ALDI — Local services in La Quinta

Just came back from Aldi Market. The new grocery store out here that is like a mini, mini warehouse with super low prices. I give it a 2 out of 5 stars. Why? First, they have only one size shopping cart: ginormous. This thing can fit at least 3-4 toddlers. Then, to start things off...you have to insert .25 cents to get a shopping cart or hope you have a shopping bag in your car. Yes, you have to pay for your shopping cart. Now as you go in, the aisles are normal sized aisles, and each of us have to stop and wait on each other like we are in a buffet line because of the size of the carts. There is no room around each other, only enough for two people. Not for a family of 5, as happens frequently out here in the desert as seen shopping in said stores such as the dollar store. Bringing up my next topic of conversation, this store is much like the dollar store in the aspect of no-name brands and super low prices. The other thing I would like to bring up is that there is no customer service. Only 2-3 people up front to ring your items. I said RING, not bag. You have to purchase and bag your own groceries and they have a full, long wooden bar station, area for you to do so. It wouldn't be so bad if I had known this is what this store was like before going in. When they ring you out they throw, yes I said throw, your groceries directly back into your shopping cart all while NOT LEAVING THE COMFORT OF THEIR CHAIR.Yes, and these people are making $13/hr with full benefits. God forbid they actually have to stand on their feet for their shift. Oh, and the bags are on your side of the check out so you have to decide how many you need or want to purchase. I had the pleasure of getting a very rude associate. I asked him about the bags and how many i would need and he responded, "why dont you count your items" and I retorted "well how many do you think like 3?" He then spit back "depends on how good of a bagger you are." He wouldn't even leave his chair to get my empty cart that was 3 inches away from his side of the check out ....asked me to do it! Haha. I did say something to him about that. You need to put a little effort into your job when you're making $13/hr with full benefits .

The only positive feedback I have on this store is that I saved roughly $40-50 than if I would have gone anywhere else and the veggies and fruit are amazing. But to be quiet honest, I would have spent that extra money just if I would have know how bad this experience was going to be.

This store is just two steps above a dollar store and I give it six months before it's as dirty as a dollar store. I don't even think it will make it here in the desert. The associates treat the customers like they don't care, which means they're just there for a paycheck and nothing more. I can't imagine how strong the management is. I just talked to a few people and they said everyone is already complaining about it because people would rather pay more for customer service and name brands. Go figure. I like to know where my food comes from. But that's just me and this is just my review.

So, before you go to Aldi, have your bags and change...

We drove from Phoenix, AZ, specifically to go to Aldi. I love the company, and was craving some Aldi products.

First off, yes, you "pay" a quarter for your cart. This is part of how they keep costs low. You get your quarter back when you bring your cart back, therefore there aren't stray carts littering the parking lot, and they don't have to send their cashiers or stockers out to clean up those stray carts every hour. The carts are sort of a culture thing: I know back when I shopped at Aldi in Ohio all the time, if I only had nickels or dimes, I could generally find someone to trade me their cart, and I would do so in return if someone asked. And sometimes you forget your quarter (like we did on this trip) and someone will be kind enough to offer you theirs and just ask that you pass it along (which happened to us, and we did).

The store itself was clean, well-lit, well-stocked, and easy to navigate. The employees were all super-friendly; we were greeted and asked if we needed assistance every time they passed. I love their LiveGFree products; most of them are from manufacturers I can't get in Arizona without ordering online and paying overnight/frozen shipping charges. There was only one cashier on duty that early, and she was fast and friendly. I don't have a problem bagging my own groceries; in fact, I prefer to bag my own, since I always use reusable bags, and most baggers don't pack efficiently enough for my tastes.

Aldi just recently started accepting credit cards. This was huge, since I remember in the early 2000s when they had juuuust started taking debit and Discover cards. They also carry a large amount of organic products. I'm holding out hope that they do well enough in California to expand into Arizona. As much as I love the store, a four-hour drive is a...

I don't know what problem that other person had that wrote a book, but my experience has been great. Yes, it's different but I love it. Sometimes I forgot my quarter but the cashiers are always willing to get me change or just give me a quarter. You do get the quarter back when you return cart. They call it a "deposit " system. I love it....carts won't ding my car! The produce is amazing and all other products I have tried have been great. They check me out quickly, which I love and yes you do bag your own groceries, but I prefer that anyway. I like to keep certain items with certain items. The employees have always been helpful and cheery. And lastly, the prices are amazing and I was told about a double guarantee. Great...