Dee#s unrealistic price range

paky · 21-03-2012 07:05PM #1

Was in Dunnes there today, got myself a 'butternut squash and bean' ready to eat meal from dees. i wasn't surprised that the price had been slashed from 3.99 to 1.99. seems to be the case with dee's products that they're way overprised. i can't see how she can keep the prices at the level theyre at. who wants to fork out 3.99 for two veggie burgers? thats ridiculous. does anyone else think her products are overpriced?

schemingbohemia · 21-03-2012 07:37PM

I think her burgers are overpriced but I don't think the ready meals are.

They're cheaper than the Innocent pots and about the same price as similar type ready meals that I've seen in Tescos. And I would think the quality/taste is better than other ones I've tried. Plus they're Irish made and owned.

loueuro2 · 21-03-2012 07:40PM

ya i totally agree, very expensive, only got them2/3 times cause of the price, where as u can get linda mccarthy pies 4 pk for 2.89, that i go for instead, way better value..;)

DeesWholefoods · 21-03-2012 11:39PM

I just wanted to comment that the prices haven't been 'slashed' we just started with Dunnes Stores and are on a special, introductory half price offer to encourage trial of our new meals. Because even though Small food companies make a substantial loss on each of these type of promotions and each of the large supermarkets expect you to promote your products the same way larger food companies do. We just hope that once you taste them, you will like them and buy them again. Thanks to all our loyal customers for the support, we really appreciate it. Dee

paky · 22-03-2012 02:02AM

DeesWholefoods wrote: »

I just wanted to comment that the prices haven't been 'slashed' we just started with Dunnes Stores and are on a special, introductory half price offer to encourage trial of our new meals. Because even though Small food companies make a substantial loss on each of these type of promotions and each of the large supermarkets expect you to promote your products the same way larger food companies do. We just hope that once you taste them, you will like them and buy them again. Thanks to all our loyal customers for the support, we really appreciate it. Dee

can i have your autograph?

paky · 23-03-2012 09:03PM

DeesWholefoods wrote: »

I just wanted to comment that the prices haven't been 'slashed' we just started with Dunnes Stores and are on a special, introductory half price offer to encourage trial of our new meals. Because even though Small food companies make a substantial loss on each of these type of promotions and each of the large supermarkets expect you to promote your products the same way larger food companies do. We just hope that once you taste them, you will like them and buy them again. Thanks to all our loyal customers for the support, we really appreciate it. Dee

tbh, i wouldnt pay 3.99 for something which is of mediocre standard.

if its irish made, it should be cheaper. i cant see how u can justify such high prices. what motivates your price range? greed?

Slaphead07 · 23-03-2012 10:35PM

paky wrote: »

tbh, i wouldnt pay 3.99 for something which is of mediocre standard.

if its irish made, it should be cheaper. i cant see how u can justify such high prices. what motivates your price range? greed?

Steady on there. You may not like the burgers but they're certainly not "mediocre standard". If you think something made in an industrial factory in the UK would be dearer than something made on a small scale in Ireland I have to believe you don't know what you're talking about.

Tar.Aldarion · 24-03-2012 03:49PM

Have you tried the innocent healthy pot thing? E4.88. was quite bad compared to what you would expect something that expensive to be, and they are a huge company. Still, that is personal taste.
Why would a small scale production line be cheaper than a big one. Why should it be cheaper if it is Irish made? If anything cheaper ingredients always come from outside the country.

Health foody type things are a niche area with expensive products, go find em some frys food food less than 5-6 euro?
I would imagine it is much harder for a small company to reduce prices, you need to expand to be able to. There is a reason Tesco is cheaper than a local shop, to use a bad analogy.

paky · 25-03-2012 02:36PM

Slaphead07 wrote: »

Steady on there. You may not like the burgers but they're certainly not "mediocre standard". If you think something made in an industrial factory in the UK would be dearer than something made on a small scale in Ireland I have to believe you don't know what you're talking about.

i havent tried the burgers, the price is excessive

Tar.Aldarion · 26-03-2012 04:19PM

Post deleted, another post like that will be a ban from the forum, no personal abuse.

Thanks.

