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

[ZednotZee]

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?

@youshallnotpass9

I'm probably not their target market either but the home delivery guys are very pleasant and never pass comment that I don't have a drive and they have to park their vans on our admittedly crowded street.

The essentials Tiramasu is amazing and around £2.

When do you get the yellow stickers in waitrose? I went in once and got some great bargains but its very hit and miss.

I go to aldi, sainsburys, tescos, asda and waitrose and very occasionally Iceland. Maybe twice a year Lidl just to spice it up. I get bored and swap around.

Oh and M&S as a treat

@Orangesandlemons77

The essentials Tiramasu is amazing and around £2.

Omg yes! It's lush.

It is more expensive, buy basics at Aldi, get the better stuff at waitrose, £ 50 is a lot tho, over a month.
I went to get a few bits in waitrose totally awful, only quiche and soup, not worth it

@Nsky I have five DC so fifty quid is neither here, nor there comparatively speaking.

A takeaway for all of us is close to £100.

I love Waitrose. It's not just good quality and value, it's the range. I've tried out new foods with their recipe ideas and added them to my regular buys. I also like picking up my free newspaper which would cost £3.20 on a Saturday or £2 during the week. I don't shop exclusively at Waitrose and will pick and mix with the alternatives but Waitrose will always be my favourite. I'm hoping the free coffee comes back as it was withdrawn due to Covid measures.

@ssd it always used to be about 10:30 on a Saturday morning pre Covid that the best yellow sticker offers were available. I don’t know now because I have online orders only.

The brownie pudding is 1/3 off this week, and it is delicious. I’ve got that in my trolley and some sponge puddings too, also on offer.

I've shopped everywhere and Waitrose is now my supermarket of choice. It is head and shoulders above other supermarkets in terms of quality, customer service and shopping experience.

It can be more expensive but they have some great offers so if you are canny (like me) it doesn't have to cost a fortune.

I keep forgetting about the free newspaper benefit. Is that every day or only Sundays? Also, it’s the Guardian right? I don’t mind that at all and am wondering if you can choose which paper you want.

The thing I notice about Waitrose is that the people who shop there want to make sure everyone else is aware.

So most people I know say: "Going to the shops" or "off to pick up my shopping."

Waitrose shopper: "Just off to Waitrose" or "going to Waitrose to pick up the shopping."

We shop at Waitrose but I do find their fruit and veg uninspiring.

Bollocks @howsoonisnow85 M&S is dreadful in comparison to a Waitrose and in the main more expensive for a ‘comparable’ product....have a look at the Ocado reviews on Trust Pilot on the M&S switch. Waitrose products are far superior and in the main slightly cheaper. Also M&S don’t do anything like the Waitrose No1 range which is pretty outstanding for a supermarket treat.

Agree OP. Lucky you being able to a delivery, they’re like rocking horse 💩 here still!

I saw a feature on this morning where the Easter eggs from Waitrose were £16 more than from Asda for the exact same eggs. Exactly the same. Is it worth £16 for customer service???

I have an M and S addiction, but ventured into Waitrose today - Cecile the caterpillar??? The check out woman was rude too so probably won't be back in a rush. I can't get over Cecile though

[quote ZednotZee]@youshallnotpass9

I'm probably not their target market either but the home delivery guys are very pleasant and never pass comment that I don't have a drive and they have to park their vans on our admittedly crowded street.[/quote]
That is not going to convince me to spend my money with a company who treated me like that.

Its not going to make a shit of difference to them, but to me I will give my money to companies that treat me with a decent amount of respect.

On balance I never thought Waitrose was that great TBH. On some of the basics I would cook with- particularly rice, spices and meat it is quite expensive, and the quality does not justify the price. IME I shop for basics at Morison's, and in addition I use specialist spice shops and a really good local butcher. This combination gives me a really good quality/value/price combination. Some good quick meals though.

@spookycookies

I saw a feature on this morning where the Easter eggs from Waitrose were £16 more than from Asda for the exact same eggs. Exactly the same. Is it worth £16 for customer service???

But you wouldn't buy the exact same eggs if you were shopping at Waitrose as they sell much nicer ones for the same price!

I don’t entirely agree. Their produce is over packaged and frequently poor quality. On the other hand the free delivery plus excellent own brand products are a real attraction. I certainly can find most things at equivalent price to Sainsbury’s.

But ... quality is a matter of opinion. This is the ingredients list for their tiramisu. Not for me, I’m afraid. I’d rather make my own without the processed additives:

INGREDIENTS: water, coffee sauce (22%) (water, wheat glucose syrup, sugar, alcohol, coffee powder, coffee extract), wheat glucose syrup, sponge biscuit (8%) (pasteurised free range egg, wheat flour, sugar, maize dextrose, emulsifier (mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids), raising agents (diphosphates, sodium carbonates)), skimmed milk powder, mascarpone (milk) (7%), coconut oil, sugar, pasteurised free range egg yolk, marsala wine (1.5%), cocoa powder (1.0%), stabiliser (sorbitols), alcohol, citrus fibre, thickener (carrageenan), emulsifier (mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids), flavourings (contains milk, egg).

I agree. Excellent quality. Always good stuff and they treat their staff and suppliers better than a lot of retailers do.
If those things are important to you - and they are to me - then it's worth shopping there. (And actually I find I spend less because I waste less and I don't fill my trolley with rubbish)

@impostersyndrome 🙄🙄.....this thread is in comparison other supermarkets not homemade!! Of course anything like that will have additives in whatever supermarket you buy it from!