Aldi accepting Credit Cards!

[Tiny]

::gasp::   Aldi will accept credit cards!

www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2016/03/01/aldi-stores-now-accepting-credit-cards-for-payment.html?ana=yahoo

Starting Tuesday, Aldi supermarkets nationwide will accept credit cards as a form of payment from its patrons. Previously, Aldi only permitted customers to pay with debit cards or cash. The Germany-based grocer said they decided to make this change in accepted payments after receiving feedback from customers.




 “As Aldi continues to evolve by expanding its product lines and moving into new markets, the way we do business will continue to evolve as well,” said Aldi CEO Jason Hart in a press release. “We care about being able to make our customers’ shopping experiences simpler and better every time they come to see us; and offering them the convenience of using their credit cards will help us do just that.”

The article also mentions that Aldi is expanding aggressively... planning to go from 1500 stores currently to 2000 stores by 2018.

I'm not too surprised that Aldi is accepting credit cards.  That was one of the most dated and odd things about the stores. 

Not sure if this is the beginning of the end for Aldi - or just a logical, long term, next business step.

[Anne_in_VA]

We're finally getting an Aldi here in SEVA!  Of course it's two cities away, but I heard they're going to build one in our city next year.  I'll try them once it's close just to see what they're like.

[tskeeter]

Hmmm-wonder of they decided that in the US they were better off raising prices 2 1/2 percent in order to capture a larger share of the market.

Carl would know better than the rest of us, but it's my understanding that profits in the grocery business are about the same as the merchant fees the banks charge on credit card transactions.

[Deleted]

Aldi's biggest savings comes with fewer employees and less inventory. They drop pallets on the floor with minimal display setup and carry only one or two brands of each item. They even have customers trained to bag their own groceries and put away their own carts, all of that is $$$ savings.

I'm happy they now accept CC, it was the only place besides an ATM that I still entered a pin.

[tloonya]

In PA all Bottom Dollars (that I hated form the day they were opened) are replaced by Aldi.

I am not shopping there but I went when customer told me that scallions were cheap when at the market they were sky high all of a sudden and those were cheap at Aldi! How did they managed I have NO idea. $70 (for me to buy) for 48 bunches at the market and .88 for 3 bunches at Aldi!

However apples are .49 each when I sell .49lb...

It is also very odd - in Germany Aldi is an upscale stores.

The smoked fish in there is superb. However you buy a drink - you pay for a bottle.

Come back - return - get money back.

[sarcasticgirl]

we have been shopping at Aldi the past 2 weeks since DH quit his job and I am shockingly surprised at how inexpensive it is without lacking in quality. we've easily cut our budget by 2/3 without making any real sacrifices. we aren't eating ramen or pasta every night, that is for sure. I have to say, the produce is far superior to the Trader Joe's I usually hit up since it is just 3 blocks away. 

The variety isn't there, but that is okay... I can plan with what is there and fresh. it is better quality anyway. We primarily buy meat, dairy, produce... few packaged items like canned beans, broth, pita chips, sometimes a specialty dressing that I don't have all the ingredients to make from scratch readily on hand. 

The cart thing is the one thing that bothers me... because we never have quarters with us. so we walk around with those hand baskets heavy and overflowing! One day we'll learn!

and yes... we used a credit card there friday night. Score! I like earning free money from spending money that I am spending anyway. 

we will certainly continue to shop there once DH is working full time again! Once summer hits, we'll likely hit a local latino produce market who was more variety but is crazy inexpensive if the Aldi variety is still relatively slim. 

And because of Friday's Aldi trip... I have a ton of cooking today! $1.49 chicken breasts means lots of prepping chicken and vacuum sealing for later. DH and I will have a variety of chicken quinoa salads this week for lunch, and I'll be making some chicken, bean and veggie burritos to freeze up for a meal in a pinch!

[tloonya]

I had never though Aldi has no variety.

Maybe it is because I am cooking from scratch and I don't need a variety.

Can you explain what it means no variety?

[sarcasticgirl]

Mar 13, 2016 12:20:48 GMT -5 tloonya said:

I had never though Aldi has no variety.

Maybe it is because I am cooking from scratch and I don't need a variety.

Can you explain what it means no variety?

FYI: I cook from scratch every day. unless you are using ONE ingredient, then you need a variety of things. 

Variety- 

a number of different types of things, especially ones in the same general category

EXAMPLE: my options for fresh greens were limited to artisan lettuce. there were no other lettuce/greens options.

I needed spinach and iceberg lettuce for the meals I had planned, which by the way, I MADE FROM SCRATCH. Neither of those were available. There was one option of lettuce- therefore there was no VARIETY.


