Is Dunnes gone very expensive?

Wanderer78 · 29-09-2020 9:43am

Augeo wrote: »

Save €10

not quite the answer you want so you'll come back with a third question no doubt............... the message is clear, read the voucher if you plan on using it.

patience now

to the other end, what is the smallest print on the voucher?

hullaballoo · 29-09-2020 10:42am

It's funny, the point isn't how prominent the date is. That doesn't actually matter an iota to the complaint being made, which is a perfectly valid one.

The complaint was that there was great pomp and fanfare when they increased the validity period from 10 to 21 days but when reducing it back to 10 days, there wasn't a squeak out of them. There was no prior notice, nothing to say they were doing something to the detriment of consumers.

There are lots of bad words that describe that kind of behaviour from retailers. It makes all the difference to those of us who have to carefully plan our weekly spend, either in general or specifically due to the pandemic and reduced financial resources resulting from it.

It leaves a bad taste in the mouth when you actually have to put time and effort into not getting the wool pulled over your eyes by the hugely profitable companies you give so much of your cash to.

facehugger99 · 29-09-2020 2:09pm

What is the story with the Bronze pasta that has taken over the shelves?

The Dunnes Italian egg pasta seems to have been discontinued and replaced with this abomination.

It's is actively disgusting and tastes likes it's covered in a layer of slime when cooked - does anyone actually like it or prefer it to the normal pasta?

You can't get spaghetti, penne or tagliatelle anymore in my local dunnes unless you are prepared to buy the cheap and crappy roma stuff or the god-awful 'bronze' range.

Sebastian Dangerfield · 29-09-2020 2:24pm

hullaballoo wrote: »

It's funny, the point isn't how prominent the date is. That doesn't actually matter an iota to the complaint being made, which is a perfectly valid one.

The complaint was that there was great pomp and fanfare when they increased the validity period from 10 to 21 days but when reducing it back to 10 days, there wasn't a squeak out of them. There was no prior notice, nothing to say they were doing something to the detriment of consumers.

There are lots of bad words that describe that kind of behaviour from retailers. It makes all the difference to those of us who have to carefully plan our weekly spend, either in general or specifically due to the pandemic and reduced financial resources resulting from it.

It leaves a bad taste in the mouth when you actually have to put time and effort into not getting the wool pulled over your eyes by the hugely profitable companies you give so much of your cash to.

Is it any different to any other promotion? Say cases of Guinness are promoted on sale coming up to a bank holiday weekend. Would you expect them to equally promote the return to the original price? Of course not.

PhilOssophy · 29-09-2020 2:42pm

Caveat emptor re the voucher dates.
The whole thing is a scam anyway, they've just jacked up the price of everything and give you €10 off anyway.

Sebastian Dangerfield · 29-09-2020 2:49pm

PhilOssophy wrote: »

Caveat emptor re the voucher dates.
The whole thing is a scam anyway, they've just jacked up the price of everything and give you €10 off anyway.

I do find a full trolley in Dunnes with vouchers comes out noticeably cheaper than a similar shop in Supervalu - but I do probably come out with a few more own brands from Dunnes than I do from Supervalu.

Aside from price, comparing the Dunnes, SV and Aldi closest to me, Dunnes is the best managed in terms of dates / freshness of produce. I regularly buy vegetables in SV only to find they're half rotten when I get home, especially bags of salad. In Aldi I get home to find that some of my products are out of date that day / the next day - they're marked down accordingly, but they're just thrown in with the rest of the stuff on the shelf.

Obviously I need to pay more attention but it takes long enough as it is - I can walk around Dunnes with reasonable confidence that the stuff is ok as I fire it into the trolley.

MOH · 29-09-2020 2:53pm

screamer wrote: »

I think groceries have gotten more expensive across the board. I certainly don’t see the vat reduction being passed along to customers. I shop wherever is convenient really, a lot online with SuperValu, but I do also go to Dunnes now and again, and I think they are horridly expensive. They aren’t giving money off vouchers for free, and I really feel that their prices are bumped up to account for the vouchers. Be interesting to compare their prices when they start their online service, that’ll make it very easy to see if they are competitive or not.

