We reveal how many specialbuys Aldi REALLY stocks – and it’s all just to get you through the doors
One store we visited had no 4K TV's with shoppers left leaving empty-handed and unhappy
IF you don't know what an Aldi specialbuy is, then what rock have you been hiding under?
Twice a week the bargain supermarket launches "an exciting mix of top quality, great value products".
Aldi's latest specialbuy - a mega-cheap Brauhn 4k 49inch LE TV for £320 - went on sale this morning.
Just like with previous popular specialbuys the snazzy TV sold out very quickly online.
But just how many products does Aldi have in each store? The Sun Online decided to find out.
We sent reporters to branches in London, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Plymouth and Birmingham.
The stores with the largest amount of stock - Plymouth and London - had just six TVs in stock when their doors opened at 8am.
While Glasgow had just three and Leeds and Manchester had two each.
We also visited two branches in Birmingham. The first one had no TVs, while the second had just seven.
And five of those TVs were taken by staff to help plug gaps in stock in other stores.
Previous headline-grabbing specialbuys have included a £300 inflatable hot tub and Jo Malone copycat candles - all at bargain prices.
But the stock is limited and "once they're gone, they're gone", an Aldi spokesperson often cries.
The supermarket shies away from saying just how many products will be in its stores and this is for commercial reasons, it says.
Earlier this week we asked Aldi how much stock it would have of the 4K TV.
Predictably a spokesperson said: “Unfortunately this figure isn’t something Aldi would reveal. I can confirm that this product is available in every store nationwide, as well as online.”
And as usual, with all its specialbuys, it said: “All of Aldi’s specialbuys ranges are only available while stocks last; the ranges are sold on a first come, first served basis and once they’re gone, they’re gone.
“Our advice to customers is to get to stores or check the website as soon as possible to avoid missing out.”
Despite opening its first branch in the UK in 1990, Aldi has over 700 stores in the UK and it plans to have over 1,000 by the end of 2022.
WHERE ARE ALL THE SPECIALBUYS?
CUSTOMERS who turned up to Aldi's Sheldon branch in Birmingham were left fuming.
Mum-of-two, Bernie Anderson, who is a catering assistant at Bordesley Village Primary school, queued from 7am only to be told there were no TVs in stock.
The 59-year-old, from Yardley, Birmingham, said: “It’s really bad, I got up early to get in the queue for this TV for my partner and it’s been a complete waste of time.
“I tried ordering the TV online after the store messaged me about the deal but they’d sold out so I really hoped I’d get one today.”
Mum-of-three Yvonne Venis, 53, from Birmingham, also queued from 7am.
She said: “I think it’s disgusting, it’s false advertisement.
“They should have at least put a note outside for those of us waiting that said they didn’t get the delivery yesterday.
“It’s not good customer service, they could give us a ticket and take our number to tell us when the delivery will be coming in, but they won’t.
“I’m not happy at all.”
While one lucky customer was able to bag one of a handful of TVs at the store in Hall Green, Birmingham.
The customer refused to be named, but said: “I queued for a long time but got it. I’m very happy.”
It is investing £1.7billion over the next five years as part of its plan for expansion.
It serves millions of shoppers each year around the country and it now has a seven per cent share of the market, according to recent industry data.
Our straw poll of six stores around the UK might not be indicative of stock in every Aldi. We'd need a lot of man power to check that.
But what happens when a shopper stops by in hope of buying a much-hyped product? They probably end up buying something else to fill their basket.
And are the numbers always so low? They apparently were when its £300 hot tub went on sale earlier this year.
One insider claimed that the shop had just four of the budget inflatable hot tubs per store.
It's also important to remember that stock varies depending on each store that you visit AND the item.
Its team will assess demand ahead of the launch to try and gauge how many products to buy.
SEEING DOUBLE Aldi's new lighting range looks just like ones from John Lewis - but is half the price
An Aldi spokesperson said: “We do our very best to anticipate customer demand with all of our Specialbuys and we are sorry if any of our customers were disappointed when they tried to purchase our 49 Inch 4K Smart TV.
"Our UK Buying Team take into account the popularity of an item when planning future Specialbuy promotions.
"Our Specialbuys are always very popular and, by their nature, are limited in stock – meaning when they’re gone, they’re gone.”
HOW ALDI'S STOCK VARIES AROUND THE UK
WE sent reporters to branches in London, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Plymouth and Birmingham. Here's how they got on:
Plymouth - 6 TVs
Two people were queuing outside the shop before it opened but noone wanted a TV.
Six of the 4K TVs were on display next to the checkout.
By 9am - an hour after the store opened - all six televisions were still unsold and on display.
Leeds - 2 TVs
Only two TV sets - but no queues. The store manager said the stock was being kept in the back room.
Both TVs were sold before 8am. The new owner, who did not want to be named, said: "I'm happy with it. Just saw it online a few days ago and thought it was worth a go."
Manchester - 2 TVs
The Urban Exchange branch in Manchester received a delivery of just TWO of the widescreen TVs.
Neither were on display on the shop floor when the store opened at 8am.
One was immediately snapped up by decorator Brian Bowden, 60, from Saddleworth.
He was first in the queue outside the store at half past seven in the morning.
The other was bought by a woman who was second in line.
London - 6 TVs
Around 10 people in the queue before the store opened. Four were there for the TVs. Staff member said they expect the items to be sold out within the hour.
Glasgow - 3 TVs
Despite the draw of £320 TVs, only three people queued outside the Aldi in High Street, Glasgow, this morning - and just one of them wanted a TV.
A store worker told us that there were only three TVs in store, and that other larger stores might have more, but not many.
Birmingham - 2 stores and 7 TVs
Aldi's Sheldon branch didn't recieve any TVs and customers were left fuming.
Mum-of-two, Bernie Anderson, who is a catering assistant at Bordesley Village Primary school, queued from 7am only to be told there were no TVs in stock
The 59-year-old, from Yardley, Birmingham, said: “It’s really bad, I got up early to get in the queue for this TV for my partner and it’s been a complete waste of time.
“I tried ordering the TV online after the store messaged me about the deal but they’d sold out so I really hoped I’d get one today.”
Mum-of-three Yvonne Venis, 53, from Birmingham, also queued from 7am.
She said: “I think it’s disgusting, it’s false advertisement.
“They should have at least put a note outside for those of us waiting that said they didn’t get the delivery yesterday.
“It’s not good customer service, they could give us a ticket and take our number to tell us when the delivery will be coming in, but they won’t.
“I’m not happy at all.”
Our reporter visited a second store, based in Hall Green, where there were seven TV's. Five of these TV's were taken to nearby stores to plug gaps in their stock.
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