Woolworths shopper's 'sneaky' find on supermarket shelf has everyone talking – is this legal?

Previously, we wrote a story about how a shopper discovered a 'hidden catch' behind a supposedly 'special' item at Coles.

Now, it seems that a similar situation has happened again. And this time, it was a Woolworths customer who took to social media to air their annoyance.



Sharing on the popular forum website Reddit, a Woolies shopper uploaded a photo of the supposedly 'special' tag of Barilla Pesto Alla Genovese Sauce on the supermarket shelf. It indicated that the sauce's price had dropped from $5 to $4.25.

However, after taking a closer look, the shopper decided to check the original price behind the yellow tag, and they were surprised to see that it was $4, not $5, as written on the discount tag.

'Why do Woolies do this?' asked the frustrated customer.

8SODGeudG92F8cphIzGTEmjdL77ANm2AO2uubiLjxTYgUFhRsnCkZuzNaldimeef99WrvsZyXCd59fkhTwWS_sV6_MwT3psjz2ttOTayIf-dCUDufD0NFwcu8xf3nUEktxi9eAyrM1nWRSLLucJh7t0

A Woolworths customer's photo of a 'sneaky' discovery sparked anger online. Credit: Reddit/Baileyjk01.

The shopper's post gained a lot of attention very quickly on social media, and several users commented that they also found the disparity to be incredibly infuriating.

One user wrote, 'So sneaky. How many people would miss this too?' with plenty of others agreeing with him.

Meanwhile, a second suggested that this could be reported to authorities as 'fraud', with a third suggesting, 'If it's the same product, that's illegal and grounds for some serious fines.'



However, much to the shopper's surprise, not everyone on the forum stood behind them during the pricing incident. Most users said this was not Woolies trying to 'scam' their customers but simply a pricing error made by a (probably overworked) staff member.

'Woolies are not trying to scam you out of 25c at the risk of significant fines. Someone didn't change the base label when there was a price increase recently, and this is the result,' one user wrote in the comments.

Another agreed and added, 'These stores are woefully understaffed, and someone has to go around and replace those labels personally, often hundreds in a single shift, all the while they keep changing.'

'In this case, an item had a price increase and then went on sale before the old ticket was changed,' he went on to say.



Someone who claimed to be an employee from Woolworths also came forward and said, 'This is 100% a mistake from a single person who has missed a ticket when putting a new batch on the shelves.'

Then, they explained that workers are usually 'under the pump' because only two or three people handle the pricing and ticketing jobs, along with payroll, compliance, and cash management duties.

''This is definitely more of a result of cutting hours and saving wages than Woolworths trying to pull illegal scams,' they said.

7fdpW3xFacH5dw_GkonOA9q9VjTQnU-TkUX4lEvwBLSxbODh6xbrgcnOsss6bksqoXKy9y7tLDQXBZPw-eKtIxwzjXGAQp4_LNYrGOaQHiMOiPc_-qjb8QtZXrfKly1-VCmnY21kF3lQNt1iytK7vSc

Social media users are shocked by Woolworths' new digital price tags. Credit: Reddit/swfnbc.

This incident comes after reports that Woolworths had installed new digital price tags in a few of its locations, which sparked conflicting responses on social media.

A number of people have expressed their approval of the move, noting that it is user-friendly, effective, and responsible for the environment.

Others, on the other hand, are worried that with these digital tags, prices could change more easily and more often, and may even be used to track customers' shopping habits.

The new digital tags could also mean that shoppers could no longer 'check' the original price of an item that is supposedly on special.

What are your thoughts, folks? Do you also have a habit of checking the 'old' price behind the special tags at supermarkets?
 
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Previously, we wrote a story about how a shopper discovered a 'hidden catch' behind a supposedly 'special' item at Coles.

Now, it seems that a similar situation has happened again. And this time, it was a Woolworths customer who took to social media to air their annoyance.



Sharing on the popular forum website Reddit, a Woolies shopper uploaded a photo of the supposedly 'special' tag of Barilla Pesto Alla Genovese Sauce on the supermarket shelf. It indicated that the sauce's price had dropped from $5 to $4.25.

However, after taking a closer look, the shopper decided to check the original price behind the yellow tag, and they were surprised to see that it was $4, not $5, as written on the discount tag.

'Why do Woolies do this?' asked the frustrated customer.

8SODGeudG92F8cphIzGTEmjdL77ANm2AO2uubiLjxTYgUFhRsnCkZuzNaldimeef99WrvsZyXCd59fkhTwWS_sV6_MwT3psjz2ttOTayIf-dCUDufD0NFwcu8xf3nUEktxi9eAyrM1nWRSLLucJh7t0

A Woolworths customer's photo of a 'sneaky' discovery sparked anger online. Credit: Reddit/Baileyjk01.

