Decided to drop into Aldi today to pick up a few things as we didn't have time to get to our local Coles before it closed.
What a bloody waste of time
Aldi only stock mainly generic house brands and bugger all range of them at that, we wanted:
Wostershire sauce "sorry discontinued"
Potatoes "sorry sold out"
Bacon "sorry imported"
Milk "sorry sold out"
Onions "sorry sold out"
about this time we gave up and paid for the little we purchased, we will pick up the rest next time at coles.
While we were we thought we would check the wild claims we have heard about Aldis fabulously cheap prices (we know our prices as we price check regularly) and guess what they are no cheaper over all than the Coles generic house brands we normally buy.
So all the Aldimaniacs out there keep deluding yourself we will stick to Coles where can get a full range at competative prices on the generic products
-- Edited by goinsoon on Saturday 11th of June 2011 09:50:46 PM
-- Edited by goinsoon on Saturday 11th of June 2011 09:52:11 PM
Happywanderer said
09:48 PM Jun 11, 2011
They had sold out of milk?! Thats surprising. I do buy a bit from Aldis but its only a few things that I particularly like, not a full shop. And when I have time. My daughter won't use them as they only have time to shop once a week and haven't got time to still go to their normal shop to get all the things they couldn't at Aldis.
Vic said
09:52 PM Jun 11, 2011
A neighbour told me today that Aldi are opening in WA soon........we don't have them at the moment........doesn't sound to promising.....
goinsoon said
09:54 PM Jun 11, 2011
Vic wrote:
A neighbour told me today that Aldi are opening in WA soon........we don't have them at the moment........doesn't sound to promising.....
A lot will disagree, but if you really look closely, you dont miss anything by not having an Aldi, and where do the profits go
OH!!! I KNOW GERMANY
Vic said
10:19 PM Jun 11, 2011
I'm not hanging by my fingernails, never been in one but will take a look if and when they get over here......
Ron and Shirley said
10:33 PM Jun 11, 2011
We buy a number of the frozen food products at Aldi. We look the packaging and see that it is made in Oz, though a couple are NZ in origin.
For example try their meat pies (party, snack, or normal size), better than the well known local name brands, made in Oz plus we find cheaper than the local named brands.
BTW Who earlier this year whilst in Victoria was singing the praises of the Aldi "booze", plus wishing for a local Aldi store. From what I have seen all their "booze" is imported (generic?) so not supporting any jobs in Oz.
Thats right it was Goinsoon, LOL.
-- Edited by Ron and Shirley on Saturday 11th of June 2011 10:37:01 PM
goinsoon said
10:50 PM Jun 11, 2011
Ron and Shirley wrote:
We buy a number of the frozen food products at Aldi. We look the packaging and see that it is made in Oz, though a couple are NZ in origin.
For example try their meat pies (party, snack, or normal size), better than the well known local name brands, made in Oz plus we find cheaper than the local named brands.
BTW Who earlier this year whilst in Victoria was singing the praises of the Aldi "booze", plus wishing for a local Aldi store. From what I have seen all their "booze" is imported (generic?) so not supporting any jobs in Oz.
Thats right it was Goinsoon, LOL.
-- Edited by Ron and Shirley on Saturday 11th of June 2011 10:37:01 PM
That was the booze, but booze alone does not a weeks shopping make, and also the Coles generic pies are the same price as aldi and just as good
cheers
Vic said
11:40 PM Jun 11, 2011
Hmmmmm.......may have to give the pies a miss (none meat eater).......booze.....I like it but it doesn't like me (gut problems)......what about general goods like Bunnings have etc?
