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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask for an explanation of supermarket snobbery?

260 replies

elfsmamma · 21/12/2013 19:26

I am British but I have lived abroad for the last 5 years, when I lived in the UK I had a pretty demanding job so I did my shopping in the nearest supermarket.

I am staying with my parents over Christmas, me and dp wanted to go shopping for tge ingredients for a couple of meals and also some pyjamas as I had forgotten to pack mine.

There is an ASDA and a Sainsburys both about a 5 minute drive from my parent's house I suggested we went to ASDA as it is bigger and more likely to have pyjamas.

My mum said "oh god, don't go to ASDA, it's terribly depressing" she went on to justify this by saying the food was crap and the other shoppers were rude, people often had trolleies full of junk and whinging kids. I am not sure how the other shoppers are anything to do with my dm. Dm finished off by saying she prefers to spend an extra 20 pounds a week on her shopping at Sainsburys.

We went to ASDA despite the warnings. It was great, we got a huge fresh salmon for 4 pounds a kg, fresh dill, organic new potatoes, pasta and the ingredients to make bolognese, some good wine and lots of fresh fruit.

Cab someone explain supermarket snobbery to me?

OP posts:
Hexbugsmakemeitch · 21/12/2013 19:41

ASDA customers are more agressive?

Because of course nice middle class people never argue or have badly behaved children...?

CalamitouslyWrong · 21/12/2013 19:41

When I shop it's usually cheaper in sainsbury's than anywhere else. I'm always amazed by how much more it seems to come to if I'm doing the weekly shop in Asda or tesco (for pretty much the same stuff). The same stuff in waitrose is scarily expensive however.

I don't enjoy shopping in aldi at all. One of the ones near me is ok, but the other one is unrelentingly depressing for some reason. I don't understand why this is.

CalamitouslyWrong · 21/12/2013 19:43

The staff in the morrison's near me are incredibly friendly though. On the few occasions I've been in they've been lovely.

Ruffcat · 21/12/2013 19:44

I use waitress, sainburys and Asda. Waitrose don't have enough people at the till so the queues are massive.

Sainburys is ok, but I love Asda, honestly what you see if what you get, it doesn't pretend it is anything other than a supermarket. It doesn't pretend it's a shopping experience.

The branded goods are cheaper too.

I hate tesco because it's the same stuff as asda but twice the price

catgirl1976 · 21/12/2013 19:45

I don't like ASDA and agree with your mum

But I am in love with our new Aldi so it's not supermarket snobbery I don't think. ASDA just is a bit grim for some reason. At least the one near me is.

EBearhug · 21/12/2013 19:46

I prefer Sainsbury's because it's bigger. I do pop into Tesco, as there's one on my way home. I also use Morrison's, as there's one close by, but I have discovered they don't do fresh chestnuts, which Tesco and Lidl do. There's a Lidl on the way home, and another on the way to the swimming pool. I rarely go to Asda these days, as I tend not to be over that side of town so much, now I don't go to the dance class that I used to go to opposite it. There's also an M&S Simply Food that's very convenient on the way home, and it can be very tempting to do a normal shop in there, but it's not a cheap way to do it, however convenient.

I find they all have their own benefits and some tend to be better for one thing and another for something else. I don't have much supermarket loyalty, but if I'm going to do a big shop, it will usually be Sainsbury's. Mostly because I can get the car washed while I'm shopping, which is a chore I really hate.

CombineBananaFister · 21/12/2013 19:46

I have nothing against asda (but prefer lidl for quality veg/fruit and sainsburys for meat) but the one near me reminds me of the casinos in vegas - deliberatley disorientating.
Huge, cavernous, no clocks, mountains of stuff, too much choice for my little mind, all the non-food items lumped in. I can literally lose hours in there, spend twice as much as i meant to because a reindeer onesie seemed like a good idea at the time and come out drained .
do like the rocket crumpets though.

PipkinsPal · 21/12/2013 19:46

elfsmamma you forgot your pyjamas!

cantheyseeme · 21/12/2013 19:47

I hate the morrisons here but love the one in the next town Smile
I think the meat quality is shit in sainsbos and asda and am loyal to tesco. Aldi pisses me right off and so does lidyl. I used to think iceland was amazing as a poor teenager, but now i think the cheap prices reflect the shit quality. Would shop more at waitrose if it werent 20 miles away and love m&s for a nice treatish meal Grin

EBearhug · 21/12/2013 19:48

And I think it does depend on which branch of any store it is, because I think they certainly vary in standards of customer service, plus different size stores will have different ranges of stock.

rpitchfo · 21/12/2013 19:49

For some reason there is massive local variation. We almost have the full set near us. Asda tesco sainsburys and morrisons all within 10 mins. Morrisons is probably the best quality. Tesco the most expensive.

