To think Waitrose is a rip off?

[RoxyMoosic]

I do often pop into my local Waitrose, namely because it is the closest supermarket to my house, and on my route home from work. However I don’t really see what it’s selling point is.

I tend to buy branded things, and these are almost always more expensive than the usual supermarkets, unless on offer which admittedly does make it worth a visit.

My local Waitrose is a former Somerfield, so it’s a convenience store layout trying to be a full blown supermarket. The aisles are too narrow, and it’s full of mums with big buggies and elderly people dawdling with trollies.

Theres almost always a queue at the checkout, again because there’s not enough room for a proper sized self checkout area.

The fresh produce and own brand items don’t seem to be noticeably nicer than say Sainsburys, whereas M&S is most certainly a cut above the regular supermarket.

If I want nice or ‘posh’ my go-to is M&S. I just don’t see why it seems to be so revered as the epitome of middle-classness. Seems to be a rip-off to me.

Waitrose is great for their fresh produce. I don’t buy branded items from Waitrose though as the cost is stupidly high although there are a few things one can only buy in-person in Waitrose (Ortiz tuna) so I tend to pick them up unless I’ve done an Ocado shop.

I do tend to prefer Natoora over others as they provide the best quality produce, their lovely French strawberries are my go-to!

You’re not wrong op - most of what you buy in Waitrose is a good lot dearer than other supermarkets, just why? When a can of Heinz whatever is 80p more expensive… it’s just silly. And the Waitrose own brand is nothing special. The main reason it exists is snobbery. If you’re factoring in cost and quality, I agree Sainsburys is great.

My cats like their frozen cod ( although M and S cod or haddock gets gobbled up faster )

I love shopping in Waitrose. If you don't then you can simply go elsewhere.

We do a lot of our shopping at Waitrose as our two most convenient supermarkets are that and co-op. Ours is spacious, clean, helpful staff, and given that we buy mostly Waitrose / Essential Waitrose items, often significantly cheaper than the co-op, not to mention better quality.

There's no John Lewis anywhere near us, so I appreciate being able to do click and collect (and returns) at Waitrose.

@scrapsontheside I love clipper tea!! Have been stocking up whilst it's on offer.

I do like their products but I don't buy much there usually, as I agree it's overpriced.

I know there is much competition between them and M and S, and honestly I couldn't be less interested-they are both overpriced and therefore treating their customers as fools.

A lot of your issue seems to be with the store layout which would be the same whichever supermarket was in there so 🤷

And after that as others have said, just don't go in there if it doesn't suit 🤔 Personally I like Waitrose but if you don't you don't, that's OK too 😄

That's a bit unnecessary

I do a split- part Waitrose, part M&S , occasionally a bit at Sainsbury's, plus farm shop- but I like shopping and I like cooking and don't have kids to look after.

I actually drive 4 miles to go to Waitrose when we have a huge one in the centre here- main reason being the one 4 miles away is still big but less busy and has far more offers and yellow stickers

Waitrose is not more expensive if you avoid brands and buy their essentials range. Their fresh produce is better quality than most other supermarkets.
I don’t understand why it’s “snobbery” to want to eat better quality foods and higher welfare meat and eggs

Complete shopping tart and I shop for value, taste and quality. So Waitrose have some products I really like and carry a few brands hard to source elsewhere, but I like M&S for other items, Lidl and Aldi for a few others, but rarely Tescos (unless for frozen veg) and not ASDA for anything other than clothing, as a great deal of their veg and fruit seems to travel huge distances! I really can't say that one hits the spot for everything anymore, just that some are much more reliable for the quality of their items and that cheap is not always the best value, either in taste or longevity! I also have a local deli that carries a few items cheaper than all of the above and a very good bakery, so happy to shop local where it makes sense too!

They do 50% off fruit and veg on a Monday with Uber Eats. This allows me to purchase huge quantities of ready-prepped fruit and veg fairly affordably.

