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Original poster

I don’t understand Waitrose.

630 replies

JensonsAcolyte · 04/05/2021 14:40

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? Grin

OP posts:
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Original poster
JensonsAcolyte · 04/05/2021 14:53

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

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 Shock

I don’t understand Waitrose.
OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 04/05/2021 14:53

I went to Morrison’s this morning. Cramped aisles and 80s music blaring.
I love that there’s no music in Waitrose, all very calm and my local one has wide aisles.
I used to think k the shopping experience was clinical but I quite like that now!

Neonprint · 04/05/2021 14:54

I used to work in Waitrose. I think some of the reasons are the shops are smaller and less busy. The customer service is better. (we had a policy of 1 trolley waiting in front of yiu for queues)

The quality is better than lots of supermarkets. I also think the products are more varied and interesting than lots of places.

I think some people don't want to be seen shopping elsewhere. But I honestly think there's actually very few people like that actually using the shop.

Not to sound biased as a former employee, it was just a weekend job at uni, I didn't enjoy it and have no great love for it! The customers were mostly fucking awful BTW!

CounsellorTroi · 04/05/2021 14:55

I do a Waitrose shop once a month or so. I find the self checkout way better than other stores. They have tables in between the machines that you can put stuff on like your bag or purse without upsetting the machine.

Timeforabiscuit · 04/05/2021 14:55

God I love Booths!

But actually what blobblob said was far more articulate, and I'd certainly say that too.

Skinnytailedsquirrel · 04/05/2021 14:55

I shop there because I like the food, the service and the "ambience". I can't say the same for the Asda which is nearer me than Waitrose, or the Sainsburys where screaming kids run up and down the aisles.

I'm not physically going in now but they deliver for no extra charge for a spend of £40+ . What's not to like?

PeterPomegranate · 04/05/2021 14:56

We shop at Ocado and I wish they still did Waitrose food. I might switch to Waitrose home delivery once I know I won’t need to rely on being a priority Ocado customer in any future lockdowns.

As per @blobblob above - I think Waitrose have better ethics than most supermarkets. Their (old?) slogan ‘quality food, honestly priced’ sums it up for me.

HenryHooverIII · 04/05/2021 14:56

@blobblob I must admit I can't get hung up on a chickens welfare, when it only exists because someone wants to eat it.

Our local waitrose car Park is where all the local drug dealers operate, so I wouldn't say it was even up market.

Neonprint · 04/05/2021 14:56

Oh yes @Sparklingbrook I forgot about the no music policy

And we'd only make tannoy announcements if absolutely necessary. So very rarely as it disturbed the customers.

BrieAndChilli · 04/05/2021 14:57

well i went to morrisons yesterday and got 4 (big) bags of shopping and it was £140! that included the weeks meals, lunchs, breakfasts, snacks etc.
I think its what you are buying, it would vertianly be possible in tesco or morrisons etc to buy 2 packs of sliced chicken for £7 if yoou went for the expensive stuff! i've just had a look on tesco and they have packs of sliced cooked chicken breast for £4 so that would be £8 for 2 packs.

Skinnytailedsquirrel · 04/05/2021 14:57

...so perhaps I do shop there out of snobbery. Is that wrong?

Marcis · 04/05/2021 14:57

@Saucery

If I wanted to be truly posh and magical I’d do every weekly shop at Booths Wink
This!!

Went to Waitrose recently and was quite disappointed with what was on offer, didn’t seem special at all.

Went to Booths and oooh the delights! It’s wonderful! Like a farm shop but a supermarket.

MarkRuffaloCrumble · 04/05/2021 14:57

Pre cooked chicken is bloody expensive everywhere so £7 for two packs doesn’t sound extortionate to me tbh. I would presume that the cheaper supermarkets will plump it up with water sugar and salt (but it may well be exactly the same product!)

I shop there sometimes as it’s my closest supermarket so if I’m not organised enough to do an online shop I go there for a few bits and it’s always great quality. I don’t notice that it’s a lot more expensive than say Tesco or Sainsbury’s but obviously more than Lidl etc

Brokenpencilsarepointless · 04/05/2021 14:57

The cheese isnt expensive. Port salutes and brie are pretty much that price anywhere. And the meat seems reasonable.

I thought you had just bought a few things but from the super expensive ranges!

Sparklingbrook · 04/05/2021 14:58

@Neonprint

Oh yes *@Sparklingbrook* I forgot about the no music policy

And we'd only make tannoy announcements if absolutely necessary. So very rarely as it disturbed the customers.

I couldn’t concentrate over Rick Astley in Morrison’s earlier. Forgot the Kopparberg Vodka I went in for. Angry
Athenajm80 · 04/05/2021 14:58

I did an online Waitrose shop this month. The chicken and ice cream were very good (all I've had so far!) Their Essentials range wasn't much, if at all,more expensive than Tesco or Sainsbury's. However if people shop there cause like others to know that they shop there, then my cats are guilty of this 🙂 The Waitrose Essential cat food was gone within seconds. Little snobs 😁

AnnaMagnani · 04/05/2021 14:59

Well you bought a load of items that are going to be expensive at Waitrose and they were.

If you want cheap brands, you don't go to Waitrose.

You can shop cheaply there if you stick to the Essentials range and avoid Duchy Originals like the plague.

Plus the average Waitrose family prob doesn't eat Frosties. They aren't going to stock something that doesn't sell.

Divineswirls · 04/05/2021 15:00

Everything you bought would have cost the same in every other supermarket Confused

MrsPnut · 04/05/2021 15:00

The sliced chicken was on offer though at 2 for £5 and the other sliced meats you bought came in the 2 for £4 offer.
I use Waitrose because I like the selection of food and I can get a delivery every week but if I want to buy snack foods then we go to Asda or Tesco’s.

Marcis · 04/05/2021 15:00

My main horror is the cereal prices.

If you get three packets of itsu dim sum you know you’re going to tack quite a bit on the cost of your shop.

Brokenpencilsarepointless · 04/05/2021 15:00

*port salut

Martinisarebetterdirty · 04/05/2021 15:01

Chicken should be expensive if it’s reared free range and not pumped full of water. I love Waitrose but would love love love to live near a Booths - that’s the dream!

Sparklingbrook · 04/05/2021 15:01

There’s some really nice stuff on that receipt. You even got some yellow stickered stuff.

Lockheart · 04/05/2021 15:01

That's a big shop! Sure it would be cheaper in Asda or Tesco's but I reckon you'd still be paying upwards of £70 for the equivalent.

dreamsarefree · 04/05/2021 15:02

Did you manage to get the gojuchang paste there though? grabs coat