-- Edited by Vic on Saturday 11th of June 2011 11:41:05 PM
goinsoon said
11:43 PM Jun 11, 2011
Well strange you say Vic, because they have a centre isle with general merchandise which changes weekly with everything from homewares, power tools etc and I must admit there some very good buys here
dazren said
12:05 AM Jun 12, 2011
Geez goinsoon !! you must be having a bad day, you seem a little
Aldi is not a one stop shop, they have been in victoria for a number of years, and are growing at a great rate, the majority of products that i have tried have all been excellent, the current affairs programs done a story on them a little while back, with the Aldi brands against the Coles and woolies generic brands, Aldi had a much higher local supplier base than the other two, and the basket of goodies was considerably cheaper, as i said they are not a one stop shop, but the quality is there for what they have, the same program also showed that the pricing at coles and woolies was only comparable if IF there was an Aldi in there area,,
Coles and woolies have been ripping us off for years, they have control of the complete food chain, they contract out the farmers and the growers, pay them a pittance, then put their huge mark-ups on [ sometimes 300 to 800 % ] and then to boot, they keep in in cold storage, to control the market, so we do not even get fresh meat and vegies anymore, But !!!! this is not enough for them, we all complain about the cost of fuel, who do you think controls and sets that price, Just look around at how many fuel outlets are going up under the supermarket banners, they already control the major share of the market, and are doing there best to get rid of the major independants, and when they do. Well i suppose the will still give you the 4 cents off ?? But it will be off whatever they wish to charge you, as You will have NO CHOICE,
No i do not think that Aldi is the bees knees, but they have gone into battle with the major two controlling entities, the will not win the war, but until the battle is over at least they are making the big two drop there prices when an Aldi is in the area. so i don't mind spending a few bob at Aldi's as there products are good and there prices are reasonable, and that's a few dollars i don't have to give the big two, as they will soon screw us over and get back at us when they have full control
Geez, what a rant !!! i must be having a bad day to !! so good night dazren
goinsoon said
12:16 AM Jun 12, 2011
Sorry Dazren
I don't take much notice of the current affairs shows with their biased agendas, we have done our very careful research with pricing, quality and country of origin, we didn't rely on the crap that the current affairs wanted us to believe, we went out and our own research as I said earlier.
We found the Australian content with generic products was comparable to Aldi, the prices comparable to Aldi and the quality more than comparable. We didn't find any noticable difference between the Coles and Aldi basket.
Aldi - weet bix, disgusting - in the bin
peanut butter - chinese -unedible - in the bin
baked beans - Italy
I could go through the list, but the range of imported foods in Aldi go on and on
Sorry cannot agree
Cowboy7307 said
03:40 AM Jun 12, 2011
My daughter lives in Queensland ,and a new aldis opened up down the road from Coles and Woolworths ,it took some time for her to go to them to shop but she says she saves about $50 a fortnight ,still goes to a butcher for meat and a goes to the local veg shed for fruit and veg,
my biggest grip with both Coles and Woolworths is standing at the check out for ages ,while half the check outs are closed ,will not be first time i have just left a trolly of food and walked out
Zoomtopz said
07:35 AM Jun 12, 2011
MuckDonalds - Never tried em.
Casino - Never been in one
aldi - who or what is an aldi
we have one in Grafton , I heard it is like Gtown gaol
Ya don't want to go there
lilly31 said
08:04 AM Jun 12, 2011
I have been to aldi ..None here in tamoworth .. I have have look when i been away in others town have brought few items from there ..Aldi if busy same as coles and woolies long line in checkout .I try to buy aussie things ,, to support out fellow worker and farmers and with food because our stardards are far better then lots of other countrys...
-- Edited by lilly31 on Sunday 12th of June 2011 01:47:43 PM
gst said
08:09 AM Jun 12, 2011
I think you all forget that woolies & coles are aussie owned and evethrough
Aldi is not, everyone who works for them are aussies so all the wages they pay out
keeps some of us on the road with our penisons and investments and taxes.
-- Edited by gst on Sunday 12th of June 2011 08:12:49 AM
Vic said
08:42 AM Jun 12, 2011
goinsoon wrote:
Well strange you say Vic, because they have a centre isle with general merchandise which changes weekly with everything from homewares, power tools etc and I must admit there some very good buys here
Thanks GS, will have a look when they come to WA (Wait Awhile).......but won't hold my breath waiting.....
Firefly said
08:46 AM Jun 12, 2011
We have an Aldi here and to be honest, I shop in there a lot but not regular. I shop at Coles simply because I get it all in one hit. I have a local green grocer and butcher I get my meat and veg from.
