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Original poster

To be amazed at how much more expensive...

65 replies

mumsgotatum · 18/03/2011 20:23

I know this has probably been done to death... and it's totally obvious but I have just done a weekly shop at Waitrose instead of my usual at Tesco. I cannot believe how much more expensive it is. Some to the products are a good £1 if not more extra, and loads of little things are like 50p more. Sorry this is really boring....but WHY is Waitrose so expensive? I admit it is a calmer shopping expereince, a nice ambiance, polite staff but SO pricey

OP posts:
Roseflower · 18/03/2011 21:36

The only reason we used to go waitrose was it was local before we moved. I didnt get what was so wonderful about the place. There own brand is nothing great and they often didnt have that much choice.

I once used a website where I put all my usual buys onto a list and the website showed waitrose as £17 more expensive than Tesco-for exact same products!

I will however quite happily pay a small fortune for M&S food as they make such unique and yummy stuff! Mmmmm....

Honeydragon · 18/03/2011 21:38

MissVerinder

You wouldn't like my Tesco's Grin, it beggers belief that we have two Tesco's 8 miles away in either direction which are adequately stocked and pleasant to shop in, and then we have ours. I use it for dry good special offers and Tesco Direct only, it's terrible. Lovely staff....terrible stocking.

trixie123 · 18/03/2011 21:39

The MD of waitrose was on BBC breakfast the other day and it was suggested to him that they kept the prices high to keep away the riff raff (or words to that effect). He spluttered a bit, didn't actually deny it and acknowledged that they do cater for a rather different market. At least they're honest about it!

NinkyNonker · 18/03/2011 21:39

I don't find it more expensive apart from for cleaning products etc, their own brands are good value and quality.

I tend to do a monthly shop at Tescos online for tins, cleaning products, toiletries etc etc and then a fortnightly Ocado/Waitrose shop for meat and veg as much nicer.

zipzap · 18/03/2011 21:39

waitrose currently have 2 pretty big chickens (1.6Kg without giblets) on offer for £7 the pair. I thought that was actually pretty good value as their chickens usually taste really good.

and as I have lots of people coming for sunday lunch i will actually need two chickens to feed them all - cheaper than getting a turkey or just about any other joint - even from Tesco's I'd have thought.

Honeydragon · 18/03/2011 21:42

ninky nonker I do that too Smile

mmsmum · 18/03/2011 21:44

Waitrose, like M&S, is lovely once in a while

Tesco is ok for little shops, I can't cope with Asda, I just can't, so for a big/decent shop it's got to be Sainsburys, I think it's kind of in between?

PS. I do not have a husband , I spend my own money thank you

bucaneve · 18/03/2011 21:45

Where I used to live the two nearest supermarkets were Waitrose and a Tesco (Metro I think)so I used to swap between them. Waitrose almost always came out cheaper.
I think a lot of it depends on what you buy, special vegetarian food and Mediterranean type stuff was always a lot cheaper at Waitrose than in that rural Tesco's.
Plus I would buy a lot of Waitrose essentials stuff but I would always buy a more expensive brand of Tesco's stuff as they Tesco's cheapest stuff was just too bleargh.

Original poster
mumsgotatum · 18/03/2011 21:45

Oh no I just went to waitrose today and didn't see the 2 for £7 chicken offer.

OP posts:
happybubblebrain · 18/03/2011 22:00

Waitrose is for idiots who buy into the whole 'if I shop here I am certainly middle class and I'm a cut above the riff-raff' ethos. It's pretty funny really.

If you pay more for your weekly shop just so you can say you shop at Waitrose than you're a complete mug. The food isn't any better, neither are the people who shop there, it's just more expensive and a bit less crowded.

carabos · 19/03/2011 09:45

Can't agree that shopping at waitrose is a calmer experience than shopping at tesco. I went there last week as I happened to be in the vicinity and by the time I'd been almost run into three times in the car park, had to fight for a trolley, couldn't find anything and manoeuvered my way round the old ladies, I was totally stressed out.

