ALDI — Local services in Jacksonville

Initially, I had a positive impression of this grocery store. No more.

After going several times I do not consider it in the same league as Walmart, Publix and Winn Dixie. They have some leader items that are excellent deals. But the biggest leader veggie items - three times in a row when I've gone there - were out of stock -- and I was told "tomorrow morning". Doubt these guys give rain checks and I didn't ask that. The store is a swing away from most grocers so it is a challenge to fit in the daily routine out there (unless you regularly go up and down Southside).

Aldi has some interesting and seasonal products that will be unexpected and nice if you are looking for them. Their house brand has some good items, though most are not quality. Don't get me wrong - there are some nice things but by and large not many when you sit back and look at your essentials. The basic problem is Publix, Winn Dixie have much healthier and fresher qualities of meat and fish products because that is what they do well and Aldi fails at doing. Walmart has a huge selection when it comes to meats, but Aldi has similar quality to them but is severely limited in options ... brine pumped up meat and the like if you are a careful label reader.

The store is heavily stacked to non-perishable items, similar to a failed warehouse of Trader Joe's without the fancy produce (which is basically what this place is). Every time I've been there, there has only been one register open and as usual I timed it for a long wait, and checkout is a little awkward with the musical cart routine the cashier does, though that is more something to laugh at than sweat about. The shopping cart and bag charges are pain in the butts but that does not contribute to the problem - as a matter of fact if they really help lower prices, that's the only reason I didn't give two stars which is only because I'm in a very good mood and being too generous.

If you buy what is on sale at Winn Dixie and follow Publix's BOGO's you'll definitely do better in those stores price wise. This is the kind of place you feel like you are going to be charged to go to the bathroom (They probably don't have one). If it were on the way and I had time, it is good and usually there will be a few vegetables you can pick up at a very friendly price, ha, when they have them. Like this week 49c avocados - well, Winn Dixie has $1 for 3 pounds of onions as I speak and Walmart if you bring in the Aldi ad will price match everything. I prefer the other stores since the boxes stacked in the aisles and "no-frills" setup is just cold and shopping smartly you can do better elsewhere.

On those days I want to splurge, if I pass by Trader Joe's I can buy a couple things really worthwhile instead of stocking up on piles of crap which look attractive in Aldi but I later realize were totally unnecessary and tons of empty calories. I can do far better than Aldi if I shop at World Market (San Jose & I-295 next to Walmart), though the prices aren't great there, if you aren't into all these sorts of seasonal outlet overflow foods and just want to pick up one or two and go to Walmart anyway, I'd go to World Market which will have many variations on the nice things and when you consider the gas and time is the more economical way to go for small and medium reliance on purchases.

But certainly visit Aldi if they are on the way and pick up the loss leader items and resist the temptation to buy more than you can carry comfortably in two hands without worrying if they are going to charge you for a bag or ask for a deposit on the shopping cart :-)

JennaP46, I corrected the Google Maps pointer for Aldi. It is next to Target, on Southside. You get there on the same traffic light to the Home Depot if you are coming off I-95 north (or from I-295 to I-95 N), take the I-95 Southside Exit (not the Avenues mall) and then make the very first right so you go south on Southside, then it is the first traffic light to Home Depot/Target (a left). Turn right, passing Target, Aldi is hidden in the corner...

I went to the Southside Blvd/Jacksonville FL location and my cashier was HEATHER and I must say I've had no problems (other than a few of the other workers can be snippy at times) but this girl was my last straw. I took my 5 year old daughter with me into the store to get one thing and she was a bit hyper (being a kid) and she grabbed another customers item (I was in the middle of trying to pay the cashier when this happened)and I am right there I see this happening HEATHER (the cashier) thought it was necessary to say something to my child before I could say anything to her (I guess she thought I was going to let my 5 year old shop lift lol) I would have taken care of this and gotten onto my child I did not need her to say anything to my her!!! And I certainly would not have let her walk off with someone elses things. PLEASE ALDI TEACH YOUR ASSOCIATE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TO NOT HAVE THEM PARENT SOMEONE ELSE CHILD. wait for ME to parent MY CHILD. I can understand if I was walking off with the item and I had not paid for it but that's not what happened. Lol PLEASE HEATHER IF YOU SEE THIS HOW ABOUT YOU STAY IN YOUR LANE AND DO WHAT YOU ARE PAID TO DO AND NOT PATENT MY SOMEONE ELSE'S CHILD YOU HAD NO RIGHT TO EVEN SPEAK TO MY CHILD. I would not have let my daughter walk out the store with an item I have not paid for and to be treated that way was truly awful and although I love to shop at Aldi I don't know if I can ever come back to this store again.

*I had to do this review because I tried to call the store only to find out the stores phone number is unlisted so if you have complaints about a particular store you can't call that stores location to report anything. So I hope this review reaches some kind of management or someone in...

Customer service here can be better. Why as a employee can you not speak ? How hard is to say hi or hello how are you ? I shouldn’t have to speak first and then they act like they don’t want to reply back. If you don’t like your job find another job. I just left from here the employee was Hispanic! Now he greeted the woman ahead of me who was Hispanic as well and her little daughter. He said hola! I can’t get a hola as well? The fact that I see employees cater to somebody that is their same ethnicity is insane. You can’t pick and choose who you want to greet. Treat everyone equally ! He had glasses and short hair cut. I should have gotten his name. You have the easiest job where you can sit down and be relaxed. I’m spending my money just like the next customer. If you don’t know how to show give good customer service you shouldn’t be coming in contact with us. No have a nice day or anything. The fact that these employees can be so nasty and rude is unacceptable! I really think all stores should have self checkout. I’m starting to not shop at stores that do not have this service. This is why I shop at Publix. I’m going to stay out of this store. It’s been different occasions where other employees have not greeted me as well. It’s...