Coles employee updates pricing amid shopper concerns
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In the age of social media, nothing stays hidden for long—especially when it involves the hip pocket nerve of everyday Australians.
A recent viral video has brought to light a practice at Coles that has left many shoppers uneasy.
The footage, which has been making the rounds on social media, shows an employee marking up the price of dozens of in-store products.
The clips, which were uploaded with a sarcastic caption lamenting the task of hanging 'hundreds of price increases a week,' show the worker updating paper tickets on multiple products.
In one instance, a 65-pack of Finish Quantum Ultimate Pro Dishwashing Tablets, previously discounted to $33 from its 2022 price of $48, had its price tag switched to a staggering $64—nearly double the discounted price.
Another clip shows the price of Tasmanian Heritage Camembert cheese jumping from $6 to $7.50.
They range from $1.50 to $13 for various items.
Coles has since responded to the uproar caused by the video, defending the ticket changes as part of standard practice.
They pointed out that the vision did not showcase products that had seen price reductions.
A spokesperson for Coles reassured customers that the supermarket chain is dedicated to keeping prices affordable, especially in these times of higher inflation.
‘We are continuing to work hard to keep prices affordable to help Australians put quality food on the table,’
‘In response to higher inflation, we have seen more cost price increase requests from suppliers.’
‘While we try to keep our prices competitive, some of these increases are passed on to customers.’
They acknowledged that they have received a more significant number of cost-price increase requests from suppliers.
While striving to keep prices competitive, some increases inevitably reach the consumer.
This revelation comes as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is cracking down on misleading and deceptive pricing practices in Australian supermarkets.
The national consumer watchdog is investigating the pricing policies of major chains, including Coles and Woolworths, with a particular focus on items advertised as being on special.
The ACCC's scrutiny extends beyond pricing to other supermarket practices, such as land banking and the need for more competition in regional areas, where consumers often have fewer choices and higher prices.
In other news, a Melbourne shopper was shocked by the high cost of Coles items after shopping for nine items totalling $60.10.
The shopper's frustration highlighted the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, which other shoppers also felt and agreed with. You can read more about it here.
Have you noticed price increases on your grocery bills? How do you manage your shopping to get the best value for money? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below.
A recent viral video has brought to light a practice at Coles that has left many shoppers uneasy.
The footage, which has been making the rounds on social media, shows an employee marking up the price of dozens of in-store products.
The clips, which were uploaded with a sarcastic caption lamenting the task of hanging 'hundreds of price increases a week,' show the worker updating paper tickets on multiple products.
In one instance, a 65-pack of Finish Quantum Ultimate Pro Dishwashing Tablets, previously discounted to $33 from its 2022 price of $48, had its price tag switched to a staggering $64—nearly double the discounted price.
Coles employees are marking up prices in-store. Credit: TikTok
Another clip shows the price of Tasmanian Heritage Camembert cheese jumping from $6 to $7.50.
They range from $1.50 to $13 for various items.
Coles has since responded to the uproar caused by the video, defending the ticket changes as part of standard practice.
They pointed out that the vision did not showcase products that had seen price reductions.
A spokesperson for Coles reassured customers that the supermarket chain is dedicated to keeping prices affordable, especially in these times of higher inflation.
‘We are continuing to work hard to keep prices affordable to help Australians put quality food on the table,’
‘In response to higher inflation, we have seen more cost price increase requests from suppliers.’
‘While we try to keep our prices competitive, some of these increases are passed on to customers.’
They acknowledged that they have received a more significant number of cost-price increase requests from suppliers.
While striving to keep prices competitive, some increases inevitably reach the consumer.
This revelation comes as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is cracking down on misleading and deceptive pricing practices in Australian supermarkets.
The national consumer watchdog is investigating the pricing policies of major chains, including Coles and Woolworths, with a particular focus on items advertised as being on special.
The ACCC's scrutiny extends beyond pricing to other supermarket practices, such as land banking and the need for more competition in regional areas, where consumers often have fewer choices and higher prices.
In other news, a Melbourne shopper was shocked by the high cost of Coles items after shopping for nine items totalling $60.10.
The shopper's frustration highlighted the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, which other shoppers also felt and agreed with. You can read more about it here.
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