Slaphead07 · 26-03-2012 04:42PM

Tar.Aldarion wrote: »

Post deleted, another post like that will be a ban from the forum, no personal abuse.

Thanks.

In fairness post #6 directs personal abuse towards Dee. Implying her motives are greed when plainly anyone in that part of the food sector is scraping by.

Tar.Aldarion · 26-03-2012 05:24PM

I don't think a direct insult with a rolleyes smiley is the same as asking if somebody is motivated by greed, and not understanding economics of scale. If it was worse I'd have warn/banned him.

schemingbohemia · 26-03-2012 05:35PM

Apologies for my earlier comment, I just found it incredulous that someone could call a product mediocre in one post and then admit that they'd never tasted it in the next.

Steven81 · 26-03-2012 05:41PM

The dees burgers are there 2 types, one a spicy one and the other a grainy one, had these about a few months ago, thought they were a bit dear alright but would always try something new and i think she was one that went onto Dragons Den.

What currently is on offer in Dunnes?

Peanut · 27-03-2012 12:50AM

€3.99 is not a great price for two of something because it's very easy for a potential customer to make the mental connection that it's €2 per burger. €2.99 sounds better but I guess with a niche market they may not sell enough to justify it.

paky · 27-03-2012 12:56PM

schemingbohemia wrote: »

Apologies for my earlier comment, I just found it incredulous that someone could call a product mediocre in one post and then admit that they'd never tasted it in the next.

i said i tasted the ready to eat meal and not the burgers. with a price of 3.99, i wouldnt eat them out of principle. less of the abuse too, if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen!

Slaphead07 · 27-03-2012 07:55PM

paky wrote: »

if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen!

Eh? What do you think that means?

westkryveggirl · 30-03-2012 02:59AM

I totally understand why the prices have to be higher for locally produced food from small companies. Its hard for them to compete with big companies and corporations. I didnt find the burgers as tasty as I had wished though...I know the company is trying to focus on wholefoods, which is great, but a bit of salt realllly would make all the difference in the world, especially when our population here is sooo used to salt that anything without just doesnt taste as good. Our tastes need time to adapt, so I think it would be better to wean people off the salt slowly rather than just leave it out entirely

Peanut · 30-03-2012 05:24AM

westkryveggirl wrote: »

I didnt find the burgers as tasty as I had wished though...

I tried them a while back and liked them, but I think it's a bit like making something with tofu, the burgers don't really work by themselves but taste great as a traditional burger substitute with soy sauce, onion/lettuce/cheese/mustard or relish etc.

schemingbohemia · 30-03-2012 11:40AM

westkryveggirl wrote: »

I totally understand why the prices have to be higher for locally produced food from small companies. Its hard for them to compete with big companies and corporations. I didnt find the burgers as tasty as I had wished though...I know the company is trying to focus on wholefoods, which is great, but a bit of salt realllly would make all the difference in the world, especially when our population here is sooo used to salt that anything without just doesnt taste as good. Our tastes need time to adapt, so I think it would be better to wean people off the salt slowly rather than just leave it out entirely

But surely you could just add salt yourself? Thereby having the option, those who don't want a heavily salted item can buy this, those who do can add salt themselves, simple.

westkryveggirl · 30-03-2012 10:12PM

Sure, I guess, but if I guess I kind of like things to taste good, as bought, without requiring doctoring up. Also, if we want to show people that a plant-based diet is tasty, it would be great to have the products tasty as bought, rather than requiring additional stuff. *shrugs* just mho

Slaphead07 · 30-03-2012 11:50PM

I didn't really like them at first but they grew on me. Salt really isn't a good idea in a healthy diet. We get enough 'by stealth' anyway.

dominiquecruz · 31-03-2012 12:17AM

Just want to add my 2c and proclaim my love for Dee's omega burgers; I have been eating them regularly since they came on the market (not affiliated with Dee's in any way, shape or form by the by

) and I've always thought they were really tasty. It's an added bonus knowing they're not full of crap, as it were.

Yeah, I do think they can be expensive - but when you're using quality ingredients that are locally sourced and supporting irish industry, E4 is hardly the end of the world. I've also noticed regular special offers on these burgers, if you feel like holding out.

