Supermarkets are taking the pi$$

[ButterflyTable]

I can’t believe how expensive food is now especially in the likes of Sainsbury’s for the same product. Total P-take, e.g. Organic Milk Sainsbury’s £2 Aldi £1.79.

Why give us ‘nectar’ prices when they are inflated prices in the first place? £5.50 for a Pizza Express Margherita and £2.75 on Nectar. I think actually it’s the fakery with making us think we are getting a good deal that’s pissing me off.

I went to Aldi today (we don’t have one near us) as I was doing a drop off nearby and the price difference is huge!!

Sainsbury's price match loads of Aldi prices. I really don't find them much dearer over a whole shop. Plus the amount I collect in Nectar points more than makes up the difference, if there is one.

All supermarkets charge the same for such things as PE pizzas, then knock them down regularly for loyalty card users, or on offer to all shoppers. It's how they work. I can't bring myself to be arsed, given the loyalty scheme is open to everyone.

What I do find though is Nectar prices are lower than usual prices (I can only comment on things I normally buy, mind) rather than an inflated price reduced to a normal price, unlike most Clubcard offers.

Well, our old Aldi fruit and veg had a terrible shelf life. The new (second) store was far better when it first opened. I think the old one has improved since the new one opened though.

Aldi has some items that are good value but across the piece i don't want to do my whole shop there because:

I find lots of things to be poorer quality
I find lots of things go off quicker
There is less choice
They don't always have everything i need

I am time poor and just can't be trekking round multiple supermarkets to get bargain tins in one place, cheap fruit & veg another etc.

Sainsburys is my nearest supermarket. I find the quality to be on average better than tesco & aldi. It is a bit more expensive but for me the choice, quality and convenience make it worthwhile.

I find waitrose is more expensive again, but too much so to feel worth it for the increased quality.

You’ve answered your own questions
aldi just sells what they can make money on

Sainsbury’s stock more range all that cost money hence higher prices
nectar schemes are sell financing they generate marketing info they can sell and also they can market there existing customers to boost sales

comparing Aldi to Sainsbury’s is like comparing apples and oranges

Yes.
Aldi stuff is crap.

This is me. I have ADHD and can't bear the environment in Aldis or Lidls. Everyone seems so miserable, it's too busy, the lighting is horrible (feels like I'm in a hospital) I find it oppressive and then the rushing to pack thing and using the packing "shelf" rather than doing it at the till. Just pickles my brain and so I pay more and feel nice and calm at sainsburys.

Yep, but she probably doesn't want to, like me.
😁
Pi$$ looks so much better!

I shop in all the supermarkets but do like the Sainsbury’s App as I scan my shopping using my phone and can check as I go along. I find the Nectar prices are geared towards things I routinely buy and are multi use which is great. This week 2 litres of milk was £1.22 and 4 of the quality croissants £1.38. I certainly don’t find Lidl as good value as previously.

Personally, I find the problems with the self-service tills are those people who scan their items, place said items on the packing shelf, pay, and only then do they think about packing items in bags, thus creating an extra step

Many of the self scanners won't let you bag as you shop because of the scales. In 12 or so years of using self-scanners, I've found one that weighed my bag and then let me add my shopping to it. Also, you might need more than one bag.

At my local M&S they don't have scales so you can bag as you shop and it's much better.

The problem is with the retailer, not the customer.

I don't think you are getting reduced prices though. The non-loyalty prices are massively inflated.

You get what you pay for.

I once bought my daughter the Aldi equivalent of Walker’s Squares and there was an outcry.

Also, milk comes from the milkman!

Does Aldi pay the farmers a fair price?

My choice is also Sainsbury's or Aldi. I much prefer the shopping experience in Aldi. Their staff seem happier and more motivated. The quality of their products is good. And the prices are very fair. I don't have any problems with their fresh stuff.

I agree that the Nectar prices seem a bit dishonest. Sainsbury's are underestimating their customers which is never a good look.

This. The fruit and veg is awful! Makes me not go to them as I don’t want to have to go to multi shops to get bits. We shop in sainsburys it’s a bit pricier but the fruit and veg stays fresh!