They also do not have bone in chicken breast, that is my preferred cut of chicken, because I like to roast it and then use the bones to make a little stock. They have very limited cuts of meat, not a large Variety. 

[tloonya]

Mar 13, 2016 12:31:56 GMT -5 sarcasticgirl said:

Mar 13, 2016 12:20:48 GMT -5 tloonya said:

I had never though Aldi has no variety.

Maybe it is because I am cooking from scratch and I don't need a variety.

Can you explain what it means no variety?

FYI: I cook from scratch every day. unless you are using ONE ingredient, then you need a variety of things. 

Variety- 

a number of different types of things, especially ones in the same general category

EXAMPLE: my options for fresh greens were limited to artisan lettuce. there were no other lettuce/greens options.

I needed spinach and iceberg lettuce for the meals I had planned, which by the way, I MADE FROM SCRATCH. Neither of those were available. There was one option of lettuce- therefore there was no VARIETY.


They also do not have bone in chicken breast, that is my preferred cut of chicken, because I like to roast it and then use the bones to make a little stock. They have very limited cuts of meat, not a large Variety. 

You were there at the bad time.

Here we definitely have all you had mentioned above.

Talk to the manager and explain them your concerns.

Sometimes they keeping chicken in 2 places and you

could just missed the one you wanted.

[sarcasticgirl]

Mar 13, 2016 12:35:19 GMT -5 tloonya said:

Mar 13, 2016 12:31:56 GMT -5 sarcasticgirl said:

FYI: I cook from scratch every day. unless you are using ONE ingredient, then you need a variety of things. 

Variety- 

a number of different types of things, especially ones in the same general category

EXAMPLE: my options for fresh greens were limited to artisan lettuce. there were no other lettuce/greens options.

I needed spinach and iceberg lettuce for the meals I had planned, which by the way, I MADE FROM SCRATCH. Neither of those were available. There was one option of lettuce- therefore there was no VARIETY.


They also do not have bone in chicken breast, that is my preferred cut of chicken, because I like to roast it and then use the bones to make a little stock. They have very limited cuts of meat, not a large Variety. 

You were there at the bad time.

Here we definitely have all you had mentioned above.

Talk to the manager and explain them your concerns.

Sometimes they keeping chicken in 2 places and you

could just missed the one you wanted.

No, you are making an assumption that is incorrect. It had absolutely NOTHING to do with my timing.  
I spoke with the employee there that handles most of the stocking. they weren't carrying any of the three things that I needed at all. She said they generally do not have bone in chicken breasts at all. 

They didn't have them in their inventory at all during the two week period. that means not a single container of fresh spinach, head of iceburg or package of bone in chicken had passed through those doors at all. it had nothing to do with my timing. 

[tloonya]

Mar 13, 2016 12:47:32 GMT -5 sarcasticgirl said:

Mar 13, 2016 12:35:19 GMT -5 tloonya said:

You were there at the bad time.

Here we definitely have all you had mentioned above.

Talk to the manager and explain them your concerns.

Sometimes they keeping chicken in 2 places and you

could just missed the one you wanted.

No, you are making an assumption that is incorrect. It had absolutely NOTHING to do with my timing.  
I spoke with the employee there that handles most of the stocking. they weren't carrying any of the three things that I needed at all. She said they generally do not have bone in chicken breasts at all. 

They didn't have them in their inventory at all during the two week period. that means not a single container of fresh spinach, head of iceburg or package of bone in chicken had passed through those doors at all. it had nothing to do with my timing. 

That is ridiculous! No spinach! No bone in chicken! We have it all.

You just haven't seen it!

[sarcasticgirl]

Mar 13, 2016 13:03:21 GMT -5 tloonya said:

Mar 13, 2016 12:47:32 GMT -5 sarcasticgirl said:

No, you are making an assumption that is incorrect. It had absolutely NOTHING to do with my timing.  
I spoke with the employee there that handles most of the stocking. they weren't carrying any of the three things that I needed at all. She said they generally do not have bone in chicken breasts at all. 

They didn't have them in their inventory at all during the two week period. that means not a single container of fresh spinach, head of iceburg or package of bone in chicken had passed through those doors at all. it had nothing to do with my timing. 

That is ridiculous! No spinach! No bone in chicken! We have it all.

You just haven't seen it!

I haven't seen it because IT IS NOT IN THE STORE.

It is comical that you are trying to make it *my fault*
Would you like the phone number to the branch to check for yourself?

