Aldi... what do you recommend?

L1011

Aldi seem to go out of their way to piss customers off.

They kept up the limited stock specials thing long after Lidl realised it was bad for customer retention. They still train their staff that vaguely nonsensical interpretations of UK law (Scottish law specifically) are valid in Ireland. They make you deal with the UK for online customer care who neither know nor care about Irish specifics.

I don't use my nominally local store due to ignorant staff and even worse management (the staff didn't pick it up off the ground - or more realistically they would have been fired by anyone more suited to the job); basically the only shop in existence I avoid for that reason. The next town over has a branch so far outside the town its actually closer to me; but I'm often beside the "local" one and won't touch it.

Both Lidl and Aldi have adapted to Ireland over time but I suspect Aldi have adapted to the worst of small town retailer nonsense a lot of the time.

wonski

In fairness I don't even recall ever having to speak to someone in store when doing my grocery run. And definitely not about what law applies where... So not sure what your rant is about tbh.

As for specials the food items are usually poor value anyway, or just average. Their food specials are just cans of Carlsberg or something else that is a well known brand unlike 95% of other stuff they sell.

I never buy tv's or paddling boats in supermarkets so can't comment on non food items

L1011

It primarily relates to specials, yes. You basically have a retailer with a presence in every town in the country that acts as if we're still part of the UK and assumes they can use the UKs bloody awful consumer laws. There are other retailers that are as bad but we don't have one in every medium sized town!

As for my local store, the staff wouldn't survive a week working for another supermarket - they'd be sacked, as would the management. Cesspool. Effectively the customer is an irritance and they have random misinterpreted UK legislation they've been told is "the law" to quote back at you if you have any problems. Same chain 5km away and it doesn't happen!

donegal_man

L1011 wrote: »

...As for my local store, the staff wouldn't survive a week working for another supermarket...Effectively the customer is an irritance and they have random misinterpreted UK legislation they've been told is "the law" to quote back at you if you have any problems. Same chain 5km away and it doesn't happen!

So it sounds like it's more a issue with your local branch than the operation as a whole.

sillysocks

Have to say the staff in my local store are very friendly, couldn’t really say a bad word against them. And have never had an issue returning anything!

vicwatson

I recommend the Greek yoghurt granola for 99c in strawberry and mango flavours. They have a little spoon inserted under the lid too.

leahyl

sillysocks wrote: »

Have to say the staff in my local store are very friendly, couldn’t really say a bad word against them. And have never had an issue returning anything!

Agree, Aldi are great for returning anything - once you have your receipt, it's not an issue.

the beer revolu

L1011 wrote: »

You basically have a retailer with a presence in every town in the country that acts as if we're still part of the UK and assumes they can use the UKs bloody awful consumer laws.

Effectively the customer is an irritance and they have random misinterpreted UK legislation they've been told is "the law" to quote back at you if you have any problems. !

Can you explain what the UK law bit is about?What laws are they quoting and in regards to what?

thenightman

They upgraded the Newlands Cross shop about a year ago (old store wasn't even that old considering it was the second iteration after first one was destroyed by fire in late 2000's) and added the fresh bakery, new signage etc. Can't say I noticed any negative. It's probably just the change that has startled the poster complaining about nutgrove. People are always far more creatures of habit than they realise!

Ditto for the person complaining about staff, I've never had a negative experience with any of the staff in my Aldi. Always friendly and quick, unlike Tesco/Dunnes etc.

lassykk

The staff in my local aldi are top notch and the security guard is sound out too and always says hello. Best thing about the staff is the speed at the till by the operators. I pick up some non-Aldi bits in a Supervalu where they don't have self scan and the difference in speed is unbelievable.

robwen

charlietheminxx wrote: »

Those chips were amazing if they're the ones I'm thinking of!

EDIT: Yes they are, the Walls Honest Chips - they were amazing.

Went to Aldi today looking for these Walls Honest Chips couldn't find asked & they said they were a SuperValu product so off to SuperValu couldn't find again so asked & was told they were an Aldi product??

wonski

robwen wrote: »

Went to Aldi today looking for these Walls Honest Chips couldn't find asked & they said they were a SuperValu product so off to SuperValu couldn't find again so asked & was told they were an Aldi product??

They are no supermarket brand.

Like Haribo or Kellogs.

Poor form, but maybe misunderstanding.

Purgative

Just picked up their one clove garlic today _ previously only in Lidl but not for a while now.


Oh and Asparagus 1.39 a bundle - gotta love it.

yellow hen

L1011 wrote: »

It primarily relates to specials, yes. You basically have a retailer with a presence in every town in the country that acts as if we're still part of the UK and assumes they can use the UKs bloody awful consumer laws. There are other retailers that are as bad but we don't have one in every medium sized town!

As for my local store, the staff wouldn't survive a week working for another supermarket - they'd be sacked, as would the management. Cesspool. Effectively the customer is an irritance and they have random misinterpreted UK legislation they've been told is "the law" to quote back at you if you have any problems. Same chain 5km away and it doesn't happen!

