Do you guys have?

[UnConundrum]

Do you guys have club based stores like Sam's Club and Costco in the land of Oz?  They are my favorite place to by meats here in the US.  I can buy Delmonico steaks for under $7 US/pound (little under 500 grams) and the chuck roasts I used for the community meal were only $2.09/pound. 

[Thermomixer]

Don't know of any - nut I saw something on another forum and found: http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Free-Articles/The-Briefing/20080623-Costco-announces-first-Australian-store.html.

We have Aldi, which has similar display policy of things in pallets/minimal varieties.

It will be interesting to see if people here are willing to pay a fee to join

[UnConundrum]

Interesting.  I hope we have some members in Melbourne who can report to us.  Like I said, I really like the meat products and the prices.  In the states we rate our meat prime, choice, and select with some other lesser grades.  Prime is available only through specialty butchers, and is quite expensive.  Costco carries choice, which is better than most supermarkets (they usually carry select to keep the prices down).  Here, they have two membership levels.  I think I pay $100/year for the premium membership at Costco, but one of the premium benefits is a 2% rebate on anything you buy.  I've received more than the $100 fee every year since I upgraded. 

I've been in an Aldi once, but saw nothing to encourage me to return.  There was really no comparison.  Of course, Costco and Sams sell far more than just food.

So, what about the rest of you?  Is it Aldi's for you too?

[cookie1]

Here in good old Western Australia we don't have Aldi. (although I visit them when we drove over to the other side of Aust). We have Woolworths, Coles and IGA which is the Independent Grocers' Association (I think). I find the IGA a little more expensive than the other two but they are open 7 days a week.  Here we only have retail trading for 6 days of the week.
Coles and Woolworths are putting lots of their own brands on the shelves at the moment and some people are finding it hard to buy things they like.  A real nuisance.
I did hear that Costco will be coming to Aust.  Melbourne first but I did hear that they even plan to come to West Aussie.

[Thermomixer]

I've been in an Aldi once, but saw nothing to encourage me to return.  There was really no comparison.  Of course, Costco and Sams sell far more than just food.

If it's not like Aldi then I might venture in.  I detest many things about Aldi, although they apparently vary alot from one site to another???

The main supermarkets here have systems where you can accrue points and exchange for discounts (I think that's right  ) to promote loyalty.

[Amanda]

No Aldi here in South Oz either. 
We have Coles and Woolworths who screw their produce suppliers to the wall and the locally owned Foodland.  I try to avoid the big 2 whenever possible.  I buy my fresh produce at local green-grocers or at the Adelaide Central Market (a foodie heaven), my meat from our local butcher and I go to Foodland for whatever else I need.

[brazen20au]

i love aldi   i tend to buy my meat from a local chain of "wholesale" butchers though.

we do have a place like that called campbells cash and carry. i have never been there as i've heard it's not really that much cheaper. there are also wholesale butchers.

[Thermomixer]

The only 2 Aldis I went to were very limited in what was available.  Couldn't find drinks that I liked or wanted and the biscuits were not at all familiar (not that I eat many of those anyhow).  But my wife says the one in the better class area is much different from the one nearest us.  

Friends shop there all the time and said we should try Aldi - I was not sure that things were that much cheaper (tho don't do most of the shopping) but she said the range seemed much different?

What do you like about Aldi??

[UnConundrum]

I buy my fresh produce at local green-grocers or at the Adelaide Central Market (a foodie heaven)

Obviously, I have no idea what Adelaide Central Market is, but I have a routine of going to a farmers' market every weekend.  We have about 4 of them within a reasonable distance from my home, each in a different direction.  Most of my veggies come from there.  One of them has a stand selling CAB (Certified Angus Beef) which is supposed to be a cross between prime and choice.  Their prices are always reasonable

I think Costco's are great.  They don't always have your brand, and you have to buy larger quantities, but I like to eat larger quantities   They're usually very similar, and clean, although I have observed that they don't all carry the exact same things.

[wombleydoo]

I shop at Aldi, but I hate it. Their prices make it worth my while to clench my teeth and do it. I try and do a big bulk shop every 4-6 weeks and buy "trays" of the tinned food, a dozen tins at a time and stock up on lots of toothpaste and other things that I know are cheaper there than Bilo or Coles. I hate how you have to put out all your stuff on to the conveyor and then load them back into the trolley while the checkout operator scans them faster than you can pack them back into the trolley. Oh the pressure!! With the trays, I take out one can and then they multiply it by 12. Saves time and stress. I've done a spreadsheet to compare prices (anal, I know, but an interesting exercise) at my local Aldi, Bilo and Coles and most often Aldi is cheaper.

My favourite supermarket is my local Bilo. I'd be interested to visit a Costco or Sam's. People on some other forums are always talking about them, so I'd like to see them and compare.

Cathy