Sent from my SM-G920T using proboards

[justme]

One of the things that kept me from shopping at Aldi more was no cc. I buy EVERYTHING on cc, so it's a pain in the ass to remember this one debit charge and make sure I have enough cash in there to pay for it when I buy it. I do still go there, but it always had to be a planned thing where I had to check my checking account and bill payments to make sure it'd work out. Glad they're accepting it now.

[sarcasticgirl]

Mar 13, 2016 13:21:15 GMT -5 justme said:

One of the things that kept me from shopping at Aldi more was no cc. I buy EVERYTHING on cc, so it's a pain in the ass to remember this one debit charge and make sure I have enough cash in there to pay for it when I buy it. I do still go there, but it always had to be a planned thing where I had to check my checking account and bill payments to make sure it'd work out. Glad they're accepting it now.

I am guessing that this factored in to their decision...

Not you specifically... but so many people like you (and me!)

Sent from my SM-G920T using proboards

[Deleted]

We have an Aldi's opening up in our neighborhood in the next 2-3 months and I am excited.  It probably wont' be my "go-get everything" store but I will certainly check it out.  

[tloonya]

Mar 13, 2016 20:31:06 GMT -5 @donethat said:

We have an Aldi's opening up in our neighborhood in the next 2-3 months and I am excited.  It probably wont' be my "go-get everything" store but I will certainly check it out.  

You are 'excited' for the Aldi opening?

thanks! you started my day!

[chiver78]

this is interesting news for sure. I still haven't made it to the location near my office, maybe I'll check it out this week. I did try to go one morning a couple weeks back, when my drive in was so uneventful that I was 20 minutes early - except the store doesn't open until 9am. is that a chain thing, or just this location?

[sarcasticgirl]

Mar 14, 2016 8:18:23 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

this is interesting news for sure. I still haven't made it to the location near my office, maybe I'll check it out this week. I did try to go one morning a couple weeks back, when my drive in was so uneventful that I was 20 minutes early - except the store doesn't open until 9am. is that a chain thing, or just this location?

Ours in chicago are only open 9am-9pm. So maybe it is a chain thing.

Sent from my SM-G920T using proboards

[tloonya]

Mar 14, 2016 8:18:23 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

this is interesting news for sure. I still haven't made it to the location near my office, maybe I'll check it out this week. I did try to go one morning a couple weeks back, when my drive in was so uneventful that I was 20 minutes early - except the store doesn't open until 9am. is that a chain thing, or just this location?

I bet Google knows it.

I am actually fascinated how important credit card accept for shoppers.

[Deleted]

Mar 14, 2016 9:19:47 GMT -5 tloonya said:

Mar 14, 2016 8:18:23 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

this is interesting news for sure. I still haven't made it to the location near my office, maybe I'll check it out this week. I did try to go one morning a couple weeks back, when my drive in was so uneventful that I was 20 minutes early - except the store doesn't open until 9am. is that a chain thing, or just this location?

I bet Google knows it.

I am actually fascinated how important credit card accept for shoppers.

Not accepting credit cards is the main reason I don't go to Woodmans.  It's just an annoyance for me because I run everything through the card and I LOATHE writing checks.  I think they take debit cards now, not sure, but back in the day when they first built it was either checks or cash.

[tloonya]

Mar 14, 2016 9:24:22 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Mar 14, 2016 9:19:47 GMT -5 tloonya said:

I bet Google knows it.

I am actually fascinated how important credit card accept for shoppers.

Not accepting credit cards is the main reason I don't go to Woodmans.  It's just an annoyance for me because I run everything through the card and I LOATHE writing checks.  I think they take debit cards now, not sure, but back in the day when they first built it was either checks or cash.

Considering how easily this scanners are getting our cards info - I think we better back to cash or checks. Like I said before - my card was used ONCE for $9.98 purchase and same day I had $142 charge from an area far away from my home. Got all of it back but what if it was more and I had checks bounced? I am not sure they would take care of the fees...

[NoNamePerson]

Mar 14, 2016 9:40:33 GMT -5 tloonya said:

Mar 14, 2016 9:24:22 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Not accepting credit cards is the main reason I don't go to Woodmans.  It's just an annoyance for me because I run everything through the card and I LOATHE writing checks.  I think they take debit cards now, not sure, but back in the day when they first built it was either checks or cash.

Considering how easily this scanners are getting our cards info - I think we better back to cash or checks. Like I said before - my card was used ONCE for $9.98 purchase and same day I had $142 charge from an area far away from my home. Got all of it back but what if it was more and I had checks bounced? I am not sure they would take care of the fees...

Wouldn't happen with a CC - you just dispute the charges. You don't have to worry about bouncing checks with CC like you do with Debit Cards. But to each his own.