Aldi definitely have passed on the VAT reduction. Either that or they randomly started reducing prices slightly at the same time.

Allinall · 29-09-2020 3:00pm

MOH wrote: »

Aldi definitely have passed on the VAT reduction. Either that or they randomly started reducing prices slightly at the same time.

VAT would only apply to a small percentage of a general weekly shop.

All uncooked foodstuff is zero rated.

For the rest- Cleaning products, drinks etc., the reduction of less than 2% would be very difficult to notice, even if it was all passed on.

Jim_Hodge · 29-09-2020 3:42pm

Amos Colossal Nature wrote: »

Lockdown was the reason, not Covid-19

But we're still advised to keep contacts and outings at a minimum . Hence we switched to fortnightly shopping to reduce our exposure.

MOH · 29-09-2020 3:43pm

Allinall wrote: »

VAT would only apply to a small percentage of a general weekly shop.

All uncooked foodstuff is zero rated.

For the rest- Cleaning products, drinks etc., the reduction of less than 2% would be very difficult to notice, even if it was all passed on.

I was replying to a post that seemed to be stating that the reduction wasn't being passed on.

I certainly noticed it anyway.

Wanderer78 · 29-09-2020 3:43pm

Jim_Hodge wrote:

But we're still advised to keep contacts and outings at a minimum . Hence we switched to fortnightly shopping to reduce our exposure.

Dunnes are correct I'm afraid, it's just your fault!

Truckermal · 29-09-2020 4:24pm

Wanderer78 wrote: »

Dunnes are correct I'm afraid, it's just your fault!

To the benefit of Lidl in my case I'll keep the thread updated on how much I'm saving over Dunnes for the next few weeks.

un5byh7sqpd2x0 · 29-09-2020 9:18pm

Jim_Hodge wrote: »

But we're still advised to keep contacts and outings at a minimum . Hence we switched to fortnightly shopping to reduce our exposure.

Could I suggest changing to every 10 days instead?

zell12 · 30-09-2020 3:55am

Allinall wrote: »

For the rest- Cleaning products, drinks etc., the reduction of less than 2% would be very difficult to notice, even if it was all passed on.

Of course it is easy to notice. Something that was 99c is now 97c, etc.

guil · 30-09-2020 8:10pm

Truckermal wrote: »

I asked nicely for them to accept the 4 of them but when the rude Manager arrived I left the lot there.

Cork for ya boi :eek:, friendly staff in Newbridge let me know a few weeks ago

Truckermal · 30-09-2020 10:11pm

guil wrote: »

Cork for ya boi :eek:, friendly staff in Newbridge let me know a few weeks ago

Ah ye oul Kildare Hoors are all the same...:P:P:P

Fluppen · 01-10-2020 12:25am

I used to do all my shopping in Lidl and I still miss their bakery but after the fourth time I got home to discover that one of my items wasn't properly packaged and stale/mouldy as a result I switched to dunnes. There is a price difference and I miss things from Lidl but so far no mouldy fruit hidden in the bags, no open packaging, no out of date products. I also save because I'm not buying special offers and tools that I don't need.

Irish_rat · 29-01-2021 9:32am

Just bumping this thread, agree with many posters here, for a few basic items now just going to self checkout you end up nearly close to 50 euro of spending.

I'm working from home for the next month or two so need to rethink my shopping strategy.

Outkast_IRE · 29-01-2021 9:35am

Irish_rat wrote: »

Just bumping this thread, agree with many posters here, for a few basic items now just going to self checkout you end up nearly close to 50 euro of spending.

I'm working from home for the next month or two so need to rethink my shopping strategy.

