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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that, considering the quality Waitrose is not an expensive supermarket

164 replies

ZednotZee · 12/04/2021 19:38

We switched to shopping at predominantly Waitrose about six weeks ago. Delivery is free even though our nearest one is twenty miles away, the essentials range is probably better quality than Sainsburys/Asda/Aldi fine ranges l, the nicer products are of a quality not seen elsewhere and customer service is ace.
We aren't spending much more for a family of seven, perhaps fifty quid over a month.

I know Waitrose has a reputation of being expensive but I just haven't found it to be so, all things considered. I'm a total convert and just wondered if anybody else doesn't think it quite deserves its 'prohibitively expensive/pretentious' reputation?

OP posts:
littlejalapeno · 12/04/2021 20:13

Their ethical standards tend to be a tiny bit better than other supermarkets IMO. Or at least they have more options to buy higher welfare products. So I’m willing to pay a bit more for better animal welfare. Likewise with M&S bits

littlepattilou · 12/04/2021 20:16

@ZednotZee

YABU. Waitrose sucks. It's for people with more money than sense, and they think people will think they're middle class if they shop there.

Morrisons, and Aldi, and Sainsburys are far superior, and Aldi is much cheaper.

ILoveShula · 12/04/2021 20:17

The last time I shopped in Asda I wasn't impressed with the quality.
I'd need to drive to Aldi or Lidl.

I prefer the Waitrose store and overall it's a more pleasant experience. The local Asda is grim. Waitrose is twice as far but it's a much nicer walk.

rizzo23 · 12/04/2021 20:18

@greyspottedgoose I work for Tesco myself 😂

Pottedpalm · 12/04/2021 20:19

[quote littlepattilou]@ZednotZee

YABU. Waitrose sucks. It's for people with more money than sense, and they think people will think they're middle class if they shop there.

Morrisons, and Aldi, and Sainsburys are far superior, and Aldi is much cheaper.[/quote]
Nah, wrong there I’m afraid. ( Except for Aldi being cheaper. Bit crap though)

Wineat5isfine · 12/04/2021 20:21

I’ve shopped at Waitrose for a number of years now. Only ever had a couple of incidents when I haven’t been happy with home deliveries - and they have been very quick to rectify, when I called to discuss.

I don’t care if people know I shop at Waitrose - I personally love their produce and their essentials range is second to none, compared to other value ranges.

Each to their own!

Orangesandlemons77 · 12/04/2021 20:23

They have been fab this year, elderly neighbour and I have shared a delivery every weekend which has worked out well. If they haven't got something they often give you the next size up which is a bonus.

Original poster
ZednotZee · 12/04/2021 20:26

@littlepattilou

Nobody knows that I shop there, how could they?

Apart from you lot, now of course.

OP posts:
Boood · 12/04/2021 20:32

@ILoveShula

The last time I shopped in Asda I wasn't impressed with the quality. I'd need to drive to Aldi or Lidl.

I prefer the Waitrose store and overall it's a more pleasant experience. The local Asda is grim. Waitrose is twice as far but it's a much nicer walk.

It took me ages to work out why shopping in Waitrose is a much nicer experience than any of the other supermarkets. Eventually I realised that all the others now stack their aisles floor to ceiling, making it feel dark and oppressive. Waitrose don’t, they only take the shelves to just above head height, so there is plenty of light and space above. It’s amazing how much difference it makes to the ombiaaaaaunce.
1Morewineplease · 12/04/2021 20:34

I've always rated Waitrose but there isn't one near me.
One year, we holidayed at a cottage where the nearest supermarket was a Waitrose. I was beside myself with glee!
We did our first big shop ( my husband was groaning at the potential bill) and we were amazed at the fact that it was barely more than our usual Tesco shop.
The food was so much fresher, lasted longer and we just wished, by the end of our holiday, that Waitrose was our nearest supermarket.

Their essential range is such good quality.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 12/04/2021 20:37

Honestly? I have tried so so hard to like waitrose. I do think it is slightly better quality than for eg. Sainsburys.

But not enough better that I simply find I spend about 30-40% more on average for the same food at waitrose.

VladmirsPoutine · 12/04/2021 20:40

Costco is the best!!

