Every dollar counts, especially for people who are often on fixed incomes and are particularly attuned to getting the most value out of their shopping trips.

But the simple act of grocery shopping turned into a heated debate when a Woolworths customer shared a photo of a checkout screen online.

The image, taken at the Woolworths Macarthur Metro store in Brisbane, sparked outrage among shoppers, but the supermarket giant has since provided a simple explanation.

The customer's checkout screen displayed a total of $17.90, but the customer had calculated that his shopping haul should have only cost $15.90.

The discrepancy led to confusion and frustration, prompting the customer to share the image on social media, where it quickly gained traction.

The customer's post read: 'Was annoyed that the amount due on my Woolies purchase did not equate to the individual items I purchased.'

A Woolies customer took a photo of his checkout screen where the machine produced a calculation error. Image: Reddit

'Hoping that you all don't get taken advantage of by “colesworth” further amidst all the already inflated prices,' he said.

The customer, who admitted he doesn't usually tally up his shopping totals, decided to do so this time due to the small number of items he had purchased.

Since the total seemed suspicious, the customer questioned the staff about the discrepancy. After double-checking his calculations, the staff agreed with his total and removed the cost of the mangoes from his bill, effectively giving them to him for free.

'I ended up paying $14.10 (on checking my bank records just now), which I just paid and didn’t think further,' he wrote.

However, a Woolworths spokesperson later clarified that the checkout total of $17.90 was, in fact, correct. The confusion arose due to a technical glitch that displayed the incorrect price for the mangoes on the screen.

'The mango price of 80 cents each that appeared on the screen was incorrect due to a technical error—they were on clearance for $1.90 each,' the spokesperson explained.

'Our team resolved this with the customer in-store, providing the mangoes free of charge,' the Woolworths spokesman said.

The spokesperson also reassured that this was an isolated incident involving the clearance price of a batch of Calypso Mangoes at the Macarthur Metro store.

Understanding Your Rights as a Consumer

While this incident was resolved amicably, it raises questions about pricing errors and what rights consumers have when they occur.

In Australia, businesses are legally required to display the correct price for all goods and services they offer.

If a pricing error occurs, the business must honour the displayed price if it is lower than the correct price.

It's important for consumers to be aware of their rights and to always double-check their receipts, especially when purchasing a large number of items.

If you think you’ve been a victim of false advertising, you may seek help and report consumer issues here.

While technology has made shopping more convenient, glitches can occur, and being vigilant can help ensure you're not paying more than you should.

Key Takeaways

• A Woolworths shopper expressed his confusion on social media after a checkout screen at the Woolworths Macarthur Metro store in Brisbane displayed an incorrect total for his purchase.
• The screen showed a total of $17.90, whereas the customer calculated the items should only total $15.90, suggesting an overcharge.
• Woolworths explained that the displayed price of 80 cents each for mangoes was due to a technical error as they were actually on clearance for $1.90 each.
• The store resolved the issue with the customer by providing the mangoes free of charge, and Woolworths apologised for the confusion caused by the technical glitch.

Have you ever experienced a similar situation? How did you handle it? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below.

 

[MIC.M.]

Every dollar counts, especially for people who are often on fixed incomes and are particularly attuned to getting the most value out of their shopping trips.

But the simple act of grocery shopping turned into a heated debate when a Woolworths customer shared a photo of a checkout screen online.

The image, taken at the Woolworths Macarthur Metro store in Brisbane, sparked outrage among shoppers, but the supermarket giant has since provided a simple explanation.

The customer's checkout screen displayed a total of $17.90, but the customer had calculated that his shopping haul should have only cost $15.90.

The discrepancy led to confusion and frustration, prompting the customer to share the image on social media, where it quickly gained traction.

The customer's post read: 'Was annoyed that the amount due on my Woolies purchase did not equate to the individual items I purchased.'

View attachment 39251

A Woolies customer took a photo of his checkout screen where the machine produced a calculation error. Image: Reddit

'Hoping that you all don't get taken advantage of by “colesworth” further amidst all the already inflated prices,' he said.

The customer, who admitted he doesn't usually tally up his shopping totals, decided to do so this time due to the small number of items he had purchased.

Since the total seemed suspicious, the customer questioned the staff about the discrepancy. After double-checking his calculations, the staff agreed with his total and removed the cost of the mangoes from his bill, effectively giving them to him for free.

'I ended up paying $14.10 (on checking my bank records just now), which I just paid and didn’t think further,' he wrote.

However, a Woolworths spokesperson later clarified that the checkout total of $17.90 was, in fact, correct. The confusion arose due to a technical glitch that displayed the incorrect price for the mangoes on the screen.

'The mango price of 80 cents each that appeared on the screen was incorrect due to a technical error—they were on clearance for $1.90 each,' the spokesperson explained.

