Waitrose is overpriced

[DyslexicScientist]

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.

The biggest difference is the customer service I had reason to compare Waitrose and Sainsburys recently who both operate a refund and replace on damaged or unfit items.
Waitrose satsumas when I picked up my net I hadn't noticed one was mouldy. I present the net to customer services 'oh we are terribly sorry this shouldn't gave happened, would you like a cup of coffee while we get a new net and refund you.' I had barely poured my latte before I had a new net and my money back.
Sainsburys a pack of oat cakes that I hadn't noticed was out of date ' tut, huh well can you go to the shelf to get another packet' on returning to customer services with my new packet I explained that I had had to go to the back of the shelf to find an in date packet ' huh well I have told them huh'.

I love Waitrose and don't find it much more expensive. The essentials range is excellent; I buy a lot of stuff from it. I also have a My Waitrose card which gives you discounts every week.

They've just brought out an offer scheme where you pick ten things you buy regularly and you get a discount on them every time you buy them. Not everything you want is on the list but it's still helpful.

I also have a JL credit card which gives you vouchers per amount you spend, double points in WR and JL and single for anything else. As a result of vouchers I've accumulated since Easter I've just spent £215 in WR on a large Christmas stock up and paid £36.20!

Disclaimer - I promise I don't work for them!

ALL supermarkets screw their suppliers.

It's very naive to think Waitrose doesn't.

It is overpriced. You're right op.

That's because the big five have been screwing their customers for years too. Of course they have.

Tesco made £2.1bn profit in 2009. It's a different story now though.

To benefit dairy farmers, buy products from farmer owned companies like Arla.

Ocado does not equal waitrose!! !==

They have phased out many of the waitrose goods and their new contract is with morrisions.

I think people are kidding themselves if they think waitrose are lovley to their suppliers! These 10% discounts and rapid expansion don't come for free. I've heard lidl aldi treat their suppliers much better than waitrose, even Saintsbury's supposedly are a bit better than waitrose.

I'd never think of waitrose as cheap, some things are a comparable price to elsewhere but other things are vastly more expensive, e.g. waitrose essential cottage cheese is £1.40. The same size tub in aldi/ tesco is less than 50p

I don't think.its that bad tbh. the quality is very good. it's certainly a nicer experience too.

Imo the only supermarket that's gone down hill is aldi. frequently half empty, very messy and shit food.

sainsbury is more expensive than waitrose I find

I would like to believe that Waitrose treat their suppliers fairly but have no evidence of this. I do know that they treat their staff well as I've been shopping at my local Waitrose for 17 years and many of the staff have been there all that time.

Their customer service is excellent, their staff are friendly, many recognise me and we will have a chat about what we're up to etc. That is what I don't mind paying for.

Occasionally go to large Tesco and I inevitably end up buying non food items that I don't need so end up spending more!

All of you saying about a nicer shopping experience: where do you live?! Our local Waitrose is like The Hunger Games, every man for himself. I shop their despite the experience. Asda is more peaceful, and that's saying something.

I love Waitrose. Luckily as it's our closest supermarket. Our next closest is Sainsburys which I also like. I went into Lidl once, and honestly, never again, I hated it.

They can be at least as cheap as other supermarkets on basics. I rarely shop there as their stuff is just too tempting and we end up spending a fortune. Online grocery shopping is saving us money at the moment even after buying a 1 year pass for c. £30

Oh, blatant - I am easily confused! I think the principle still stands though?

What is Waitrose's tag-line then?

cwth
Did you not get a voucher emailed to you afterwards?
Ocado constantly compare their prices to Tesco and if your shop is more expensive than it would have been in Tesco, you get emailed a voucher for the difference, to use in your next shop.
I get one every few shops, even if it is just for a couple of pennies.
That said, I've never had one for more than £1 so I find it hard to believe they are ever 'a lot' more expensive than Tesco

We've just had a big waitrose and a big sainsburys open up near us.
Both publicised their openings and had ribbon cutting ceremonies Etc

Waitrose has said that 25% of their new staff are formally long-term unemployed, everyone is paid over the living wage plus they get the annual JL profit share bonus
Sainsburys has publicised they are open 24 hours.

I don't think Waitrose is overpriced at all but I'm more than happy to pay more to ensure their staff are looked after.
And when I was in their last weekend, I bumped into a friend of a friend who is working in the cafe, having left his job at a famous naice cafe brand. He said it is a miles nicer place to work, they have already offered him training if he wants to progress to management, and they are very flexible about shifts, which has allowed him to both pick up extra work in the run up to Christmas, and get time off to spend with him family.

I too would love the chance to find out but I live in Ireland.
I love John Lewis shops also when I visit UK.

arla pay peanuts for their milk! waitrose pay the best price for it.

What's Ocado ?

I completely disagree. I switched from Tesco to Waitrose and the quality of the food is so much better at Waitrose. They also offer, in my area, free delivery for online orders which is great.

I love Waitrose. I once bought some Waitrose own brand shampoo and it was dire, made my hair very greasy. So I took the part used bottle back and they apologised and refunded me.

Ive got good manners and a good job too I just don't want to spend more money on food than is necessary.
Each to their own an all!

Waitrose pays considerably more for milk than other suppliers which means they offer much more support to dairy farmers. They also have more extensive animal welfare policies than other supermarkets www.waitrose.com/home/inspiration/about_waitrose/the_waitrose_way/waitrose_animal_welfarecommitments.html

In Aldi or Lidl I often struggle to find meat produced even to 'red tractor' standard (the absolute minimum welfare standard) as so much if it is produced overseas.

I shop via the 'my supermarket' comparison website and waitrose usually sits right in the middle of the big supermarkets for price.

I shop at Lidl and top up in Waitrose. Works at least 50% cheaper than if I did the whole shop in Sainsbury's.
I also use a JL partnership credit card and a my waitrose card,last time I saved £7.50. The newspaper is practically free every weekend. My waitrose/jl refunds your carpark. That's another £3. I get vouchers for the money spent on JL cc.

All electrics and electronics in my house come from JL. They match the price and offer 2 years free product guarantee.

What's not to like?

Oh, and we won't buy milk from anywhere but waitrose. They're fair to the farmers.