CrystalQueen · 19/03/2011 09:51

So Scotland is just full of plebs then, since there are two Waitroses for the whole country? Cheers!

crashingwaves · 19/03/2011 09:56

I used to shop in Waitrose when we lived in Narf Landan Grin because it was the nearest supermarket, but I am not loyal, I am a supermarket 'ho' and go to wherever is easiest which is generally one which is en route on my way home from work :) At the moment it's Sainsburys or Tesco. I have gone off Asda Hmm

TheGreatStupendo · 19/03/2011 10:15

Interesting - am flirting with trying Ocado for the first time because of their £15 off offer. We shop mainly at Tesco at the moment because it's closest (but a bit crap stockwise and I don't really like it ethos-wise except they do do organic ham; also often surprisingly expensive I think). I do know what a haiku is though Grin

Can anyone help resolve an argument between OH and I: which is posher, Tesco or Sainsbury's?

onceamai · 19/03/2011 10:17

I do a big sainsburys shop once a week and top up at Waitrose because it's convenient. Buy carefully though.

risingstar · 19/03/2011 10:31

we live in tesco land and i hate it with a passion- the staff are always miserable. there are always long queues and they will always have run out of the one ingredient you really need for a recipe.

i do Ocado every week and buy meat from the butchers on a saturday. ocado is no more expensive, everything i buy is from their essentials range- and this is as good as branded stuff- seriously- even the baked beans are just like heinz. it only costs £10 per month for the service and it is the best money i spend

BaggedandTagged · 19/03/2011 10:38

Waitrose is more expensive as they rip their suppliers off a bit less than Tesco.

I'm not sure if anyone saw the documentary about Kenyan growers producing beans for Tesco (it was on a few years ago). It was painful to watch.

The irony is that many Tesco shoppers will this weekend be giving £5 to comic relief and thinking they're doing some poor Africans a big favour.

WideWebWitch · 19/03/2011 10:44

I don't know why Waitrose is more expensive but I do know that it's a completely different and better shopping experience than our local Tesco.

And their business model is sound: they're part of JLP, so everyone who works for them benefits from increased profitability.

adelaidegirl · 19/03/2011 10:52

Waitrose is much more pleasant to shop in, mainly because it is lovely, spacious and quiet and there are less people there. There is not pop music blaring loudly and I have never heard anyone scream abuse at their child in there unlike asda/tesco when I have been there.

The till staff are polite and don't throw your stuff down the checkout or glower at you if you don't keep up.

Their fruit and veg are much better quality (and that comes from the mouth of someone who picks fruit for the supermarkets)

If you buy ready meals/ready made puddings and brands then it is more expensive. If you buy basics it works out the same price. Their offers tend to be on decent stuff not just chocolate/biscuits/shit.

They are much nicer to their suppliers and employees than the other big supermarkets

Tesco is trying to take over the world and I detest their policies.

That is why I shop at Waitrose and I don't care if it makes me middle class. I am not going to go to Tesco/Asda to save 75p and make myself miserable. Everyone else can go wherever they like

RumourOfAHurricane · 19/03/2011 10:56

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RumourOfAHurricane · 19/03/2011 10:58

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mrswantstobeamum · 19/03/2011 11:34

DH and I (we both earn, thank you) used to go out of our way to do a weekly shop at Tesco in a nearby town even though Waitrose is closer. Over the past year though, the prices have crept up so much, that we finally realised a few months ago we weren't actually saving money by doing so (even though I was carefully planning our meals and shopping lists).

We've since been doing most of our shopping online with Ocado, which I supplement with little trips every now and then to Waitrose. We've actually been saving money compared to our old Tesco shops, and it is much more pleasant to have everything delivered at our convenience than spending precious time on the weekend fighting our way through overcrowded aisles with screaming children (and often screaming parents) in Tesco.

Meat, fish and poultry are much better quality at Ocado/Waitrose, and ethically sourced (I am personally disgusted by the thought of what conditions would make it possible to sell two chicken breasts for £2, which Tesco often does). Fruit and veg are much nicer too, and they're not any more expensive.

I also don't care if this makes me "middle class". We're spending less money, have a nicer quality of food, and a more pleasant shopping experience.

GrendelsMum · 19/03/2011 11:34

We go to Tescos
To buy large bags of almonds -

Waitrose for all else.

Almonds fill the aisles
Of Tesco. Blossom flutters
And the almonds are so cheap.

Waitrose almonds huddle
Among the goods for baking.
Small costly packets.

NoWayNoHow · 19/03/2011 11:40

Interesting! When Waitrose introduced their "1000's of price matched products" promise, we thought we'd give Ocado online delivery a try, as we REALLY don't like the way Tesco is taking over the world, and also agree with the John Lewis model of being owned by staff, etc.

For our first Ocado delivery, I did a like-for-like online Tesco shop too (just obviously didn't order it!). Tesco was £74, Waitrose was £78. However, Waitrose offer something called a Delivery Pass which is £3.99 a month for UNLIMITED deliveries to your house, whereas Tesco have the audacity to charge up to £7 for any time slot that's remotely convenient.

So turns out we're actualy saving money! Oh, and the quality of the Waitrose "Essentials" range kicks the butt of even Tesco's "Normal" range.

ENormaSnob · 19/03/2011 11:44

Pmsl at those who think choosing one supermarket over another makes you middleclass.

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