Haggen Groceries (San Diego, Vista, Rancho Santa Fe: lease, how much, store)

[sdurbanite]

Originally Posted by earlyretirement

Things will get even more competitive once Aldi's comes to Southern California next year. I heard they are opening about 50 locations in Southern California alone.

They will put the pressure on all the supermarkets.

I just read that Aldi is opening their first store in Vista. I remember going into a store in upstate New York, but I can't remember anything about it. All I know is that it started in Germany.

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

Originally Posted by sdurbanite

I just read that Aldi is opening their first store in Vista. I remember going into a store in upstate New York, but I can't remember anything about it. All I know is that it started in Germany.

Where in Vista?

[ccrash]

Originally Posted by msgsing

Recall you had to bag your own groceries, even pay a quarter for a shopping cart.

You do bag your own groceries, but the quarter is to "rent" the cart. When you return the cart to the cart rack at the end of your shopping trip, you get the quarter back. It's an incentive to get people to return their carts to the rack as opposed to paying an employee to schlep carts from all over the parking lot back to the store. Paltry as a quarter is, it seems to work. They run on minimal staff (hence bagging your own groceries) to save on operating costs. They also carry mostly private label products (similar to trader joe's). I've always found their products to be high quality and very comparable to name brands. I found my grocery bill was at least 40% cheaper when I lived in NC and shopped at Aldi. If the rumor about Vista is true, I'll gladly drive from RB once or twice a month to stock up on pantry goods.

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

Paying for a shopping cart is common in the UK. And you don't get your money back.

[oddstray]

Originally Posted by TurquoiseOne

Paying for a shopping cart is common in the UK. And you don't get your money back.

IIRC, we've always got our money back when using a shopping cart in the UK.

[bloom]

Originally Posted by sdurbanite

I just read that Aldi is opening their first store in Vista. I remember going into a store in upstate New York, but I can't remember anything about it. All I know is that it started in Germany.

I would like if Aldi takes as much of the failed Haagen spaces, but mostly the one in my hood. I'm a big fan of TJs and Aldi is supposedly in same group. I didn't think FreshandEasy was as great, but certainly much better than Vons/Ralphs/PigglyWiggly/Haagen/Kroger/Safeway/StopnSchlock/

[oddstray]

The same people own TJ's and Aldi. There the resemblence ends. Aldi is all about avoiding expenses to be able to have lower prices. That's why they don't stock shelves (they open pallets and that's about as much as they do) and don't bag your groceries.

I like both TJs and Aldi. I hope Aldi moves into one of the vacant Haggens around here.

[1AngryTaxPayer]

Originally Posted by ccrash

You do bag your own groceries, but the quarter is to "rent" the cart. When you return the cart to the cart rack at the end of your shopping trip, you get the quarter back. It's an incentive to get people to return their carts to the rack as opposed to paying an employee to schlep carts from all over the parking lot back to the store. Paltry as a quarter is, it seems to work. They run on minimal staff (hence bagging your own groceries) to save on operating costs. They also carry mostly private label products (similar to trader joe's). I've always found their products to be high quality and very comparable to name brands. I found my grocery bill was at least 40% cheaper when I lived in NC and shopped at Aldi. If the rumor about Vista is true, I'll gladly drive from RB once or twice a month to stock up on pantry goods.

I wish they'd do that at all stores. There are thousands of people here that don't drive so they basically steal the cart and push it home.

[mauialoha]

I wish they'd do that at all stores.

Agree, and maybe it would cut down on those who refuse to simply push the cart into the cart return. That's one of the things that really bothers me - and it so often the ones in the expensive cars that think they don't have to. Rude, entitled people.

[sebastiannight]

Originally Posted by TurquoiseOne

Paying for a shopping cart is common in the UK. And you don't get your money back.

What? Sorry, but I don't believe this. "Renting" a shopping cart is common all over Europe. But you always get your coin back.