Shocking 'feral' behaviour exposed: Kmart shoppers destroy stores
By
VanessaC
- Replies 17
Australian retail giant, Kmart, has been a beloved shopping destination for Aussies for decades.
However, recent social media posts have exposed a shocking trend of disrespectful behaviour by shoppers, leaving stores in a state of disarray and filth.
In a video that has left many Australians appalled, a Kmart store in Ballina, NSW Northern Rivers, was shown in a state of utter chaos.
The footage revealed aisles strewn with rubbish, products in disarray, shelves covered in grime, and discarded food packages scattered throughout the store.
The shopper who captured this disturbing scene expressed her shock and disappointment, stating that she 'normally loves visiting Kmart Australia' but 'the Ballina store today had me shook'.
The mess left behind in the Ballina store included discarded fast food packaging from Hungry Jack’s and McDonald's, damaged and empty products, and a variety of other items abandoned beneath the shelves.
The video has sparked a wave of outrage and disbelief across the country, with many branding the shoppers responsible as 'feral' and 'disgusting'.
One woman commented, 'What are these people doing, this is actually disgusting. Is this honestly what entitlement looks like to these, I assume, teens these days?'
'School holidays—unfortunately too many parents let their kids go to shopping centres to 'hang out', which isn’t such a bad thing, only they forget to teach them to respect the workers,' another added.
The aftermath of such disrespectful behaviour is often left to the retail workers to clean up.
Many of these workers are young people themselves, who are left to deal with the mess created by their peers.
'I feel for the staff that have to clean this up. How can people think this is how you treat stores,' a woman responded.
The disarray in the store has also sparked a debate about the potential increase in theft among the nation's top retailers.
'That’s what happens when they are stealing,' one said.
Some believe that the mess is a deliberate tactic used by shoplifters to distract staff and cover up their activities.
'They open and take the item, then pull a bunch of other stuff all messy to cover it up. So annoying as a staff member [has to] to clean it all up. [Got] a few people doing this in the supermarkets too,' one replied.
In response to the growing concern over shoplifting, Kmart has experimented with relocating checkouts from the centre of stores to near the exit.
However, this move has been met with frustration from customers who feel they are being treated as potential shoplifters, with receipt and bag checks conducted upon leaving the store.
'Why put the checkout area in the middle of the store if you're going to treat every shopper like a shoplifter on the way out?' one shopper commented.
What are your thoughts on this issue, members? Have you witnessed similar behaviour in your local stores? Share your experiences and thoughts with us in the comments below.
However, recent social media posts have exposed a shocking trend of disrespectful behaviour by shoppers, leaving stores in a state of disarray and filth.
In a video that has left many Australians appalled, a Kmart store in Ballina, NSW Northern Rivers, was shown in a state of utter chaos.
The footage revealed aisles strewn with rubbish, products in disarray, shelves covered in grime, and discarded food packages scattered throughout the store.
The shopper who captured this disturbing scene expressed her shock and disappointment, stating that she 'normally loves visiting Kmart Australia' but 'the Ballina store today had me shook'.
The mess left behind in the Ballina store included discarded fast food packaging from Hungry Jack’s and McDonald's, damaged and empty products, and a variety of other items abandoned beneath the shelves.
The video has sparked a wave of outrage and disbelief across the country, with many branding the shoppers responsible as 'feral' and 'disgusting'.
One woman commented, 'What are these people doing, this is actually disgusting. Is this honestly what entitlement looks like to these, I assume, teens these days?'
'School holidays—unfortunately too many parents let their kids go to shopping centres to 'hang out', which isn’t such a bad thing, only they forget to teach them to respect the workers,' another added.
The aftermath of such disrespectful behaviour is often left to the retail workers to clean up.
Many of these workers are young people themselves, who are left to deal with the mess created by their peers.
'I feel for the staff that have to clean this up. How can people think this is how you treat stores,' a woman responded.
The disarray in the store has also sparked a debate about the potential increase in theft among the nation's top retailers.
'That’s what happens when they are stealing,' one said.
Some believe that the mess is a deliberate tactic used by shoplifters to distract staff and cover up their activities.
'They open and take the item, then pull a bunch of other stuff all messy to cover it up. So annoying as a staff member [has to] to clean it all up. [Got] a few people doing this in the supermarkets too,' one replied.
In response to the growing concern over shoplifting, Kmart has experimented with relocating checkouts from the centre of stores to near the exit.
However, this move has been met with frustration from customers who feel they are being treated as potential shoplifters, with receipt and bag checks conducted upon leaving the store.
'Why put the checkout area in the middle of the store if you're going to treat every shopper like a shoplifter on the way out?' one shopper commented.
Key Takeaways
- Kmart shoppers have been criticised after a video showing poor conditions in a Ballina store went viral.
- Some people blamed the mess on bored teenagers during school holidays, while others suggested it might be linked to increased theft amid the cost of living crisis.
- The incident triggered a debate about Kmart’s store layout and checkout locations changes, which were initially moved to combat shoplifting but have frustrated customers with receipt and bag checks on exit.