I'm watching Carson Kressley hosting How To Look Good Naked and he is in some big warehouse like place. Is Costco like a U.S version of Aldi?
Costco?
- Thread starter sprintman
- Start date
- Status
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2003
- Messages
- 23,587
Well, I don't think even good looking people walk around naked at Costco.
Sorry, never seen an ALDI here, so I can't tell you if it's like Costco. Chances are they are similar in that both are selling bulk packages.
Sorry, never seen an ALDI here, so I can't tell you if it's like Costco. Chances are they are similar in that both are selling bulk packages.
Not much alike. Costco is a really big warehouse, Aldi stores around here are small to medium grocery stores with bulk product concept.
costco is like BJ's, or Sam's Club, but better (so I hear, we don't have Costco around here).
ALDI's is a great little store, I haven't found a product there yet I don't like.
ALDI's is a great little store, I haven't found a product there yet I don't like.
The business model of Aldi in the US is different - they target a segment in the market not interested in paying the brand name premium. They also target the upmarket segment through their 'Trader Joe`s' stores. Some of the products are actually sold under different names in both the stores at the same prices.
Costco is a place where they sell bulk products - looks like a large warehouse. It's where you buy a gallon of ketchup at a time.
Costco is a place where they sell bulk products - looks like a large warehouse. It's where you buy a gallon of ketchup at a time.
JHZR2
Staff member
Originally Posted By: CivicFan
The business model of Aldi in the US is different - they target a segment in the market not interested in paying the brand name premium. They also target the upmarket segment through their 'Trader Joe`s' stores.
Wow, Trader Joe's is part of the same company that Aldi is, or perhaps to put it better, is a subsidiary of Aldi? I did not realize that.
We have an Aldi not too far from us, and a Trader Joe's too. I like the Trader Joe's for a variety of things that arent readily available at the typical supermarket. Ive never been to Aldi though.
The business model of Aldi in the US is different - they target a segment in the market not interested in paying the brand name premium. They also target the upmarket segment through their 'Trader Joe`s' stores.
Wow, Trader Joe's is part of the same company that Aldi is, or perhaps to put it better, is a subsidiary of Aldi? I did not realize that.
We have an Aldi not too far from us, and a Trader Joe's too. I like the Trader Joe's for a variety of things that arent readily available at the typical supermarket. Ive never been to Aldi though.
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2002
- Messages
- 39,793
Aldi appears to get overruns. Some appear to be seconds. The frozen mini pizzas that my wife bought my daughter appear irregular. Some of the bacon (great tasting maple cured) are miscuts ..about 1/2 price of any other product. The micro wave popcorn appears to not be as accurately timed for the standard setting, which suggests that its bagged for discount (not making the grade for a more expensive name brands) ..but that's just my speculation. Their Crystal Lite alternative is way cheaper ..but appears to be bag house waste from the Crystal Lite plant. The powder is so fine that mixing it will eventually form a dust on surfaces of the kitchen. I didn't believe it until my wife wiped off the top of the hood microwave. It reminded me of what used to come out of the spray dryers or the Torit dust collectors at the dye plant. Best buy on canned cat food locally ... Osstree-hen hen Chur-mhen chocolate ..acewell ace D'hane-eesh kook'he's ah cheap-her d-air.
I shop Aldi's a lot. Here, they are a decidely down market place mostly stocking ordinary sizes of a limited number of brands, mostly their own. You see the manager dragging in pallets on a hand truck. Very little gets shelved. When a box on the pallet is empty, you have to throw it aside. Some of their products are junk not worth carrying home, but most are OK, little different from the brands you would pay 2-3 times as much for elsewhere. Money we save there on food is money that can go for something important, like Pennzoil.
There is no service desk or telephone number in the book. Empty boxes are free, but if you didn't bring your own bag, you have to pay for them. I take my big, sturdy Home Depot one. Carts, you get your quarter back when you return it to the rack.
I was one of the toughest places to get permission to take the dog in. There is nobody to ask, and the manager didn't answer my letter. Finally my wife caught him out stocking the floor one doay.
There is no service desk or telephone number in the book. Empty boxes are free, but if you didn't bring your own bag, you have to pay for them. I take my big, sturdy Home Depot one. Carts, you get your quarter back when you return it to the rack.
I was one of the toughest places to get permission to take the dog in. There is nobody to ask, and the manager didn't answer my letter. Finally my wife caught him out stocking the floor one doay.
There's an aldi here in town, and I can honestly say I've only been through their doors a half dozen times (once to buy a set of spanners).
Their model makes them cheaper, I agree. But even the supermarkets employ a lot more people per Kg of product that passes through the doors. I prefer to spend my money where highschool kids and single mums are earning a few bucks (rather than paying them through taxation/ss).
