Woolies shoppers stunned by outrageous chicken prices

There’s nothing quite like the humble Woolworths roast chook. Whether you’re feeding the grandkids, whipping up a quick salad, or just can’t be bothered cooking after a long day, that golden, juicy chicken is a staple in many Aussie homes.

Usually, you can pick one up for around $12, give or take a dollar or two if you’re lucky enough to snag one on special.

But what if you rocked up to your local Woolies and saw a price tag that made you do a double-take…or even a triple-take?


That’s exactly what happened to one shopper in Mandurah, Western Australia, who was left gobsmacked after spotting a Woolworths roast chicken with a price tag of $275.

Yes, you read that right—$275 for a single chook! The shopper couldn’t resist sharing the hilarious find on Facebook, and the post quickly had fellow Aussies in stitches.


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A Woolworths shopper in Mandurah, WA, spotted a roast chicken priced at $275, sparking laughs and online jokes about ‘high-end poultry’. Credit: Facebook


'Woolies, mate… $275 for a roast chook?! Have you lost the actual b***** plot?' the shopper wrote, clearly in disbelief.

'I’m not paying nearly three hundred bucks for something that usually sits next to the reduced banana bread and smells like disappointment at 5:55 pm. Is this a chicken…or a down payment on a Hilux?'

The jokes didn’t stop there. The post was soon flooded with witty comments from other shoppers, with one person quipping, 'I picked one up the other day for $245, but $275 is a bit excessive.'


Another chimed in, 'That’s just the deposit…' while a third declared, 'That is most definitely HIGH END poultry!'

Someone else even suggested, 'It’s a Labubu chicken. Limited edition.'

It seems this wasn’t an isolated incident, either. Other eagle-eyed shoppers pointed out that similar pricing blunders had happened in different locations, with one person saying, 'It happened at Singleton WA the other day too!' and another adding, 'Happened in Carnarvon too, b***** useless computers.'

So, what’s going on here? Is Woolies secretly selling gold-plated chickens, or is this just a classic case of a pricing error?

According to Woolworths, it’s definitely the latter. The supermarket giant confirmed that the incorrect label was quickly picked up and replaced, and reassured customers that no one was actually expected to fork out hundreds of dollars for their dinner.

But this little saga does serve as a timely reminder for all of us: always check your receipts!


As one commenter wisely pointed out, 'That’s why you always get a receipt. I paid not that much, but it was $25.' It’s easy to get caught up in the rush of the weekly shop, but a quick glance at your docket could save you from accidentally paying a small fortune for your groceries.

Why do these pricing errors happen? Well, supermarkets rely on computer systems to generate and print price labels, and sometimes a glitch or a simple human error can result in a wildly incorrect price being displayed.

While these mistakes are usually caught quickly, it’s always worth keeping an eye out, especially if you’re shopping for high-turnover items like roast chickens, which are constantly being restocked and relabelled throughout the day.

If you ever spot a price that seems off, don’t hesitate to flag it with the staff. Most supermarkets, including Woolies, have policies in place to ensure customers aren’t overcharged.

In fact, under the Scanning Code of Practice, if an item scans at a higher price than advertised, you may be entitled to receive it for free (for the first item) or at the lower price (for additional items). It pays to be vigilant!

And let’s be honest, who among us hasn’t had a little chuckle at a supermarket slip-up? Whether it’s a $100 watermelon, a $50 loaf of bread, or a $275 roast chook, these moments remind us that even the big retailers aren’t immune to the occasional blunder.
Key Takeaways

  • A Woolworths shopper in Mandurah, WA, spotted a roast chicken labelled at an outrageous $275, sparking laughs and jokes online about 'high-end poultry'.
  • The post quickly went viral, with commenters joining in on the jokes and sharing similar experiences of pricing blunders on Woolies roast chooks.
  • Woolworths confirmed the pricing mistake was due to an incorrect label, which was promptly replaced, and reminded customers to always check their receipts.
  • Some shoppers reported encountering similar errors at other stores, underlining the importance of keeping an eye on checkout prices to avoid paying too much.
Have you ever spotted a pricing error at your local supermarket? Did you get a laugh out of it, or did it cost you more than you bargained for? Share your stories in the comments below.
 
