Aldi is celebrating its 50th birthday in America this year, but even after decades in the U.S. and more than 2,600 stores nationwide, the discount grocer still does things a little differently.
Your first trip can feel confusing if you walk in expecting a typical American supermarket experience, as there are a few unwritten Aldi rules every first-time shopper should know.
Here are the most common mistakes Aldi newbies make — and how to avoid them.
Not Bringing A Reusable Bag
Being based in Europe, I know this mistake can get costly. Most grocery stores here only offer reusable bags you have to buy, which somehow leads to an entire section of your basement being dedicated to the many “I forgot to bring one, so I guess I’ll buy another” reusable bags.
As a European-born brand, Aldi adopted the reusable bag model across its U.S. stores in 2023 as part of an effort to reduce plastic waste. While some locations offer paper bags at checkout, bringing your own will definitely come in handy — and save you a few bucks.
Skipping the ‘Aisle of Shame’
Every Aldi veteran knows you don’t go to the discount grocer just for your weekly grocery haul — you go for the impulse buys and bargain finds you never knew you needed. That part of the store is known as Aldi Finds, or more famously, the “Aisle of Shame,” mostly because of the mild regret that kicks in after leaving with a cart full of random stuff you absolutely did not plan to buy.
Aldi releases new Finds every week, and the selection can range from bed sheets to cookies, which is exactly why you shouldn’t skip it. The section has built such a cult following that there’s even a Facebook group dedicated to Aldi’s Aisle of Shame with more than 4 million followers.
Forgetting to Bring a Quarter
Another trait Aldi kept from its European roots is the paid shopping carts, which are usually free at most American supermarkets. The grocer essentially rents out its carts to help keep parking lots clean and cut down on stray carts. To get one, you’ll need a quarter to unlock it; once you return the cart, you get your coin back. Forgetting a quarter can put you in the embarrassing position of asking strangers for one — or, even worse, attempting to use your arms as a shopping cart, which, believe me, never works.
Sleeping on Their ‘Twice As Nice’ Policy
You need to exercise a lot of restraint when shopping at a grocery store full of things you’ve never tried before, since you never know what will be a hit or a miss. Aldi found a solution for that. Any product marked with a blue “Twice as Nice” sticker can be returned to the store with the receipt, no questions asked. So go ahead and impulse buy or make the occasional wrong choice — just keep an eye out for the sticker and hold on to your receipt.
Shopping at the Wrong Time of Day
If you’ve heard the rumor that Aldi marks down certain items at specific times of the day, don’t brush it off — because according to a self-reported former employee, it’s actually true. According to the employee, the best time to find big deals is between 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
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Shopping on the Wrong Day of the Week
You can shop at Aldi on pretty much any day and still save money, but if you want to get the absolute most out of your frugal grocery haul, Aldi regulars say to go on Wednesdays. That’s when shelves are typically restocked, and it also lines up with many of the store’s weekly promotions and deals.
You Aren’t Ready at Checkout
Even before your first trip to Aldi, you should know that checkout can be a bit of an experience. You’ll either be overwhelmed by the long lines or shocked by how fast the cashiers scan your items. The lines usually build up because Aldi employees place your scanned groceries back into the cart, and customers are expected to move aside afterward to bag everything themselves.
As for the lightning-fast cashiers, there’s a reason for that too — Aldi workers are allegedly timed on their speed, which is why they scan items like the apocalypse is minutes away.
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