Yesterday at Aldi's, I was about to buy a package of 12 rolls of toilet paper for $4.99, until I noticed that a package of 4 rolls of the same product was $1.29. Things like that make me think of all those teenagers who declare that they are confident that life after school will not require algebra.

At the risk of turning this thread into an in depth discussion about toilet paper, did you compare the size of the rolls? The $4.99 12 pack might have had bigger rolls, hence the higher cost.

Back to food: ALDI has maple leaf cookies on the shelves for a limited time. Very tasty!

Buddy

Yes, I did. They did have some different types there, but as I said, these were the same product.

Back to the food. I've been very happy with everything else I've gotten at Aldi's lately. Always the best prices around for milk, butter, and cheese, it seems to me. I tried some of the Stonemill spices as well and thought they were of good quality. Frozen shrimp and other frozen fish and seafood has been a good buy there for me lately as well.

The price difference in the toilet paper rolls can be figured with simple multiplication. I should know - I'm one of those people who said I'd never use algebra, and 20 years later I'm still sticking to my guns

My Aldi has mango kefir, which I've discovered is a magic liquid that my kid will drink even when everything else is refused. I've been buying them out.

Jalapeno cilantro hummus is back! Jalapeno cilantro hummus is back!

Hi- Does anybody ever buy any seafood at Aldi's? I have tried the salmon burgers there, and I was less than thrilled with them. They were also processed in China, which turned me off. The salmon was caught in Alaska, and then processed in China, because they can hire people there for $2 a day

All of their salmon is processed in China, and so I think I am going to pass on that, but how is their shrimp and scallops? I also noticed that they have a two pound bag of frozen catfish nuggets right now for $5. Is any of this stuff half way decent? I am not expecting miracles here, only decent enough to eat evry one in a while. Thanks, Nancy

I bought a few frozen lobsaters that were decent for the low price.
However that was before I knew about H-Mart, now I just wait for them to have a sale on the live ones.

Bought some frozen scallops that were used in a seafood Alfredo sauce. Worked very well, although I don't know how they'd be as a stand alone entree. Same with their frozen raw shrimp.

Buddy

NFriday wrote:All of their salmon is processed in China, and so I think I am going to pass on that, but how is their shrimp and scallops? I also noticed that they have a two pound bag of frozen catfish nuggets right now for $5. Is any of this stuff half way decent? I am not expecting miracles here, only decent enough to eat evry one in a while. Thanks, Nancy

The catfish is farmed in Mississippi so it should be pretty good. They also had some catfish filets this week.

I have bought the tilapia and the swai filets and I think both have been pretty decent quality and a great price: $6 for a 2lb bag.

For all you lovers of hummus, I saw today that they had a big #4 tub with four different kinds. My husband's out of town for a while, otherwise I would have gotten it for him because he loves the hummus from Aldi.

The Talipia, Catfish and Swai have been as good as any frozen versions from other stores. The raw shrimp is so-so but the cooked stuff is pretty good. I usually buy it for Vietnamese Spring Rolls.

The lobster and crab legs have been surprisingly good.

The crab cakes are decent. I think they are just re-branded Phillips ones.

Speaking of lobster and crab cakes, believe it or not they sell lobster sliders at Dollar Tree by me.
I had a large antipasta to make for some cub scouts who have no taste, so I went to dollar tree for ingrediants (artichoke hearts in a jar for $1, etc) to save a bundle over the local grocery stores. The lobster sliders were as bad as you would think, but a couple of the neighborhood kids I feed with my kid love them (not sure if this makes sense but one is from Hong Kong and the other from Vietnam).

I find Aldi's current radio ads kind of hilarious and stupid. In one of the ads they boast about the fact that they do not rpcie match competitors because that would mean they would have to raise prices to price match and that somehow makes them superior. Um, Aldi, maybe you don't want to price match but other stores do and you will end up losing customers to that by itself and not gaining any new ones. I don't think they understand the concept well.

KajmacJohnson wrote:I find Aldi's current radio ads kind of hilarious and stupid. In one of the ads they boast about the fact that they do not rpcie match competitors because that would mean they would have to raise prices to price match and that somehow makes them superior. Um, Aldi, maybe you don't want to price match but other stores do and you will end up losing customers to that by itself and not gaining any new ones. I don't think they understand the concept well.

You couldn't price match 99% of Aldi's items anyway because they're all branded under their own names. Same goes for any other store's in-house branded products.