There are things I won't buy from Aldi, but the same goes for Coles, some things you just can't eat. But at Coles, you have the choice of more than one brand. I don't shop at Woolies because I like to be served, in the door and out again. You don't get that at either Woolies or Aldi, their checkout lines are criminal.
I do buy a lot of specials at Aldi though, they are very good at that. I bought my breadmaker, $60 compared to $300, turbo oven, $40 compared to $200, bbq plate mats, $10 compared to $30 at even Bunnings.
With savings like that, I will get my specials there, I like the money in my pocket and not the pockets of the fat cat supermarket chains.
But Coles, the workers are friendly, helpful, the shop is clean and tidy, they have a bottle shop for the occasional bottle of yum yums and at decent prices so I guess we have the best of all worlds here.
Aldi do stock yummy chocolate though GS, I do like it, probably too much but I don't often buy it.
You get your favourite brands in most things and I think we like to stick to them, but Aldi tend not to stock a lot of them. My daughter saves a lot of money in there, being a single mum of two, its a big help to her.
I wouldn't shop there on a weekly basis though.
Specials start on a Thursday and people are lined up here, from as early as 7.30 for a 9 opening at times.
One place I would recommend you try for a bargain, is Rivers. I don't know who owns them but they are pretty fair, especially shoes. I buy for my grandies all the time in there and I bought four good quality assorted pairs and sizes last weeek, for $36.
When kids only get a season out of a pair anyway, its great value. Sometimes you have to have a good look but its worth it. Ladies lovely knitted vests with a furry collar for $14, made me smile.
Cupie said
09:22 AM Jun 12, 2011
We rarely buy groceries at Aldi ... SWMBO prefers buying at places with a choice of brands. Usually Woolworths because of convenience & I suppose the fuel dockets .. WW servo close by too. I hate WW fruit (quality) & meat (price) so we get them from local fruiters & butchers.
But I like Aldi rice crackers, chips, nuts and the like that we have with afternoon drinkies so I usually stock up the van with them from Aldi when we are about to go on a Van trip.
Bit sad yesterday when I wanted to pick up one of their office chairs on weekly special. Visited four Aldi stores in our area but all had sold out. Ended up buying a DIY rubber stamp for around $6. (To stamp my Getz log book when I do the intermediate services).
stan747 said
09:50 AM Jun 12, 2011
We do most of our shopping at Aldi in Gympie QLD and find most of the food very good. We save about 20% overall. Some of the meat is excellent and the specials on a Thursday are real good value for money I always thought wollies and coles were American owned. If we have to shop for things we can't get at Aldi, we go to IGA,
Palebushman said
10:10 AM Jun 12, 2011
Vic wrote:
Hmmmmm.......may have to give the pies a miss (none meat eater).......booze.....I like it but it doesn't like me (gut problems)......what about general goods like Bunnings have etc?
-- Edited by Vic on Saturday 11th of June 2011 11:41:05 PM
Hi Vic, glad to see you are still in fine fettle. As far as 'Aldimaniacs' are concerned, we are happy to say we fall into this category but only as far as their 'Specials' are concerned. Many items that we have purchased eg; camera, GPS and laptop etc; have been fantastic value and of really excellent build quality. To keep informed with their offers we signed up to the link below:-
As for our normal shopping, we prefer to stay with Aussie based companies like IGA.
ozjohn said
10:28 AM Jun 12, 2011
I think my reply may be on the wrong thread as this appears to be a rubbish Aldo thread.
We only wish we had an Aldi store closer to home.
Whenever we travel to Frankston or Rosebud we always stock up with Aldi branded products. The vast majority are made in Australia by the same companies that supply the major supernmarkets. Sauces and soups etc are mainly SPC and Campbells. Unlike a previous posts remarks that the booze is imported, well, the light beer is imported from NZ while the heavy beers are made in Victoria by CUB.
We've managed to keep and open mind about the unknown brand names and tried the products that we would normally buy. Most have been really good with a few that we did't feel hit the mark. But the same applies to the known brands as well.
