Lidl — Attraction in Annapolis

My husband and I went into the store 15 minutes before closing. Every person after us, the manager would scream at the people from across the store that we were closed. The cashier and the manager both were getting nasty with people. She would also yell across the store that Lidl was closed then she looked at the Hispanic family that spoke Spanish and said, “You all are taking too long.” Then looked at us and said, “Are you ready?” Then asked the next people the same thing. The manager was walking up to people telling them that Lidl was closed and it was time to leave. She said, “It’s time to go. I don’t want to stay here any more than I have to. It’s time to go.” The. Again went and confronted the customers. Then when the customer came to the front, she dropped her box and the manager looked over at her and said, “That’s what you get.” It was a mess and highly unprofessional and it’s not the first time this has happened with this manager specifically. She makes comments like this constantly. Especially around customers. “I am not staying late. These people better get their stuff. We are about to close.” It’s just rude and not very customer service like at all. I drive 40 minutes+ in traffic to get to your store. I may just drive the hour to go to Dover instead. The girl with the cool tattoos is really nice and always talks to us. In a good note, there is a woman who works there with short black hair that’s always nicely done who is always really nice and kind. And the manager with the bald head, he always tries to help customers the best he can. I hope they will get raises because they deserve it. She actually walked me one time over to items I needed and so did the bald...

Store entrance is a little tricky because it's in next to Kohl's and the entrances aren't o n the main road. Store and employees observe COVID guidance....Plexiglas at the registers...masks and physical distancing. The isles are wide which also helps. This store may sway my Aldi loyalty...love both but Lidl is closer to home...way closer....also has a much bigger selection and some serious discounts off already low prices. Not a fan of phone apps but I will make an exception in this case. Phone app replaces the traditional members card. Fresh baked breads and pastries....crazy selection of off the wall items you wouldn't expect. Like Aldi in that respect. First time shopping here but I will definitely be back.

Update: like all things with COVID status changes Lidl is a more open shopping experience but the deals and low prices remain the same. Bakery has a long running buy 2 get 1 free on pretzels and pretzel rolls! 😃

Another update...this one less positive. Check expiration dates!!! I neglected to check but bought discounted frozen burgers vice the fresh ones I usually purchase. Bought in Jan 2023, opened the box and found freezer burn and what could be spoiled beef. Quick check of the box showed May 2022 sell by date. 7 months and still being sold? Is that even legal? I'll be way more cautious here...

I have been shopping at Lidl for a year or two now. During that time, they have never managed to update their price stickers properly. Items are consistently labeled with old prices or placed behind very conveniently misleading price tags for other products. I am referring to regular prices here, not sales that may be over.

For instance, a 16 oz pack of $7 lunchmeat ham will be behind a sticker that says $5 for the exact same product, but that sticker is months old. Or, it will be behind a sticker for a 9 oz pack of the same ham and therefore much cheaper, leading hasty shoppers to think they are getting a good deal on the product sitting there. Oftentimes, the actual product with that smaller size is nowhere to be found, suggesting this may be intentional. Whether intentional or not, the result is that the only way to know what you will actually pay is to be glued to the app and check prices while you shop.

Another major problem is that a lot of the inventory is expired, or so close to the expiration date that it is not worth buying, or nowhere near its expiration date but already bad. I have not had good experience with quality here, and will likely switch back to what may (or may not) be the "expensive" normal...