'Our team resolved this with the customer in-store, providing the mangoes free of charge,' the Woolworths spokesman said.

The spokesperson also reassured that this was an isolated incident involving the clearance price of a batch of Calypso Mangoes at the Macarthur Metro store.

Understanding Your Rights as a Consumer

While this incident was resolved amicably, it raises questions about pricing errors and what rights consumers have when they occur.

In Australia, businesses are legally required to display the correct price for all goods and services they offer.

If a pricing error occurs, the business must honour the displayed price if it is lower than the correct price.

It's important for consumers to be aware of their rights and to always double-check their receipts, especially when purchasing a large number of items.

If you think you’ve been a victim of false advertising, you may seek help and report consumer issues here.

While technology has made shopping more convenient, glitches can occur, and being vigilant can help ensure you're not paying more than you should.

Key Takeaways

• A Woolworths shopper expressed his confusion on social media after a checkout screen at the Woolworths Macarthur Metro store in Brisbane displayed an incorrect total for his purchase.
• The screen showed a total of $17.90, whereas the customer calculated the items should only total $15.90, suggesting an overcharge.
• Woolworths explained that the displayed price of 80 cents each for mangoes was due to a technical error as they were actually on clearance for $1.90 each.
• The store resolved the issue with the customer by providing the mangoes free of charge, and Woolworths apologised for the confusion caused by the technical glitch.

Have you ever experienced a similar situation? How did you handle it? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below.

 

[MIC.M.]

A few years ago I was in Coles Chatswood Westfield.
In front of me was a young intellectually disabled young man , who was using the self serve checkout.
He had two small articles and he fed a $100 note into the machine.
I noticed this because it was a lot of money to put in.
When he got change, he got change of $10 back!
He just stood there looking, so I intervened and said that I saw him put in $100.
I summoned the "service" girl and told her and she just said " You must be mistaken as these machines are checked regularly and they are accurate".
With that I said I wanted to see someone who could deal with this, in a more "adult" way in this situation.
A manager arrived and decided to argue so I told her that no-one was going to move until this situation was resolved.
Another person was called, who could open the machine and lo and behold, there was the only $100 note in the machine.
The manager then said she would pay the young man the balance of the bill, to which I replied "No, you will give him his $100 note back and his goods, for free, as it was your mistake.
She reluctantly complied with my request.

Another day, I was in another Coles supermarket and I was going to insert $50.
I called the attendant over to witness me putting the note in.
She looked at me as if I was an idiot.
I inserted it and the machine still told me to pay and NO CHANGE CAME OUT!
She looked shocked and went to get a supervisor who asked what size note I had tendered.
The young girl said that she saw me put in the note, so I was given my money back and because I had insisted, I got my goods for free.
I never put ANY large notes in these machines without having a member of staff witness it.

I just wonder how many older people or kids, for that matter, have fallen victim to this?

 

[Annna]

The explanation from Coles does not add up (no pun intended).

The incorrect total was $17.90

The customer said the actual total should have been $15.90

Discrepancy of $2.00

Coles' spokesperson said the mangoes were meant to be $1.90 each but were scanned as .80 each. That means that each mango was in fact $1.10 more.

Question: how does $1.10 per mango (that according to the Coles' person not taken into account) then make the total $2.00 more?

 

[DLHM]

The potential for overcharging can occur whether it’s from any self serve or full service checkout. Human or tech error can each play a role. The best resolution to this, is check your receipt as many have been doing for decades.

 

[Vikki.]

It doesn’t matter what Cole’s states..there is some sly business here.
it seems that they are adding amounts behind the scene.
regardless of what close states the mangoes went through at 80c each..so how can the price sucky change.
how did the extra $2 charge happen..this isn’t a technical issue..this is deceptive behaviour,
Someone has manipulated the final checkout cost..it’s a hidden cost..but t
coles got caught.
it wouldn’t surprise me if every Cole’s shopper, checks previous receipts.

 

[Yani]

The explanation from Coles does not add up (no pun intended).

The incorrect total was $17.90

The customer said the actual total should have been $15.90

Discrepancy of $2.00

Coles' spokesperson said the mangoes were meant to be $1.90 each but were scanned as .80 each. That means that each mango was in fact $1.10 more.

Question: how does $1.10 per mango (that according to the Coles' person not taken into account) then make the total $2.00 more?

Please look at the scanner, they are talking about Woolworths.

 

[David567]

It's not an isolated incident, it common in many stores, Most people don't check their docket so the stores get away with it, but if you do check you'll see that incorrect pricing in as common as spending money. A few cents here and there makes massive profits. If you find something with the wrong price that item is usually free so start checking. I take a texture pen and write the price on the item and check the prices on the scanner as I go through the checkout.