Shopping at Aldi may not seem like a rite of passage, but isn't part of being an adult
having a favorite grocery store? Even if you already love Aldi, you may not know all about
its secrets. So before you step foot in there again, this is what you should know.
If you've ever been to Aldi, you know it has a small selection compared to larger grocery
chains. But that doesn't mean they don't cater to a wide variety of diets. The chain has
its own gluten-free line called liveGfree, as well as an organic line called Simply Nature.
The store brand Never Any! consists of meat that's free of all steroids, added hormones,
and antibiotics. And for those of you who don't eat meat or are just looking for more
plant-based options, there's a vegetarian and vegan line called Earth Grown.
Aldi also has a large selection of protein bars and powders under the brand Elevation
and its Fit & Active line has many low-calorie options. It's entirely possible to build a
balanced and diverse meal plan with groceries all purchased from Aldi. And yes, the food
tastes good. Aldi spokesperson Liz Ruggles told PopSugar in 2018,
"We have in-house taste testers, aka our Aldi Test Kitchen Chefs. Our chefs hit pause on
developing recipes at least twice a year to taste the quality of our products before they
hit the shelves — every single Aldi product."
In other words, Aldi doesn't just want to give you cheaper options, it also wants them
to be appealing.
Aldi has an attractive return policy, which has surely attracted some loyalty. It's called
the "Twice as Nice" guarantee. This policy allows you to return an item, get your money
back, and receive a replacement product. Aldi's guarantee is that its products are the best
quality out there, so the company isn't afraid to offer such a generous return policy. If
you need to make a return, you just need to bring your receipt and whatever remains of
the product back to the store. However, this policy only applies to food, as you can't
return alcohol or non-food products.
Larger retailers aren't as liberal with their returns. Walmart and Costco, for instance,
will refund money for returns, but they don't offer replacement products like Aldi does.
That said, there is a downside to making returns at Aldi. The chain doesn't have a dedicated
customer service desk like the big supermarkets, so you'll have to wait in the checkout line.
"Their twice as nice guarantee means that if you're not happy for any reason, they'll
give you a refund and replace it."
"Well, fine, why don't you just return me then?"
"You didn't come from Aldi."
Aldi is famous for its speedy checkout, which is estimated to be about 40 percent faster
than other grocery stores. Cashiers scan items at such lightning speed that it may be tricky
to load your groceries onto the conveyor belt as quickly as they're taken off. This system
is very much by design. Aldi products have several barcodes on them so that cashiers
don't have to look for one before scanning. Even produce is already packaged with a barcode
to prevent pausing to look up an item in the system.
Another unique aspect of checkout is that groceries are put into an empty cart beside
the cashier, rather than back into the customer's original cart. The cart will move to the spot
next to the cashier to be used for the groceries of the next person waiting, and so on down
the line. Aldi cashiers also don't bag groceries, which also saves time. Instead, customers
bag their own groceries in an area away from the checkout line. It makes the checkout process
a breeze, though it does make for a little more work for the customer.
The speed of shopping at Aldi compared to other grocery stores isn't just about the
checkout process. One reason for this speed is the store's smaller floor plan. Aldi stores
are usually about 12,000 square feet, and there aren't many aisles either, as most stores
feature just four or five. Unlike some grocery stores, each and every Aldi is laid out in
the same way so that you can always find what you need even when you're not at your usual
location.
Aldi stores also only feature a small selection of the same type of product, which makes it
faster for customers to grab something and go. The company knows that customers don't
want to spend a lifetime shopping for groceries, so they keep them happy with these time-saving
strategies.
You may not realize that Aldi is more than just a grocery store. It also sells a wide
range of home goods, ranging from decor to furniture to tools. You can also find clothing
and shoes as well as pet products. There's often seasonal items like Christmas wreaths
in winter and garden accessories in the warmer months. For many, these aisles are the best
part of shopping at Aldi. But there is a catch.
This section is known as Aldi Finds, and i ts items aren't available for very long. If
you see something you like, you'll want to grab it while you're there. Items are changed
weekly, so you may not find the same thing twice. There are about 100 featured items
per week. If a particular Aldi Find is popular enough, it may become part of the permanent
selection. But you may not want to rely on that possibility. If you're afraid of missing
out on these often elusive items, you can visit the chain's website to see the current
Aldi Finds and preview the following week's items.
You can find Aldi's circulars as soon as you walk into the store, and if you didn't notice
them when you came in, there are also circulars to grab on your way out. The ad on the way
in tells you that week's deals, while the one on the way out is for the next week. There's
even another circular called "Aldi Insider" that features the current Aldi Finds.
To save as much money as possible, you'll want to make sure you're staying on top of
these circulars. If you happen to forget to grab a current or upcoming weekly ad in-store,
don't fret. You can also find them on Aldi's website, which means you can even pull up
the ad on your phone while you're shopping.
