Ooh Ahh, Just a Lidl Bit
 Aug 20th, 2001
Advantages:
Very cheap !
Disadvantages:
Limited range, lack of staff
Recommendable:
Yes
Detailed rating:
Price
Value for money
Layout & presentation
Selection & range
Quality
Waiting / queues
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  Dizz
About me:
Hi! I live on the outskirts of London and I'm a professional singer. I'm promoting my own solo caree...
Member since:18.02.2001
Reviews:52
Members who trust:68
Review rated by 63 Ciao members on average: very helpful 
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I admit, the reference to a "classic" Gina G track has nothing to do with this opinion whatsoever, just thought the word "Lidl" fitted in nicely there! Anyway, I hope you will all be singing along to it now whilst I start my op! For those out there who don't know, Lidl is a discount supermarket chain which opened it's first store in Germany in 1973, and has been rapidly expanding ever since, hitting our shores sometime in the 90's.I visit Lidl every now and then. Lidl stores usually have free parking, which is always handy, and the ones I have seen are generally a little out of the way of the main High Street, thus making their overheads cheaper, I suppose. When you walk into a Lidl store, it's a little like entering a time-warp. I can remember being dragged around supermarkets like this as a tot in the late seventies and early eighties. I think it's that kind of orangey-brown lino style flooring, and just something very basic about the feel of the place. The decoration is very much no frills, no fuss. No fancy displays or anything like that. You
won't get any happy "muzak" to listen to, either. The aisles are fairly wide and the goods are stacked up either side, most of them still in their boxes. Like I said, no fancy displays!!Lidl is not the kind of supermarket where you can really buy all of your groceries. It deals with mostly basic food items, you are not going to find exotic herbs and fruits in here!! However, you can buy tinned foodstuffs such as soups, meats, veggies, also rice, pasta and some sauces. There is a limited selection of fresh meat, such as chicken breasts, bacon, mince, etc; and the same with the fresh fruit and veg - small selection but all the basics such as apples, oranges, potatoes, carrots, etc are there. There are lots and lots of biscuits, sweets and crisps, some alcoholic beverages and cleaning and household goods. One thing I have not mentioned yet is that there are not many "brand" names in here - they are mainly foreign unbranded goods, and mostly German, I think. However, everything is so cheap in here you really have to try things out to see whether you like them or not. If you don't like them, you haven't lost too much cash and if you do - well, you can buy them again in future. I bought a sack of potatoes in here once, and when I got home I found they were almost all mouldy!! (YUK!!). But, apart from that, everything I have bought in here has been pretty good value, I have not been dissatisfied with much at all.I can particularly recommend the household products (limescale remover, bin liners, toilet rolls, etc) as they are often less than half the price of, say, Tesco or Sainsbury; but the quality is very good. Another good buy (usually) is the fresh fruit and veg (apart from my potatoes!!). The biscuits and sweeties section is pretty good, too - though I tend to avoid these, unfortunately. Another great thing about Lidl is that every Thursday they get in a consignment of interesting non-food items!! These can range from shoes and clothing to lawnmowers!! And they are all very cheap. There are leaflets around the store letting you know what they are going to have in next week, so you can plan to get down there and snap up the bargains! These are usually one-offs, though - so if you really want something you have to make sure you get in quick.One of the drawbacks at shopping here is that there are very few staff on the premises at one time. This means that if you come at peak times you are going to have to queue up for a while at the checkout. Most of the time I don't mind this, as I know you have to sacrifice some things to get goods at such low prices. I do get mad, though, when I have to queue up in Tesco for hours at their checkouts, and they are not a cut-price store! You also have to pay for the carrier bags, but I don't mind this at all, or I will just use an old carrier bag. When I went to Lidl today, I could not find any baskets to put my shopping in!! I found out when I got to the checkout with an armful of stuff that they had all been nicked by customers who did not want to pay 3p for a Lidl carrier bag!! (Can you believe it???? People are strange, alright!!) Please note that they also do not accept credit cards, only Switch or Delta.To sum up, I think Lidl is pretty good value for basic food stuffs; the prices are so much lower than other supermarkets and generally the items they sell are of a reasonable quality. It's just not a place where you can buy absolutely everything you need - hence I don't visit very often. If you've never been in one, I would say definitely worth a try!
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by (3%):
13.02.2005 18:45
Have never been to Lidl, one has opened near my Mum's recently and it sounds worth checking out on a Thursday for the no-food items. Liney x
10.01.2003 16:25
I think Lidl is great! As a student I find them a lifesaver. Most of their products are high quality German brands and the prices are fantastic value for money. I always look forward to Thursday offers, you never know what they can bring! I even bought some solid pine furniture from there!!
07.07.2002 19:36
A very good opinion. Will definately consider paying a visit to my local Lidl on Thurs!