‘Stop dumping on Publix’

I’ve received many responses to recent columns on Comcast and DirecTV price increases and my informal price comparison between Aldi and Publix. I love to answer your consumer questions. Keep them coming. Email me at dchristensen@sunsentinel.com or chat me up at Facebook.com/ Doreens-Deals.

Dear Doreen: OK already about Aldi. I shopped there for years up north and was extremely happy when they moved to Broward County. At first I could access the store with no problem. Now the shelves are empty often when I go after work. I have gone out of my way to two stores to pick up advertised items and have left empty handed. The extra time and gas is costly. People know about the chain already. Maybe you can go at 10 a.m. in the morning, but I can’t. — D.G.

Dear D.G.: I’m sorry I’ve ruined it for you by spreading the word about Aldi. But it’s my job to share ways Sun Sentinel readers can save money, which is what I’m usually doing at 10 a.m. in the morning. I shop at Aldi on the weekends and it’s often crowded, but I rarely encounter empty shelves.

Dear Doreen: I love your column and I love Aldi. What do you mean by “clunky and annoying” checkout process? Other than bag-your-own, it’s the same as other stores. The clerks are incredibly fast at scanning. — F.H.

Dear F.H. They are fast. Despite the speed, lines are usually long because there aren’t enough clerks. Efficiency — which allows the chain to hire fewer employees — is at the heart of Aldi’s business model. The chain has checkout quotas and employees must scan so many items a minute. That’s part of the problem. They sometimes zip along so quickly they throw items in the cart. That has resulted in squashed bread, chips and bruised produce.

Dear Doreen: You are so cheap! Stop dumping on Publix. It’s the best grocery store. Aldi sucks. — R.T.

Dear R.T.: I’ll take that as a compliment. I like Publix, too, but I love my money more.

Dear Doreen: Comparing Aldi and Publix is like comparing apples and oranges. Aldi almost never puts the country of origin on products and their products are far inferior to Publix. Have you ever tasted the meat there? Yuck. Their chocolate bars are great and if you can figure out where their produce originates from, it does come at a good price. — H.G.

Dear H.G.: I like Aldi’s meats. As I suggested in my column, shop there to save on staples and fresh food, and then use what you save to buy BOGOs and products you can’t live without at Publix.

Dear Doreen: Just finished digesting (pun intended) your article on Aldi. Haven’t yet tried Aldi, but you’ve convinced me. In your experience, how does it compare to my recent haunt, Walmart Market? And for that matter, Walmart vs. Publix? — G.F.

Dear G.F.: I’m delighted I’ve inspired you to save more on groceries. I have found Aldi is often cheaper than Walmart Neighborhood Market, which is always cheaper than Publix.

Dear Doreen: I put my antenna up on the roof facing southwest. I live in east Broward and have a 4K TV. I mostly watch sports. I added sports channel apps on my Google account. I do get Miami Heat games live. How do I get live TV shows since I won’t get it from Xfinity anymore? My antenna only gets two channels. — L.D., via email

Dear L.D.: Go to the Federal Communication Commission digital TV reception maps at FCC.gov/media/engineering/dtvmaps to check the signals that are available in your area. To tune in more channels, experiment with pointing the antenna in different directions and then remap them to your TV by pressing the “setup” or “menu” button on your remote control. Consult your television’s owner manual for more info.

Dear Doreen: I love all of your posts, but now I’m not able to read them without subscribing to the Sun Sentinel. — A.S., via Facebook

Dear A.S. You can subscribe for less than the cost of a cup of coffee at Starbucks. Get Sunday delivery (with coupons) plus unlimited online access for 99 cents for four weeks, or choose a free 3-month online subscription at SunSentinel.com/subscriptions.

Dear Doreen: I agree 100 percent with your article. I left Comcast several years ago to go with AT&T/DirecTV. I am now about to deal with them over increases. There is another media vendor in South Florida that continues to increase its rates for less product and that is the Sun Sentinel. When I call to renew, I never pay what they are asking and usually go to a supervisor to get a lower rate and always a free extra week. It has actually become a fun phone call but I do need to make sure I have at least 30 minutes I can waste. It would be nice if you could print this but I would not want you to get in trouble or lose your job. — R.C.

Dear R.C.: A free press isn’t free. Paying the salaries of newspaper reporters and editors, buying ink and paper by the ton, and providing convenient delivery to your doorstep is expensive. The Sun Sentinel actually pays for itself with valuable coupons and my savings tips. Thank you for subscribing!

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