Or maybe people prefer a better quality? I will never buy into the fantasy that Aldi/Lidl sell the same quality as Sainsbury's etc., I bought strawberries a couple of days ago from Lidl, this morning i have had to discard some. Last 'summer' Waitrose had their excess stock of strawberries and raspberries on sale at half price and I bought a couple of packs of each. They were finished a couple of weeks later with no wastage.

Wouldn't mind the prices that Sainsburys (in particular) charge if the quality was any good. Strawberries for example - either already mouldy on the shelves (ew) or go off within a few days. Waitrose/M&S? Lasts 7 days, easily.

A weeks food shop in Sainsburys is only £15 cheaper than Waitrose. I'll happily pay the extra £15 to have fruit and veg that I don't need to bin two days after I buy it. Ultimately, it cancels itself out as I spend more if I shop in sainsburys as I am constantly rebuying things that have gone off...

I suppose you could look at it the other way - they are getting a benefit from the data they collect, the customer should receive some payment (in the form of lower prices) in return.

In 12 or so years of using self-scanners, I've found one that weighed my bag and then let me add my shopping to it. Also, you might need more than one bag.

I've never been on a supermarket where I can't put my bags ready for packing in the self service.

I hate the over- inflated prices so they can then appear to offer a bargain especially the loyalty card linked ones when you may just be popping in to a store brand you don't have locally to bother having a card. Also noticed when online shop Morrisons always seemed to be out of same low cost items so had to go for more expensive range, but once i went in store & had plenty so wasn't some supply issue.

Having worked in various veg packing & food factories in the past they were often the same items on the line and we'd just alter the labelling/packaging for all the various supermarkets. The supermarket may specify own quality standard & recipe in prepared items but the raw ingredients, processing were often the same.
I'm now totally grossed out by people who'll eat fruit straight from the punnet which unless stated on label aren't usually pre-washed so will have been on sat on unclean surfaces and handled by various people who may not bother to wash hands after toilet 🤮

Sainsbury's bread & baked goods is always already half stale. Even their freshest bakery bread is never, ever as soft as Morrisons or elsewhere

I have given up on Asda after years of deliveries but the last few months they use by dates on meat have been too short and the prices crazy. I used Ocado in January as I had a voucher and found it was cheaper, no substitutes just what I’ve ordered, organic meat was affordable, long use by dates, great veg. Really impressed! Plus I get bags which is so much easier to carry food to the kitchen (you give them back the next delivery and they refund you 10p per bag returned.

I’m saving between £20-£30 on my shop compared to Asda and far less waste.

i tried Lidl and the fruit and veg went off too quickly.

I don't know what Sainsburys you shop in but the one by me, never any staff on till, all self service( this is a large supermarket not a local shop one) staff are miserable as sin and as for help packing your bags well your lucky to see any staff , hugely inflated prices , so expensive.

I do 99% of my shopping in Aldi or Lidl. We make most stuff from scratch (DH loves cooking). All the veg and meat is absolutely fine, we don't meal prep so buy what we think we'll use and make sure it's used up before the exp date. The staff are great, everything is just very straightforward.

Our local Morrisons however is a shambles. Staff panicked at the self-service, never any bags available, floor staff moody or not interested in customers, don't mop up spills (MIL slipped on an uncleaned milk spill and staff embarrassed her over it), staff have literally taken things off the shelves as I've been reaching for it and not even acknowledging me, rude to DS(7). I hate going there and i avoid it as much as possible. They charge way more as well.

I'll keep my basic shop with canny staff over a shopping experience at a more expensive place.

So shop in Aldi and not Sainsbury's. You do have the choice you know. There is no law that says they all have to offer similar prices.

My DB always complains that fruit and veg in his local small Tescos goes off and isn't as good as quality as the Sainsburys they have - but they have another bigger Tescos nearby and their small Tescos is only a 3 minute walk from their flat. The Sainsburys is at least a drive away.

They do have a Lidl about a 10 minute walk away but the Aldi is a short drive away too and there's an M&S Food about 15-20 mins walk away.

For me, for dry (fajita packs, flour, sugar) and tinned foods I often go to Aldi/Lidl and if it's something I'll use within 2-3 days then I get fruit and veg there and it doesn't go off. Things like cheese, yogurt, dips, bread can also be good but I don't buy meat there. Sainsburys and Tescos do have a wider range. I've found myself swapping branded Greek yogurt to Sainsburys and Tescos ones and found it's just as nice.