I don’t understand Waitrose.

[JensonsAcolyte]

I just went to the big Waitrose because they stock gochujang paste. I thought I may as well get a few bits, chicken, cereal, crisps, pasta etc. All the sort of stuff that isn’t dinners but filler food.

£90!

For four bags of shopping.

And it didn’t feel special or posh or magical or anything.

Why do people shop there? Is it actually a snobbery thing? We have a Sainsburys, Tesco and Lidl within a mile or so radius as well.

The only thing it had going for it for me was the aforementioned chilli paste that I couldn’t get in Tesco. But other than the Ingredients range, the other ranges they offer aren’t very wide.

Will anyone admit that they shop there out of snobbery/classism?

If I go into a Waitrose I always spend a fortune because there are many temptations, but if I shop online and monitor what I'm getting carefully, I don't find it too expensive, especially as they have quite a broad "essentials" range for the basics. I als agree that the stores have a calmer vibe. In the panic buying at the start of the pandemic, the shelves in Waitrose were just as empty as anywhere else but it wasn't as manic as other stores, with people shoving you out of the way if they spotted a lone packet of spaghetti.

I usually get online deliveries from Ocado but sometimes I will do Waitrose if I can't get a convenient delivery slot. When I couldn't get any online shopping slots during lockdown, I went in person to my local Tesco and would always spend more there than on either Waitrose or Ocado online, probably because I'm less efficient in person.

When I worked part-time and had a much tighter budget,I shopped in Lidl and was generally pretty satisfied with what I got, but I did get frustrated by the lack of choice. I always had to do a top-up elsewhere of bits I couldn't get. I don't have one especially near me either and had to drive 20 minutes each way. Now I work full-time, I prefer to pay for the convenience and choice of Ocado or Waitrose.

I shop in waitrose for a number of reasons, the first being it is my closest supermarket.

On top of that, the staff are helpful and friendly, I never have to queue for very long, the shelves are always fully stocked, people aren't fighting over each other in the aisles for stock (mostly aldi, not tesco, sainsbury's etc).

I also don't notice the price difference drastically with sainsbury's.

Tesco makes my soul die inside. I much prefer the experience of being in a Waitrose. I like M&S, but if I shop there all the time I get a bit bored. Lidl is great but the checkout is awful. Sainsbury's is fine. Never been to an Aldi in the UK as I've never lived near one, so no opinions there.

There's my review of a selection of supermarkets 🤣

I've been a convert to waitrose during the pandemic specifically because of their safety measures-not allowing too many people in, disinfecting all the trolleys and being just a generally more relaxing experience. Morrisons lost it for me when they removed all their safety measures a few weeks in, I'm guessing because they were bored of the inconvenience..

I shop in Waitrose as it's a much nicer environment and more spacious than most other supermarkets. It also has a better clientele and the staff are lovely. I could save money by going to Asda or Tesco but really don't enjoy those stores.

Your coleslaw was a bargain 😂. Personally I love Waitrose - shopping ambience, food quality, employment policy, everything

When I lived in Bromley I did a weekly shop at Waitrose as I lived 5 mins away and had a pull along shopping trolley . I was careful and bought their own make stuff a lot. It worked out about a fiver more, about the cost of a taxi back from the big Tesco. Loved that Waitrose.

Sainsbury's is expensive! I only shop there as they have a high collect of gluten free products. 20 products costed me £50.00!

I only go to Waitrose to buy their meat, chicken and their organic canned stuff. I literally buy no more than 8 things when I shop there!

My Tesco extra also stocks gochuchang btw!

And isn't that the point of Waitrose? That it's for rich people?

They delivered to me regularly throughout Covid and it was the only supplier I could rely on.They can be pricey but they are utterly reliable so its worth it to me.

@Brokenpencilsarepointless

Every time I think of waitrose, I think of a friend i had years ago. She and her partner would only eat things from the duchy range, and they were both in very low incomes, renting and he had kids to pay for from a previous relationship ship. Honestly; the mess they got into with debt but wouldn't stop spending extortionate amounts on duchy this, duchy that. And went on and on about how much better their food was than anyone else'. Bloody idiots.

This is me. If I don't have the time to go to the butchers. I buy their organic meat and chicken from the Dutchy Range.

