ALDI — Local services in Columbia

Our family has used the Aldi's on the business loop for many years as a start point for basic staples at super prices. Flour, milk, eggs, butter, rice, pastas, some canned stuff and produce.

We started using the one south near Grindstone a couple months ago, and our experience has been overall much the same. Great prices on staple items, hit or miss on other things depending on availability, brand etc. It's definitely not a one stop shop for a family who cooks all their meals from scratch, but it's a great start. The staff is always courteous, though busy. You have to bag your own groceries, and bringing your own bags really helps as well. Using carts is a .25 cent deposit of sorts to unlock them and return them. It's not a hardship, and these measures keep prices down.

Parking is usually easy, and the stores are clean and organized pretty well. Occasionally you'll find random things in random isles, salsa for example exists in 4 separate locations. That's the exception though...

Had a double charge on my debit card. Went back the same day to fix and had to wait until it went thru completely. When it did I went in again and was told my bank was holding it. I called my bank, they were not. I then went back again to get my refund and the store manager Brock told a young lady to tell me it would be 30 days because instead of refunding me as he could he was making me wait for the company that runs their transactions to refund me. I called corporate to get it fixed and got my refund within 2 days. But then and employee let me know he had called her “Aunt Jamima” I reported this to Corporate. I am keeping an eye on this and if he is not terminated for his racial remarks then me and a large group with be forming a protest in front of the store. This is unacceptable! Something better get done about this! No one should have to go to work and be worried about what remarks they could hear from a manager of all people! Do the...

Well, what can you say? Good prices; good selection of the featured items...and if you are able to wait it out - discounted prices for some seasonal foods and merchandise. Parking, typically not a problem, doesn't go on Saturday late mornings if you can avoid it - go during the week and save your sanity. All in all, know two things: regardless of any other information, Aldi's makes money on each purchase; and, at least here, there are two different factions operating here in Columbia...you can fnd out the details by looking it up online. Deals are sometimes available; it is always an assembly line style of in and out....it does not waste your time. So, look for their price adjustments- the price reductions seem to be more inline with current conditions of the economy. This is a surprise as mist food outlets choose to continue with higher prices, though the demand for that...