Waitrose 'Brand Match' Deception

hkxpat

I complained to a Waitrose manageress (Edinburgh branch) about their 'brand match' promotion with regards to the price of President butter, that had increased from £1.21 normal price to a sudden leap to £1.55 'Tesco brand match' price. While she defended her stance, an incoherent ramble of a genuine one-off mistake and went to call for advice, a Waitrose assistant mentioned to me she had also noticed an increase in prices on other products included in the so-called 'brand match deal'.

Please also be advised that these Waitrose 'brand match' comparisons can last for weeks (another con), and while these selected Waitrose brand match products may decrease in price in other supermarkets they will stay the same in Waitrose. These brand match comparisons are not updated daily.

A shoddy piece of con-marketing from Waitrose.

dasophster

For the most part brand match has been good for me although it does mean some prices have gone up as Tesco was originally more pricey. Xx

Haffiana

Yep - Waitrose used to be cheaper than Tesco for a wide range of items. I have also noticed things getting far more expensive because they are now matching Tesco prices - I have mentioned it here before now.

The weird thing is that public perception has always been that Waitrose was more expensive. And therefore that the price matching means cheaper prices, and a 'good deal'. It isn't. Nothing to do with Tesco is a good deal.

I honestly don't know why anyone shops in Tesco - those that have a choice, that is. I understand that many do not.

European_Citizen

In fairness to Waitrose, their labels clearly state the date on which their price was checked against Tesco's so they are not violating any laws in theory. In practice, yes, the consumer doesn't have the time to do the comparison him/herself and trusts Waitrose to update the price...but I am sure wise MSE people know never to trust supermarkets

yangptangkipperbang

hkxpat wrote: »

A shoddy piece of con-marketing from Waitrose.

Of course Tesco/Asda/Sainsbury/CO-OP/Morrison/etc/etc would never do any misleading pricing- would they ?

Edwardia

The ad I saw from Waitrose was really clear.

I don't like price-matching to Tesco because I feel it gives Tesco carte blanche to raise their prices because there's no competition. Sainsbury's, ASDA, Waitrose and Budgens all price match to Tesco.