My first shopping expedition at our newly opened Waitrose....

[summerdays]

Their pasta in the large bags was good value the last time I was in there, and cooked quite nicely.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Waitrose are so expensive and up themselves then again so are John Lewis.

John Lewis offers a price-match on every single item they sell. They also offer free extended warranties on consumer electronics items.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Waitrose are so expensive and up themselves then again so are John Lewis. Their target customer is semi-retired/retired, 50 - 70 years old, middle class, well healed, possibly an M&S stray, they delude themselves that they offer superior service, (I've had better service in places with much cheaper prices such as Wilcos). Also they blatantly price fix against Tesco's prices as well. Surely an infringement for the Competition Commisssion?

Co-Op or Sainsburys for me. Both have ample secure cycle parking under cover. Sainsburys has at least 15 Sheffield stands or Oxford hoops (I can never tell the difference between the two stands).

Thank you Crankers for so eloquently proving my point...

 

[Fab Foodie]

John Lewis offers a price-match on every single item they sell. They also offer free extended warranties on consumer electronics items.

Absolutely, and JL and Waitrose staff are just super!


Regarding price, the smart will order their branded goods on-line and delivered from Cheap-co leaving the pleasant ailse of Waitrose for the bits that matter... and of course, idle chit-chat with the Cholmondly-Warners.

 

[Crackle]

They sent me vouchers to try their home delivery, and so I filled my on-line basket then Mr Summerdays looked over my shoulder and took half of it back out again on the grounds that it was much more than our normal shop. However it is nice to go there for treats plus they have about 12 cycle stands outside - which is the best I've seen outside a supermarket round here. And they are often fairly full, and its usually an interesting selection of bikes in the rack - rather than BSO full suspension bikes.

I got them too. So I sat there and filled an online basket with Waitrose and Tesco at the same time. It wasn't long before the Waitrose basket was more expensive than the Tesco one, even with the vouchers. So I hoofed the Waitrose basket into touch and wouldn't bother with them again.

FF if you shopped elsewhere, in a year you'd have saved a new bike

 

[Arch]

We've got a Waitrose about to open. I don't suppose I'll use it for the big shop - Sainsburys is closer to home, and I know the price of the basics I buy, so I'll be able to compare (in fact looking online, it's 20p more for a basic tin of tomatoes, so I'll stick with Sainsburys) - but it's closer to work, and I might end up popping in for a pint of milk when I need it. To be honest it'll come down to ease of access - to get to Sainsburys on the bike after work involves crossing to the right hand lane on a busy bit of inner ring road, where drivers are often going a bit fast, and then accessing the store through a car park with a nasty sunken drain across the road. If it's easier to turn into Waitrose (and it looks from the road alterations as if it might be), then it'll be worth nipping in for odds and ends and paying a penny or two more.

Also, my sister shops there, and we had some nice ready-marinaded pork chops when I was down there, which she said were quite reasonably priced. So there will probably be the odd little luxury thing I pick up.

I would imagine they will have a fair few bike stands in York - Sainsburys and Morrisons, both on the same road, both have plenty of Sheffields.

 

[jimboalee]

Waitrose are part of the John Lewis Partnership. Someone might have mentioned, but I'll repeat.

They are an Association. That is EVERY employee gets a share of the profits.

In other words, JLP share out their lolly to all the employees, not like Tesco et al who screw their staff and are ready to dismiss someone who doesn't get the customers through the tills fast enough.

I knew a lady who worked at Tesco and she received a warning for chatting to the customers for too long, thereby slowing the rate of takings. "Every little helps....Our profits!" One lady member of staff was sacked for stashing a 'reduced for quick sale' item for herself.

In fact, the highest paid non management staff at Tesco are the guys who drive the Tesco.com delivery trucks. The salesfloor staff receive what I wouldn't get out of bed for.


John Lewis and Waitrose have stickers next to the light switches which say "Switch off. Don't burn our bonus!"

 

[Fab Foodie]

FF if you shopped elsewhere, in a year you'd have saved a new bike

True, but life wouldn't be worth living!

 

[Baggy]

We find the higher prices of Waitrose help keep the Riffraff out and make the shopping experience far more pleasureable. Worth every penny.

Hmmm, last week we did our shopping in a very large Co-op - lovely and peaceful...popped into Waitrose to grab a few extra items, and within seconds was seranaded by some screeching harridan, berating her children for kicking her. She created such a din that eventually a member of staff went over to intervene.

Waitrose's sushi was nice though!

 

[Fab Foodie]

Hmmm, last week we did our shopping in a very large Co-op - lovely and peaceful...popped into Waitrose to grab a few extra items, and within seconds was seranaded by some screeching harridan, berating her children for kicking her. She created such a din that eventually a member of staff went over to intervene.

Waitrose's sushi was nice though!

Don't worry, she'll be banished...

 

[Headgardener]

Re my previous post, my brother announced yesterday that he cannot take us shopping next Friday so I may do our weekly shop at Waitrose on Saturday and try out a bike-hod trailer. I will let you know how I get on.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

...so I may do our weekly shop at Waitrose on Saturday and try out a bike-hod trailer...

Can you get me some Duchy Originals biscuits and dark beer please?

 

[Over The Hill]

Never been in a Waitrose but have their food mostly (via Ocado). Mrs OTH says they only work out a tad more but the quality is better. You throw less away and it stays fresh longer. Delivery costs less too.

They do not stock the ultra cheapo choice on most stuff but then it is usually false economy (unless you like baked beans where the sauce is so thin it soaks into the toast).

They may be more on branded stuff but their own brand is usually as good which costs less than the branded in Tesco.

Buy good food not cheap food!

 

[MacB]

JLP is one of the more principled employers but it's not what it once was, pay divides have rocketed. When the minimum wage was introduced there was an assumption that it would matter little to the JLP as they would have few(if any) employees earning below that level. The reality came as a bit of a shock to all concerned, and yes, that it came as a shock is a shock in itself.

I still rate them as a company and the quality, whether Waitrose or John Lewis, is certainly well ahead of other places. I think all of our 'white goods' purchases have been from John Lewis.

 

[PK99]

Never been in a Waitrose but have their food mostly (via Ocado). Mrs OTH says they only work out a tad more but the quality is better. You throw less away and it stays fresh longer. Delivery costs less too.

They do not stock the ultra cheapo choice on most stuff but then it is usually false economy (unless you like baked beans where the sauce is so thin it soaks into the toast).

They may be more on branded stuff but their own brand is usually as good which costs less than the branded in Tesco.

Buy good food not cheap food!

+1!!!