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Original poster

Waitrose is overpriced

106 replies

DyslexicScientist · 13/12/2015 07:37

Don't get me wrong its lovley and some good stuff. But the vast majority is no better quality than most (probably from the same suppliers) but costs more. Has gone downhill with the massive expansion. I remember 20 years ago my home economics teacher saying waitrose was a shadow of its former self! I think it caters to aspirational middle class and boomers that have more money than they can spend.

Theyvhave just sent me a 10% off card to use for December and January an unlimited amount of times. That must mean its overpriced right? Big profit margins as the other supermarkets are only making a few percent profit on sales.

OP posts:
Original poster
DyslexicScientist · 13/12/2015 07:40

I know they claim to be no more expensive than tesco (who i still thibk are expensibe for their quality) but I think that's a bit of a con as lots of the stuff is exclusive so you can't compair. Like washing machines where the same washing machine is sold to different suppliers all with different model numbers.

OP posts:
IndomitabIe · 13/12/2015 08:03

"Never knowingly undersold"

I.e. It may be more expensive for some/most things, but that's because they pay their suppliers (more) fairly, unlike other supermarkets we've got used to.

As one of the celeb chefs once said, you shouldn't be able to buy several chicken breasts for a couple of quid.

We've been spoiled by cheap supermarkets using underhand tactics.

But, we can't afford to shop at waitrose either! If those that can, do, then at least some of the industry is paying fairly.

SirRodneyEffing · 13/12/2015 08:07

I've had a few home delivers from waitrose recently and haven't found them to be more expensive than tesco or sainsbury, but the service is much, much better

LindyHemming · 13/12/2015 08:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

User543212345 · 13/12/2015 08:08

I think it varies so much between supermarkets. I was making chutney the other day and Waitrose was about half the price of Asda for the ingredients (nothing exotic, red wine vinegar in particular stood out as being vastly more expensive in Asda), but other stuff is far more costly. It balances itself out in the end wherever you shop, imo.

PickleSarnie · 13/12/2015 08:08

I disagree. Perhaps they haven't responded to the publics demand to drive prices to rock bottom and screwing over suppliers in the process. But surely that's a good thing? As indomitable says, some food shouldn't be as cheap as it is in some places.

Also, Waitrose is much more pleasant to shop in so I don't actually care if I'm paying a small premium for that.

londonrach · 13/12/2015 08:10

Tbh i think asda, sainsburys (less so) and tesco are the most expensive supermarkets. Cheapest are morrisons, ldll and waitrose. Sadly i dont have a waitrose nearby but i do stock up on items if i seen them as they reasonally priced. Depends on what you eat. I go for the cheaper ranges and their lime juice for 84p is amazing value. I couldnt afford to shop at asda or tesco as the prices are silly.

futureme · 13/12/2015 08:12

We pop in sometimes. We find found the same branded stuff to be cheaper in asda, and in general good to be cheaper in asda (isn't that obvious to most people?!) But waitrose is a much nicer experience and has a more interesting selection of food!

There was often 50p or a £1 more expensive on each item so it certainly adds up;

Chasingsquirrels · 13/12/2015 08:12

Of course they are.
Lots of their prepared stuff is lovely and you are paying a premium for that.
But basics (loose fruit, veg, unprocessed meats, identical to ones, frozen and packaged goods) are usually more expensive - you are paying for the nicer shopping experience, and the ease of buying your basics in the same place as your lovely stuff.

DP had only shopped in waitrose, I'd never done so in my life. He buys meat and prepared stuff there and I refuse to put basics on the trolley and we get them from the asda we drive past on the way home.

thejoysofboys · 13/12/2015 08:13

I get an ocado delivery every week. I find it costs about the same as my usual Asda shop, it's delivered for free and the use-by dates are much better than I used to get from a Sainsbury's delivery.
I do shop the offers though and buy waitrose own brand rather than a lot of the branded stuff.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 13/12/2015 08:14

I shop at Ocado and have it delivered, I rarely get subs, it's good quality and I'm happy.

I shop carefully, use the Essentials range and don't find it dearer than the other places.

