Aldi, the grocery store chain that requires a 25 cent deposit for a cart, is known for low prices.
CheetSheet states that Aldi claims you can save as much as 50% off national brand when you shop their store brands.
Head-to-head comparisons between Aldi and other major chains suggest they do. When savings expert Mike Timmermann compared a basket of common items at Aldi, Wal-Mart, and Kroger in 2016, he found Aldi beat Kroger by 18% and Wal-Mart by 25% — not quite 50%, but still significant. Another analysis found Aldi’s prices were 22% cheaper than Wal-Mart’s.
While there are lots of great deals at Aldi, here are five items CheetSheet says you shouldn’t buy at Aldi.
Produce – The deals might be great, but sometimes items go bad quickly. In a 2015 Consumer Reports survey, Aldi earned high marks overall but relatively low scores for perishable items, such as fruits and vegetables.
Meat – Check other local grocery stores before purchasing meat at Aldi. Timmerman’s 2016 comparison found Kroger had lower prices on chicken breast and ground turkey than either Wal-Mart or Aldi.
Name Brand Products– While Aldi carries mostly their own store brand, you will from time to time find national name brand products. However, you can’t use coupons at Aldi so purchasing the same item at a local grocery store will be a better deal.
Storage Bags – Recently it seems the store has changed their freezer and sandwich bags. Shoppers have expressed the bags are of a lesser quality.
Paper Products – You should be shopping for your paper towels and toilet paper at Target or your local supermarket, according to Kiplinger. The prices tend to be similar to what you’ll find at Aldi. With the addition of frequent shopper discounts or manufacturer coupons on top of those low prices, the big chains sometimes come out ahead.