Not impressed with their meat (especially the sausges)and still prefer the local butcher and also purchase out fruit and veggies from the green grocer or local farmers market. Their bread is pretty hard to beat for value especially the Raisin loaf. Yep! We've found them quite a bit cheaper.
Cheers, ozjohn.
jimricho said
10:42 AM Jun 12, 2011
Without taking either a pro or anti Aldi (or IGA) side I think I should correct an impression some members seem to have....
Both Woolworths and Coles are Australian owned...
Woolworths is a public company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX), Coles is a part of the Wesfarmers group, also listed on the ASX.
Both companies have very large numbers of retail investors as shareholders, that is ordinary Australian citizens. It is well possible that anyone who has any money invested in superannuation (most employed people do), allocated pension funds, or other sharemarket linked managed funds would indirectly have some of that money invested in either of these companies.
Happywanderer said
12:35 PM Jun 12, 2011
I really don't care who they are all owned by. It's a ridiculous assumption to make anyway as somewhere along the line Aussies are getting helped, even if its just the shop assistants in the Aldis getting paid and spending their hard earned money in Aus. That said I buy from them all, I get my brochures, make notes and go shopping. There are certain things I only buy from a particular supermarket. eg. I can't eat the Sao Crackers from Coles or Woolies, so hard I can't even break them, but the Aldis equivalent I love. Aldis bread is very good and as suggested up above the raisin loaf is extra good. There is a great olive oil I only buy from Aldi. All Australian Owned and produced. Its horses for courses isn't it. No matter what supermarket you go into you can find the same argument. Some stock imported, some not etc etc. The one thing I will not buy from any supermarket is imported fish. If it isn't NZ or Aus don't touch it. Basa comes from the sewerage running rivers in Asia, Yuk.
Happywanderer said
12:36 PM Jun 12, 2011
And if anyone says but anything from NZ is imported, so am I. I will happily buy anything that comes from clean green NZ, I know its good. Look at me!!
dazren said
12:56 PM Jun 12, 2011
Well it looks like we have Aldi people and not Aldi people, and ''never the twain shall meet''
My main point in this discussion is that the two majors control every asset in the supply and availability to our food chain, because they have the Power to do it, And if it was not for the opposition that companies lke Aldi, and IGA etc, then they would have a free reighn to pay suppliers want they want, and charge the public want they want, food is a neccessity that we all need, and no two companies should have control over life neccessities,
This aside they are now well on the way to controlling that other neccessity of living, that is fuel, why is the food industry moving to also being the Major controller of the distibution of petrol, diesel, and gas ??????????// Once they have the control with no opposition, like Aldi, IGA, and the Independant fuel suppliers, Then you can also have your choice, you can choose Woolworths, or you can choose Coles, then you can pay want they tell you, for what they want, and there is nothing you can do about it, as there will be no oppisition to fall back on, So if you want to eat ?? and you want to travel,?? it will be a matter of pay what they want, or go without
In the meantime i oftem think of a discussion i had with a pensioner couple outside an Aldi store, he said, some people shop at the big two to get the 4cent a litre fuel voucher and save about $2 per tank. he said I shop at Aldi and with the money i save i can purchase a FULL tank of petrol ??? oh well get it while you can i suppose ??? dazren
jimbo said
01:38 PM Jun 12, 2011
I'll take Aldi over Coles and Woolies anytime....They are the main reason we are being ripped off with this Fuel caper.......Is' simply a matter of bad luck you caught Aldi with out some stock...Usually its at the far end of the day it happens
Cruising Granny said
02:15 PM Jun 12, 2011
A weekly shopping trip is like going to the library. I read the labels of most things I need to buy, to see what the ingredients are, where it's made and who packed it. Not always the same. THEN I check the price. It's false economy to drive around looking for the best deals. You use more fuel than money saved. I like a one-stop-shop where I can get everything on my shopping list of the quality I expect, after I've read the labels. When you shop always remember that advertising is a money-making industry, and is more often than not, untrue, or playing with the truth. Labelling is advertising. Some internal brand products are no better than the the packaging they come in, while others are of an acceptable quality. Trial and error. The food we buy has to meet Australian standards, it's just the quantity of fat, salt and sugar which varies. The bottom line is, if you're satisfied with the product and the price you paid, then shop there. We're all looking to save money and to get the best deal for our buck. Fuel vouchers means we've already paid for the discount somewhere else. We get nothing for nothing.