LemonRoses · 12/04/2021 20:40

I shop at Waitrose because it’s smaller so you can do a quick shop, the checkout assistants are more personable and they do some harder to get ingredients. I’m not entirely convinced that the quality is significantly better.
I think their bakery is a bit shabby and often feels stale. Their fish is OK, but I get mine delivered and go with local whenever possible. Cheese is mixed with good variety but mass produced generally. I use local suppliers whenever possible because small dairy produce is generally better quality.
Mark’s fruit is better.
Household items are household items. Tesco lavatory paper is as good as Waitrose. Mermaid gin is Mermaid gin.

BritWifeinUSA · 12/04/2021 20:40

I can get Waitrose stuff here now in the USA delivered by DHL from Britishcornershop.com. Obviously they don’t deliver perishables and the shipping cost is around 20 quid for a huge box of stuff but oh my! It’s worth it. The quality is excellent. Even my American husband who had never been to the UK raves about Waitrose from the things he has experienced in my delivery boxes. I still have a Christmas pudding left that I am trying to keep as long as possible because once it’s gone that’s the end of my latest Waitrose stash.

Evvyjb · 12/04/2021 20:41

PAAHAHAHHHAHA

HAHHAHAHHA

HA

I spend £80 a month on food. Can you help?!?

Oly4 · 12/04/2021 20:42

I adore Waitrose. And can shop cheaply there if I need to

stillcrazyafterall · 12/04/2021 20:47

Their fruit and veg is definitely superior to any other supermarket.

bananapumpkin · 12/04/2021 20:47

I love that the vast majority of products at Waitrose are good quality (of course there will always be the odd exception) which means I have much more choice than at other supermarkets, where I only like the top end stuff. OTOH most people find it does cost more. I agree it's not as much more as the reputation would suggest, and totally worth it if you can afford it. But if your budget is tight then any amount more will feel extravagant.

InFiveMins · 12/04/2021 20:51

I love Waitrose. Waitrose and M&S are my favourites - yes they are more expensive but the quality is so much better.

Sainsbury's is almost as expensive but the quality is poor.

I prefer to spend more because I love my food and like to feel as though my evening meals are treats.

Daphnise · 12/04/2021 20:59

I agree that Waitrose champagne and caviar is well worth paying extra for, and one gets a less common type at Waitrose.

Well worth that £150 more a month.

funtimefrank · 12/04/2021 21:00

Pre lockdown we used to do the 'big' shop at Tesco and top ups at waitrose as it's walking distance from our house.

Since lockdown we switched to waitrose as it felt safer, was closer etc.

Our shopping bill is broadly the same because our Tesco is vast and has aisles and aisles of tat that dh cannot resist (he does the shopping). Waitrose basically just does food. DH is also a brand shopper mostly but will get waitrose essentials fir most stuff now so that's a plus.

We go to Tesco for loo roll/washing powder/dishwasher stuff plus the big bags of pasta as they are much cheaper. I also find stuff like shampoo and toothpaste expensive (but their own brand soap/shower gel/bubble bath is ace plus they have faith in nature a third off this week).

We don't have an Aldi close and the fruit and veg in our Tesco and our Lidl is shite so we pay more but have less waste.

youshallnotpass9 · 12/04/2021 21:00

On a slightly different view point, I stopped shopping in there, when it became fairly obvious I was not their target market.

Stopped twice in four weeks and asked (very nicely) if they could check my bag.

Followed for god knows how long, but certainly 6 times in 6 weeks, the security guard followed me around. No pushchair, so it wasn't that. Had a basket not a trolley.

I refused to shop there after being asked to be searched the second time

BlueTiles · 12/04/2021 21:03

The 3 for £10 meat is great and no comparison when comparing the steak to others.

Original poster
ZednotZee · 12/04/2021 21:06

Oh yes the steak is great, three for a tenner so two for DH and the peppercorn sauce for £1.80 is as good as any restaurant offering!

OP posts:
peaceanddove · 12/04/2021 21:07

[quote littlepattilou]@ZednotZee

YABU. Waitrose sucks. It's for people with more money than sense, and they think people will think they're middle class if they shop there.

Morrisons, and Aldi, and Sainsburys are far superior, and Aldi is much cheaper.[/quote]
Oh good God, this is so patently untrue it's laughable.

I loath grocery shopping, always have and the thought of spending a Saturday afternoon in Asda or Aldi makes me want to weep. I still dislike shopping even in Waitrose or M&S but at least it's just about bearable - even the ambient lighting is much nicer. I mainly buy their excellent convenience foods as it actually saves me money because we have virtually zero waste.