The Biggest Mistakes You're Making At ALDI, According To Employees & Insiders
Even if you shop regularly at ALDI, you might be missing out on a few tips and tricks that could save you serious cash and snag you fun new finds. After all, no one knows the store and its intricacies better than the people running it day-to-day or shopping it week-to-week.
While staffers are typically forbidden from spilling such tea, people professing to be Aldi employees (along with loyal customers) are divulging major secrets across social media, including everything from the best days and times to shop to the sneaky ways you can score price markdowns. These are the 7 mistakes you're making while shopping the supermarket—and what you should be doing instead.
You're Missing Out On Easy Discounts
While buying food with a nearby expiration date might not seem like the most logical shopping strategy, at ALDI, it is. Anything food item approaching its sell-by will get you an automatic discount. You'll have to be vigilant about your checking yourself, though. While employees will occasionally update the price tags, according to some shoppers, they often don't.
"I always check the dates on the meat. Day before = 50% off and more often than not, they forget/don’t have time to put the red stickers on them," one Reddit user said, before boasting that they "got 6 pounds of chicken breast and four briskets (15 pounds of beef) for $55."
"You tell the clerk that these are missing their red stickers and they price adjust accordingly," they added.
You're Shopping At The Wrong Time
It's been a longtime rumor that ALDI drops discounts at different times throughout the day. An alleged former employee seemingly confirmed the theory in a tell-all Instagram video and claimed that between 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. is an optimal time to snag high markdowns.
Others argued that it depends on the product. A Reddit user said that their local ALDI has the "best bargains" on bread and meat after 6 p.m. on Fridays or on Monday evenings, while another said that "all fresh/refrigerated goods are checked in the morning before the store opens" and "if it's two days before sell-by, it gets $1 off. If sell-by is the next day, it gets a half off sticker." While it might vary from store location to store location, this is a good guide to educate your shopping time. You can always ask an employee to confirm the best time to get discounts at your local store the next time you're in!
And On The Wrong Day, Too:
According to several Reddit threads, the best day of the week to shop is Wednesday and there are multiple reasons for that. For starters, many stores restock their full supply that morning—meaning shelves are fresh and full. This is also typically when new ALDI Finds arrive, so if you want to try the latest and greatest products, this is a good day to do it.
You're Not Taking Advantage Of The "Twice As Nice" Policy
Half the fun of grocery shopping (especially at stores like ALDI) is trying new products, but that doesn't mean you'll like everything you toss in the cart. However, ICYMI, the chain actually has a "Twice as Nice" policy that will get you a full refund simply because you don't like something.
While not everything is included, if the product comes with a blue "Twice as Nice" sticker, you can bring it back to the store with your receipt for a full refund or replacement. "It doesn't have to be spoiled or defective," one shopper said. "It can just be gross."
You're Not Buying Your Cooking Essentials There
If you're not already buying kitchen and cooking essentials at ALDI, it's time to start. They're so much cheaper than other retailers but still offer impressive quality, customers swear.
"Since Aldi's parchment paper is so cheap I use it pretty much every time I use a sheet pan, saves so much time cleaning and has kept my sheet pans shiny and pretty much new looking," one customer wrote online, while others raved about the olive oil. "The Simply Nature Organic evoo at Aldi has incredible flavor and has the seal of authenticity for purity," a shopper chimed in. "Second! Came here to say this," a second person said.
You're Not Bringing A Quarter
Unlike other grocery stores, you actually need a quarter deposit to unlock a cart for your shop, so it's important to remember change.
You Aren't Ready With Your Card Or Cash At Checkout
According to countless ALDI employees, the store actually times its cashiers on their checkout speed. As a result, they move fast. It's advised to have your card, cash, or payment method out and ready while they're ringing up your groceries. It will make the process easier for them and you.
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