During our time living in Germany between 1977 and 2004, me and my wife enjoyed the quality of both…read morefood and non food products available in Aldi, compared to other as other retail outlets.
We quickly learned that the general culture in Germany when shopping, plus the general expected service and quality, that the German people would not accept substandard quality, which although in general, we paid a slightly higher price for goods and services than in the UK, at no time in our 7 years of living in Germany, we never once had to go back to an Aldi outlet to complain about a quality issue.
When Aldi began to operate the UK in 1990, my wife and I were very happy that (a) we would enjoy the quality of products and prices that we had become accustomed to and (b) the quality in service.
Now, some 32 years later, here in the UK, over successive years, we have to say that the quality of both goods and service has deteriorated to a level that we only use Aldi for short notice purchases, simply because Aldi is our nearest outlet.
The availability of many items is completely hit and miss, for example, why can I no longer purchase a basic German everyday product such as a Pork Schnitzei or a quality bottle of German white wine wine, outside of medium quality Liebfraumilch.
Additionally, on many occasions, both my wife and I have witnessed at our local outlet in Louth, Lincolnshire, store assistants literally throwing packs of fruit and vegetables onto fixtures, as they appear to be under time pressure to achieve what they have to do, OR they just do not care.
I have on many occasions, returned to my local store to return an item that has been found to be of below acceptable quality, although the items in question have been exchanged without question.
I know that 100%, Aldi will dispute my claims, based on the fact that you do not receive many adverse comments such as mine.
This is simply because in general, firstly the British do not like to complain and generally accept whatever they are given, plus unfortunately, the attitude of the British public, although they openly voice their complaints socially, have not got the resolve to follow up issues in a formal manner, using the excuse that "Aldi is cheap" anyway.
Kind regards,
Charles Glover