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I always get my docket & check it before leaving. A few years ago I had my freezer well stocked with frozen chips as the shelf price was lower than the scanned price. I would go back, point out the error which was then checked by staff & got my refund. This went on for weeks. Every time I went in to WW I would check the shelf price & if it was still low, I would get another bag of chips knowing I would get them free & the store was too stupid to realise their mistake.
Another time, I was charged twice for some grapes. I had 1 bag of grapes but the checkout operator managed to scan them twice, each time at a different weight!! Of course, I got my grapes free.
 
Some of the chooks I have seen in Woolies and Coles were smaller than the bantams I use to have as a kid. I have even seen pigeons bigger than what they offer.... and in passing do other customers open up the egg carton and check the eggs. I do and I have noticed that when I buy 700-900 grm eggs when I check inside there are always 3/4 eggs that are not true to the size advertised on the carton. So I swap them over so ALL the eggs are the same size. I will not be ripped off by any business just to enhance their bottom line. You can critisise me if you want but again my bantams gave me bigger eggs than what I have found in some cartons.
 
Some of the chooks I have seen in Woolies and Coles were smaller than the bantams I use to have as a kid. I have even seen pigeons bigger than what they offer.... and in passing do other customers open up the egg carton and check the eggs. I do and I have noticed that when I buy 700-900 grm eggs when I check inside there are always 3/4 eggs that are not true to the size advertised on the carton. So I swap them over so ALL the eggs are the same size. I will not be ripped off by any business just to enhance their bottom line. You can critisise me if you want but again my bantams gave me bigger eggs than what I have found in some cartons.
Good on you!

I got pulled up some years ago for breaking the stalks off broccoli and then berated by some shop bitch.

The bag was promptly emptied onto the floor and a barrage of abuse aimed at the bitch.

And no. I am not apologetic for my actions.
 
Some of the chooks I have seen in Woolies and Coles were smaller than the bantams I use to have as a kid. I have even seen pigeons bigger than what they offer.... and in passing do other customers open up the egg carton and check the eggs. I do and I have noticed that when I buy 700-900 grm eggs when I check inside there are always 3/4 eggs that are not true to the size advertised on the carton. So I swap them over so ALL the eggs are the same size. I will not be ripped off by any business just to enhance their bottom line. You can critisise me if you want but again my bantams gave me bigger eggs than what I have found in some cartons.
Must take awhile to do your grocery shopping.
 
Good on you!

I got pulled up some years ago for breaking the stalks off broccoli and then berated by some shop bitch.

The bag was promptly emptied onto the floor and a barrage of abuse aimed at the bitch.

And no. I am not apologetic for my actions.
My mum used to break the stalks off broccoli saying she wasn’t going pay for what she wasn’t going to eat.

But she never was pulled up for it and if she was, she’d have just left the bag there and quietly walk off.
 
Good on you!

I got pulled up some years ago for breaking the stalks off broccoli and then berated by some shop bitch.

The bag was promptly emptied onto the floor and a barrage of abuse aimed at the bitch.

And no. I am not apologetic for my actions.
Must take awhile to do your grocery shopping.
Good on you!

I got pulled up some years ago for breaking the stalks off broccoli and then berated by some shop bitch.

The bag was promptly emptied onto the floor and a barrage of abuse aimed at the bitch.

And no. I am not apologetic for my actions.
What happened to good manners??
 
My mum used to break the stalks off broccoli saying she wasn’t going pay for what she wasn’t going to eat.

But she never was pulled up for it and if she was, she’d have just left the bag there and quietly walk off.
Really! That’s where all the vitamins and minerals are it’s the best part.😋
 

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