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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think Waitrose is all fur coat and no knickers?

211 replies

ANiceLuxury · 11/02/2020 15:04

Im normally an Asda, M&S and Iceland shopper. I’m fed up of going to 3 different supermarkets a week for groceries (I like different things in each of the above stores) so over the last 2 weeks I ve tried Waitrose online delivery.

Both times the food has not been as good as M&S and Asda. I ve had black potatoes, eggs that have a black tinge to them when cooked and bland strawberries.

Some of the range I bought was duchy (sp) and it’s no different to Asda.

I don’t understand why Waitrose has this upmarket reputation.

I’m starting to think it’s all fur coat and no knickers..

OP posts:
mantarays · 11/02/2020 15:10

No, I think ASDA is a faux fur gilet and no knickers, M&S is a real fur coat and an ill-fitting bra, and Waitrose is really nice. 😂

paulinespeaksmanylanguages · 11/02/2020 15:11

Nope, YABU. I love it, although I've never had an online delivery.

mbosnz · 11/02/2020 15:12

With Waitrose, I have found Tescos meat to be far better trimmed. Which was a bit of an eye opener!

I love M&S fresh produce, fruit and veges in preference to anywhere else.

But Waitrose do the best free range eggs. And I love their own brand winegums. Range of NZ Marlborough Sav Blanc is far better too. . .

Pootlepootlepootle · 11/02/2020 15:13

It’s all about the lovely I store experience with Waitrose, nice displays, gorgeous food, lots of things laid out so you get ideas, fresh fish counters etc etc
Online is just like anywhere really

MatildaTheCat · 11/02/2020 15:13

Waitrose is a good solid, comfortable pair of wellmade pants. Reliable and decent.

DartmoorChef · 11/02/2020 15:15

I love waitrose but I only ever shop in store anywhere then I know I'm getting the freshest produce, and the items I actually want.

MoltoAgitato · 11/02/2020 15:16

Waitrose has the worst children - ours is full of overly entitled Junos and Arlos getting in the way. And they’ve stopped doing the Jalapeño Pretze bites. Aldi any day of the week.

mbosnz · 11/02/2020 15:18

I am sad to report the supermarket section of our M&S is my happy place. It's a significant part of why we ended up here. . .

Waitrose of a Sunday is wonderful for watching harassed fathers try to wrangle their dear wee tribe of kids who take great glee in making it seem like they've never had to do it before. .

SidsWife · 11/02/2020 15:19

I love Waitrose for cupboard stuff but I find their fresh stuff really shit. The meat and veg go off so quickly compared to other shops. Lidl actually does the best meat around here.

Moanranger · 11/02/2020 15:21

It is pricey & I do not know why people do all their grocery shopping there. I find it has certain very specific items I like, but for general shopping, the more value-based supermarkets are just as good.
Now with things like package stores (bring your own containers & fill) I use Waitrose even less. My typical shop is Lidl/Tesco for most items, with a couple of items from Sainsbury’s, & a couple from Waitrose. ATM Lidl has THE BEST Spanish red for £4.99

PooWillyBumBum · 11/02/2020 15:21

YABU - not because I think Waitrose is worth the money, but because I find ASDA food to be really poor quality! I am partial to a budget German supermarket, myself, with occasional treats from Waitrose or M&S.

victoriashleigh · 11/02/2020 15:23

I liked Tesco years ago but recently used exclusively Ocado. As an experiment recently I made two identical shops with them both and the difference was about £1 but I find Ocado deliveries far more reliable (on time, no damages, very few replacements ever) and their drivers are incredibly polite and friendly, they carry right into the kitchen and used to lift the heavy items onto the counters for me when I had shoulder problems. So Ocado still win for me. Smile

buttermilkwaffles · 11/02/2020 15:25

I also use different supermarkets for different things, Waitrose has a few things I cannot get elsewhere but I don't buy much there as a lot of it is overpriced for what it is. I usually only buy things there when they are on offer.

Strawberries will be bland at this time of year wherever you bought them from as they are not in season so you are getting ones flown in from thousands of miles away.

While some items are similar prices everywhere, eg loose cauliflowers or aubergines, most Waitrose fruit and veg is much more expensive than elsewhere.

Got a cauliflower from Waitrose on Sunday and was amused to see a loose cauliflower was £1 (same price as M&S and Sainsbury's) but a 'trimmed' one (had some of the outer green leaves cut off and was also wrapped in plastic (aaargh!) was £1.60, in other words 60% more expensive!

That said when I used to live 10 minutes walk from a Tesco and 15 minutes walk from Waitrose, I used Waitrose a lot more as the Tesco was awful. Then Lidl opened across the road from Tesco, so I stopped using Waitrose, got most things from Lidl, used the Tesco for what Lidl didn't have and spent a lot less.

andyoldlabour · 11/02/2020 15:27

We think Waitrose is fairly pricey, but the quality is high, particularly fruit, veg and fresh meat and fish.
We have had a Waitrose card for ages and get sent coupons regularly. The latest ones are spend £50 and get £10 off. Their reductions are also very good on short dated stuff.

Lumisade · 11/02/2020 15:27

YABU Maybe the strawberries were bland because it's February and they're out of season? Try again in the summer.

Poohpooh · 11/02/2020 15:41

The Waitrose strawberries and grapes have definitely been bland in winter.

The best grapes have been Asda’s Extra Special black seedless grapes. At £1.50 a pack, they are sooo much nice than Waitrose’s green or red grapes which are £2 a pack.

Samhradh · 11/02/2020 16:08

All strawberries are bland in winter they come over from Egypt and are bred for durability, not taste. And I wouldn't buy vegetables or fruit online from any supermarket, to be honest you can't check for freshness/ripeness.

Lily193 · 11/02/2020 16:09

I think it depends on the store.The one closest to where I live is dire but the next an hour's drive away is perfectly acceptable. It's a supermarket at the end of the day. I think it could only be considered 'upmarket' by people desperate to label themselves as 'middle class'.

Al1Langdownthecleghole · 11/02/2020 16:10

I think Aldi do far better meat and I prefer their prices for fruit and veg.

Waitrose are really good for bread and do nice ready meals and desserts. I also find them unexpectedly competitive on things like laundry powders and coke. It's a nice shop to go to when I have errands to do as I can get free parking while I pick up dry cleaning.

Never tried online though.

Poohpooh · 11/02/2020 16:12

All strawberries are bland in winter

Yes I get it’s winter but the Waitrose strawberries have been exceptionally bland. Maybe they are over freezing.

wapbapboo · 11/02/2020 16:14

Waitrose lunches and ready meals are rubbish! I prefer M&S for salads and ready meals. Not that I buy ready meals Hmm Halo

V1Rotate · 11/02/2020 16:16

I've never been in a Waitrose. :(

theemmadilemma · 11/02/2020 16:17

Half the stuff is over priced - to keep out the riff raff.

We had a new one open last year I was excited. But for the main part it's not all that at all. I am able to get some nice meat (cuts) in there I can't other supermarkets which is something I occasionally go for. Then I end up spending tons on over priced stuff which is no better.

eyemask · 11/02/2020 16:20

I like Waitrose but don't get everything from there. I also do M&S and Tesco. I hate ASDA.