Yeah our family and most friends have unfortunately have had to adopt the 2 shop strategy of getting the bulk in Aldi , and then a few other items in Supervalu/Dunnes that you cant get in Aldi.

Its the only way to keep costs under control.

A €100 shop in Aldi could cost us €150-180 in dunnes / supervalu.

zerosugarbuzz · 29-01-2021 9:43am

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

Yeah our family and most friends have unfortunately have had to adopt the 2 shop strategy of getting the bulk in Aldi , and then a few other items in Supervalu/Dunnes that you cant get in Aldi.

Its the only way to keep costs under control.

A €100 shop in Aldi could cost us €150-180 in dunnes / supervalu.

In fairness to dunnes, supervalu and evening Tesco, their food is overall way superior to Aldi and Lidl. You are getting similar food but not the same quality. That is why it’s more expensive.

Car99 · 29-01-2021 10:04am

zerosugarbuzz wrote: »

In fairness to dunnes, supervalu and evening Tesco, their food is overall way superior to Aldi and Lidl. You are getting similar food but not the same quality. That is why it’s more expensive.

Are you saying Dunnes , Tesco, Supervalue ownbrand is better quality than Aldi/Lidl own brand or that brand name similar foods are better than Aldi / Lidl. ?

In my opinion any processed food is equally poor quality be it Aldi or Dunnes ect.
Fresh food, whole foods are the same no matter what shop you buy them in , only difference between an Aldi banana and a Dunnes banana is price.
The brand name Fizzy drinks , sweets things and tea/ coffee are the only things I would notice a difference in. I'll stick to my favourite brands for those.

jrosen · 29-01-2021 10:16am

I shop in Dunnes, I have found my shopping is creeping up. I would have averaged maybe 160 a week where as Im up to 180ish now. Typically week on week buying alot of the same stuff.

meeeeh · 29-01-2021 10:19am

zerosugarbuzz wrote: »

In fairness to dunnes, supervalu and evening Tesco, their food is overall way superior to Aldi and Lidl. You are getting similar food but not the same quality. That is why it’s more expensive.

Not from my experience. I prefer Aldi for a lot of stuff. I go to Dunne's for fish if I miss the fishmonger van and I buy some meat, bread in butcher's, baker's or farmer's market. For basic food stuff Aldi perfectly fine and I really did not notice that Dunnes eggs would be any better. I don't buy that much of processed stuff. However I wouldn't buy whole chicken or leg of lamb in any of the supermarkets.

TomTomTim · 29-01-2021 10:23am

zerosugarbuzz wrote: »

In fairness to dunnes, supervalu and evening Tesco, their food is overall way superior to Aldi and Lidl. You are getting similar food but not the same quality. That is why it’s more expensive.

The meat in Aldi & Lidl is far better than the meat in Dunnes or Tesco in my opinion.

meeeeh · 29-01-2021 10:30am

Actually I got pork chops in Dunne's for yesterday's dinner (my usual butcher's is closed due to fire) there was so much water in them that they wouldn't even properly brown. Pork chops are not great in any supermarket but those were particularly bad. (I t could be just a really bad batch).

gmisk · 29-01-2021 10:34am

Aldi for all the basics and meat

Marks and spencers if feeling lazy or wanting a treat.

I always thought dunnes and tesco were similarly priced?

Ciaranis · 29-01-2021 10:36am

Dunnes is tremendously overpriced and that voucher deal is a gimmick that takes in far too many people.

TheDriver · 29-01-2021 10:38am

TomTomTim wrote: »

The meat in Aldi & Lidl is far better than the meat in Dunnes or Tesco in my opinion.

I concur. Far more transparent with the traceability. Aldi Beef is very nice and a wide selection of chicken products compared to other supermarkets.
Aldi also have a lot of products from small Irish producers (they would be more expensive products).
Aldi freezer aisle is far superior to others too.
But I do like my brand name sauces etc so stock up when on offer in dunnes

bunnyboxer · 29-01-2021 10:48am

Super Value for me. I spend 50 a week on food for myself and find the lidil and Aldi veg just goes off very quick. I also think the spuds are awful out of lidil.

