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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What is wrong with Waitrose?

32 replies

dikkertjedap · 28/03/2011 12:14

Am I just being unlucky or are they seriously downgrading on quality. I have in the last two weeks shopped at three different Waitroses. The meat which was supposed to last for a further 3 days had gone off, the fresh bread became mouldy the next day, the milk went off the next day, half of the potatoes I had to throw away, half of the tomatoes were rotten ... I just cannot believe how poor the stuff was. Just me being unlucky or is this how Waitrose boosts its profits?

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 28/03/2011 12:16

I've not had this problem on a regualar basis.

They will always refund f you take it back though - I have had chicken occasionally that smells off and they have refunded me with no question.

Abr1de · 28/03/2011 12:16

I've never had this happen to me and I"ve been shopping there weekly for 15 year.

MrsSnow · 28/03/2011 12:17

It could be your fridge (ducks for cover)!

ashamedandconfused · 28/03/2011 12:18

have never had any of the problems you describe - is your house really warm or your fridge broken?

how exactly do you mean the meat had "gone off"? was the bread in a sealed sweaty bag?

milk usually lasts days after opening and the use by is generally several days after that

you must be very unlucky!

WinkyWinkola · 28/03/2011 12:18

Not only have Waitrose replaced faulty nappies and off chicken, they gave me another pack of each "for my inconvenience."

Take the goods back. Express your concerns.

Original poster
dikkertjedap · 28/03/2011 12:18

Okay, must just be bad luck then. I don't like keeping the stuff which has gone off in order to take it back because of smells (and I don't like stuff which has gone off in my fridge), so I have not taken anything back. I just felt really disappointed.

OP posts:
MissVerinder · 28/03/2011 12:18

Take a deep breath and go to TESCO!

Original poster
dikkertjedap · 28/03/2011 12:20

Bread was in a paper bag from fresh bread counter. Meat was chicken and when I opened the pack it stunk. Have checked the fridge which is 3 degrees so that is fine. Must be unlucky.

OP posts:
PorkChopSter · 28/03/2011 12:21

Nothing is ever wrong with Waitrose ^^

Original poster
dikkertjedap · 28/03/2011 12:21

I have also had problems with local Tesco, especially rotten potatoes and tomatoes. Anyway, off to bake a bread myself now.

OP posts:
razors · 28/03/2011 12:23

I am really shocked this has been your experience of Waitrose as I always shop there and love it! Quality and Customer service are always second to none. I would speak to their Head Office and alert them to your complaints as I know if I went to my store they would bend over backwards to make sure I was happy.

ashamedandconfused · 28/03/2011 12:24

smells? perhaps you need your nose tested? perhaps some of it was not off after all?

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 28/03/2011 12:29

BOOTHS is far better. Seriously good quality Wink

randomimposter · 28/03/2011 12:30

what porkchop said.
with bells and whistles on.
wash yer mouf out OP.... Grin

tiokiko · 28/03/2011 12:31

Have had problems a couple of times in the past but think that's just the luck of the draw. They always refund AND replace which is brilliant - if you don't want a replacement or they don't have it in stock they have refunded twice the amount instead.

I had dodgy chicken once where I didn't want to keep the open pack to return a couple of days later, so called them and let them know then just took the receipt in as agreed - no problem.

HubertVonRumple · 28/03/2011 12:33

I love Waitrose. I do the self scan thing and had a re-scan today. Checkout lady was very apologetic as opposed to Sainsburys where they are sketching up a wanted poster as you unpack.

pommedeterre · 28/03/2011 18:32

Hmmm. All suppliers of Waitrose also supply Sainsbury's or Tesco or Asda or Morrisons. Same product different packaging, different price. Also,, Waitrose don't have depot inspectors and checks like the others so if you have a slightly out of spec batch of product? Goes to Waitrose not sainsbury's or Tesco as less likely to get picked up and/or rejected. Therefore you are more likely to get paid for it.
So. YANBU.

WinkyWinkola · 29/03/2011 18:27

Pommedeterre, seriously? All suppliers? I didn't know that.

So a farmer will supply all supermarkets with his milk, for example? I thought each farmer were in contract with one supermarket. Or is it middlemen?

So, how accurate is the line about products coming from farmers "who share our animal welfare values" then? Or is that spiel? Or perhaps their animal welfare values just aren't that great?

PinkFondantFancy · 29/03/2011 18:36

I've had a couple of episodes with Waitrose where the meat was off when I got it home, it was close to the sell-by date. It is annoying but I haven't had it happen very often. I think their 'essentials' range is worse quality than Waitrose own-brand used to be as well.

randomimposter · 29/03/2011 18:39

"All suppliers of Waitrose also supply Sainsbury's or Tesco or Asda or Morrisons". No, not true.

SardineQueen · 29/03/2011 18:39

I've shopped with Waitrose weekly for donkeys years and never had a prob. Think it's terrible luck OP. Also what PorkChopSter said Grin

Am very flabbergasted about all using the same stuff - for example Tesco don't even sell pheasant so difficult to compare Wink

SardineQueen · 29/03/2011 18:40

On a more serious note this would render the Waitrose promises about animal husbandry standards an absolute pack of lies. Which is a very serious accusation.

bristolcities · 29/03/2011 18:41

There fish is always crap and never, never buy flowers from there. But despite this I still go. It's like my little treat, I love the whole Waitrose experience....vom. Blush

Finbar · 29/03/2011 18:43

"All suppliers of Waitrose also supply Sainsbury's or Tesco or Asda or Morrisons"
I second Jollster -it's not true though there may be some overlap of suppliers - each supermarket will set its own standards with the supplier

Finbar · 29/03/2011 18:45

I disagree about the fish - its' always been fab when I buy it. Plus served by knowledgeable staff. AND the counter has a Sneeze Screen unlike Tesco.

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