Beth54 said
02:51 PM Jun 12, 2011
My sister and my daughter-in-law are 'Aldi-maniacs'. (Sis in Gympie too Stan.) Both agree, no you can't get everything you want there, but still worth it to them.
My d-i-l is particularly economical, and with a toddler, she has noted that most of Aldi products don't have all the additives that are in a lot of foods, and that's important to her. She buys meat from a butcher near Aldi, and for fruit and veg, some is from Aldi, and some from the markets at Fernvale. Woolies is quite close to her, but she rarely has to go there.
As for me, I'm a bit like Marj. I check out the 'cattledogs', and shop accordingly. But I'm lucky that all choices are close to me, so I'm not wasting fuel driving from one to the other.
There are some things, like fish, that I will only buy if it's Australian or NZ, but mostly I buy the cheapest. Some plain label stuff is okay, and some is c.r.a.p.
I have found with Aldi that you have to get there early on the first day for really good priced items. For instance, when I bought my camp fridge...by the arvo, they were all gone.
Thanks for the link Dave, will sign on for that so I can see the difference between the prices here in WA (none Aldi) and Aldi over there.
Say hello to Jon for me when you catch up at Mareeba Show Grounds.
JohnM said
03:59 PM Jun 12, 2011
goinsoon wrote:
Vic wrote:
A neighbour told me today that Aldi are opening in WA soon........we don't have them at the moment........doesn't sound to promising.....
A lot will disagree, but if you really look closely, you dont miss anything by not having an Aldi, and where do the profits go
OH!!! I KNOW GERMANY
Oh Dear,
Someone not too keen on Aldi, to each their own. As we live in a democracy we all can choose where we spend our money.
For ourselves, we do like to spread our shopping around and that includes Aldi. As a matter of fact we buy a range of staple good only from Aldi, and what they do not stock from Woolworth, not often we shop at Coles.
Decided to drop into Aldi today to pick up a few things as we didn't have time to get to our local Coles before it closed.
What a bloody waste of time
Aldi only stock mainly generic house brands and bugger all range of them at that, we wanted:
Wostershire sauce "sorry discontinued"
Potatoes "sorry sold out"
Bacon "sorry imported"
Milk "sorry sold out"
Onions "sorry sold out"
about this time we gave up and paid for the little we purchased, we will pick up the rest next time at coles.
While we were we thought we would check the wild claims we have heard about Aldis fabulously cheap prices (we know our prices as we price check regularly) and guess what they are no cheaper over all than the Coles generic house brands we normally buy.
So all the Aldimaniacs out there keep deluding yourself we will stick to Coles where can get a full range at competative prices on the generic products
-- Edited by goinsoon on Saturday 11th of June 2011 09:50:46 PM
-- Edited by goinsoon on Saturday 11th of June 2011 09:52:11 PM
My daughter won't use them as they only have time to shop once a week and haven't got time to still go to their normal shop to get all the things they couldn't at Aldis.
A lot will disagree, but if you really look closely, you dont miss anything by not having an Aldi, and where do the profits go
OH!!! I KNOW GERMANY
I'm not hanging by my fingernails, never been in one but will take a look if and when they get over here......
We buy a number of the frozen food products at Aldi. We look the packaging and see that it is made in Oz, though a couple are NZ in origin.
For example try their meat pies (party, snack, or normal size), better than the well known local name brands, made in Oz plus we find cheaper than the local named brands.
BTW Who earlier this year whilst in Victoria was singing the praises of the Aldi "booze", plus wishing for a local Aldi store. From what I have seen all their "booze" is imported (generic?) so not supporting any jobs in Oz.
Thats right it was Goinsoon, LOL.