I'd probably save 15 a week going to lidil or Aldi but since it's just for myself supervalue.

meeeeh · 29-01-2021 11:02am

I agree on Lidl potatoes. Maybe it's the plastic bags but they just aren't as good. Some Lidl fruit and veg (lose tomatoes, pears, peaches...) are superior to any main supermarket offering. None of them are great though from perspective of someone who grew up in warmer country.

I'm actually fairly relaxed about food despite impression created here but I do have my preferences.

Sebastian Dangerfield · 29-01-2021 11:02am

Ciaranis wrote: »

Dunnes is tremendously overpriced and that voucher deal is a gimmick that takes in far too many people.

This may be so, yet I find I easily spend less shopping exclusively in Dunnes (w. meat from butchers separately) than when I was alternating between Tesco, Supervalu and Aldi, and for the most part one shop does me for the week where it didnt before.

I agree with comments on the meat though, especially the beef. Even their more expensive ranges are really poor.

Odyssey 2005 · 29-01-2021 11:11am

meeeeh wrote: »

Actually I got pork chops in Dunne's for yesterday's dinner (my usual butcher's is closed due to fire) there was so much water in them that they wouldn't even properly brown. Pork chops are not great in any supermarket but those were particularly bad. (I t could be just a really bad batch).

Pork in general in dunnes is crap. The chips in Aldi I find to be the best. The chickens in Dunnes are good though

Apollinaris · 29-01-2021 12:10pm

zerosugarbuzz wrote: »

In fairness to dunnes, supervalu and evening Tesco, their food is overall way superior to Aldi and Lidl. You are getting similar food but not the same quality. That is why it’s more expensive.

Biggest elitist horse manure I’ve read in a long time. Really need a reality check kiddo.

Royale with Cheese · 29-01-2021 12:13pm

The voucher deal was good when I included booze. I'd happily go in to dunnes to pickup whatever I couldn't get in Aldi plus a few bottles of wine to bring it up to €50. Now it's pointless, it's my local shop but I buy as little as possible there.

Outkast_IRE · 29-01-2021 1:00pm

zerosugarbuzz wrote: »

In fairness to dunnes, supervalu and evening Tesco, their food is overall way superior to Aldi and Lidl. You are getting similar food but not the same quality. That is why it’s more expensive.

I would say half the country would argue that point with you. The meat & Dairy in particular is very good quality.

Where Supervalu and Dunnes can be better is fresh fruit and veg.

gmisk · 29-01-2021 1:01pm

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

Pork in general in dunnes is crap. The chips in Aldi I find to be the best. The chickens in Dunnes are good though

Triple cooked frozen chips in Aldi are amazing, better than any (bar those from a proper chipper)

Muahahaha · 29-01-2021 4:30pm

Ciaranis wrote: »

Dunnes is tremendously overpriced and that voucher deal is a gimmick that takes in far too many people.

Yeah the way I see Dunnes is that if they can afford to give you a 20% discount off a 50 euro shop and still make profits than that means that all their prices were inflated by 20% by them to begin with. Which means customers like me who dont spend 50 euro in one go get shafted. As a result I avoid shopping there because their marketing tells me I'll be paying 20% more than what is necessary.

Antares35 · 29-01-2021 5:12pm

Apollinaris wrote: »

Biggest elitist horse manure I’ve read in a long time. Really need a reality check kiddo.

And whatever about claiming Dunnes and SV is better quality, claiming that Tesco is better? I don't rate Tesco at all tbh.

bunnyboxer · 29-01-2021 7:05pm

I actually find the meat in Dunnes Stores is the worst out of the lot of them.

Their fruit and Veg though is on another level.

