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?

@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?

You don't need to have a conversation about it for people to notice. When you host or go to someone's house, you'll serve / take food (sometimes in packets), and it will be obvious where you've bought it.

Oooh yes I love m&s, i feel like you've really hit the big time if you can do your big shop at m&s.

@ichundich I never notice. I’ll have to try and have a look next time.
I generally take wine as a gift so it could be from anywhere.

Waitrose is our nearest big supermarket. I like the wide aisles and the courteous civilised behaviour of the other customers and staff. If I go to the big Tesco it's always rammed with kids charging about, trolleys blocking aisles with the handlers not giving a shit and it's all so angry and bargey. The secret to shopping at waitrose for me is to stick rigidly to a list rather than go off piste with the tempting expensive treats.

I don't know where friends/family get their groceries and it's not important to me. I imagine it's a mix of what's local and convenient to them, who does good deliveries - whatever. If shopping is mentioned in any form, I generally use the generic 'I went to the supermarket' rather than specifics, iyswim, so zero 'flaunting'. It just isn't important to me or anyone I associate with.

I think we’re just lucky with our Tesco and Lidl. Both clean, not crowded, well stocked and with lovely staff.

So it makes the differences between them and Waitrose narrower.

I can definitely see the appeal if all the other local places are dog rough.

I don't have a Waitrose near me but my mum sometimes does me an online order as a treat. Firstly the bags are huge compared to other supermarkets so I could get a lot in 4 bags, secondly processed food like sliced chicken IS expensive wherever you go, and thirdly were you not looking at the price of the things as you picked them up?!

Either you get it or you don't. It doesn't matter if you don't. You tried it, it wasn't for you and that's ok.

@JensonsAcolyte

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

British pounds

The English Pounds thing is a thing, I’ve no idea why, that we always say when stuff is expensive. Or even when it’s not.

It’s probs from a film. 🤷‍♀️

@JensonsAcolyte

The English Pounds thing is a thing, I’ve no idea why, that we always say when stuff is expensive. Or even when it’s not.

It’s probs from a film. 🤷‍♀️

We say that too. Maybe from a comedy? Not sure.

One of my proudest achievements during lockdown was I not once queued up to shop at Waitrose.

I admire the brand loyalty of their customers, but don't understand it.

I am really jealous of all the people who say they shop at Waitrose because it's nice and quiet! It is by far the busiest supermarket in our town and, while I do most of my shopping there, I sometimes have to retreat to Sainsbury's for a quiet shop.

For me, as well as having fab ingredients which you can't get elsewhere, Waitrose offers a way less crowded, much shorter tills queues and overall more pleasant experience than shopping in Morrisons, which is the alternative a few shops down where I live. At Morrisons the staff yell at each other and customers. In Waitrose everyone is lovely to each other. I can't go to Morrisons if I am in a bad or sad mood as it will tip me over the edge

I made a very rare trip to Asda today as it looked like they sold Robinsons Squash'd, they didn't I found. I was not inspired at all by any of the food that would be considered a luxury item, there were no yummy cakes on display, only dull stuff, there was no way I could spend loads of money in there in error. I spent £8 on Hobrite, figs and some Langley farm cottage cheese. I would have liked a tasty titbit but nothing appealed. Waitrose is full of lovely tempting things in the fridge and bakery sections, likewise M&S.

@SherbrookeFosterer

One of my proudest achievements during lockdown was I not once queued up to shop at Waitrose.

I admire the brand loyalty of their customers, but don't understand it.

All the supermarkets near us had queues in early lockdown.

They're rare now but move very fast.

You can buy gochujang paste from Amazon Prime for £6 which will save you an expensive trip to Waitrose.

I love click and collect shopping since it stops me going into any supermarket and impulse buying stupid stuff.

Haven't RTFT but I shop mostly at aldi (near where I live) and once a fortnight at Waitrose. All the food, almost without exception, tastes noticeably better and lasts considerably longer from waitrose. The shopping experience is nicer and more inspiring and the ranges are much wider.

The shopping experience is nicer and more inspiring

I never get inspired by supermarkets wherever I shop tbh. I tend to get my food inspiration from recipes and food videos online. I make my shopping list accordingly and rarely divert from it once I'm in the shop.

I used to base going to Waitrose around getting my supply of their Pecorino & Pine Nut Dip, but since they so stupidly discontinued it despite it being a cult product, I do my shop elsewhere.

It's a lot more expensive when you consider the pack sizes are often smaller than other supermarkets.

My wife loves a bit of Waitrose (and that it's the closest one) but I prefer Sainsbury's (much further). Actually, we have to drive past Morrisons to get to Waitrose. Waitrose mince will be a 400g pack, Sainsbury's is 500g and cheaper. 3 for £10 meat deals in both but Waitrose will have 2 pork chops in a pack and Morrisons 4. We only tend to go to Waitrose for a few things of theirs we like that can't be had in other shops.

There was some nice cider in our Waitrose recently. 4 pack of 330ml cans for £6, bit of a treat. The next week I saw them in the Co-op for £5. Exactly the same, no discount, but 20% more expensive.

So yea, Waitrose does tend to be nice quality but it's a lot more expensive.

If you have to drive past Morrison's to get to Waitrose, how is Waitrose the closest?

The shopping experience is nicer and more inspiring

Inspiring? I must be doing it wrong. However I did notice once that Wairose had an aisle called 'Aspirational Toiletries' which I was quite inspired by.

I couldnt/wouldn't do a weekly shop at Waitrose or Sainsburys - too expensive.
They do present an upmarket image, more than say Marks, which probably costs the same? Guessing!
I guess there are people who would rather die than go into an Asda, so, yes, for some I think Waitrose probably appeals to their snob value and not their bank account.
I have ridiculous, fussy children and wouldn't waste money on cave-matured, organic, yak's milk cheese, as I would be forced to eat the lot (hmm, actually...)
I get the main, basics at Lidl, Aldi and Tesco, and special things online or in a specialist shop/market separately, so keep the wotsit chilli paste purchasing well away from the general shop.

Is there an ASDA near to you? I use all the shops at various times, depending where I am but this one is overall the best. Waitrose is OK but the produce is overpriced. The other day ASDA had broccoli heads for 20p and pears in a bag @49p - same quality as those in Sainsbury for much more money