Lidl Or Waitrose?

[diddlydo]

I've just done a pretty ordinary, basic shop in Lidl and spent £18.70. I've added up the cost of those items on the Waitrose website (choosing their own brands as much as possible) - total cost £35.15. I normally shop in the latter as it's much closer but what can we all do to stop ourselves being ripped off?

[237SJ]

Whole Foods are very expensive though.. a lot more than M&S and Waitrose. Good though - I only use the ones in the US although I did put my nose in the door of the Richmond one so that I could compare.

[EcclesCake]

Not sure it is a fair comparison really, they have very different business models.

I shop in Waitrose as it is convenient and offers a shopping environment that I enjoy.

Lidl and Aldi are both good for charcuterie, some cheeses - notably Parmesan, tinned toms and vegetable anti pasti items. However I find the queues intolerable due to their very low staffing levels.....yes I know that is how they keep their prices down. My experience of their fresh veg has been erratic and finding bags of sprouting spuds did not delight me.

As for the other big supermarkets I find the shopping experience tiresome. Sainsbury has car parks designed by a puzzle fiend; Tesco is staffed by muppets; Morrisons is cluttered beyond belief; Asda is seemingly populated by screaming feral kids just waiting for a clunk on the head from my basket.

[Retrochic]

I shop at Aldi and Marks and Spencer. The free range chicken and the gravlax salmon are far cheaper and far nicer in Aldi than M&S. Wine is especially good value in Aldi andbad value in M&S. Some things in M&S are nicer but I don't agree that you get what you pay for it depends on the product.

[237SJ]

I don`t agree with the comment "you get what you pay for" either. It is applicable in lots of cases but some supermarkets use the same ready made products (some christmas cakes and puddings being an example). They come out of the same factory with a M&S sticker or an Aldi sticker and at completely different prices.

[Baldric]

The company alone in Waitrose is worth any extra that some imagine we pay!

[LyndaB]

I tried aldi a couple of times and thought it was horrid. It looked like a jumble sale, and I didn't find prices any lower than supermarket of brand. Each to their own, I think. There is a lidl within walking distance of our house and I don't like that either.

[Retrochic]

Baldric if that's supposed to mean you get a worse 'class' of shopper at Aldi and Lidl then all I can say is 'poppycock'. Our Aldi has its share of luxury cars parked up , owners (or maybe staff) doing the weekly shop, well-heeled folks are often 'canny' folks and watch their money.

[Retrochic]

Guess all you food snobs should steer clear of Aldi in case you catch something lol! I am half french, a true 'foodie' and don't care if I have to source my food in a 'jumble sale' (which it isn't its just like a normal supermarket where we are) Keep away -or the prices may go up!

[Baldric]

Retro, did my T-I-C not show with my hood up?

[Retrochic]

Put your tongue away Baldy ;-P

[rockyracoon]

We've got a Lidl opposite our Tesco, I'm not overly impressed and as Eccles says, the queues make it not worth going in.

Their pickled herrings in sour cream are lush though.

[Chipchopper]

You've compared the prices but how dose the quality fair ?

[shaneystar2]

I shop in Lidl quite a bit but it's like anywhere you have to pick and choose what you want .The instore bakery does lovely rolls and rye bread and I head for the typically German style stuff anyway for Mr.S who is very fond of those herrings in cream, the black forest ham and meat salad .
Don't have a Waitrose and shop locally in Morrisons and the local High St where we are lucky enough to still have independent shops .
M&S are alright for the occasional bits but not a weekly shop ,far too expensive .
People are watching the pennies these days and I think the days of loyalty to one supermarket are gone .I always used to shop exclusively at Sainsburys when I was working and didn't have the time to poodle around other places comparing prices .Now I'm an old fogey I have time to look for bargains and shop around .I don't even do an online bulk shop for non food anymore .

[diddlydo]

Chipchopper - Lidl branflakes 59p, Waitrose own brand branflakes £1.40 and no-one can tell the difference. Another example - Waitrose Essential dishwasher tablets £4 for box of 30 tablets, Lidl £3.19 for box of 60 tablets- the dishes can't tell the difference. I rest my case.

[murraymints]

I do a lot of my shopping in ALDI especially like the salmon wellington and bird roasts..cheese.wine...cold cuts...chocolate...veg is nice too...

[murraymints]

and cereals are half the price and can not tell them apart from branded ones !

[venator]

I agree with Shaneystar - we're well provided with supermarkets, except for Lidl.

Some of Aldi's own products, especially the German imports - are favourites. Aldi wines are good too, but some products are not wonderful. You can't do a full shop at Aldi.

I don't mind paying for quality - a Goosnargh chicken is the dearest you can buy, but well worth it.

If you can afford to shop at M&S, ther are no poor products - that's the difference from Aldi/Lidl/Asda

[Retrochic]

venator I don't agree that you can't do a full shop at Aldi -I do almost every week. They are now getting wise ans starting to stock well-known brands as well as the more obtuse varieties. You can get marmite, branston pickle, etc but frankly there own stuff in some cases is far superior. The soups -green pea and ham, roast chicken and wild mushroom and tomato and basil are very nice, the salmon wellington delicious and the frozen desserts very moreish and as good as M&S. They do a superb malbec red at around £5 99 and for everyday drinking an oaked chardonnay from Yugoslavia which is full of toasty oak vanilla and tropical fruit flavours. We did a taste test against it £ 3.49 a bottle, and a £10 a bottle chardonnay from Sainsbury's and everyone picked the Aldi one as the most expensive. Their Prosecco is our drink of choice for celebrations .

[ummmm]

I've never managed a full shop in Aldi. I don't like their fresh meat.

[cazzz1975]

I tend to shop around but I have never been impressed with Aldi or Lidl, I would probably buy the occasional few items rather than an actual shop.