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?

We don't have a Waitrose but we do have a Booths which is kind of the same thing. Yes, the physical shop is quite posh but it is about a million pounds for a loaf of bread which you can get down the road at Sainsbury's for a fraction of the price. I really don't understand why you'd spend so much money when you don't have to.

Why didn’t you just buy the paste and leave?
I like the things I can only get there and go to other supermarkets as well.
I don’t feel the need to moan about which supermarket people choose to use.

Depends what's in the four bags surely. I've felt the same shopping at Sainsbury's, also depends on what specials are going on. I like waitrose and Sainsbury's, some thing I can only find in one or the other and also prefer certain things in either.
Lidl/aldi I find too loud, occasionally asda but generally go there for the George range once in a while. Used to love tesco but fell out of love a while back. Will still pop in for their extra strong 30m foil and ginger paste. Waitrose did a price match for while and I'd often find cheaper than other supermarket stuff in there. To be fair, I only buy on sale or specials. Will only use ocado/ waitrose online when I get a discount voucher. It's about shopping smart and buying what you can afford. A friend swears by Lidl and is always playing guess how much I paid for this in Lidl, every single time!!!

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.
What the actual fuck @Brokenpencilsarepointless? Is Waitrose only for home owners then? Why can’t anyone choose to have nice food if they want it?

@LovelyIssues

It is a snobbery thing I don't care what anyone says. I shopped their once and the quality was no better than Aldi

If I couldn’t taste any different between them, I’d happily use Aldi or lidl. Sadly I can, and so can my kids and husband, so much of the fresh stuff went to waste.

I hold my hands up this morning to say that the bananas and apples have all been eaten and remarked upon as sooooo much nicer than usual.

So there’s that.

My daughter worked there part time during her a levels. They were the best employers. Whilst at uni, she worked for Tesco and Lidl, no Waitrose there, and her experience was nowhere that of Waitrose. They give her hours when she is back home and she says it’s always a breath of fresh air. Everything is better organised, the atmosphere is much more family life and friendly, managers treat them like adults, not naughty kids.

I shop there once in a while. Love the variety of food but prices mean I do so by exception.

I used to go there because it was nearest. Now I only pop in for bits that I can't get elsewhere (e.g. Spanish tortas de aceite), but I make sure I don't get side-tracked. It's true that it's quieter, but so is my local Lidl on a Tuesday morning or a Sunday afternoon.

@LovelyIssues

It is a snobbery thing I don't care what anyone says. I shopped their once and the quality was no better than Aldi

Ah well if you've been there once I'm sure you know enough to comment on the honesty and motives of the shoppers .

I've been to Aldi once and managed to get a very small number of the things I needed, thought the shop was chaotic and queued for ages. I didn't comment on Aldi in my pps because I thought my experience might not have been representative. But according to you I'm a dishonest snob, so what do I know?

I do think waitrose has a nicer shopping experience. Aldi is cramped and stressful and Sainsburys is just not the same. I shop at all of these in almost equal measure but I always enjoy "browsing" in waitrose. They have some lovely stuff.

If I go to Waitrose it's to buy nicer items than I can get elsewhere. I would never do my whole utility shop there as some things are pretty expensive for what you get, other items are on par with every other supermarket. As an example, those cheap cheese and tomato pizzas are extortionate at Waitrose compared to Morrisons. I'm not going to pay more just so I can say I bought it at Waitrose.

On the other hand they sell lots of stuff that I can't get elsewhere. Beef short ribs, jersey cream and creme fraiche, good quality milk at a reasonable price, very nice butter, nice own brand cleaning stuff, often have £3 chickens, beautiful party food and if feeling flush, better quality veg than supermarkets.

And of course niche herbs and other ingredients. For years it was the only place I could buy Quince paste.

@JensonsAcolyte

No, lunches. Sliced chicken. Cost me £7 for two packs! Seven English pounds

To be fair the standard tesco range is 2 for £6

Oh you also get a free newspaper if you are a member, and coffee although I don't bother with that. Always forget my cup.

I like waitrose on a Sunday afternoon for the bakery but never a full shops. Went a few times in lockdown and I would have struggled to feed 6 of us there without going way over budget. I usually shop at Tesco but I do go to Aldi for brioche, crisps and chocolate etc.

If I feel like being real snob I go to M&S food. That feels like such a real treat! (Maybe for lunch bits, not a full shop!)

I never ever que at Aldi. Usually I que at Tesco.

I can honestly say I have no idea where friends and relatives do their weekly shop. It’s not a conversation that comes up.
Do people really shop at Waitrose to tell people they shopped at Waitrose?

@btwwhichonespink

Oh you also get a free newspaper if you are a member, and coffee although I don't bother with that. Always forget my cup.

Free coffee was suspended when Covid arrived so you’re not missing out currently.

@Sparklingbrook no definitely not. I couldn't tell you where any of my friends shop. I only know my brother shops at Sainsbury's as he seems to be just going in every time I ring him

[quote btwwhichonespink]@Sparklingbrook no definitely not. I couldn't tell you where any of my friends shop. I only know my brother shops at Sainsbury's as he seems to be just going in every time I ring him [/quote]
I think my parents go to Morrison’s (the 80s music one). I’m surprised Dad doesn’t moan about it.
My sister has a delivery but don’t know from where.

Also interesting that Waitrose in Sevenoaks tried to block the building of an Aldi there

That isn't surprising or interesting really. Most supermarkets would try to block another being built. Co-op didn't want Lidl built over the road from them here (neither did most other people in the area and it didn't get built).

Our Waitrose has a bus stop right outside the door too. They will be constrained by whatever the local infrastructure is TBH.

Waitrose sold a store to Tesco.

www.thegrocer.co.uk/property-and-planning/waitrose-to-sell-wolverhampton-store-to-tesco-as-four-branches-close/648399.article

I enjoy shopping at Waitrose, I don't need to 'justify' it to myself or anyone else. The experience is (to me) so much better than going to Aldi. Different people have different things they want to spend their money on, I am happy to spend my money on food and a 'nice' supermarket shopping experience, for other people stocking up with food is just a chore that has to be done and they are happy to shop online or find the most economical way of shopping. I have never done an online grocery order in my life.

Equally I choose to never buy new clothes, or have beauty treatments, the latest mobile phone etc. - for some people those are 'essentials'.

@Sparklingbrook

I can honestly say I have no idea where friends and relatives do their weekly shop. It’s not a conversation that comes up. Do people really shop at Waitrose to tell people they shopped at Waitrose?

I wouldn't know where any of my friends and family shop unless they have said. One friend has said they shop at Lidl and another mentioned Sainsburys.

The only people who would know I shop at Waitrose would be those that have seen the delivery van at my house.

However, I also visit almost every other supermarket at times because they all do something different.
Asda for cheap snacks, Morrisons for cheese and onion rolls and their vegetarian food, Lidl for the bakery and bockwurst, Aldi for their vegan frozen range, Tesco for ease as it is on my way home usually and Sainsbury's because it has Argos in there and I may as well have a browse whilst I am there.

I am off to Iceland today to peruse their ice lolly offerings. I’ll be sure to take my Waitrose bags for life for when I unpack the boot back home. 😂

Oh I forgot Iceland, their crispy fish fillet goujons are great as well. I make quick fish tacos with them. I need to clear my freezers down in preparation for ice cream buying.

I can thoroughly recommend these.