Artie wrote:

KajmacJohnson wrote:I find Aldi's current radio ads kind of hilarious and stupid. In one of the ads they boast about the fact that they do not rpcie match competitors because that would mean they would have to raise prices to price match and that somehow makes them superior. Um, Aldi, maybe you don't want to price match but other stores do and you will end up losing customers to that by itself and not gaining any new ones. I don't think they understand the concept well.

You couldn't price match 99% of Aldi's items anyway because they're all branded under their own names. Same goes for any other store's in-house branded products.

And I can find most of their house brands as name brands at any other grocery store for the same price or even less which still makes their price matching logic pretty silly.

KajmacJohnson wrote:

Artie wrote:You couldn't price match 99% of Aldi's items anyway because they're all branded under their own names. Same goes for any other store's in-house branded products.

And I can find most of their house brands as name brands at any other grocery store for the same price or even less which still makes their price matching logic pretty silly.

Really? Give us some examples and please use everyday prices,not sales or loss leaders. Thanks.

Hi- I was just in Aldi's today, and they had Michigan blueberries for $1.49 a pint. My sister told me tonight that was below wholesale, and she doubts that they are making any money on them. would have bought some today, but I bought two pints at the farmer's market Saturday for $3 a pint, which I thought was a good deal at the time.

BTW- Tomorrow is the last day you are guaranteed of getting them at this price. Their new sale starts on Wednesday, and they might have them for this price and they might not.

Artie wrote:

KajmacJohnson wrote:

Artie wrote:You couldn't price match 99% of Aldi's items anyway because they're all branded under their own names. Same goes for any other store's in-house branded products.

And I can find most of their house brands as name brands at any other grocery store for the same price or even less which still makes their price matching logic pretty silly.

Really? Give us some examples and please use everyday prices,not sales or loss leaders. Thanks.

Aaaawww, you totally sucked the fun out of this game. That IS my point, I can get name brand stuff on sale for far less than what Aldi's charges for their "name" brands that seem to be having serious consistency issues lately. Most of the cheese has no flavor or taste whereas before they were always pretty consistent but this was before prices started yoyoing.


I've picked up unopened McCormick spices for less than a buck (not on sale but at estate sales). Aldi's charges a buck for theirs and doesn't have nearly the variety that I currently have in my kitchen. I have picked up vegetable oil for a dollar which is less than what they sell it for at Aldi's. Aldi's produce is completely subpar. I go to markets like Caputo's, Fresh farms, A&G and City Fresh for less than what they charge some of the produce items for at Aldi's. I know the poatatoes are higer and of less quaklity tahn at otehr places. They are so crappy that my husband doesn't want me to ever buy produce at Aldi. Aldi's milk prices are at about $2 depending on where you go and Mariano's prices on milk are the same. Mariano's also has their own brand of shredded cheeses regularly priced at about two bucks which I think is about the same or less than Aldi's. I get Thomas bagels for a $1.25 whereas Aldi's charges more for theirs and don't have the whole or multi grain selections. I used to tolerate Aldi's enough because they were dirt cheap, now their prices are not that much different than anyone else and I chase sales like a hawk and as a result can find better quality stuff at better prices and yes, I can price match and use coupons too. Take that, Aldi! Maybe they should stop spending money on annoying ads and go back to basics because they were far better when they didn't try to throw competition in everyone else's faces.

KajmacJohnson wrote:

Artie wrote:

KajmacJohnson wrote:And I can find most of their house brands as name brands at any other grocery store for the same price or even less which still makes their price matching logic pretty silly.

Really? Give us some examples and please use everyday prices,not sales or loss leaders. Thanks.

Aaaawww, you totally sucked the fun out of this game. That IS my point, I can get name brand stuff on sale for far less than what Aldi's charges for their "name" brands that seem to be having serious consistency issues lately. Most of the cheese has no flavor or taste whereas before they were always pretty consistent but this was before prices started yoyoing.