-- Edited by Ron and Shirley on Saturday 11th of June 2011 10:37:01 PM
That was the booze, but booze alone does not a weeks shopping make, and also the Coles generic pies are the same price as aldi and just as good
cheers
Hmmmmm.......may have to give the pies a miss (none meat eater).......booze.....I like it but it doesn't like me (gut problems)......what about general goods like Bunnings have etc?
-- Edited by Vic on Saturday 11th of June 2011 11:41:05 PM
Well strange you say Vic, because they have a centre isle with general merchandise which changes weekly with everything from homewares, power tools etc and I must admit there some very good buys here
Aldi is not a one stop shop, they have been in victoria for a number of years, and are growing at a great rate, the majority of products that i have tried have all been excellent, the current affairs programs done a story on them a little while back, with the Aldi brands against the Coles and woolies generic brands, Aldi had a much higher local supplier base than the other two, and the basket of goodies was considerably cheaper, as i said they are not a one stop shop, but the quality is there for what they have, the same program also showed that the pricing at coles and woolies was only comparable if IF there was an Aldi in there area,,
Coles and woolies have been ripping us off for years, they have control of the complete food chain, they contract out the farmers and the growers, pay them a pittance, then put their huge mark-ups on [ sometimes 300 to 800 % ] and then to boot, they keep in in cold storage, to control the market, so we do not even get fresh meat and vegies anymore, But !!!! this is not enough for them, we all complain about the cost of fuel, who do you think controls and sets that price, Just look around at how many fuel outlets are going up under the supermarket banners, they already control the major share of the market, and are doing there best to get rid of the major independants, and when they do. Well i suppose the will still give you the 4 cents off ?? But it will be off whatever they wish to charge you, as You will have NO CHOICE,
No i do not think that Aldi is the bees knees, but they have gone into battle with the major two controlling entities, the will not win the war, but until the battle is over at least they are making the big two drop there prices when an Aldi is in the area. so i don't mind spending a few bob at Aldi's as there products are good and there prices are reasonable, and that's a few dollars i don't have to give the big two, as they will soon screw us over and get back at us when they have full control
Geez, what a rant !!! i must be having a bad day to !! so good night dazren
Sorry Dazren
I don't take much notice of the current affairs shows with their biased agendas, we have done our very careful research with pricing, quality and country of origin, we didn't rely on the crap that the current affairs wanted us to believe, we went out and our own research as I said earlier.
We found the Australian content with generic products was comparable to Aldi, the prices comparable to Aldi and the quality more than comparable. We didn't find any noticable difference between the Coles and Aldi basket.
Aldi - weet bix, disgusting - in the bin
peanut butter - chinese -unedible - in the bin
baked beans - Italy
I could go through the list, but the range of imported foods in Aldi go on and on
Sorry cannot agree
My daughter lives in Queensland ,and a new aldis opened up down the road from Coles and Woolworths ,it took some time for her to go to them to shop but she says she saves about $50 a fortnight ,still goes to a butcher for meat and a goes to the local veg shed for fruit and veg,
my biggest grip with both Coles and Woolworths is standing at the check out for ages ,while half the check outs are closed ,will not be first time i have just left a trolly of food and walked out
MuckDonalds - Never tried em.
Casino - Never been in one
aldi - who or what is an aldi
we have one in Grafton , I heard it is like Gtown gaol
Ya don't want to go there
I have been to aldi ..None here in tamoworth .. I have have look when i been away in others town have brought few items from there ..Aldi if busy same as coles and woolies long line in checkout .I try to buy aussie things ,, to support out fellow worker and farmers and with food because our stardards are far better then lots of other countrys...
-- Edited by lilly31 on Sunday 12th of June 2011 01:47:43 PM
I think you all forget that woolies & coles are aussie owned and evethrough
Aldi is not, everyone who works for them are aussies so all the wages they pay out
keeps some of us on the road with our penisons and investments and taxes.
-- Edited by gst on Sunday 12th of June 2011 08:12:49 AM
We have an Aldi here and to be honest, I shop in there a lot but not regular. I shop at Coles simply because I get it all in one hit. I have a local green grocer and butcher I get my meat and veg from.