The shopper's post gained a lot of attention very quickly on social media, and several users commented that they also found the disparity to be incredibly infuriating.

One user wrote, 'So sneaky. How many people would miss this too?' with plenty of others agreeing with him.

Meanwhile, a second suggested that this could be reported to authorities as 'fraud', with a third suggesting, 'If it's the same product, that's illegal and grounds for some serious fines.'



However, much to the shopper's surprise, not everyone on the forum stood behind them during the pricing incident. Most users said this was not Woolies trying to 'scam' their customers but simply a pricing error made by a (probably overworked) staff member.

'Woolies are not trying to scam you out of 25c at the risk of significant fines. Someone didn't change the base label when there was a price increase recently, and this is the result,' one user wrote in the comments.

Another agreed and added, 'These stores are woefully understaffed, and someone has to go around and replace those labels personally, often hundreds in a single shift, all the while they keep changing.'

'In this case, an item had a price increase and then went on sale before the old ticket was changed,' he went on to say.



Someone who claimed to be an employee from Woolworths also came forward and said, 'This is 100% a mistake from a single person who has missed a ticket when putting a new batch on the shelves.'

Then, they explained that workers are usually 'under the pump' because only two or three people handle the pricing and ticketing jobs, along with payroll, compliance, and cash management duties.

''This is definitely more of a result of cutting hours and saving wages than Woolworths trying to pull illegal scams,' they said.

7fdpW3xFacH5dw_GkonOA9q9VjTQnU-TkUX4lEvwBLSxbODh6xbrgcnOsss6bksqoXKy9y7tLDQXBZPw-eKtIxwzjXGAQp4_LNYrGOaQHiMOiPc_-qjb8QtZXrfKly1-VCmnY21kF3lQNt1iytK7vSc

Social media users are shocked by Woolworths' new digital price tags. Credit: Reddit/swfnbc.

This incident comes after reports that Woolworths had installed new digital price tags in a few of its locations, which sparked conflicting responses on social media.

A number of people have expressed their approval of the move, noting that it is user-friendly, effective, and responsible for the environment.

Others, on the other hand, are worried that with these digital tags, prices could change more easily and more often, and may even be used to track customers' shopping habits.

The new digital tags could also mean that shoppers could no longer 'check' the original price of an item that is supposedly on special.

What are your thoughts, folks? Do you also have a habit of checking the 'old' price behind the special tags at supermarkets?
I bought an article in Kmart showing $12
When I purchased it cost $13
It was explained to me that staff had not had the time to upgrade prices. Meaning exiting stick was being increased
 
Previously, we wrote a story about how a shopper discovered a 'hidden catch' behind a supposedly 'special' item at Coles.

Now, it seems that a similar situation has happened again. And this time, it was a Woolworths customer who took to social media to air their annoyance.



Sharing on the popular forum website Reddit, a Woolies shopper uploaded a photo of the supposedly 'special' tag of Barilla Pesto Alla Genovese Sauce on the supermarket shelf. It indicated that the sauce's price had dropped from $5 to $4.25.

However, after taking a closer look, the shopper decided to check the original price behind the yellow tag, and they were surprised to see that it was $4, not $5, as written on the discount tag.

'Why do Woolies do this?' asked the frustrated customer.

8SODGeudG92F8cphIzGTEmjdL77ANm2AO2uubiLjxTYgUFhRsnCkZuzNaldimeef99WrvsZyXCd59fkhTwWS_sV6_MwT3psjz2ttOTayIf-dCUDufD0NFwcu8xf3nUEktxi9eAyrM1nWRSLLucJh7t0

A Woolworths customer's photo of a 'sneaky' discovery sparked anger online. Credit: Reddit/Baileyjk01.

The shopper's post gained a lot of attention very quickly on social media, and several users commented that they also found the disparity to be incredibly infuriating.

One user wrote, 'So sneaky. How many people would miss this too?' with plenty of others agreeing with him.

Meanwhile, a second suggested that this could be reported to authorities as 'fraud', with a third suggesting, 'If it's the same product, that's illegal and grounds for some serious fines.'



However, much to the shopper's surprise, not everyone on the forum stood behind them during the pricing incident. Most users said this was not Woolies trying to 'scam' their customers but simply a pricing error made by a (probably overworked) staff member.

'Woolies are not trying to scam you out of 25c at the risk of significant fines. Someone didn't change the base label when there was a price increase recently, and this is the result,' one user wrote in the comments.

