Australians take pride in their local businesses and the shopping experience they provide.

However, some events have left many questioning the state of retail stores, particularly when it comes to the changing rooms where customers try on hopeful additions to our wardrobes.



An incident at a Sportsgirl store in Queensland has sparked a nationwide conversation about the cleanliness and upkeep of retail changing rooms.

A customer shared a video online showing a changing room with a stained carpet and dust accumulating on the sides.


The video was captioned with clear disappointment: 'This is the floor in the change room Sportsgirl at 9:35 am this morning. Disgusting. The state of retail stores today.'

This revelation has led to a cascade of similar stories from disgruntled shoppers across the country.

One shopper exclaimed, ‘The Target in Bundaberg tops this! It’s disgusting, ceiling to floor.’



Another shopper humorously yet accurately described the all-too-familiar 'awkward balancing on your shoe thing' while trying on pants in neglected spaces.

The visceral reactions to the footage were immediate and strong. 'Yuck. I wouldn’t be getting undressed in there,' one person commented, while another simply stated, 'That’s disgraceful.'

Despite attempts to reach Sportsgirl for a comment, there has been no response from them.

Jana Bowden, a consumer expert, weighed in on the issue, saying there is a noticeable 'decline' in the state of cleanliness in retail change rooms.

‘Whether this is due to reductions in retail staffing, lack of attention to detail or sheer laziness and complete disregard is open for speculation,’ she said.



Bowden also highlighted the significant impact that the condition of a store can have on its brand image.

'Dressing rooms are a core part of the brand image, and alone, they can make or break the customer's decision to buy,' she explained.

‘Change rooms that are grotty, cramped and poorly kept make customers feel negative and shift our psychology so that we want to high-tail it out of there.’

‘Who wants to spend time trying on clothes in an unhygienic-looking, stained cesspool of a room? So many change rooms are designed without the customer in mind—the mind boggles.’

You can watch the video below:


While online shopping has surged, particularly since the pandemic, Finder’s data revealed that in-person shopping remains the preferred method for many Australians.

In November 2023, online sales accounted for just 12.7 per cent of all retail spending in the country.

With a total retail spend of around $360 billion in 2023 and online sales of just over $63 billion, according to Statista.



Speaking of store cleanliness, what would you do if a customer was the one causing a scene inside a store?

In a previous story, a viral video showed an unidentified woman appearing to do a shocking act in an op shop changing room. Commenters said the act was ‘NOT OK’ and they should have called the police.

What exactly happened? You can find out more here.
Have you ever encountered a similar situation in a store’s changing room? How did you react? Let us know in the comments below!