[Deleted]

Mar 14, 2016 9:40:33 GMT -5 tloonya said:

Mar 14, 2016 9:24:22 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Not accepting credit cards is the main reason I don't go to Woodmans.  It's just an annoyance for me because I run everything through the card and I LOATHE writing checks.  I think they take debit cards now, not sure, but back in the day when they first built it was either checks or cash.

Considering how easily this scanners are getting our cards info - I think we better back to cash or checks. Like I said before - my card was used ONCE for $9.98 purchase and same day I had $142 charge from an area far away from my home. Got all of it back but what if it was more and I had checks bounced? I am not sure they would take care of the fees...

That's why I like my credit card.  If it's compromised, I just report it.  The charges are reversed, I get a new card and life goes on uninterrupted.

[tloonya]

Mar 14, 2016 9:47:10 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Mar 14, 2016 9:40:33 GMT -5 tloonya said:

Considering how easily this scanners are getting our cards info - I think we better back to cash or checks. Like I said before - my card was used ONCE for $9.98 purchase and same day I had $142 charge from an area far away from my home. Got all of it back but what if it was more and I had checks bounced? I am not sure they would take care of the fees...

That's why I like my credit card.  If it's compromised, I just report it.  The charges are reversed, I get a new card and life goes on uninterrupted.

I am worried that if these scanners will become an epidemic - banks might not be able to return all the money stolen.

[Deleted]

Mar 14, 2016 9:57:32 GMT -5 tloonya said:

Mar 14, 2016 9:47:10 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

That's why I like my credit card.  If it's compromised, I just report it.  The charges are reversed, I get a new card and life goes on uninterrupted.

I am worried that if these scanners will become an epidemic - banks might not be able to return all the money stolen.

The credit card companies are making billions. They can afford some fraud in there but they also keep making things more secure to protect themselves (like the chips) to boost their profits.  It may seem that there are lots of cards being compromised, but when you consider how much people are using them it's probably not really that much.

[Tiny]

Mar 13, 2016 12:31:56 GMT -5 sarcasticgirl said:

Mar 13, 2016 12:20:48 GMT -5 tloonya said:

I had never though Aldi has no variety.

Maybe it is because I am cooking from scratch and I don't need a variety.

Can you explain what it means no variety?

FYI: I cook from scratch every day. unless you are using ONE ingredient, then you need a variety of things. 

Variety- 

a number of different types of things, especially ones in the same general category

EXAMPLE: my options for fresh greens were limited to artisan lettuce. there were no other lettuce/greens options.

I needed spinach and iceberg lettuce for the meals I had planned, which by the way, I MADE FROM SCRATCH. Neither of those were available. There was one option of lettuce- therefore there was no VARIETY.


They also do not have bone in chicken breast, that is my preferred cut of chicken, because I like to roast it and then use the bones to make a little stock. They have very limited cuts of meat, not a large Variety. 

Aldi (mine atleast) has bagged spinach (and kale and romain hearts and bagged fancy salad greens) in the upright cold case in the section with the yogurt/dairy.

Can't help you with the iceberg lettuce - that's hit or miss at my Aldi (and it's usually with the unrefriderated veggies/fruit).

If you don't like the challenge of the hunt/discovery for something you aren't sure the store carries - take the time to ask one of the employees - they know what they've got. There's usually someone working the floor (either stocking or tidying up) when I'm there because it's so busy - or if it's not very busy who's ever working the checkout will spare a minute to help you.

[sarcasticgirl]

Mar 14, 2016 10:41:28 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Mar 13, 2016 12:31:56 GMT -5 sarcasticgirl said:

FYI: I cook from scratch every day. unless you are using ONE ingredient, then you need a variety of things. 

Variety- 

a number of different types of things, especially ones in the same general category

EXAMPLE: my options for fresh greens were limited to artisan lettuce. there were no other lettuce/greens options.

I needed spinach and iceberg lettuce for the meals I had planned, which by the way, I MADE FROM SCRATCH. Neither of those were available. There was one option of lettuce- therefore there was no VARIETY.


They also do not have bone in chicken breast, that is my preferred cut of chicken, because I like to roast it and then use the bones to make a little stock. They have very limited cuts of meat, not a large Variety. 

Aldi (mine atleast) has bagged spinach (and kale and romain hearts and bagged fancy salad greens) in the upright cold case in the section with the yogurt/dairy.

Can't help you with the iceberg lettuce - that's hit or miss at my Aldi (and it's usually with the unrefriderated veggies/fruit).

