To think Waitrose is a rip off?

It's raison d'etre is to be a class indicator for the middle classes. I never go unless I want something very specific that no one else sells.

You're doing it wrong. Skip the branded stuff, Waitrose own brand is just as good if not better. We prefer their baked beans, butter, washing powder, gravy granules, crisps, flour, ketchup, mayo, and many other things. In fact I cannot think of any branded stuff we do buy there!

I disagree. Waitrose is way better quality than Sainsbury's or Tesco's and more ethical too. Their use by dates are longer, and we've never had anything go off, unlike Sainsbury's. Their own label stuff is generally excellent

They are never (along with M&S) involved in dodgy food stuff recalls.

@longdistanceclaraclara I agree- I've had very few ready meals from there I would describe as 'grim' - and I like cooking!! Waitrose is better for cooks ingredients- M&S has better chicken and fish. The idea of everyone cooking from scratch every night and it's all amazing - well I have several friends who do actually cook from scratch most nights-they are lovely friends but blimey they can't cook tasty food to save their life - fresh yes, no UPFs - good- er no!! I long for them to offer me an M&S quiche, with some veg or coleslaw and salad etc

My M&S is great for 'real' food. Must be area dependent. My local one is massive, yes lots of UPF but also lots that not.

i never think of M&S as a proper shop. It’s aisle upon aisle of grim UPF-ready meals. Proper cooks go to Waitrose.

not sure what you mean by branded items...

there are a lot of brands available in waitrose that are not available in Tesco or Sainsbury's. they tend to be on expensive side, but many are worth it

if you mean the standard brands eg. fairy liquid, yes more expensive in waitrose.. i wouldn't buy those items from there

the fruits and veg is much better than sainsburys, but maybe not m&s. it all depends what you buy.... the organic offerings are more varied I find.

it could be that your local store is a bit crap tbh

It’s selling point is that it sells people to anyone who wants to shop there 😂
I far prefer it over M&S, I find Marks has so much prepared food that it’s hard to get just the basic ingredients to cook properly. Loads of ready meals and premarinaded meat, not much in the way of just plain food.
It may just be my local one like this, I don’t really shop there for this reason. I like our Waitrose as it’s not as huge as the other supermarkets in the area and the ingredients are of a good quality.
Plus interesting ranges of things and nice cheeses for a supermarket.

Waitrose (and m &s) own brands are
Good value
For money imo.

I always struggle with the Waitrose fruit, so prefer M&S if going specifically there for fruit.
However the cooking / ingredients section at Waitrose is much better, as is the fresh veg.

Basically, horses for courses. Shop where you want / depending on what you need that day.

It is much more relaxing in my local Waitrose compared with our local Lidl (always horrendous queues), Tesco or Morrisons.

Same, just got back from there 😃

What???? 🙄

Re elderly dawdling - random ageism and invention of suggested minimum soeed in supermarkets 🤣

Re products - Waitrose like M and S can be cheaper than some supermarkets. Depends what you are buying and what they are promoting. Quality of fruit - M and S raspberries go off the quickest, likewise courgettes.

Waitrose is one of the few things I miss about the UK. Mind you, I haven't been in one since 2003 so they might have changed a bit. I used to love all the lovely things that you couldn't get elsewhere, like the boxes of different coloured rare breed eggs, and the lovely cheeses and coffees, even their ready meals were nice! The magazine used to be gloriously ponce-tastic (what to do with your left over venison etc :)), and the whole shopping experience was very civilised with lots of free samples and helpful friendly staff. Yes it was expensive, I didn't do my weekly shop there, but it was lovely. I'd give good money to spend a happy hour or two in Waitrose if it's just as nice now! Aussie Coles and Woollies are just not the same!

Just go elsewhere.

I shop in Aldi just as much as I shop in Waitrose. I just don't buy the same things. Some food items, I can't find anywhere else than Waitrose, others are just nicer.

Why is it a "rip off"? They don't hide their price, don't buy if you don't think it's good value for money.

I use Tesco and Waitrose. The essentials range is good quality IMHO at Waitrose so for example their essentials eggs are free range and 20p ish per egg which stacks up v well against other free range. Branded stuff is hit and miss on pricing you have to check carefully.
Tesco are far better on discounts ime

@YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME I'm very tempted to change my user name to 'completeshoppingtart' lol - that's exactly how I shop and I agree that cheap isn't always the way to go- in terms of value- I once did a shop when we lived in Denmark at Lidl- my H didn't notice where it was from but did go and do a covid test as he said it all was tasteless and nasty - and left lots- however if I was filling the fridge and cupboard with cheaper snacks for less fussy/foodie husbands and teens with hollow legs then yep I would go there-

I personally love Waitrose, mostly for the huge amount of choice, e.g. they stock vastly more varieties of cheese than other similar-sized supermarkets. Tried Aldi for a little while as we moved close to one, but didn’t rate it tbh. It was good for plain produce/veg etc, but as an example they obviously stock about 2 kinds of pesto - red/green, whereas Waitrose sells truffle/harissa/other varieties as well. It just makes meals more interesting IMO. FWIW I am not a great cook and having more exciting things to start with makes my quick and easy meals a lot nicer 😂

Is it?

No one has put a gun to OP's head forcing her to go to Waitrose, or any other supermarket.

She's airing her reverse snobbery, that's all.

Tesco Finest also do wild Alaskan salmon.

I agree. Ours is smallish but well laid out, and had self scanning now which I love. I do tend to spend a bit more but that’s possibly because the range of items is so much better than other supermarkets! I love their own brand tubs of ice cream - coconut and lime 🤤. I think their meat counter is very good, UK meat and a good variety of cuts, so because of this it is expensive, but you get what you pay for. For a treat it’s very good. I have no problems with the fruit and vegetables. And the staff are very good.

I think if your main priority is cost of branded items then it’s unlikely to be the shop for you. It can’t be so hard to understand that’s not the priority for everyone tho???

I like it for the range of fresh produce, good quality fruit and veg and good and varied own range.

The specific size and layout of the shop near you is also unlikely to apply across the UK.

I guess we have a range of supermarkets so people can shop where suits them 🤷🏻‍♀️

I have small Waitrose two doors down from a slightly bigger M&S and find fresh produce better in M&S and everything else better in Waitrose. M&S almost never have stock of everything I want so I usually choose Waitrose (free coffee a plus!). The store sounds like a similar set up to yours and can feel a bit crowded, and for some reason as soon as I rock up with alcohol to the self service the attendant always runs away. There's a surplus of full-sized Waitroses in every direction though if I want to drive, where the aisles are very wide and the staff are excellent. I think the key is that I don't buy much branded stuff at all, and if I need to I tend to get it from Tesco as it's closer.

They do 50% off fruit and veg on a Monday with Uber Eats. This allows me to purchase huge quantities of ready-prepped fruit and veg fairly affordably.