Tar.Aldarion · 03-04-2012 03:16PM

Thanks to the free publicity Dee got here we went and bought a couple of Dee's health pot things in Dunnes, we never go to Dunnes. Had the coconut one so far, was quite nice, it was just exactly the massaman curry we make anyway.

For 1.99 they are good, it is nicer than the innocent ones I've had, although they tend to be a fuller meal with leaves/rice etc. Just feels fuller. Doesn't taste as nice as Dee's one. We had noodles with it to flesh it out, to use a very unvegetarian term. Am interested in comparing them nutritionally with the innocent ones, which are even more expensive.

I'm not sure who these are aimed at, we make the same thing for cheaper here but they are also very handy, people's lunches at work or something? Would buy them for 1.99, would buy them for 2.99. Would not buy them for 3.99, dunno if many people would.

Looking forward to trying the Mexican one.

--LOS-- · 03-04-2012 07:35PM

I really loved the thai Dee's quick meal pot

Tar.Aldarion · 11-04-2012 02:32PM

Texmex one was lovely.

Saw a few more brands of these pots now:

Quorn chicken one, doesn't look too good for you. E3.99. only 300g
tesco range, 400g, E3.76
innocent range, 400g I think, E4.50ish
dee's range, 400g, 3.99

Out of the ones I've tried dee's are the nicest. Certainly not dearer than the competition either.

Raminahobbin · 12-04-2012 12:08AM

I bought the chickpea and potato pot the other day as I thought maybe I hadn't given the range enough of a chance. I was a pretty disappointed tbh, it was basically a watery soup with a few lumps in it. Not particularly flavorful- in fact, the carrots and veg were weird and a bit rubbery. I ended up throwing out half of it, but I love chickpeas, so I was making sure I got them all at least- there was (I know it's sad that I counted, don't judge me

) a grand total of EIGHT chickpeas in the pot.

Innocent pots are, IMO, a much better buy. I've never been disappointed with them. Full meal in a pot.

DeesWholefoods · 12-04-2012 03:08PM

Hi there. Sorry to hear about your experience, we were actually getting complaints that there were too many chickpeas in the Moroccan prior to this, so I will investigate what has happened with this batch. It would be helpful if you could let me know the best before date, that way I can trace back production records and see if there were any issues that day. I went to great lengths to ensure that the products are not watery by using a high tomato content. So I am very disappointed to hear about your experience. We also use unsulphured apricots and raisins in our meals, so our products do not contain any preservatives like sulphites. Maybe the unsulphured raisins and apricots have a different texture to the ones that contain sulphites - if you wish to email me my address is infoATdees.ie Thank you, kind regards, Dee

Raminahobbin · 13-04-2012 08:59PM

Hi Dee, thanks for your reply. This was a few days ago so I don't have the packaging unfortunately. The tub I got was about 6 spoonfuls of veg in total and just mainly a watery soup and it was more the carrots that were rubbery. I'm willing to accept that maybe it was a fluke/bad batch and that maybe the flavour just didn't suit me or something, so I'll try one of the other varieties in the next couple of weeks and see if I like it. If I do I'll let you know!

blatantrereg · 14-04-2012 02:52PM

Tried the Thai one the other day and really liked it. Preferred it to the Innocent pots too.
Haven't seen these in Limerick at all. Are they sold anywhere there?

DeesWholefoods · 18-04-2012 03:47PM

Raminahobbin wrote: »

Hi Dee, thanks for your reply. This was a few days ago so I don't have the packaging unfortunately. The tub I got was about 6 spoonfuls of veg in total and just mainly a watery soup and it was more the carrots that were rubbery. I'm willing to accept that maybe it was a fluke/bad batch and that maybe the flavour just didn't suit me or something, so I'll try one of the other varieties in the next couple of weeks and see if I like it. If I do I'll let you know!

Hi Raminahobbin,

We have taken your feedback on board, and are now adding the chickpeas in stages to the mix just to ensure that the bottom of the pot has as many present as the first pots that are filled. We hope you enjoy your next pot. The batches with the improved procedure have a Best Before Batch Date of end of May. Kind regards, Dee

Dee#s unrealistic price range

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