Is Woolworths duping you with this 'cheeky' new tactic? One customer thinks so!
- Replies 25
We all love a good deal, and as members of the Seniors Discount Club, we are quite conscious of prices and the value for money we're getting when purchasing in-store items.
But it looks like one popular supermarket is trying to encourage more customers to sign up for their loyalty scheme with a somewhat 'cheeky' new tactic.
A shopper named Jarrod recently noticed a difference in the price of one of his regular purchases from Woolies–a garlic chicken product that was now only available at a reduced price to those with an Everyday Rewards card.
He said the product had always been ‘2 for $15, ' but he noticed a detail jumping out. For non-members, the price of the same product is $9.50 for each packet.
'It’s not like it’s additional specials for members. They are replacing specials that already existed,' Jarrod complained on social media.
What’s more, Jarrod also noticed that items in Woolies had exclusive pricing.
‘Just look at the vitamins! All member pricing. And they weren’t even that good, like 2 for $34, 2 for $40. What if I don’t want two? I just want one at half-price,’ he said.
Last month, the retailer rolled out the members-only pricing that gives members of the Everyday Rewards program access to a cheaper price on their items.
Jarrod criticised the supermarket for its tactics–especially when they announced a $1.62 billion profit recently–and said he feels for the elderly customers who don’t know how to use the Everyday Rewards card.
‘What about like the poor old nanas and grandpas that don’t even know how to use the bl**** Everyday Rewards card, let alone sign up for it and get the app and all of that stuff?’ he asked.
'It’s just dodgy, I hate it. Money-grabbing,' he claimed.
Social media users have the same sentiment. One person commented: ‘I honestly think both Coles & Woolies are gonna get done for price gouging pretty soon.’
‘Avoid Woolworths at all costs. We as a community need to make a stand before it gets worse,’ a shopper wrote.
‘It’s basically forcing you to give your shopping data to Woolies and to make it seem like you get something in return, you only pay the normal price,’ a third person claimed.
You can watch Jarrod’s video here:
An Everyday Rewards spokesperson explained that member pricing would be a big focus moving forward, 'We plan to continually evolve our Member Pricing program with more Member Pricing offers to be introduced in the coming weeks.'
Last month, there were reports of shoppers outraged with these changes in Woolworths. Some cited privacy concerns and claimed the program was about ‘data mining and detailed profiles’.
But Consumer Expert Professor Gary Mortimer isn’t concerned: 'Those customers who are up in arms about supermarkets holding their data have possibly been living in a cave for the last 30 years,' he stated.
‘Having a program that's stickier than others works better for a retailer,’ he claimed.
Professor Mortimer added: ‘If you're able to create a program that creates a level of exclusivity and better value for your members, they're more likely to shop with you and stick with you.’
Our SDC members weighed in on this subject. Some saw nothing wrong with Woolies’ latest move.
Member @JKM_Storyteller wrote: ‘I've been a member of various loyalty programs for decades and have never encountered any problems, and certainly nothing that violates my privacy. I don't have to sign my life away, and you don't give them credit card or bank details, and you don't have to give them driver's licence or passport ID, so what's the problem?’
Member @Simplelife shared: ‘I have a rewards card. I don’t shop exclusively at Woolworths. I don’t see a problem with this incentive. It’s free to join. You’re not out of pocket. And having a rewards card as far as privacy is no different to any time you buy with a bank card. We have no privacy from the powers that be. They know more about us than what we buy for dinner. I only joined the rewards this year. I keep an eye out on specials, and yes, I use Woollies if it works for my budget.’
Meanwhile, others took a more cautious approach to supermarket loyalty programs.
‘I don't engage in any loyalty programs, and for no particular reason. However, these programs have a subtle psychology behind them,’ member @Veggiepatch claimed.
‘Some consumers are driven to achieve X number of points to be "rewarded" with their desired prize at the end of the rainbow. As a result, they will overspend, purchasing items that they normally wouldn't or too much. So the Woolies and Coles of this world are rubbing their hands together in anticipation of increased turnover and profit. Don't lie–there's quite a few of you out there guilty of this behaviour,’ they added.
We highly recommend researching and weighing the benefits of loyalty schemes before signing up for one.