Snowdown · 21/12/2013 19:49

I also think the branch makes a big difference, our local Waitrose is a bit rubbish but better than the local Sainsbury's, the Waitrose in our neighbouring towns has better stock and nicer staff but I can't be arsed driving that far. Marks always has the best food IMO.

Sigma · 21/12/2013 19:51

I always go to Waitrose, not just because it is nearest and produce is naice but mainly because it is a reasonable size. My local Tesco and Sainsburys are much too big, it makes me all stabby and I always end up spending much more than when I go to Waitrose

Reiltin · 21/12/2013 19:53

Asda is owned by Walmart, who are a pretty shocking employer. I'd rather spend my money elsewhere.

IndiansInTheLobby · 21/12/2013 19:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

IamInvisible · 21/12/2013 19:56

I've just swapped back to Asda from Tesco, but I shop on line. I pick bits up in Aldi and Lidl when I am passing too.

The kids eat copious amounts of yoghurt, they both say Asda and Aldi own brand corners are superior to Muller. I have never had a problem with anything I have bought from Aldi or Lidl.

I put my shopping into Asda's price guarentee thingy, it was £16.97 dearer at Sainsburys and over £20 more expensive at Waitrose. Add that up over a year, I'd rather that sort of money was in my account not their's!

IndiansInTheLobby · 21/12/2013 19:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LuciusMalfoyisSmokingHot · 21/12/2013 19:58

My mum shops at Lidl and shes a snob, so it must be good.

I've never had a issue with Lidl, some of their stuff is quality. Not a fan of Sainburys or Tesco, this is mainly due to prices.

GoldenGytha · 21/12/2013 19:59

I love Asda and do all my shopping there,

Hate, loathe and detest Sainsbury's, I worked there a few years ago and the experience totally destroyed my mental health,

There are 2 large Sainsbury's and a lot of smaller ones here, and just being anywhere near one is enough to give me a panic attack.

Dreadful, awful place.

LittleMissGerardButlersBaubles · 21/12/2013 20:01

I shop in Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl, Iceland, sainsburys and Marks and Spencer's. We don't have a Waitrose nearby. (Obviously not posh enough) :o

I hate asda and tesco because the stores are horrible.

Morrisons is my favourite, especially the new one that opened with the misted veg!

Missredsparklybaubles · 21/12/2013 20:03

I am an aldi convert. Having seen that they sell free range chicken at 3.50 a kilo vs almost twice as much elsewhere helped me decide. I also believe their f&v to be comparable in quality to sains (rarely do tesco, never the others). They don't stock everything- and for those items then it's sains- but frankly why on earth pay more for identical items? Admittedly it's not as clean, and I may have to reach into cardboard boxes, but seriously.
As for clientele, as many high end BMW and mercs as there are clapped out fiestas in the car park.

LadyBeagleEyes · 21/12/2013 20:10

We only have Tesco (we're known as Tesco Town) Asda (only just opened) and a Morrisons up here, Liddl too, but I tend to use Tesco as I know the layout. If I fancy posh I go to M&S.

starlight1234 · 21/12/2013 20:12

I find the whole thread hilarious...I took my DS (6) to Morrisons as it is the only big supermarket in this town..he walked in all enthuasiastic by the time we reached the frozen aisle he was dragging his feet and whinging...I pointed out to him...this was not a treat for me but something we needed to do in order to eat..

SeaSickSal · 21/12/2013 20:17

I used to shop at Sainsbury's but moved and now have to shop at Morrison's. I really miss Sainsbury's though. It's not snobbery, the selection and quality of their food is much higher. Ditto Waitrose, but I would have to sell my PFB to be able to shop there.

FrankelInFoal · 21/12/2013 20:21

My MIL is the same, she has an Asda a 5 minute walk from her house, but chooses to drive 10 minutes to a Sainsbury's. I've tried pointing out the the generic branded goods she buys (Heinz, Kelloggs, etc) are exactly the same but cheaper! but she's having none of it!

We only have a Tesco and a Waitrose in our town so we shop at Tesco, as much as I'd like to we can't afford to do all of our shopping at Waitrose.