ALDI — Local services in Dallas

Very interesting and even deceptively quaint. Aldi reminds me of small grocery/bakery/wine and gourmet cooking shops in Europe, Mexico, and Canada with a funky what’s-it section to boot.

My shopping experience starts by gathering my reusable shopping bags from my vehicle to take in to the store. Aldi sells reusable bags and some sell small plastic bags at checkout; but it’s much smoother to use one’s own bags.

The best way to go is to bring your own bags. Also be ready to bag your own groceries.

Plug a quarter in a slot of a locked shopping cart undercover outside. When you return your cart you get back a quarter. The other shoppers who are leaving often share their carts with you.

We shoppers are a community of sorts, sitting on a great, cost-efficient place we enjoy frequenting.

Stores are laid out fairly consistently one to another. In the past three years, green signs have been mounted that label sections in the aisles, making a quick run-through much easier.

Produce is fresh, and breads and cakes are too. Staples are phenomenally priced. I shake my head in disbelief nearly every time I’m in the grocery when picking up yogurt, milk, eggs, baking goods, oils and sauces, cheeses and meat.

Deli-style chicken salads and the like are great options to fast foods when dropping by when you’re ready to eat.

The only pratfall from time to time is the lengthy checkout line. Relax! What’s a few minutes wait for a single checker or a second checker? With the pleasant shopping experience and astounding bargains, you’ll pinch yourself for finding this find...

I give this visit to Aldi the highest rating I can and it's because of the helpful attitude and pay it forward thinking that made it this way.

I was finishing up my shopping trip and watched as my items were rung up at the register. The total was just shy of $100. I took out my credit card and suddenly realized it wasn't the new one I had meant to put in my wallet earlier in the day but the one from the previous closed out account.

I managed to scrape it all together with cash and I came up almost $4 short. Embarrassed I stood there momentarily looking at my cart of items and debated what to return. I was murmuring to myself as I did some quick mathematics and pulled out two unfortunate returnables.

However as I turned to hand this wonderful woman what we needed to wrap up our exchange, I was met with her outstretched arm and in her hand was the receipt, everything paid for, including the almost $4 that I didn't have to go without that day.

"I got you on this one. You can get me on the next go round". I gazed at her smiling face for a few seconds and simply said, "Thank you". I would love to sing this excellent human being's name to all that would read it in this review however being a former member of several managerial teams I knew there was a good chance that they wouldn't view her good hearted compassion in such a light and she could receive a reprimand.

So I shall protect her identity with my heart where she currently resides. I know it's just a small thing but when there's such a lack of them nowadays, I'll take every little victory I can...

Aldi, to me, is the best store for panty items. 99% of the food items are relabled items, i.e., if you have a bar code scanner on your phone you will see that the ketchup is Heinz and the mustard is French's. The "Friendly Farms" dairy products are supplied by Borden. The milk is Borden and is about $2.00 a gallon, as opposed to Tom Thumbs price of about $6.50 per gallon. Every brand name item Aldi sells is at least 1/2 the price of regular grocery stores and usually less. The Staff and Management are always busy stocking shelves but will always take time out to help you. The chocolate bars are European and put Godiva to shame and the prices of chocolate bars is sinfully inexpensive. When it comes to canned items (pantry items) they are the same as all other grocery store re-labled items and are pretty much from Con-Agra so you can't go wrong there...pretty much all canned veggies are from Con-Agra; I just wish they had a larger selection of spices. If you buy the ham, get the one in the silver wrapping - it costs more but is well worth the price. If you use a Nutri-Bullit Aldi is the place for you. If you are worried about any homeless or criminal elements, not to worry, Aldi has off Duty Police officers in place. It is a great...