Shoppers break law using trending supermarket trick without realising
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If you’ve ever wandered the aisles of Woolies or Coles, you’ve probably glanced at those bright yellow sale tags and thought nothing of them—other than maybe celebrating a cheeky bargain.
But a recent revelation about these price tags has sent shockwaves through the internet, and it comes with a stern warning: what seems like harmless fun could actually land you in hot water!
Let’s set the scene: a social media user, @jazzyjm07, recently posted a video that’s gone viral, showing herself peeling back the yellow sale tags at Woolworths to reveal that—surprise!—they’re just stickers.
'So they have always just been stickers?' she marvels, clearly gobsmacked.
The internet, as it does, exploded with reactions. Some were equally shocked, while others rolled their eyes and wondered what people thought was holding them up—magic? Magnets? The power of positive thinking?
But here’s where things get serious. While it might seem harmless, supermarket staff and legal experts are urging shoppers not to turn this into a trend.
Peeling off or moving these stickers isn’t just a nuisance for the hardworking staff (who are already juggling a million things on minimum wage), it could also be considered vandalism or even retail fraud.
One staff member pleaded in the comments, 'Omg noooo pls don’t do this—sincerely, a person who has to put them up/take them down.'
Another added, 'They’re impossible to get off most surfaces.'
And if you’ve ever tried to scrape a stubborn sticker off a window or shelf, you’ll know exactly what they mean!
Beyond the inconvenience, there’s a practical side too. Those price tags aren’t just for show—they help shoppers keep track of specials and budget accordingly.
If they’re missing or misplaced, it can make life a lot harder for everyone, especially those of us who like to keep a close eye on our spending.
Now, here’s where things get a bit more serious. According to Aussie lawyer Avinash Singh, tampering with these stickers could actually be a criminal offence.
'Sticking down the tags in a store could result in criminal prosecution,' he said.
Under Section 195 of the Crimes Act 1900, malicious damage to property carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.
That’s right—five years! The law says that if you alter the physical integrity of property (like removing or moving a sticker), you could be in trouble.
And it doesn’t stop there if you move a sticker to cover or switch tags—say, to score a discount on a more expensive item—that’s considered retail fraud.
Under Section 192E of the Crimes Act, attempting to cause financial disadvantage by deception dishonestly is a serious offence.
For those of us who remember the 'good old days,' you might recall that price tags used to be paper tickets tucked under a clear flap.
But as supermarkets have modernised, stickers have become the norm. They’re quick to put up, easy to spot, and (in theory) simple to remove when the sale ends.
But as we’ve seen, they’re not easy to peel off without leaving a mess or causing staff headaches.
So, next time you’re tempted to peel back a price tag out of curiosity, remember: it’s not worth the hassle.
Not only could you be making life harder for supermarket staff and fellow shoppers, but you could also be risking a criminal record.
And let’s be honest, none of us want to explain to the grandkids that we got in trouble for a supermarket sticker!
Did you know those yellow tags were stickers all along? Have you ever seen someone tampering with them in-store? Or maybe you’ve got a funny story about a supermarket mishap? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
Read more: Colourful price tags at stores trick shoppers into paying more
But a recent revelation about these price tags has sent shockwaves through the internet, and it comes with a stern warning: what seems like harmless fun could actually land you in hot water!
Let’s set the scene: a social media user, @jazzyjm07, recently posted a video that’s gone viral, showing herself peeling back the yellow sale tags at Woolworths to reveal that—surprise!—they’re just stickers.
'So they have always just been stickers?' she marvels, clearly gobsmacked.
Woolworths yellow sale tags have been revealed as stickers, sparking surprise and online debate. Credit: @jazzyjm07 / TikTok
The internet, as it does, exploded with reactions. Some were equally shocked, while others rolled their eyes and wondered what people thought was holding them up—magic? Magnets? The power of positive thinking?
But here’s where things get serious. While it might seem harmless, supermarket staff and legal experts are urging shoppers not to turn this into a trend.
Peeling off or moving these stickers isn’t just a nuisance for the hardworking staff (who are already juggling a million things on minimum wage), it could also be considered vandalism or even retail fraud.
One staff member pleaded in the comments, 'Omg noooo pls don’t do this—sincerely, a person who has to put them up/take them down.'
Another added, 'They’re impossible to get off most surfaces.'
And if you’ve ever tried to scrape a stubborn sticker off a window or shelf, you’ll know exactly what they mean!
Beyond the inconvenience, there’s a practical side too. Those price tags aren’t just for show—they help shoppers keep track of specials and budget accordingly.
If they’re missing or misplaced, it can make life a lot harder for everyone, especially those of us who like to keep a close eye on our spending.
Now, here’s where things get a bit more serious. According to Aussie lawyer Avinash Singh, tampering with these stickers could actually be a criminal offence.
'Sticking down the tags in a store could result in criminal prosecution,' he said.
Under Section 195 of the Crimes Act 1900, malicious damage to property carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.
That’s right—five years! The law says that if you alter the physical integrity of property (like removing or moving a sticker), you could be in trouble.
And it doesn’t stop there if you move a sticker to cover or switch tags—say, to score a discount on a more expensive item—that’s considered retail fraud.
Under Section 192E of the Crimes Act, attempting to cause financial disadvantage by deception dishonestly is a serious offence.
For those of us who remember the 'good old days,' you might recall that price tags used to be paper tickets tucked under a clear flap.
But as supermarkets have modernised, stickers have become the norm. They’re quick to put up, easy to spot, and (in theory) simple to remove when the sale ends.
But as we’ve seen, they’re not easy to peel off without leaving a mess or causing staff headaches.
So, next time you’re tempted to peel back a price tag out of curiosity, remember: it’s not worth the hassle.
Not only could you be making life harder for supermarket staff and fellow shoppers, but you could also be risking a criminal record.
And let’s be honest, none of us want to explain to the grandkids that we got in trouble for a supermarket sticker!
Read more: Colourful price tags at stores trick shoppers into paying more
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