What do you think of this story, members? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
But it looks like one popular supermarket is trying to encourage more customers to sign up for their loyalty scheme with a somewhat 'cheeky' new tactic.
A shopper named Jarrod recently noticed a difference in the price of one of his regular purchases from Woolies–a garlic chicken product that was now only available at a reduced price to those with an Everyday Rewards card.
He said the product had always been ‘2 for $15, ' but he noticed a detail jumping out. For non-members, the price of the same product is $9.50 for each packet.
Jarrod shared a ‘cheeky’ tactic he noticed at Woolies. Credit: @jarrodsworld/TikTok
'It’s not like it’s additional specials for members. They are replacing specials that already existed,' Jarrod complained on social media.
What’s more, Jarrod also noticed that items in Woolies had exclusive pricing.
‘Just look at the vitamins! All member pricing. And they weren’t even that good, like 2 for $34, 2 for $40. What if I don’t want two? I just want one at half-price,’ he said.
Last month, the retailer rolled out the members-only pricing that gives members of the Everyday Rewards program access to a cheaper price on their items.
Jarrod criticised the supermarket for its tactics–especially when they announced a $1.62 billion profit recently–and said he feels for the elderly customers who don’t know how to use the Everyday Rewards card.
‘What about like the poor old nanas and grandpas that don’t even know how to use the bl**** Everyday Rewards card, let alone sign up for it and get the app and all of that stuff?’ he asked.
'It’s just dodgy, I hate it. Money-grabbing,' he claimed.
Social media users have the same sentiment. One person commented: ‘I honestly think both Coles & Woolies are gonna get done for price gouging pretty soon.’
‘Avoid Woolworths at all costs. We as a community need to make a stand before it gets worse,’ a shopper wrote.
‘It’s basically forcing you to give your shopping data to Woolies and to make it seem like you get something in return, you only pay the normal price,’ a third person claimed.
You can watch Jarrod’s video here:
An Everyday Rewards spokesperson explained that member pricing would be a big focus moving forward, 'We plan to continually evolve our Member Pricing program with more Member Pricing offers to be introduced in the coming weeks.'
Last month, there were reports of shoppers outraged with these changes in Woolworths. Some cited privacy concerns and claimed the program was about ‘data mining and detailed profiles’.
But Consumer Expert Professor Gary Mortimer isn’t concerned: 'Those customers who are up in arms about supermarkets holding their data have possibly been living in a cave for the last 30 years,' he stated.
‘Having a program that's stickier than others works better for a retailer,’ he claimed.
Professor Mortimer added: ‘If you're able to create a program that creates a level of exclusivity and better value for your members, they're more likely to shop with you and stick with you.’
Our SDC members weighed in on this subject. Some saw nothing wrong with Woolies’ latest move.
Member @JKM_Storyteller wrote: ‘I've been a member of various loyalty programs for decades and have never encountered any problems, and certainly nothing that violates my privacy. I don't have to sign my life away, and you don't give them credit card or bank details, and you don't have to give them driver's licence or passport ID, so what's the problem?’
Member @Simplelife shared: ‘I have a rewards card. I don’t shop exclusively at Woolworths. I don’t see a problem with this incentive. It’s free to join. You’re not out of pocket. And having a rewards card as far as privacy is no different to any time you buy with a bank card. We have no privacy from the powers that be. They know more about us than what we buy for dinner. I only joined the rewards this year. I keep an eye out on specials, and yes, I use Woollies if it works for my budget.’
Meanwhile, others took a more cautious approach to supermarket loyalty programs.
‘I don't engage in any loyalty programs, and for no particular reason. However, these programs have a subtle psychology behind them,’ member @Veggiepatch claimed.
‘Some consumers are driven to achieve X number of points to be "rewarded" with their desired prize at the end of the rainbow. As a result, they will overspend, purchasing items that they normally wouldn't or too much. So the Woolies and Coles of this world are rubbing their hands together in anticipation of increased turnover and profit. Don't lie–there's quite a few of you out there guilty of this behaviour,’ they added.
We highly recommend researching and weighing the benefits of loyalty schemes before signing up for one.
What do you think of this story, members? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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