Not your average supermarket. (Lidl)

Member Name: gothbutterfly

Product:	Lidl
Date:	05/03/03 (2749 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: cheap, good quality

Disadvantages: take own carrier bags, not enough staff

Inverness got its first Lidl store about one and a half years ago, and initially I thought that it would end up closing down due to its position, as it is slightly out of town, and because of competition from larger better known stores like Safeway and Tesco. However good advertising and prices seem to have kept Lidl open!

Lidl mainly a grocery store, but they also sell a selection of goods which changes from month to month and has included Pokémon cushions, shower doors, massage kits and more...

Prices are very good for basic products and it is often hard to beat their deals, even by purchasing other stores own label products. A loaf of thick sliced white bread is 19 pence and 4 pints of milk would cost 98 pence. Fruit, vegetable and meat also tend to be slightly lower than the other supermarkets, though I would tend to shop around for meat as sometimes it can be found cheaper at somewhere like Farmfoods. There are also monthly offers on products which lowers the price even further. The products tend to be not brand name and are often foreign but are of excellent quality.

Rather than compromising quality to reduce price Lidl keeps low costs by not having a store loyalty card and not providing carrier bags. If you plan to shop at Lidl take along a good stack of carrier bags as they charge 9 pence per bag- though there are often free cardboard boxes lying around which you are welcomed to use. The trolley system also requires a one pound coin (refunded) so bear that in mind when you head to the shop. Instead of having the products on shelves, Lidl just keep them stacked in boxes (less staff=less wages paid out= more savings :-) ), its certainly not conventional but if it saves money does that matter?

The only major problem I have encountered with Lidl is low staffing. I don't know whether this is just the case in Inverness, as they constantly seem to be advertising for new staff, but it can be highly irritating when you have jus
t a pint of milk and some bread and there is 4 people with packed trolleys in front of you!

If you're lucky enough to have a Lidl store near you I defiently recommend that you check it out. They offer great deals and it could save you pounds on your weekly shop, even if you just buy basics.

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