Outrage ensues as Woolworths makes a shocking change to their bag policy
If you're a regular Woolworths shopper, you've probably noticed some big bag changes over the past few years.
First, single-use plastic bags were phased out as part of their sustainability efforts, and most recently, paper bags were introduced as a greener alternative for 25 cents.
Well, prepare for the latest switch-up—Woolies has shrunk those paper bags!
The change comes just six months after the 25c paper bags were introduced across all Woolworths stores in Australia. The decision to reduce the size of the bags has left many customers feeling short-changed, with some even labelling the move as a 'rip-off'.
A Woolworths spokesperson explained the rationale behind the decision, stating, 'We have recently changed the height of our paper shopping bags in our stores to match the paper bags we use for online deliveries.’
They continued: ‘Many of our online orders are picked and packed in-store, so having one consistent size for all our paper bags helps simplify our processes. The new bags are now 3.5cm shorter, resulting in a slight reduction in the bag's overall volume.’
However, Woolworths assured customers that the bags have been tested and can ‘still carry the same weight of groceries.’
The change has not gone unnoticed by Woolworths shoppers, many of whom have taken to social media to voice their dissatisfaction.
One customer shared a video comparing the new Woolworths bag to one purchased just a week ago, highlighting the noticeable difference in size.
‘Check out this bunch, hey? Don’t they know how to read the room?’ the customer stated. ‘We’ve got record profits, we’re talking about the cost of living going up, they’ve got industrial action going on.’
‘But they’re going to f****ng make the bags smaller,’ the customer expressed.
Some of the viewers commented on the video, affirming that they also noticed the change.
‘Experienced this today. Thought it seemed weird,’ one commented, while another wrote: ‘I still can’t believe we have to pay for recycled paper bags.’
‘That’s a slap in the face,’ another said while a different social media user pointed out, ‘And still charge the same.’
A different Woolies shopper shared their frustration on social media, asking: ‘Why are you ripping off customers?’
It is understood that Woolworths previously offered two distinct paper bag sizes: one for in-store purchases at checkout and another for online orders packed by staff or at Customer Fulfilment Centres.
Now, the in-store bag size has been standardised to match the dimensions of the bags used for online orders. This adjustment ensures that the bags for online orders, tailored to fit the delivery crates in-home delivery vans, are now uniformly used across both shopping platforms.
What are your thoughts on the recent changes to Woolworths' bag policy, members? Have you noticed the difference in bag size? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below.
First, single-use plastic bags were phased out as part of their sustainability efforts, and most recently, paper bags were introduced as a greener alternative for 25 cents.
Well, prepare for the latest switch-up—Woolies has shrunk those paper bags!
The change comes just six months after the 25c paper bags were introduced across all Woolworths stores in Australia. The decision to reduce the size of the bags has left many customers feeling short-changed, with some even labelling the move as a 'rip-off'.
A Woolworths spokesperson explained the rationale behind the decision, stating, 'We have recently changed the height of our paper shopping bags in our stores to match the paper bags we use for online deliveries.’
They continued: ‘Many of our online orders are picked and packed in-store, so having one consistent size for all our paper bags helps simplify our processes. The new bags are now 3.5cm shorter, resulting in a slight reduction in the bag's overall volume.’
However, Woolworths assured customers that the bags have been tested and can ‘still carry the same weight of groceries.’
The change has not gone unnoticed by Woolworths shoppers, many of whom have taken to social media to voice their dissatisfaction.
One customer shared a video comparing the new Woolworths bag to one purchased just a week ago, highlighting the noticeable difference in size.
‘Check out this bunch, hey? Don’t they know how to read the room?’ the customer stated. ‘We’ve got record profits, we’re talking about the cost of living going up, they’ve got industrial action going on.’
‘But they’re going to f****ng make the bags smaller,’ the customer expressed.
Some of the viewers commented on the video, affirming that they also noticed the change.
‘Experienced this today. Thought it seemed weird,’ one commented, while another wrote: ‘I still can’t believe we have to pay for recycled paper bags.’
‘That’s a slap in the face,’ another said while a different social media user pointed out, ‘And still charge the same.’
A different Woolies shopper shared their frustration on social media, asking: ‘Why are you ripping off customers?’
It is understood that Woolworths previously offered two distinct paper bag sizes: one for in-store purchases at checkout and another for online orders packed by staff or at Customer Fulfilment Centres.
Now, the in-store bag size has been standardised to match the dimensions of the bags used for online orders. This adjustment ensures that the bags for online orders, tailored to fit the delivery crates in-home delivery vans, are now uniformly used across both shopping platforms.
Key Takeaways
- Woolworths supermarket has announced a major change to its paper shopping bags, reducing their size.
- The change has sparked criticism from shoppers on social media, with some describing it as a 'rip-off'.
- Woolworths defended the move, stating that the smaller bag size will simplify their processes, as the same bags are used for online deliveries and in-store purchases.
- The bags for online orders were a specified size to fit inside the crates used for home delivery, this change brings the in-store bags in line with these.
What are your thoughts on the recent changes to Woolworths' bag policy, members? Have you noticed the difference in bag size? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below.