I've picked up unopened McCormick spices for less than a buck (not on sale but at estate sales). Aldi's charges a buck for theirs and doesn't have nearly the variety that I currently have in my kitchen. I have picked up vegetable oil for a dollar which is less than what they sell it for at Aldi's. Aldi's produce is completely subpar. I go to markets like Caputo's, Fresh farms, A&G and City Fresh for less than what they charge some of the produce items for at Aldi's. I know the poatatoes are higer and of less quaklity tahn at otehr places. They are so crappy that my husband doesn't want me to ever buy produce at Aldi. Aldi's milk prices are at about $2 depending on where you go and Mariano's prices on milk are the same. Mariano's also has their own brand of shredded cheeses regularly priced at about two bucks which I think is about the same or less than Aldi's. I get Thomas bagels for a $1.25 whereas Aldi's charges more for theirs and don't have the whole or multi grain selections. I used to tolerate Aldi's enough because they were dirt cheap, now their prices are not that much different than anyone else and I chase sales like a hawk and as a result can find better quality stuff at better prices and yes, I can price match and use coupons too. Take that, Aldi! Maybe they should stop spending money on annoying ads and go back to basics because they were far better when they didn't try to throw competition in everyone else's faces.

So in other words you're cherry picking sales while running from store to store. When you factor in the time that must take you,finding a parking space,checking out,and factor in the cost of gas I doubt that you're saving anything. Overall I find Aldi's to be quite satisfactory for the few items I buy there and in almost every case cheaper than buying elsewhere. The things I would never buy there is their meat unless it's a full piece like a corned beef brisket or a spiral sliced ham. I'm picky with their produce and never buy baked goods unless it's something like Turano products. Overall there have been very few complaints in this thread about their products.

Hi- The main reason I don't buy more at aldi's, is because a big chunk of what I buy they don't carry. I went into the WF in downtown Evanston this week, and the only thing that I bought there that aldi's even carries, was the lemon, and at Aldi's you have to buy a whole bag of lemons. Aldi's did not even have walnuts the last time I checked. Some of the things that I buy all the time that Aldi's does not carry includes whole wheat flour, WW english muffins, plain yogurt, natural peanut butter, frozen yogurt, chicken sausage, baked tortilla chips, veggie burgers and veggie dogs, and a lot of spices. Their produce section is better than it used to be, but I much prefer buying my produce at the Evanston farmer's market, where there is a lot bigger selection, and the quality is better

The only reason I go to Aldi's as often as I do, is because I take somebody there, for which I get paid. I do the majority of my shopping at Dominick's and the farmer's market. I drive right past a Dominick's twice a week, and so it is not out of my way. I also shop at Jewel on occasion too, but I am in the neighborhood when I shop there too.

Ever since Dominick's started their J4U program, I've found out that in general their prices in general are better than Jewel's, plus they have a deal match program, where they will match the sale prices of selected items at Jewel and Target. This week, I had a personalized price of $1.50 for an eight ounce bag of raft shredded cheese, and it was on sale B1G1F. I bought 10 bags of cheese his week. Aldi's never has cheese for $1.50 a pound. I also on occasion get free stuff thanks to the J4U program. One thing that is nice about the J4U program, is that they always have personalized deals just for you, based on your past buying history. You sign up for the program on Dominick's site, and they have lots of coupons that you can apply to your card too, which means that you do not have to cut them out. Last time I was at Dominick's, I saved 72% on my bill.

I try to save money on my groceries every week, but I will not drive 5 miles out of my way, to save a few dollars. All the places I go to, are either on my way to or from work, or are places I can walk to. Hope this helps, Nancy

NFriday wrote:Aldi's did not even have walnuts the last time I checked. Some of the things that I buy all the time that Aldi's does not carry includes whole wheat flour, WW english muffins, plain yogurt, natural peanut butter, frozen yogurt, chicken sausage, baked tortilla chips, veggie burgers and veggie dogs, and a lot of spices.

My Aldi has almost all of those things (natural PB, whole wheat flour, and English muffins excepted). How odd.

I only go to Aldi because it is in the basement of Trader Joe's. Why not pick up lettuce and veg, sour cream etc, see what they have on sale there first? I really enjoy the mama cozzi's WW crust pizza when they have it too.

I go to Aldi because it is on the way home from some other place I go to on a regular basis. I would not go out of my way to go to Aldi because the produce quality is inconsistent. For instance, the strawberries are cheap, but they are often leaking juice and look like they will only last for one day.