Eastpoint · 13/12/2015 08:16

I don't buy many prepared or processed items, we make most of our bread & I cook from scratch. I find Waitrose goods are better quality, eg chicken breasts cost more and have a better flavour & texture. We are lucky to be able to make that distinction. I get washing detergent etc from Ocado as part of an online shop.

Kr1stina · 13/12/2015 08:17

I thought that being more expensive was their USP?

And that their core demographic is people who believe that are middle class and enjoy not having to mix with the riff raff when they shop there

Kittykatmacbill · 13/12/2015 08:18

The two that are in our city are both cheaper than our local tescos. If you want cheaper you need asda or lidl.

Chococroc · 13/12/2015 08:22

As with anything it depends what you buy. If you're going for their premium or prepared stuff you're going to pay for it. When it comes to a 'general' shop though I find it no more expensive than Sainsburys which is my other local option. They one of the more ethical supermarkets as well which is appealing.

NoahVale · 13/12/2015 08:23

I like Waitrose, I trust waitrose, I occasionally shop there, wouldnt do a weekly shop as watching the pennies, but do occasionally, just a couple of things, be they essential or just own brand. they have fabulous reductions

blatantplacemark · 13/12/2015 08:23

It's John Lewis who are never knowingly undersold, not Waitrose. Despite being the same company , they have different slogans

Armi · 13/12/2015 08:34

I happily pay more for a pleasant shopping experience and good quality produce. I know it's not the thing on MN but I really like not having to fight my way round Aldi before having my shopping thrown at me by a grumpy git at the till.

(As an aside in response to comments from PP, I like being middle class and am always surprised that it's apparently something to be ashamed of. Am not sure why being financially solvent with a good job and education and good manners is considered to be wrong.)

CwtchMeQuick · 13/12/2015 08:35

I did an ocado delivery a few weeks ago and I found it a lot more expensive than my tesco delivery. The brand deals didn't seem to be as cheap and a lot of the waitrose own things were 50p-£1 more expensive than the equivalent in tesco.
I have to say though that ocado customer service were really good. I had a bottle of milk and a bottle of cleaning stuff burst over my shopping and customer service phoned me straight away to rearrange delivery and gave me some money off.
However I've never had cleaning stuff in the same bag as my food with a tesco delivery so if it had have spilt my food wouldn't all have been ruined

DeoGratias · 13/12/2015 08:36

I have Tesco deliver but my sons are keen on Waitrose and M&S so they do top up shops there and buy their fruit there as they say it's better (and it often is actually even I have been convinced of that now).

I'm fairly neutral on the issue. There are some foods I cannot get at Tesco and if I want them I go to Waitrose. We have just about every supermarket chain in the land very near our house so lots of choice - Morrisons or Sainsbury or whatever they are called and also a newly done up Lidl, Tesco, Waitrose.

BlueSmarties76 · 13/12/2015 08:37

MY weekly shop (which includes quite a lot of speciality items) works out as..

Waitrose & Ocado average £1.95 per item
ASDA average £1 per item
ALDI average £85-90p per item
Unsure about Sburys / Tesco
^ for an entire shop in each on alternating weeks.

Waitrose / Ocado have far more of the speciality items which I can't buy in the others, so not sure how much of the price variation is due to different items being purchased rather than like for like being more in Waitrose / Ocado.

Notso · 13/12/2015 08:38

DH gets Waitrose vouchers through a reward scheme at work couple of times a year.
I find it's like Ikea, it should be cheap if you just buy what you need. However it's full of nice looking crap that you don't need which makes it expensive.
Last time however I bought loads of meat which was really terrible quality. Also the bread was horrible.

NoahVale · 13/12/2015 08:38

I have asda delivery, and that is mainly first class, they would give me a refund for a spilt detergent bottle,

amitho · 13/12/2015 08:40

If Waitrose is anything like John lewis I can absolutely promise you that they will be screwing their suppliers. John Lewis are gits.

My friend knows the local abattoir owner and he says the most discerning buyers are from Lidl Smile

londonrach · 13/12/2015 08:42

I bet surprised people said asda is cheap as i found it v v v expensive. I just buy food like meat, veg, fruit, milk etc no crisps, choc or anything else as we have a limited food budget. I surpose it depends on what you buy.

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