‘People were being so disgusting’: Chaos erupts at discount store opening
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Retail openings often attract eager crowds, but sometimes the excitement can spiral into unexpected chaos.
What was meant to be a grand launch for a highly anticipated discount store quickly turned into a scene of mayhem, leaving staff overwhelmed and authorities stepping in to restore order.
What unfolded next left shoppers stunned and raised serious questions about crowd control at major retail events.
A highly anticipated discount store opening in Melbourne descended into chaos, forcing staff to shut the doors and call in police to manage the overwhelming crowd.
Panda Mart, a retailer known for offering a vast range of homewares and everyday essentials at bargain prices, launched its first Australian store in Cranbourne, Melbourne’s southeast.
Originating in South Africa, the company had already expanded to the US, South America, and New Zealand, with plans for another Australian store in Preston.
On opening day, eager shoppers began queuing hours in advance, with the line snaking around the block.
As the crowd swelled, tensions rose, and customers started pushing and shoving in an attempt to get inside.
Some people filmed the mayhem as customers forced their way toward the entrance, desperate to grab discounted goods.
The situation quickly escalated, prompting staff to close the doors to control the surging crowd.
At one point, police were called in to assist, as the sheer number of shoppers created an unsafe environment.
‘The surge in customers was outrageous,’ one person commented online.
‘A lot of arguments and people shouting at each other.’
Security measures were put in place, and the store reopened the next day with additional staff managing the flow of customers.
Panda Mart later issued a statement addressing the situation.
‘We apologise for the recent crowding in our store, which may have impacted your shopping experience.’
‘To improve safety and comfort, we’re actively managing customer flow by increasing staff, implementing crowd control, and streamlining checkout.’
Inside the store, the chaos continued, leaving a trail of destruction.
Thousands of products, including bedding, footwear, and artificial flowers, were pulled from shelves and left strewn across the floor.
Many items were ripped from their packaging, while frustrated shoppers complained about the disorder.
‘People were being so disgusting, just throwing stuff on the floor or knocking it off and leaving it,’ one shopper wrote.
‘So much pushing and shoving, (it) was awful and worse in the car park.’
The grand opening, intended to be a celebration, instead became a cautionary tale of what happens when demand far outweighs preparation.
Watch the video below to learn more.
In a previous story, another highly anticipated opening took an unexpected turn when a restaurant shut its doors just days after welcoming its first customers.
The sudden closure left many wondering what went wrong.
Read on to find out the surprising reason behind the decision.
With retail openings becoming bigger spectacles, do you think stores should take extra precautions to prevent chaos?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
What was meant to be a grand launch for a highly anticipated discount store quickly turned into a scene of mayhem, leaving staff overwhelmed and authorities stepping in to restore order.
What unfolded next left shoppers stunned and raised serious questions about crowd control at major retail events.
A highly anticipated discount store opening in Melbourne descended into chaos, forcing staff to shut the doors and call in police to manage the overwhelming crowd.
Panda Mart, a retailer known for offering a vast range of homewares and everyday essentials at bargain prices, launched its first Australian store in Cranbourne, Melbourne’s southeast.
Originating in South Africa, the company had already expanded to the US, South America, and New Zealand, with plans for another Australian store in Preston.
On opening day, eager shoppers began queuing hours in advance, with the line snaking around the block.
As the crowd swelled, tensions rose, and customers started pushing and shoving in an attempt to get inside.
Some people filmed the mayhem as customers forced their way toward the entrance, desperate to grab discounted goods.
The situation quickly escalated, prompting staff to close the doors to control the surging crowd.
At one point, police were called in to assist, as the sheer number of shoppers created an unsafe environment.
‘The surge in customers was outrageous,’ one person commented online.
‘A lot of arguments and people shouting at each other.’
Security measures were put in place, and the store reopened the next day with additional staff managing the flow of customers.
Panda Mart later issued a statement addressing the situation.
‘We apologise for the recent crowding in our store, which may have impacted your shopping experience.’
‘To improve safety and comfort, we’re actively managing customer flow by increasing staff, implementing crowd control, and streamlining checkout.’
Inside the store, the chaos continued, leaving a trail of destruction.
Thousands of products, including bedding, footwear, and artificial flowers, were pulled from shelves and left strewn across the floor.
Many items were ripped from their packaging, while frustrated shoppers complained about the disorder.
‘People were being so disgusting, just throwing stuff on the floor or knocking it off and leaving it,’ one shopper wrote.
‘So much pushing and shoving, (it) was awful and worse in the car park.’
The grand opening, intended to be a celebration, instead became a cautionary tale of what happens when demand far outweighs preparation.
Watch the video below to learn more.
In a previous story, another highly anticipated opening took an unexpected turn when a restaurant shut its doors just days after welcoming its first customers.
The sudden closure left many wondering what went wrong.
Read on to find out the surprising reason behind the decision.
With retail openings becoming bigger spectacles, do you think stores should take extra precautions to prevent chaos?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