I dont understand though why people dont use a good quality butcher.

postpandemic · 29-01-2021 7:08pm

bunnyboxer wrote: »

I actually find the meat in Dunnes Stores is the worst out of the lot of them.

Their fruit and Veg though is on another level.

I dont understand though why people dont use a good quality butcher.

Depends on the branch I think. I generally stick to the local butcher for meat and Dunnes for the rest. When I was feeling particularly rich, I’d stroll round M&S .....but then only leave with a packet of Percy Pigs. Due to Brexit, that luxury is only a distant memory. Oh well!

BuboBubo · 30-01-2021 1:41pm

meeeeh wrote: »

I agree on Lidl potatoes. Maybe it's the plastic bags but they just aren't as good. Some Lidl fruit and veg (lose tomatoes, pears, peaches...) are superior to any main supermarket offering. None of them are great though from perspective of someone who grew up in warmer country.

I'm actually fairly relaxed about food despite impression created here but I do have my preferences.

The plastic bags cause the spuds to sweat, it's a cheap way to package them, but not a good one.

As for fruit etc, you mentioned you grew up in a warmer country. There is nothing as heavenly as a local orange. Nothing imported will ever match it.

And yes, I do find Dunnes very expensive.

zell12 · 30-01-2021 2:51pm

C3PO · 30-01-2021 9:33pm

I have a Lidl within a couple of hundred metres of home and did try them for a while but gave up and went back to Dunnes in Cornelscourt. I found the fruit and veg really poor quality and the lack of choice really frustrating! Still find Lidl much cheaper for certain things though - dark chocolate, cashew nuts, olive oil etc.

RobbingBandit · 02-02-2021 2:15am

Used to shop in M&S for the Italian ready meals the container size has significantly reduced but the price is still 3 for €10.

02-02-2021 2:22am

Dunnes has a sort of identity crisis. It used to be cheap as chips but now wants to be M&S, but it lacks the M&S style. So lots of cheap products but some premium prices. I generally avoid it.

meeeeh · 02-02-2021 1:22pm

I don't overly shop for anything but groceries in Dunne's but I think their trading results are fairly solid. M&S food is grand but most of it is British origin and choosing stuff growing in similar climate I prefer to go for Irish produce. Obviously that are fruit and veg that need to be imported. M&S clothing stores make me feel 20 years older and their trading results reflect that. At this stage I think m&s target customer is over 60 and I would think Dunnes are actually better at reaching wider market.

Zardoz · 02-02-2021 1:46pm

I used to do most of my shopping in Aldi but I've switched to Tesco online since last March and I go to Aldi once every 3 weeks for a big shop.
I've been pleasantly surprised with Tesco's produce and prices, I used to think that they were alot more expensive than Aldi but thats not the case .
Tesco own produce stuff is very good and they have good special offers on branded stuff.

As for Dunnes I last went in there about 5 years ago and left quickly, the prices were ridiculous.

GreeBo · 02-02-2021 1:50pm

We do Aldi & SuperValu, but only get in superValu what we cant get or dont like in Aldi.
2 adults and 2 kids in nappies and we spend about €100 a week (can also include things like formula)

Antares35 · 02-02-2021 1:53pm

GreeBo wrote: »

We do Aldi & SuperValu, but only get in superValu what we cant get or dont like in Aldi.
2 adults and 2 kids in nappies and we spend about €100 a week (can also include things like formula)

Wow that's amazing! We've only one in nappies and spend more than that. Do you meal plan etc?

I found getting formula in boots is good because you get 8points back on a euro with the parenting club (once it's not first infant formula).

HildaOgdenx · 02-02-2021 1:55pm

postpandemic wrote: »

Depends on the branch I think. I generally stick to the local butcher for meat and Dunnes for the rest. When I was feeling particularly rich, I’d stroll round M&S .....but then only leave with a packet of Percy Pigs. Due to Brexit, that luxury is only a distant memory. Oh well!

The Percy Pigs were back the last time I was there.

Is Dunnes gone very expensive?

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