£195 for a beef wellington!

[Blueskybird]

Just that really, are supermarkets now taking the absolute Micky?? I know I don’t have to buy it. I know no one is forcing me to. But seriously how can they actually think it’s ok to demand that price for a Beef wellington that serves 6. Granted it’s in the celebrity chef Christmas range and I’m well aware that we all have different budgets and I absolutely expect to pay for quality but come on, that’s a scandalous price. AIBU to think we have lost the plot with food pricing or would you pay it?

When I see something stupidly expensive and marvel how people can afford it I remind myself they’re paying tax on it directly or indirectly, so who cares. Better than hoarding money and living on a shoe string.

i could be tempted to buy it as a treat. Of course some people can afford it and want to splash out at Xmas. This isn’t a new concept. I’d rather spend money on that than a dessert and other things we wouldn’t be bothered about. It’s obviously just down to individual preference

They are made to order and then delivered to the markies location you chose for collection. Ain’t no one stocking shelves with 200 quid beef wellingtons lol, can’t beleive you thought that. The ones on the shelves will be the 60-85 quid ones. 😂

No, I don’t quite frankly, you just ignore fhey sell a range of beef wellingtons, starting from 60 pounds, say you don’t think they should not sell expensive stuff for those who chose that, but object to this as it’s “food” and for some bizarre reason are going on about col crisis and state pensioners, not being able to afford their top of the range beef wellingtons which is only made to order, ignoring there is a full range, again starting from 60 quid.

and so many people aren’t reading the thread, now think this is the only beef wellington they sell, bizzarely think it’s going to be on the shelves, and sold off cheap as you didn’t explain this is the top of the range made to order one with multiple cheaper ones on offer also.

if you can explain why you feel they can’t offer a top of the range made to order one, as well as the others they offer, I’m sure we would all be agog.

Not the point of this thread but it's got me really excited for Christmas.

Also free advertising for M&S, I'm considering the beef Wellington. I try to make them all the time and it never works out quite right. There is also lobster and salmon Wellington in the catalogue that looks fab.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Your point makes no sense though - a fillet of beef for 6 is expensive. Then there is the convenience of not buying the ingredients, cooking it etc. Of course there will be a cut of the profits for the shop, the celebrity chef and everyone else involved in the process.
You can buy an expensive bottle of champagne or a cheap bottle of prosecco for Christmas - M&S probably sell both. Some would gawp at the price tag for the former.

Eh? Are shops only allowed to sell super cheap things now because of the CoL? At what price would you draw the line on pricing of items?
Probably best they don’t sell anything other than basics because people should be saving money and not wasting it on mince pies and other treats.

So what if it's food? Should everyone have to only have budget options because some people are struggling.

Some of us aren't struggling to afford it. I love food and eating high quality is more important to me than price.

Are they caling it the Erin Patterson?

So if it serves six peope that is £32 per person. Not outrageous for something very luxurious and for special occasion.

To see if the price is fair you could cost up the raw ingredients to see how much you could make it for at home.

People have different budgets and m&s are catering to that. If that is the price they need to charge to make money on it and they think it will sell then crack on. Christmas is often more decadent than usual for most.

My dad spends a lot on good quality meat from the butchers. It is one of the pleasures he has in life now in his 80s, doesn’t really do holidays or have the cost of running a car anymore. L. He’ll spend an eye watering amount on a good joint of beef. Would I buy the m&s beef wellington? No. Would someone like my dad. Possibly. People spend their discretionary income in different ways.

I reckon you couln't get the raw ingredoents for much less than £120 . Then you need to add on the cost of someone else doing the work of making it to order and their other costs. I reckon £195 is probably about right.

I don't know if this helps but The Ginger Pig are amazing and a bit cheaper. Not massively (£150 for one that serves six but they do different sizes) but I would resent paying £195 for any food that is basically just super market food, no matter how they dress it up.

https://thegingerpig.co.uk/product/beef-wellington/

What annoys me is it's the only one they offer.
Waitrose has 2 options, one is their No.1 range at £65, the other is a Michael Roux at £95.
The different price points suit everyone, a much better way to do it, while including their own celebrity chef!

You've misunderstood demand.

Supply and demand is an economic term and it means they will supply and customers will demand. Not demand as in insist but demand as in want and buy. So if they're supplying this there must be demand from the general public.

Do you complain about the price of Teslas and say they're demanding that amount? Of course not - again super expensive cars are on the market because some crazy people will buy them.

Well this is the beaity of a free market - there are lots of beef wellington options at different price points! No one is forced to shop at M&S

Well get unannoyed, because M&S have one for £60 too. I wouldn't have known that if this thread wasn't peppered with people mentioning it.

Looks delicious, but I don’t have the budget for it so won’t be buying.

Exactly, and even if they chose to, they can buy one for 60 pounds or one for 195.all from markies. The op seems to be objecting to the fact some people will chose to buy at the top end, and can afford it. Apparently that shouldn’t be an option. Because there is a col crisis and state pensioners can’t afford the top end made to order one.

Blimey, nearly £200 for a fancy steak pasty.

But they don’t have to offer different price points. They are a business and can price their goods at any level to any market they want (there are probably some competition rules though). This is probably being marketed as a premium, exclusive product - with that comes the quality of the ingredients, the taste and limited production. Once you have lower price points that are accessible to more people it doesn’t have the exclusivity. As you have demonstrated, customers can shop elsewhere if they don’t want to pay that price.
I, for one, do not tend to buy at these price points as I prefer to spend money on other things but I can see why others would especially at Christmas time.

ETA: apparently there IS a cheaper version at M&S so those wanting an exclusive product may need to go elsewhere and spend more!

It would only be "tone deaf" if they were targeting lower income people with an ad campaign. They're not exactly handing out fliers outside a state primary school or Job Centre.

Well it isn't exactly new that there are rich people. Marie Antoinette etc...

They have at least 3 options, starting at 60 quid, then 85, what are you on about. 😂

I must admit, I’m now thinking of getting it this year too after this thread, to see if it’s worth the price.

Can’t remember if it was on their menu last year as we usually scroll past any main that isn’t turkey, but I suspect after this thread, they will have an influx of orders and it’ll be back on their menu next year as they think it must be popular!