@JensonsAcolyte

Ok here’s what I bought. It’s a load of treats and snacks so judge away

It’s mainly the meat and cheese I think was pricey, and they didn’t have own brand versions of coco pops or Frosties. And I didn’t even buy any wine

How many children do you have. You bought most of the same items twice. I buy the one item and hope that it will last me for a couple of weeks and then restock. But everyone is different. I have friends who do a big shop and can manage for three weeks on that.

@Alsohuman

There's a Booths about 10 mins down the road but I've never been, didn't realise it was a 'thing'. What have I been missing out on???

The best supermarket ever. Our nearest one is 150 miles away and I’d kill for a local one. Don’t go there unless you want to start a lifelong addiction, it will completely ruin you for all the rest.

Know where I'm going tomorrow....I'm doomed.

OMG we can get Booths deliveries from Deliveroo!

My closest supermarkets are Aldi & Waitrose, so i swing between the two. They both have their good points but the Waitrose is bigger so more choice. Tbh i don't find it expensive compared to Tesco or Sains - in fact Sains has become horrifyingly expensive imo the past couple of years. Waitrose's Essentials range is excellent & the quality of their fruit & veg is very good.
We're a family of vegetarians so that probably helps to keep the cost down, and i'm dairy free - Waitrose does a good selection of dairy alternatives. It's generally pretty quite/relaxed too, esp compared to my local Tesco which is good but bit too much like Wacky Races most days

I get why people shop there and i would too if i could afford it. But im a very low income single mother and usually i shop at aldi sometimes lidl or tesco.
The fruit is definately the best quality, the shop itself has such a nice feel to it, its always so clean, organised and seems less busy than other supermarkets. And their banoffee pie is amazing! :D

I used to work for Waitrose relatively recently and they seemed to treat their staff well. Even stacking shelves I was treated well, given decent training and told to prioritise helping customers. They were quite happy for me to stop stacking and help someone elderly do their whole shop for example. It's quite different to the poor souls who have to fling the groceries off the conveyor as fast as possible working for Aldi.

I liked working there.

I used to only go there for non essentials but I've switched to doing my main food shop at Waitrose since covid as it felt much safer than Sainsbury's, which I find massively overpriced and the fresh food at Sainsbury's is bad quality

@Happypigc

I used to work for Waitrose relatively recently and they seemed to treat their staff well. Even stacking shelves I was treated well, given decent training and told to prioritise helping customers. They were quite happy for me to stop stacking and help someone elderly do their whole shop for example. It's quite different to the poor souls who have to fling the groceries off the conveyor as fast as possible working for Aldi.

I liked working there.

That's reminded me of a friend who was trying to do a shop in waitrose one day, with two cranky toddlers in tow. She couldn't drive & had to wait for her DH to come back from an appointment to pick them up. She was getting quietly more & more stressed when a member of staff appeared, asked if she had a shopping list, took the list & trolley off friend, dispatched her & the dcs to the cafe and went off to do the shopping for her.

Sliced chicken is expensive unless you get mass produced factory farmed stuff. Waitrose tends to be much more ethical which is one reason it's more expensive. It also has more niche and luxury products. I guess it could be snobbery in some. But for me it's local so it's handy and I like what it sells.

Waitrose is unfairly branded as a posh person's supermarket. Ours is the nearest (walking distance) and has been wonderful over lockdown. It is not a very large branch, but the aisles are quite far apart and they are really careful about monitoring numbers and sanitising trolleys etc. We have had click and collect and home deliveries at no extra cost (if £40+). The staff are well trained and helpful and especially good with elderly shoppers I have noticed. The basics are no more expensive than other major supermarkets, certainly not more expensive than say M & S, though they do stock more expensive lines. As with most things, you get what you pay for.

@the80sweregreat

I know people that only shop at m and s or Waitrose and tend to be a bit snobby about it. It is a 'thing' a kind of ' shopping status symbol'

Just out of interest, in what way?

I couldn't tell you what supermarkets my friends / neighbours shop at.

WTH is gojuchang paste ???

A few people I know have liked to shoe horn in the fact they only shop at certain shops !

(I go to all of them so not sure what they think of me. )

It's s nicer place to shop in.
Staff all really lovely & friendly at my local.
Less people allowed in.
All trolleys cleaned & foot activated sanitizer pump things at door.
Beautiful plants & flowers.
Nicer wine, desserts, treats section.
Basics are fine.
I just feel calmer shopping in there than at my local giant sainsbos or mozzers 🤷‍♀️