I know that the quality of the produce is hit or miss at Aldi's. One time I bought a bag of onions there for under a dollar, and a week later I had to throw most of the bag away. I think I only used two of the onions in the bag. The bananas are always okay, and the pineapple usually is too. The strawberries I got there this spring were okay, but once I could get homegrown strawberries at the farmer's market, I quit buying them at Aldi's. There is no comparison, and I would rather spend the extra money, and get really good strawberries. This last Saturday I bought homegrown nectarines, peaches and blueberries, and they were better than anything I could get at Aldi's, or Jewel or Dominick's for that matter. The really good freestone peaches might be available for sale at the Evanston farmer's market this Saturday, because all the fruit is early this year.

I have never seen veggie dogs or veggie burgers at Aldi's. On rare occasion they will have chicken sausage for sale for a limited time only, but they only do that when they can get a good deal on it, and then it is still $3.00. The last time I bought chicken sausage, was when Jewel had double coupons a few months ago, and they had a brand on sale that week, which I happened to have dollar coupons for, which they doubled, and so I got four packages of Johnsonville chicken sausage for a dollar a package. I only buy chicken sausage when I can get it for $2 or less.

The milk at the Evanston Aldi's store is $2.39 a gallon, and I can get it for $1.97 a gallon at Dominick's all the time, so I usually get it there or at Walgreens when they put it on sale for $1.99.

I only go to Trader Joe's when I am in the neighborhood, because the closest one to me is in Glenview, and is six miles away. Maybe when the Trader Joe's opens up in Evanston, I will start shopping there occasionally, but I am not crazy about their produce department either. I think a lot of people go to Trader Joe's for the prepared food, and I would rather cook from scratch.

Today i did see veggie burgers at aldi's in the freezer section.

Hi- I went in Aldi's today, and they do have Boca Burgers for under $3.00. I bought a package, because that is fairly reasonable. I could have gotten Morning Star Farm cheaper a few weeks ago at Dominick's, but I missed the sale. They do carry plain yogurt for $1.99 a quart too, but they have Open Nature at Dominick's for $1.99 a quart this week, and I have a few $1 coupons.

The Michigan blueberries have gone up to $1.99 a pint, which is still a good deal. The person that I take to Aldi's bought some more blueberries today, and said that the ones she bought Monday were good. She saw my veggie burgers, and she said that she did not know that they carried them. She is going to buy some the next time she goes there. Thanks, Nancy

NFriday wrote:The Michigan blueberries have gone up to $1.99 a pint, which is still a good deal. The person that I take to Aldi's bought some more blueberries today, and said that the ones she bought Monday were good. She saw my veggie burgers, and she said that she did not know that they carried them. She is going to buy some the next time she goes there. Thanks, Nancy

Actually, I paid $1.29/ pt for both cherries and blueberries at Aldi yesterday.

The good part about Aldi produce is that it is in those plastic containers so that you can take a 360 degree view to see if it looks good.

The produce is relatively inconsistent. I have bought three packages of lemons in the past four weeks and had three very different kinds of lemons.

Hi- Actually the only way the can sell the cherries for even $1.99 a quart is because they make a deal with the grower at the beginning of the season, and even then they don't make much money on them. Apparently Western cherries got a lot of rain recently, and a lot of their cherries cracked. Western cherries were going for $2.49 a pound wholesale last week. I don't buy Western cherries anyway, because homegrown are way better. The one pint of cherries that I got at the farmer's market last month were some of the best cherries I have ever had. I think it had to do with the lack of rain in Michigan. I would rather do without, than have mediocre cherries.

At $1.29 Aldi's is losing money on the blueberries too, and at $1.99 they might barely break even if they negotiate a price at the beginning of the season, because blueberries are going for more than that right now wholesale.

Today I spent $11 on fruit at the farmer's market. I bought two pints of blueberries, and a quart of freestone peaches. The price I paid on fruit, I made up for with the 5 zucchini and 5 eggplant, that I paid a dollar total for. There is no way I could get all those veggies for a dollar at Aldi's, and I am not even sure if Aldi's ever carries eggplant.

Honestly, I do NOT care what wholesale produce prices are right now. I don't pay wholesale, I pay retail. If Aldi needs to drop a price in order to move product while it is still salable, that is fine with me. Aldi may lose a few cents here or there on a small percentage of the tens of millions of individual transactions they make each week. However, as their primary focus is generating enormous cash flow, what they lose ofn these transactions will be far offset by their gains.

My cherries were excellent and at a small fraction of what you paid.

I nevr suggested that Aldi was the place for all produce, just that they offer some screaming deals.

I have noticed that their bananas get ripe faster than bananas from other places. Sometimes that's a negative, sometimes it's a positive.