Why Your Closest Aldi Location May Not Have The Best Prices

Quality products at affordable prices is basically Aldi's motto. Many customers champion this company's deals, especially in the wake of Aldi's triumph in a side by side price comparison with Trader Joe's. While Aldi's prices are certainly competitive, customers across different stores may have noticed that not all Aldi locations sell goods at the same cost. There is nuance to how Aldi sets its prices and therefore reasons why your closest Aldi location may not have the best deals.

Aldi carefully sets prices at each store depending on a multitude of factors specific to that area, including costs, demand, competition, local regulations, and other market conditions at play. Because there are bound to be variations in these factors, prices can likewise vary. This can be a bummer for those in higher-income areas or where more expensive competitors have set up shop, especially when you remember that Aldi does not offer a price match between its own locations.

While costs may vary from store to store, Aldi still prioritizes providing the lowest prices it can in each situation. One of the most recognizable approaches to this is stocking shelves frequently, even though Aldi doesn't carry many brand name products. It is also intentional about where particular locations should source products in order to keep costs down while keeping quality relatively high. The explanation behind why Aldi's meat is so often cheap is a great example that highlights such considerations.

Oftentimes, Aldi is able to reduce prices by simple changes to the shopping experiences. At many locations, 25-cent deposits for shopping carts reduce the costs associated with hiring staff to collect the carts. Aldi also encourages shoppers to bring their own shopping bags or purchase a reusable Aldi bag in order to reduce the costs associated with this common grocery store feature.