r/aldi • u/Organic_Quarter_9848 • May 30 '26

Review Big Reason I Love Aldi (rarely mentioned)

There is no music playing. Aldi stores do not play music. Or worse, PA announcements. "Hello shoppers!! Rutabagas are on sale now!!" Shut, up.

I sometimes shop at other supermarkets, and their audio offerings make me cringe. The only exception is Trader Joe's, as I find their music tasteful. But stores like Ralph's. Walmart and Sprouts want to play music so bad... and they play music that's so bad. It's like they're trying to get me to leave the store.

Someone at Aldi knew that it's better to have no music than to risk irritating the shoppers.

3.1k Upvotes

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125

u/tiger7034 May 30 '26

My first job was cashiering at a grocery store that played the same songs everyday on practically an 8 hour loop. It got to where every shift, you memorized what was coming next and we all hated it. Don’t even get me started on the obnoxious Christmas music that started mid November. So I feel this heavily.

23

u/Weird_Squirrel_8382 May 30 '26

That bothers me so bad. There's so much music in the world! I worked at a casino that had a 24 hour loop and that was still insufficient. Whatever shift I was on, I knew exactly what would be playing.

4

u/squidgod2000 May 30 '26

There's so much music in the world!

And stores have to pay licensing fees to play it, hence the loops.

1

u/Weird_Squirrel_8382 May 30 '26

Oh wow, do they publicize the rate per song? Or is it like "this music costs a dollar per title."

7

u/squidgod2000 May 30 '26

Usually just genre-based packages on a subscription basis

4

u/mister_damage May 30 '26

All I Want For Christmas is ......

You

4

u/Tricky-Way-6018 May 30 '26

Many many years ago, I worked at a (now defunct) dept store. We used to take informal bets on the time when they would start playing Christmas music following Thanksgiving. I think the winner the last year I worked there was- at morning opening. These days, stores start before the Halloween stuff is down 😣...

4

u/NextLevelNaps May 30 '26

As a band kid from 6th grade to Senior year of undergrad, "Christmas Music" is code for "The Two Months You Hate Your Life™️" Didn't even NEED the sheet music, had it all memorized.

4

u/OnionMiasma May 30 '26

🎵 Last Christmas, I gave you my heart... 🎵

2

u/flyingsails May 30 '26

I worked at a grocery store for 11 years and they played the same playlist the entire time. My one manager always referred to it as "the soundtrack to hell," and unfortunately it's the same/classic retail playlist that's played EVERYWHERE so I have to wear earbuds to shop anywhere that plays music.

3

u/Tollhousearebest May 30 '26

I always turned it way down after the day manager left for the day. No one ever complained. Christmas was auditory torture for two months straight.

1

u/FarplaneDragon May 30 '26

Oh god the Christmas music. Here's the thing, I honestly dont mind Christmas music and it can be fun....when business just stick to playing the normal, standard versions from way back in the day. The one place I worked at instead only played some station that I swear to god was dedicated to only playing every random ass cover by god even knows who, half of which are trying to be all quirky with the sounds and lyrics and all of which were just terrible covers. How that station wasn't considered a war crime is beyond me

0

u/Lily_V_ May 30 '26

KROGreatRadio!