I think from other posts that we live in the same town (beginning with m?) and I have to say I find the staff very friendly. Have you been there recently? I wonder has there been a staff/management change but genuinely my experiences are the polar opposite.

Anyway just to ensure I stay on topic, I love the jars of basil passata.

yellow hen

L1011 wrote: »

It primarily relates to specials, yes. You basically have a retailer with a presence in every town in the country that acts as if we're still part of the UK and assumes they can use the UKs bloody awful consumer laws. There are other retailers that are as bad but we don't have one in every medium sized town!

As for my local store, the staff wouldn't survive a week working for another supermarket - they'd be sacked, as would the management. Cesspool. Effectively the customer is an irritance and they have random misinterpreted UK legislation they've been told is "the law" to quote back at you if you have any problems. Same chain 5km away and it doesn't happen!

I think from other posts that we live in the same town (beginning with m?) and I have to say I find the staff very friendly. Have you been there recently? I wonder has there been a staff/management change lately? Genuinely my experiences are the polar opposite.

Anyway just to ensure I stay on topic, I love the jars of basil passata.

McMurphy

Purgative wrote: »

Just picked up their one clove garlic today _ previously only in Lidl but not for a while now.


Oh and Asparagus 1.39 a bundle - gotta love it.

What's a one clove garlic?

Purgative

Johnny Dogs wrote: »

What's a one clove garlic?

They're grown as single cloves. Bigger than a ordinary clove and not in a bulb.


I'm floundering aren't I.


Oh wait https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solo_garlic

Dial Hard

Also known as Elephant garlic. I think it's a bit of a gimmick, tbh. It's far too mild.

Feisar

Dial Hard wrote: »

Also known as Elephant garlic. I think it's a bit of a gimmick, tbh. It's far too mild.

Seperate note and for peoples amusement I once put three bulbs of regular garlic into a dish as opposed to three cloves.

Mental when you think about it however in my defense I was starting off cooking in college and we would have been a bacon and cabbage house.

the beer revolu

Dial Hard wrote: »

Also known as Elephant garlic. I think it's a bit of a gimmick, tbh. It's far too mild.

No. That's the giant garlic, it's still made up of multiple cloves and is actually a type of leek.
Different to the single clove garlic.

Dial Hard

I stand corrected so. Still maintain that the single-bulb stuff is a tasteless gimmick.

rubadub

Dial Hard wrote: »

I stand corrected so. Still maintain that the single-bulb stuff is a tasteless gimmick.

A lot of the normal garlic is fairly tasteless these days too. If I knew of a shop that consistently had decent flavoursome stuff I would buy it. Now I just resort to buying garlic granules or paste, which is pretty consistent.

Dial Hard

rubadub wrote: »

A lot of the normal garlic is fairly tasteless these days too. If I knew of a shop that consistently had decent flavoursome stuff I would buy it. Now I just resort to buying garlic granules or paste, which is pretty consistent.

Dunnes sell Irish-grown garlic, which tends to be far, far stronger than the Spanish stuff we generally get. Definitely recommend it if you fancy a good garlic hit off something! I love it rubbed directly onto toasted ciabatta, with a drizzle of good olive oil and a grind of sea salt.

I've literally just had my lunch and I'm making myself hungry again here.

the beer revolu

Dial Hard wrote: »

I stand corrected so. Still maintain that the single-bulb stuff is a tasteless gimmick.

Don't bother trying the actual elephant garlic, in that case. Tastes even less of garlic than the single clove stuff.

Tried the battered soy and chilli calamari from the freezer in Aldi, really tasty as a treat!

Visible in the bin beside my lovely assistant.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

rubadub wrote: »

A lot of the normal garlic is fairly tasteless these days too. If I knew of a shop that consistently had decent flavoursome stuff I would buy it. Now I just resort to buying garlic granules or paste, which is pretty consistent.

I find most garlic you buy these days go off very quickly. Half the time they've started sprouting ready and you only get a couple of decent cloves out of a bulb. As someone else mentioned I've started buying they squeezy stuff until I can find a more reliable source. (Planning on planting some myself in the next few weeks but they wont be ready to use until next summer)

anewme

Friend gave me some she d grown in her allotment.
Amazing flavour.

No comparison against shop bought.

54and56

Dial Hard wrote: »

Dunnes sell Irish-grown garlic, which tends to be far, far stronger than the Spanish stuff we generally get. Definitely recommend it if you fancy a good garlic hit off something! I love it rubbed directly onto toasted ciabatta, with a drizzle of good olive oil and a grind of sea salt.

I've literally just had my lunch and I'm making myself hungry again here.

If you love that you'll love this!!

I regularly have it as a weekend breakfast treat with Serano ham or Anchovies on top.

conor_ie

The Club Sandwich and Chocolate Digestives... Deeelish!

igCorcaigh

54and56 wrote: »

If you love that you'll love this!!

I regularly have it as a weekend breakfast treat with Serano ham or Anchovies on top.

Yes I can vouch for this. Made it recently with the best tomatoes available (Caroline's Cork people).

Will definitely try it with anchovies though. Love anchovies.