It's immediately apparent when you step into an Aldi that the chain keeps things super
simple, which helps to keep prices as low as possible. Aldi spokesperson Liz Ruggles
told PopSugar in 2018,
"We don't have hidden expenses because we choose to save shoppers money rather than
have nonessential grocery store services like in-store banking, pharmacies, and check cashing."
Simply put, Aldi's emphasis isn't on all the extras. Instead, it's on having rock-bottom
prices. This approach has won over a lot of shoppers who want simplicity and affordable
groceries. Ruggles also told PopSugar that Aldi keeps prices low by putting products
on the shelf while they're still in the box. That way, workers don't take nearly as much
time stocking the shelves. Other stores' displays may look slightly neater, but to many shoppers,
the savings are well worth the sacrifice of keeping things pretty.
If you're in the mood to get a little buzzed, you should know that Aldi has an impressive
wine selection. The chain offers at least 37 wines for less than $10 per bottle. This
includes reds, whites, rosé, sparkling wines, and even specialty flavors like the "Petit
Chocolat." And Aldi's wine has even won awards from several different organizations.
As of 2020, there are nearly 30 award-winning kinds of wine listed on Aldi's website. Keep
in mind though that not all stores have the same selection, so you may not always be able
to find the specific wine you're looking for, especially if it's a specialty bottle. Prices
differ between locations as well. Either way, it's bound to be cheap. After all, you found
it at Aldi!
"What they've picked has been pared down to sort of give you a really good sense of, here's
the world of wine right now and here's what's relevant."
Aldi works hard to keep its prices low, but the company also cares about the ways its
stores affect the environment. There's a bring-your-own-bag rule, which doesn't just get you through checkout
faster, it also prevents the use of plastic bags. As Aldi spokesperson Liz Ruggles told
PopSugar,
"We are dedicated to reducing our impact on the environment. So we ask our shoppers to
bring their own reusable grocery bags or buy a few at checkout to use for all their trips
to Aldi."
You may not have known you were helping out the earth while getting your weekly groceries
at Aldi, but now you can give yourself a pat on the back! Having customers using their
own reusable bags isn't the only way that Aldi is thinking about the environment. In
2018, the company announced that it would be reducing its use of plastic, with a goal
to have 100 percent sustainable packaging by 2025. Let's hope they can pull it off!
Unlike other grocery stores, Aldi doesn't accept personal checks. This probably isn't
a big deal for younger generations who don't use checks very often, but it's still worth
noting. Aldi's website notes that customers can pay with a debit card, credit card, Electronic
Benefits Transfer, SNAP, or just cold hard cash. In addition to checks, coupons are also
not accepted. You probably don't need them when you're already saving by choosing to
shop at Aldi, but don't expect to stack savings on top of savings.
"That'll be $47.19."
"Wow, that's it?"
"I know, right? So low."
"Wait, you can hear me?"
"Yep."
According to Aldi's website, there is an exception to the coupon rule. Occasionally, the company
will send out store coupons when there's a new location opening. These coupons could
show up in the newspaper, or be mailed out, or be possibly handed out in-person at a store.
The company doesn't offer digital coupons, though, so if you see one floating around
online, it isn't legitimate. Sorry, extreme couponers!
You may not realize that making your shopping trip at the right time will give you the best
chance of finding good deals and special items at Aldi, but it's definitely worth considering.
According to Taste of Home, Wednesday is the best day of the week to head to Aldi. This
is the day that fresh produce goes on sale and new products hit the shelves. You shouldn't
just think about the day of the week you go, as the time of day is also essential. As you
might've guessed, the morning is the ideal time to shop for the best selection. Going
early allows you the opportunity to root through the aisles before other customers do the same.
"Let's just keep this our little secret."
It's important to note that Aldi stores don't have the same hours as other grocery stores.
They're usually open for about 11 hours a day while stores like Walmart may stay open
for 24 hours. Unfortunately, you won't always be able to make a quick late-night run to
Aldi when you realize you're out of essential items, so make sure you do a good job planning
ahead.
Aldi is more tech-savvy than you might have suspected. The company's app, which is called
ALDI USA, shows you what sales are going on in the current week and which deals are coming
your way the next week. It's updated on Wednesdays just as the in-store sales are, so you can
make your shopping plan a week before you go into the store. The app is also specific
to your Aldi location so there's no question whether you'll find the item you're hunting
for.
The app allows you to search for products by department and lets you know what new products
have hit the store. You can even add them to your list with the app's shopping list
tool. Additionally, the app helps you find Aldi locations, so you can visit one even
when you're out of town. And the app's QR Code Reader helps you scan items and find
their description while you're actually shopping in the store. It's a handy tool, especially
if you're a regular Aldi shopper.
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