ALDI — Local services in Bentonville

VERY Disappointed! Review pertains to pick-up order experience.

First, I do not typically shop at Aldi because I am handicap and the check-out lanes are too narrow and the bag your own process doesn't work well for me. So I decided to try a pick up order via instacart. I have used instacart multiple times and always been super smooth and no issues, so this i review s completely on Aldi's performance and staff. I had a pickup window time but was unable to get there during that time so I sent my husband by after work. When checking in it said "we're sorry no one is available to bring out your order, please come inside to pickup your order." WHAT?! This is the whole point of pick-up to have it brought to you. If you can't provide this service, then don't offer it and leave customer's uninformed that this will be the expectation. Again, I am handicapped and unable to carry out my groceries and load them very easily and so I do not appreciate being blindsided without warning when I arrive at the store. So my husband goes inside and find only ONE employee in the entire store! He is at the register checking out, and the line is backed up all the way from the checkout to the freezer wall. He walked every isle looking for another employee to assist him and found none. This is unacceptable! So he left, and I cancelled my order via instacart. We will not be shopping at Aldi either in store or online after this experience. Also the representative from Instacart told me they always experience this issue with Aldi, and this is just "how they are set up" because the system always asks them to come inside. So if this is standard then this needs to at the very least be stated to the customer during the checkout process BEFORE completion so they have the option to choose another retailer who can actually fulfill pickup service. I will also be reporting this experience on the...

Aldi is the best place to shop.

The prices are too good to shop anywhere else. The produce & vegetable selection is always fresh & priced much lower than their competition (Wal-Mart).

The meat department has a well varied selection, including salmon & lamb. All reasonably priced.

The frozen foods & dairy products are well stocked with many choices. Almond & Cashew milk, lactose free. Of course, regular milk, both 2% & skim. Greek yogurt with many different flavors. Cheeses galore, domestic & imported.

They even have an aisle of products you didn't even know existed or that you NEEDED. Bath mats, pet products, candles, socks. I especially like the holiday season because they have chocolates, cookies & other candy/treats imported from Switzerland & Germany.

The shelves are well-stocked, with a variety of selections. I have always found the employees & cashier to be pleasant & helpful.

You will need to bring your own grocery bags, or you have the option to purchase bags at the checkout. I believe the bags are .05-10 per bag. I bring my own bags. Another option is to grab a box or two inside the store for your groceries.

You do have to "rent" your shopping cart for a quarter which is refunded when you return the cart. Which I personally think is a brilliant idea. I would rather pay a quarter for my cart to insure that some jerk isn't using their cart to scratch & dent my car because they are too lazy to return their cart to the many cart "corrals" in the lot.

I chose...

Edit: I was here Saturday at 5 and saw a family put their two Yorkies in a CART and shop for their groceries. Dogs are adorable and most of us love them but we DO NOT want others’ pets in contact with our food. now I wonder, am I putting my groceries in a cart where dogs have been sitting? I thought the previous weirdo with his 2 Huskies was a one-off but now it’s just the norm? Do customers have to confront these violations themselves or can the manager do something? I’m sympathetic to the difficult situation this puts employees in because of how volatile these types of customers can be, but for the consideration of the rest of us, please don’t allow animals in the store unless they are true service animals (for the physically disabled)!

Previous post: Best ALDI! Customer Service and cleanliness always 5 stars! **however I would like to address a situation this afternoon (2pm Sunday). A man walked in with 2 Huskies (leashed) that were barking at other shoppers and sniffing the produce. Their noses were in everything at about 2 feet high. It puts store managers in a bad situation because these types of people can be volatile about their fur babies but I remind you, emotional support animals are not permitted around food. Animals trained to help with actual disabilities don’t bark or sniff around like this. It needs to be stopped or you’ll have more people bringing in...