If you don't like the challenge of the hunt/discovery for something you aren't sure the store carries - take the time to ask one of the employees - they know what they've got. There's usually someone working the floor (either stocking or tidying up) when I'm there because it's so busy - or if it's not very busy who's ever working the checkout will spare a minute to help you.

 I'd like to remember to bring a quarter and get a cart to properly peruse the store and look at all the nooks and crannies. DH and I have been taking our hand baskets to the point we think they are going to break and then scurrying to the check out! ha! 
Good to know about the other bagged greens. I did ask about the spinach and iceberg and the worker told me they didn't have any and didn't have any on order. While they other greens wouldn't have substituted this time, it is good to know for the future. 

[Tiny]

Mar 14, 2016 8:29:48 GMT -5 sarcasticgirl said:

Mar 14, 2016 8:18:23 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

this is interesting news for sure. I still haven't made it to the location near my office, maybe I'll check it out this week. I did try to go one morning a couple weeks back, when my drive in was so uneventful that I was 20 minutes early - except the store doesn't open until 9am. is that a chain thing, or just this location?

Ours in chicago are only open 9am-9pm. So maybe it is a chain thing.

Sent from my SM-G920T using proboards

I know my Aldi has different hours at different times of the year... right now it's open 9am til 9pm M-F and then 9:00am til 7:00pm on weekends.... sometimes they change it up and it opens earlier or closes earlier. There's always a big sign announcing the time change several weeks before it happens (and then a count down to the change).          

Not sure if it's a store by store thing or what. I think the individual Aldi's have some say in what they stock and what their hours are - to tailor their store to the area they serve.

ADDED: just read the whole thread and see that SarcasticGirl's Aldi didn't carry the products she was looking for.      The stores do seem to tailor what they carry to what's in demand.    I'd suggest just making sure to say you'd like to see X, Y, and Z offered.   I suspect with the change to accepting Credit Cards Aldi will see new customers and if enough people ask for items they will start carrying them.  

[Tiny]

Mar 14, 2016 10:45:44 GMT -5 sarcasticgirl said:

Mar 14, 2016 10:41:28 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Aldi (mine atleast) has bagged spinach (and kale and romain hearts and bagged fancy salad greens) in the upright cold case in the section with the yogurt/dairy.

Can't help you with the iceberg lettuce - that's hit or miss at my Aldi (and it's usually with the unrefriderated veggies/fruit).

If you don't like the challenge of the hunt/discovery for something you aren't sure the store carries - take the time to ask one of the employees - they know what they've got. There's usually someone working the floor (either stocking or tidying up) when I'm there because it's so busy - or if it's not very busy who's ever working the checkout will spare a minute to help you.

 I'd like to remember to bring a quarter and get a cart to properly peruse the store and look at all the nooks and crannies. DH and I have been taking our hand baskets to the point we think they are going to break and then scurrying to the check out! ha! 
Good to know about the other bagged greens. I did ask about the spinach and iceberg and the worker told me they didn't have any and didn't have any on order. While they other greens wouldn't have substituted this time, it is good to know for the future. 

I keep a quarter in the "cup holder" of my car... it works for me.   The thing is, awhile back,  I let my brother use my car for a week (I dont' need it to get to work) and then on Saturday when I headed to Aldi - my Aldi quarter was GONE!!!  totally threw off my shopping.      I asked him (and chewed him out a bit!) what he did with my Aldi Quarter and he was like "oh, I didn't know you needed it, I took it".   

Of course, now every time my brother 'borrows' my car - he's like "I won't take the Aldi Quarter, can I borrow your car?"   He visits from out of State and depending on the timing he just uses my car instead of renting one.

 

[Tiny]

Mar 2, 2016 23:27:22 GMT -5 tskeeter said:

Hmmm-wonder of they decided that in the US they were better off raising prices 2 1/2 percent in order to capture a larger share of the market.

Carl would know better than the rest of us, but it's my understanding that profits in the grocery business are about the same as the merchant fees the banks charge on credit card transactions.

Yes, I wondered about how they would pass on the cost of accepting CC... although I thought there was a small fee for doing debit cards. Maybe with the blurring of the lines between CCs and Debit cards it's a cost they are already paying?

I'd say that most Aldi stores are pretty barebones - small footprint (so low utilities), with a small-ish parking lot (so low costs there), no piped in music,  and a handful of employees keep the store running.   They also didn't really advertise - well, up until a couple of years ago when they started with a few TV and/or radio ads.    Maybe the overall costs of running their stores hasn't increased as much as other grocery type stores.  Aldi doesn't really spend money 'chasing' customers - so instead of trying to 'chase customers' by offering something they might not really want - they are spending on something that a majority of customers DO want... the ability to use a CC.