There are things I won't buy from Aldi, but the same goes for Coles, some things you just can't eat. But at Coles, you have the choice of more than one brand. I don't shop at Woolies because I like to be served, in the door and out again. You don't get that at either Woolies or Aldi, their checkout lines are criminal.
I do buy a lot of specials at Aldi though, they are very good at that. I bought my breadmaker, $60 compared to $300, turbo oven, $40 compared to $200, bbq plate mats, $10 compared to $30 at even Bunnings.
With savings like that, I will get my specials there, I like the money in my pocket and not the pockets of the fat cat supermarket chains.
But Coles, the workers are friendly, helpful, the shop is clean and tidy, they have a bottle shop for the occasional bottle of yum yums and at decent prices so I guess we have the best of all worlds here.
Aldi do stock yummy chocolate though GS, I do like it, probably too much
but I don't often buy it.
You get your favourite brands in most things and I think we like to stick to them, but Aldi tend not to stock a lot of them. My daughter saves a lot of money in there, being a single mum of two, its a big help to her.
I wouldn't shop there on a weekly basis though.
Specials start on a Thursday and people are lined up here, from as early as 7.30 for a 9 opening at times.
One place I would recommend you try for a bargain, is Rivers. I don't know who owns them but they are pretty fair, especially shoes. I buy for my grandies all the time in there and I bought four good quality assorted pairs and sizes last weeek, for $36.
When kids only get a season out of a pair anyway, its great value.
Sometimes you have to have a good look but its worth it. Ladies lovely knitted vests with a furry collar for $14, made me smile. 
We rarely buy groceries at Aldi ... SWMBO prefers buying at places with a choice of brands. Usually Woolworths because of convenience & I suppose the fuel dockets .. WW servo close by too. I hate WW fruit (quality) & meat (price) so we get them from local fruiters & butchers.
But I like Aldi rice crackers, chips, nuts and the like that we have with afternoon drinkies so I usually stock up the van with them from Aldi when we are about to go on a Van trip.
Bit sad yesterday when I wanted to pick up one of their office chairs on weekly special. Visited four Aldi stores in our area but all had sold out. Ended up buying a DIY rubber stamp for around $6. (To stamp my Getz log book when I do the intermediate services).
Hi Vic, glad to see you are still in fine fettle. As far as 'Aldimaniacs' are concerned, we are happy to say we fall into this category but only as far as their 'Specials' are concerned. Many items that we have purchased eg; camera, GPS and laptop etc; have been fantastic value and of really excellent build quality. To keep informed with their offers we signed up to the link below:-
http://www.aldi.com.au/au/html/service/newsletter.htm?WT.z_src=main
As for our normal shopping, we prefer to stay with Aussie based companies like IGA.
I think my reply may be on the wrong thread as this appears to be a rubbish Aldo thread.
We only wish we had an Aldi store closer to home.
Whenever we travel to Frankston or Rosebud we always stock up with Aldi branded products. The vast majority are made in Australia by the same companies that supply the major supernmarkets. Sauces and soups etc are mainly SPC and Campbells. Unlike a previous posts remarks that the booze is imported, well, the light beer is imported from NZ while the heavy beers are made in Victoria by CUB.
We've managed to keep and open mind about the unknown brand names and tried the products that we would normally buy. Most have been really good with a few that we did't feel hit the mark. But the same applies to the known brands as well.
Not impressed with their meat (especially the sausges)and still prefer the local butcher and also purchase out fruit and veggies from the green grocer or local farmers market. Their bread is pretty hard to beat for value especially the Raisin loaf.
Yep! We've found them quite a bit cheaper.
Cheers, ozjohn.
Both Woolworths and Coles are Australian owned...
Woolworths is a public company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX), Coles is a part of the Wesfarmers group, also listed on the ASX.
Both companies have very large numbers of retail investors as shareholders, that is ordinary Australian citizens. It is well possible that anyone who has any money invested in superannuation (most employed people do), allocated pension funds, or other sharemarket linked managed funds would indirectly have some of that money invested in either of these companies.