Their model makes them cheaper, I agree. But even the supermarkets employ a lot more people per Kg of product that passes through the doors. I prefer to spend my money where highschool kids and single mums are earning a few bucks (rather than paying them through taxation/ss).
"Money we save there on food is money that can go for something important, like Pennzoil."
One of the best lines I've read here in a long time!
One of the best lines I've read here in a long time!
Originally Posted By: Shannow
There's an aldi here in town, and I can honestly say I've only been through their doors a half dozen times (once to buy a set of spanners).
Their model makes them cheaper, I agree. But even the supermarkets employ a lot more people per Kg of product that passes through the doors. I prefer to spend my money where highschool kids and single mums are earning a few bucks (rather than paying them through taxation/ss).
agreed. i've never liked aldi.
There's an aldi here in town, and I can honestly say I've only been through their doors a half dozen times (once to buy a set of spanners).
Their model makes them cheaper, I agree. But even the supermarkets employ a lot more people per Kg of product that passes through the doors. I prefer to spend my money where highschool kids and single mums are earning a few bucks (rather than paying them through taxation/ss).
agreed. i've never liked aldi.
Aldi is a dump. Cheap, nasty food at low prices. Aldis are usually found in dangerous neighborhoods.
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2002
- Messages
- 39,793
Originally Posted By: MarginCalled
Aldi is a dump. Cheap, nasty food at low prices. Aldis are usually found in dangerous neighborhoods.
My local Aldi is next to THD. I don't buy everything there ..but there are a few items it just doesn't make a difference.
My older daughter pulled her hood over her head the first time she went with my wife. Now there are quite a few upscale SUV's in the lot ..and being driven by well attired and groomed women.
I expect to see more of them.
Seniors flock there too.
Aldi is a dump. Cheap, nasty food at low prices. Aldis are usually found in dangerous neighborhoods.
My older daughter pulled her hood over her head the first time she went with my wife. Now there are quite a few upscale SUV's in the lot ..and being driven by well attired and groomed women.
I expect to see more of them.
Seniors flock there too.
Lot's of organic food and upnarket wines in our Aldi's. Seems like they have different set ups for different countries.
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2003
- Messages
- 23,587
The Aldi stores I know from Germany used to be mostly frequented by low income people and guest workers. Compared to a regular grocer or supermarket they were holes, or rather long tunnels, in the wall. They had nothing I'd ever really. Think bulk soda and bulk sweets, lots of instant foods. As kids and teens we sometimes bought a few cans of soda there. All this may have changed since the mid '90s. When I check them out online, the Aldi shops in Germany seem to be about like Smart&Final shops in the US.
The Trader Joe's stores in the US are small supermarkets with a grocery store ambience, which has a local theme (For example Barbary Coast). Often they are a too cramped with nasty people. The prices vary from good value to typically overpriced on may imported items.
The Trader Joe's stores in the US are small supermarkets with a grocery store ambience, which has a local theme (For example Barbary Coast). Often they are a too cramped with nasty people. The prices vary from good value to typically overpriced on may imported items.
Ours (and the only other one I've seen is a classic "cattle crush". when walking towards the building, it's brick, no windows except for the exit end. You enter on the second door from the end, and make a sharp left. You cannot exit that door, but must at least complete most of the circuit.
The left wall is lined with pallets of cut/tear open boxes, and there's three "lanes" (6 product faces/facets). Facet 1 is the first lane you enter. It has biscuits, sweets, crisps breakfast cereals soft drinks and cordials. End wall is cosmetic/hair care. Centre has some electronic stuff, and their "special" chairs/tents/PCs etc. Next across is the fruit/veg and frozen food.
Very last lane is the meat dairy and bread.
Then you head towards the light, and are "greated" with the only Aldi employee in the store, a large, middle aged lady with a scowl.
It's a very clever layout from a psychological point of view. No distractions, just get the job done filling up the cart, starting with the rubbish optional stuff, then the stuff that you stopped in to look at, and finally the stuff that you really came to get (food)...then escape into the light.
I've got a couple of similar layouts in my yard, and they are quite effective.
The left wall is lined with pallets of cut/tear open boxes, and there's three "lanes" (6 product faces/facets). Facet 1 is the first lane you enter. It has biscuits, sweets, crisps breakfast cereals soft drinks and cordials. End wall is cosmetic/hair care. Centre has some electronic stuff, and their "special" chairs/tents/PCs etc. Next across is the fruit/veg and frozen food.
Very last lane is the meat dairy and bread.
Then you head towards the light, and are "greated" with the only Aldi employee in the store, a large, middle aged lady with a scowl.
It's a very clever layout from a psychological point of view. No distractions, just get the job done filling up the cart, starting with the rubbish optional stuff, then the stuff that you stopped in to look at, and finally the stuff that you really came to get (food)...then escape into the light.
I've got a couple of similar layouts in my yard, and they are quite effective.
- Status
Similar threads
