Waitrose

[Janice]

My understanding is that Waitrose price-matches on branded groceries in the same way that John Lewis does, making it as good value as anywhere for those items. Of course the problem is that there are so many more temptations in Waitrose that you end up spending more regardless.

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Is there any definitive source of cost comparison for the supermarkets online?

I'm having a huge row with my wife at the moment because I favour Ocado, which appears to be the only decent home delivery service. She's somehow convinced that, because it's from Waitrose, our weekly shop is about three times the price as when I drag my sorry tripes all the way to the bedlam that is Camden Sainsbury's.

(Before you ask - no, neither of us actually knows the price of a loaf. Who reads receipts?)

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I believe this gives the definitive answer wrt Waitrose - in short, Waitrose price matches but Ocado doesn't.

JLP pricing policy

Personally I think Ocado is worth every penny if it means I can avoid the trip to Sainsburys...

[GastroChick]

ps gastroC never thought sainsburys angel that bad... has advantage of being 24 hrs doing the week which is dead useful plus borders across the road (though the road its on is well dodge). if you're that neck of the woods, have you been to the angel mangal yet?

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[jennahan]

I adore Waitorse. When we first moved to the wasteland that was Canary Wharf, my only local supermarket option was the Tesco Metro...pretty dire. Then the Waitrose opened in Canary Wharf...suddenly, my quality of life seemed to improve 100 fold. Granted, this is a souped up version of Waitrose, even by Waitrose's standard (Moshi Moshi sushi bar, steak and oyster bar, a decent fish selction, fine wine cellar where you can enjoy a glass/bottle of wine and nibbles while doing your weekly shopping, as well as a mini John Lewis all amalgamated into one lovely shopping experience). We desperately have to move out of the area now due to BBs impending starting of school, but it will be really difficult to leave this Waitrose.

[Tim Hayward]

I believe this gives the definitive answer wrt Waitrose - in short, Waitrose price matches but Ocado doesn't.

JLP pricing policy

Personally I think Ocado is worth every penny if it means I can avoid the trip to Sainsburys...

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That was certainly a surprise - particularly to the Missus.

I can see it works with branded goods and possibly own brand but does the promise extend to produce, meat, fish etc?

Is there any way of checking these things like-for-like? (excuse the ex-marketing geek)

[Adam Balic]

I look forward to Waitrose, but I notice that the location of the stores in in the two parts of town that actually have a decent selction of shops. Stockbridge has an excellent butcher and fishmonger, I hope that this will not result in the these places closing - which I think is likely given the popularity of places like "The Store".

Obviously, one is in favour of the freemarket economy that will solve all the worlds problems, but I would rather not have Waitrose with clean shiney surfaces, no chit-chat with the staff and decent opening hours, if it means that the only fish I can buy is not actually as good quality or interesting as what I can get now.

Ditto with all the other fresh produce.

Edited March 11, 2006 by Adam Balic (log)

[Mike Hunt]

You will love Waitrose when it opens.

I recently visited one in Lichfield and it was truely a subliminal experience.

Top quality goods, knowledgable staff who were mostly over the age of 25 and could string together a reasonable sentence.

The layout of the store was spacious and pristine white, OK, it's a bit 'Stepford Wives' but hey is that a bad thing ?

Enjoy.

[algy]

OK, it's a bit 'Stepford Wives' but hey is that a bad thing ?

Enjoy.

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not if you're a stepford husband.

[camp_dick]

I recently visited one in Lichfield and it was truely a subliminal experience.

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How then do you even know you were there? Or is this one of those dodgy 'recovered' memories? Perhaps the partners are going round hypnotising people into believing they went to Waitrose and it was like Aladdin's cave!

As for Stepford wives thing, what my sister most likes about the Waitrose that's her nearest food shop is that they have a self-scanning facility for registered users which hardly anybody else seems to use, so she never has to wait at the check out. And they are so incredibly classy they even disdain the obvious slogan, 'No waiting at Waitrose'.

[ris]

Is Waitrose one of the better supermarkets?

Spanky

I don't think anybody else has mentioned this but their mag "Waitrose Food Illustrated" is well worth picking up when you're in there. I'm not close enough to my nearest Waitrose so I've actually subscribed to get it delivered but it's free to shoppers with John Lewis or Waitrose cards. Superb photography, Sophie Grigson recipes, Emma Dibben's illustrations, all very classy.

[Adam Balic]

You will love Waitrose when it opens.

I recently visited one in Lichfield and it was truely a subliminal experience.

Top quality goods, knowledgable staff who were mostly over the age of 25 and could string together a reasonable sentence.

The layout of the store was spacious and pristine white, OK, it's a bit 'Stepford Wives' but hey is that a bad thing ?

Enjoy.

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Pristine and white I can do without.

I look forward to Waitrose if it actually increases the amount of decent food vendors in Edinburgh, however if it is simply a better version of M&S (which is what the food section of the Edinburgh Harvey Nicks turned into) and it takes away customers from smaller independent stores that already sell good product, then I can do without that.

[algy]

And they are so incredibly classy they even disdain the obvious slogan, 'No waiting at Waitrose'.

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or the even more obvious slogan "No working classes at Waitrose".

Do they still demand a proposer and seconder before you're allowed to enter or is carrying the current edition of the Boden catalogue proof enough of one's bona fides?

[Jon Tseng]

Waitrose staff noticeably more helpful and better paid

Probably because JLP pays them a decent (or, at least, better) wage, and its famous profit-share

[camp_dick]

Do they still demand a proposer and seconder before you're allowed to enter or is carrying the current edition of the Boden catalogue proof enough of one's bona fides?

My sis sez she just jangled the keys to her Volvo and flashed her Platinum credit card.

Waitrose staff noticeably more helpful

Have you visited the Peterborough store, in the Queensgate Centre, above the bus station?

Thought not...

[Mike Hunt]

I recently visited one in Lichfield and it was truely a subliminal experience.

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How then do you even know you were there? Or is this one of those dodgy 'recovered' memories? Perhaps the partners are going round hypnotising people into believing they went to Waitrose and it was like Aladdin's cave!

As for Stepford wives thing, what my sister most likes about the Waitrose that's her nearest food shop is that they have a self-scanning facility for registered users which hardly anybody else seems to use, so she never has to wait at the check out. And they are so incredibly classy they even disdain the obvious slogan, 'No waiting at Waitrose'.

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Sorry, that should have read 'sublime'.

Grammer/Spellcheck crash and burn scenario I'm afraid.