick between bottles and cans of soda, but there are maybe three types. The store is so small there are only four aisles.
When you visit, bring a quarter with you so you can get a shopping cart. (You'll get it back when you return the cart.) Also bring your own bags, bags are $.08 otherwise. Finally, you'll need to bring cash or have debit ready as they don't accept checks or credit cards.
Aldi definitely lives up to its' reputation, prices are low. Whole chickens at $.79/lb (vs. $.89 at Kroger), 26oz of pasta sauce for $1.19 (vs. $2.11), 8oz of 5 cheese stuffed pasta for $.99, and 13oz of Cocoa Rice for $1.89. They have fresh fruits and veggies, but there is no deli or bakery. Breads are trucked in, and meats are in sealed packages and refrigerated or frozen.
So far I've only tried the pasta sauce and stuffed pasta, but I'd say both are very good. I think I'll be rotating Aldi into my grocery store list for basics like pasta and milk. Some things, like catchup, just have to be name brand.
