ALDI — Local services in Bloomington

I already love Aldi but now I love it even more. I purchased two garden planters at the Aldi on Veterans Parkway. When I got home we realized that we picked up two different ones and we wanted a matching set.

I went back to make an exchange but the item was sold out. The checker recommended I check with the Aldi on Wylie Drive. I wanted to make sure they had one before I drove all the way out there so I called the number listed on the website. The number connected me with corporate. The woman I spoke to was so helpful and polite. She called the Aldi on Wylie and spoke to the manager. She informed me that he put the planter aside for me.

I drove there and as soon as I walked in the door, the only checker (who had four people waiting to check out), told me, "I know who you are, your item is in the office so please wait right here and I'll get it for you" She finished checking her current customer and then "ran" to the office and immediately brought the planter out to me. I asked her if I should get in line to make the exchange and she said, "No, its an even exchange."

And that was it! Quick, efficient, awesome Customer Service. Another reason why Aldi is my favorite...

As a part-time Aldi employee at a different location, I always judge other stores differently, because I know it can be a never ending battle to keep ot clean, pick up the food left by lazy customers who cannot be bothered to walk 3 feet and put the item back. That being said, it is our responsibility to put the items back, when we are able (meaning food safety is not an issue, like finding a package of ground beef with the lettuce), and to clean up the smashed grapes/spit out cherry pits, etc. This store location was doing a great job in keeping up w/all of that, and it is not always easy to do. You do 23 things in between working the register, shopping for/running out orders, pushing items in the cooler/freezer so the customer is not having to play Twister to get to the shredded hash round, and a lot of other tasks that need done. Kudos...

I like Aldi's, but buyer beware when purchasing seasonal items that require assembly. This is the 2nd time some of the contents (all the bolts in this case) were missing from boxed items I've purchased from Aldi. It's very frustrating. I had made sure that the box I picked to buy was unopened, no holes, etc. Yet, I could hear the hardware rattling around and hoped for the best since the box was sealed. Sure enough, the envelope that was housing the hardware was empty and pieces were loose, and some were missing. The other boxes in store all had holes in them, so obviously I didn't choose them. The item was an outdoor potting table. Great price, which I really appreciate! But really, Aldi's, please do better, or insist that your business partners whom you choose to do business with, do...