I have small Waitrose two doors down from a slightly bigger M&S and find fresh produce better in M&S and everything else better in Waitrose. M&S almost never have stock of everything I want so I usually choose Waitrose (free coffee a plus!). The store sounds like a similar set up to yours and can feel a bit crowded, and for some reason as soon as I rock up with alcohol to the self service the attendant always runs away. There's a surplus of full-sized Waitroses in every direction though if I want to drive, where the aisles are very wide and the staff are excellent. I think the key is that I don't buy much branded stuff at all, and if I need to I tend to get it from Tesco as it's closer.

I think if your main priority is cost of branded items then it’s unlikely to be the shop for you. It can’t be so hard to understand that’s not the priority for everyone tho???

I like it for the range of fresh produce, good quality fruit and veg and good and varied own range.

The specific size and layout of the shop near you is also unlikely to apply across the UK.

I guess we have a range of supermarkets so people can shop where suits them 🤷🏻‍♀️

I agree. Ours is smallish but well laid out, and had self scanning now which I love. I do tend to spend a bit more but that’s possibly because the range of items is so much better than other supermarkets! I love their own brand tubs of ice cream - coconut and lime 🤤. I think their meat counter is very good, UK meat and a good variety of cuts, so because of this it is expensive, but you get what you pay for. For a treat it’s very good. I have no problems with the fruit and vegetables. And the staff are very good.

Tesco Finest also do wild Alaskan salmon.

Is it?

No one has put a gun to OP's head forcing her to go to Waitrose, or any other supermarket.

She's airing her reverse snobbery, that's all.

I personally love Waitrose, mostly for the huge amount of choice, e.g. they stock vastly more varieties of cheese than other similar-sized supermarkets. Tried Aldi for a little while as we moved close to one, but didn’t rate it tbh. It was good for plain produce/veg etc, but as an example they obviously stock about 2 kinds of pesto - red/green, whereas Waitrose sells truffle/harissa/other varieties as well. It just makes meals more interesting IMO. FWIW I am not a great cook and having more exciting things to start with makes my quick and easy meals a lot nicer 😂

@YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME I'm very tempted to change my user name to 'completeshoppingtart' lol - that's exactly how I shop and I agree that cheap isn't always the way to go- in terms of value- I once did a shop when we lived in Denmark at Lidl- my H didn't notice where it was from but did go and do a covid test as he said it all was tasteless and nasty - and left lots- however if I was filling the fridge and cupboard with cheaper snacks for less fussy/foodie husbands and teens with hollow legs then yep I would go there-

I use Tesco and Waitrose. The essentials range is good quality IMHO at Waitrose so for example their essentials eggs are free range and 20p ish per egg which stacks up v well against other free range. Branded stuff is hit and miss on pricing you have to check carefully.
Tesco are far better on discounts ime

Just go elsewhere.

I shop in Aldi just as much as I shop in Waitrose. I just don't buy the same things. Some food items, I can't find anywhere else than Waitrose, others are just nicer.

Why is it a "rip off"? They don't hide their price, don't buy if you don't think it's good value for money.

Waitrose is one of the few things I miss about the UK. Mind you, I haven't been in one since 2003 so they might have changed a bit. I used to love all the lovely things that you couldn't get elsewhere, like the boxes of different coloured rare breed eggs, and the lovely cheeses and coffees, even their ready meals were nice! The magazine used to be gloriously ponce-tastic (what to do with your left over venison etc :)), and the whole shopping experience was very civilised with lots of free samples and helpful friendly staff. Yes it was expensive, I didn't do my weekly shop there, but it was lovely. I'd give good money to spend a happy hour or two in Waitrose if it's just as nice now! Aussie Coles and Woollies are just not the same!

Re elderly dawdling - random ageism and invention of suggested minimum soeed in supermarkets 🤣

Re products - Waitrose like M and S can be cheaper than some supermarkets. Depends what you are buying and what they are promoting. Quality of fruit - M and S raspberries go off the quickest, likewise courgettes.

What???? 🙄