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.

Veterinari. Hope this helps. Usually ldll meat tells you where its from. www.redtractor.org.uk/media/news/lidl-invests-in-expanding-red-tractor-meat-and-poultry-range

ledkr
Even if that means that suppliers are screwed over, and staff aren't paid or treated fairly?

Each to their own indeed...

I disagree to be honest. I always find Waitrose quality is better than Asda or Iceland.

Waitrose is more expensive on some items for sure eg fruit and veg but on many others is about on a par with Tesco/Sainsburys and for some items is noticeably cheaper.

The quality is generally good though - so if you want quality the price is good value. The Essentials range I think is really good for the price. I like their meat and eggs. The bread is pretty bad but so is most UK supermarket bread ime!

It's our nearest supermarket so we end up popping in quite a lot.

I always find Waitrose quality is better than Asda or Iceland.

That's not really saying much is it. Like the other poster who said its better than tescom of course it is!

After having DD I started having the food shopping delivered as it was easier. I tried Waitrose, Asda, Tesco and Sainsburys and whilst Waitrose were the most expensive they were the best as they actually used to deliver what I ordered.

Asda were by far the worst I had pages of substitutions, I can't believe that they actually looked for the specific item I ordered and even then things were missing or substituted without telling me.

Saying that I did think that the quality of some of the fruit wasn't as good as when I started.

I read your thread title and my mind went 'No shit Sherlock'

Like a pp, I thought being pricey was a USP - designed to keep the Lidl and Aldi riff raff out.

I like Waitrose (and M&S) but can't afford to do the weekly shop in either.

I get a weekly online delivery from Morrisons cannit fault it and its modelled on the Ocado delivery service to the point of pretty much copying it

I top up from my other local shops which include a Waitrose and a Marks and a Sainsburys. I probably use Waitrose the least of the 3 though as I just prefer the others.

Isn't Waitrose the only supermarket with a dress code .

Isn't Waitrose only duty to maximise it's profits? They cannot be 'overpriced' as such - they choose the prices they want to, and wait to see what sales happen.

They will only reduce prices if they find profits are not what they need.

Morrisions use ocado to do all of their online shopping, they are not copying it lol.

Isn't Waitrose only duty to maximise it's profits?

No - Waitrose (and the other companies in the John Lewis Partnership) don't work to the external shareholder model where it is about maximising profits. Waitrose exists for "the happiness of the partners" where the partners are the employees. Part of that "happiness" is creating sustainable enjoyable employment and profit is part of that, but not the end game.

I work with several suppliers in the Scottish food and drink sector. The three most sought after customers are Waitrose ,Lidl and Aldi. Lidl and Aldi have a very good local supply policy - better than Waitrose. Tesco, in particular, has a reputation for screwing suppliers. They tell the supplier what the cost price is, and reduce it every year. No discussion. Serious penalties on any supply chain failure which has put smaller suppliers out of business.

My local Lidl has the happiest and most helpful staff I have ever come across.

Aldi Meat
Lidl meat
Both produced to Red Tractor Standards Veterinari

That's not really saying much is it

Of course it is! That's the whole reason most people probably shop there.

I did a comparison shop at all the majors a while ago.

Highest - Tesco
Sainsburys
Ocado
Waitrose
Asda

Tesco quality is terrible- expensive crap.
Asda difficult to get to .
Aldi and Lidl are ok but I don't like the meat and they just don't have the variety,

I tend to go late in the day and I frequently get lots of reduced bread and rolls- freezer full of the naice baguettes and rolls reduced to 5p
Waitrose do a 1/3 off on a rotational basis through their ranges and if you are not super fussy- we eat anything then it reduces the cost dramatically.
We like mature cheddar- not fussy which one- huge blocks £2.32 the other day- would cost a fiver in Tesco.
I use my freezer to buy things when they are on offer and do batch cooking.
I simply couldn't buy the same quality at the same price any where else.

I had a bit of a time in Morrisons yesterday and walked out. Crossed the road to get stuff from Tesco. Dirty, dingy, rude unhelpful staff and things that I had just put in my trolley in morrisons for a pound were £1.50 in Tesco. Not impressed.

It's just a supermarket. It def caters to the wannabe middle classes- I remember M&S being the same in the 80s. And I say that as someone who hasn't been in a supermarket for 10 years because she's had ocado deliver

I occasionally go there for my saturday paper, I only need to spend £7.80 to get a free paper and a coffee, but usually end up buying all sorts, because I like Waitrose essentials,
dh works there and brings home stuff we run out of,milk, cheese, bananas. a friend works there and has had to buy a new fridge/freezer, due to all the bargains at reduction time !

One new year we got a fantastic bargain, cant remember what, and we went there specifically last year for the offers

Ocado is a delivery company and separate to Waitrose. It started a few years ago with an exclusive contract to sell waitrose own brands (before waitrose did their own deliveries), it buys other branded goods direct from suppliers.
It recently did a deal to provide Morrison's delivery service.
The contract with Waitrose ends soon and it is not certain that Waitrose will renew it.

i've been to tesco when they reduce and it is an absolute Bun Fight, greedy people buying loads of stuff, that they cant possibly eat or even freeze

It can be expensive but as pp have said already, if you buy their essential range and are happy to buy whatever's on offer (I'm not bothered about what cheddar I buy week to week) its fairly reasonable. I tend to vary where I shop depending on whats needed or if I'm too busy to visit a supermarket and an online shop is easier. Waitress online shopping is excellent service wise and I keep an eye on the price whilst I'm shopping. If you have a MyWaitrose card there are further discounts and my DH loves the ‘free coffee‘ ...despite it being MY card By the way I do not class myself as middle class, just enjoy varying my shopping choices and getting as good a quality food as I can afford.

Ocado own brand is so similar to waitrose you couldn't tell the difference. Ocado are best because their app is so easy to use and delivery so flexible. I practically treat it as a courier service