That said I buy from them all, I get my brochures, make notes and go shopping.
There are certain things I only buy from a particular supermarket. eg. I can't eat the Sao Crackers from Coles or Woolies, so hard I can't even break them, but the Aldis equivalent I love. Aldis bread is very good and as suggested up above the raisin loaf is extra good. There is a great olive oil I only buy from Aldi. All Australian Owned and produced.
Its horses for courses isn't it. No matter what supermarket you go into you can find the same argument. Some stock imported, some not etc etc.
The one thing I will not buy from any supermarket is imported fish. If it isn't NZ or Aus don't touch it. Basa comes from the sewerage running rivers in Asia, Yuk.
Well it looks like we have Aldi people and not Aldi people, and ''never the twain shall meet''
My main point in this discussion is that the two majors control every asset in the supply and availability to our food chain, because they have the Power to do it, And if it was not for the opposition that companies lke Aldi, and IGA etc, then they would have a free reighn to pay suppliers want they want, and charge the public want they want, food is a neccessity that we all need, and no two companies should have control over life neccessities,
This aside they are now well on the way to controlling that other neccessity of living, that is fuel, why is the food industry moving to also being the Major controller of the distibution of petrol, diesel, and gas ??????????// Once they have the control with no opposition, like Aldi, IGA, and the Independant fuel suppliers, Then you can also have your choice, you can choose Woolworths, or you can choose Coles, then you can pay want they tell you, for what they want, and there is nothing you can do about it, as there will be no oppisition to fall back on, So if you want to eat ?? and you want to travel,?? it will be a matter of pay what they want, or go without
In the meantime i oftem think of a discussion i had with a pensioner couple outside an Aldi store, he said, some people shop at the big two to get the 4cent a litre fuel voucher and save about $2 per tank. he said I shop at Aldi and with the money i save i can purchase a FULL tank of petrol ??? oh well get it while you can i suppose ??? dazren
I'll take Aldi over Coles and Woolies anytime....They are the main reason we are being ripped off with this Fuel caper.......Is' simply a matter of bad luck you caught Aldi with out some stock...Usually its at the far end of the day it happens
It's false economy to drive around looking for the best deals. You use more fuel than money saved.
I like a one-stop-shop where I can get everything on my shopping list of the quality I expect, after I've read the labels.
When you shop always remember that advertising is a money-making industry, and is more often than not, untrue, or playing with the truth. Labelling is advertising.
Some internal brand products are no better than the the packaging they come in, while others are of an acceptable quality. Trial and error.
The food we buy has to meet Australian standards, it's just the quantity of fat, salt and sugar which varies.
The bottom line is, if you're satisfied with the product and the price you paid, then shop there.
We're all looking to save money and to get the best deal for our buck. Fuel vouchers means we've already paid for the discount somewhere else. We get nothing for nothing.
My sister and my daughter-in-law are 'Aldi-maniacs'. (Sis in Gympie too Stan.) Both agree, no you can't get everything you want there, but still worth it to them.
My d-i-l is particularly economical, and with a toddler, she has noted that most of Aldi products don't have all the additives that are in a lot of foods, and that's important to her. She buys meat from a butcher near Aldi, and for fruit and veg, some is from Aldi, and some from the markets at Fernvale. Woolies is quite close to her, but she rarely has to go there.
As for me, I'm a bit like Marj. I check out the 'cattledogs', and shop accordingly. But I'm lucky that all choices are close to me, so I'm not wasting fuel driving from one to the other.
There are some things, like fish, that I will only buy if it's Australian or NZ, but mostly I buy the cheapest. Some plain label stuff is okay, and some is c.r.a.p.
I have found with Aldi that you have to get there early on the first day for really good priced items. For instance, when I bought my camp fridge...by the arvo, they were all gone.
Oh Dear,
Someone not too keen on Aldi, to each their own. As we live in a democracy we all can choose where we spend our money.
For ourselves, we do like to spread our shopping around and that includes Aldi. As a matter of fact we buy a range of staple good only from Aldi, and what they do not stock from Woolworth, not often we shop at Coles.
As I said to each their own yes?