Another agreed and added, 'These stores are woefully understaffed, and someone has to go around and replace those labels personally, often hundreds in a single shift, all the while they keep changing.'

'In this case, an item had a price increase and then went on sale before the old ticket was changed,' he went on to say.



Someone who claimed to be an employee from Woolworths also came forward and said, 'This is 100% a mistake from a single person who has missed a ticket when putting a new batch on the shelves.'

Then, they explained that workers are usually 'under the pump' because only two or three people handle the pricing and ticketing jobs, along with payroll, compliance, and cash management duties.

''This is definitely more of a result of cutting hours and saving wages than Woolworths trying to pull illegal scams,' they said.

7fdpW3xFacH5dw_GkonOA9q9VjTQnU-TkUX4lEvwBLSxbODh6xbrgcnOsss6bksqoXKy9y7tLDQXBZPw-eKtIxwzjXGAQp4_LNYrGOaQHiMOiPc_-qjb8QtZXrfKly1-VCmnY21kF3lQNt1iytK7vSc

Social media users are shocked by Woolworths' new digital price tags. Credit: Reddit/swfnbc.

This incident comes after reports that Woolworths had installed new digital price tags in a few of its locations, which sparked conflicting responses on social media.

A number of people have expressed their approval of the move, noting that it is user-friendly, effective, and responsible for the environment.

Others, on the other hand, are worried that with these digital tags, prices could change more easily and more often, and may even be used to track customers' shopping habits.

The new digital tags could also mean that shoppers could no longer 'check' the original price of an item that is supposedly on special.

What are your thoughts, folks? Do you also have a habit of checking the 'old' price behind the special tags at supermarkets?
I work at Cole’s and we are having the same issue as we don’t have enough staff to check every single ticket only last weekend I have two products in the confectionery aisle. They were Scanning at $5 and the special ticket was $4.25 and the white ticket under the special ticket was $4.00. So go figure 😩😩
 
Previously, we wrote a story about how a shopper discovered a 'hidden catch' behind a supposedly 'special' item at Coles.

Now, it seems that a similar situation has happened again. And this time, it was a Woolworths customer who took to social media to air their annoyance.



Sharing on the popular forum website Reddit, a Woolies shopper uploaded a photo of the supposedly 'special' tag of Barilla Pesto Alla Genovese Sauce on the supermarket shelf. It indicated that the sauce's price had dropped from $5 to $4.25.

However, after taking a closer look, the shopper decided to check the original price behind the yellow tag, and they were surprised to see that it was $4, not $5, as written on the discount tag.

'Why do Woolies do this?' asked the frustrated customer.

8SODGeudG92F8cphIzGTEmjdL77ANm2AO2uubiLjxTYgUFhRsnCkZuzNaldimeef99WrvsZyXCd59fkhTwWS_sV6_MwT3psjz2ttOTayIf-dCUDufD0NFwcu8xf3nUEktxi9eAyrM1nWRSLLucJh7t0

A Woolworths customer's photo of a 'sneaky' discovery sparked anger online. Credit: Reddit/Baileyjk01.

The shopper's post gained a lot of attention very quickly on social media, and several users commented that they also found the disparity to be incredibly infuriating.

One user wrote, 'So sneaky. How many people would miss this too?' with plenty of others agreeing with him.

Meanwhile, a second suggested that this could be reported to authorities as 'fraud', with a third suggesting, 'If it's the same product, that's illegal and grounds for some serious fines.'



However, much to the shopper's surprise, not everyone on the forum stood behind them during the pricing incident. Most users said this was not Woolies trying to 'scam' their customers but simply a pricing error made by a (probably overworked) staff member.

'Woolies are not trying to scam you out of 25c at the risk of significant fines. Someone didn't change the base label when there was a price increase recently, and this is the result,' one user wrote in the comments.

Another agreed and added, 'These stores are woefully understaffed, and someone has to go around and replace those labels personally, often hundreds in a single shift, all the while they keep changing.'

'In this case, an item had a price increase and then went on sale before the old ticket was changed,' he went on to say.



Someone who claimed to be an employee from Woolworths also came forward and said, 'This is 100% a mistake from a single person who has missed a ticket when putting a new batch on the shelves.'

Then, they explained that workers are usually 'under the pump' because only two or three people handle the pricing and ticketing jobs, along with payroll, compliance, and cash management duties.

''This is definitely more of a result of cutting hours and saving wages than Woolworths trying to pull illegal scams,' they said.

7fdpW3xFacH5dw_GkonOA9q9VjTQnU-TkUX4lEvwBLSxbODh6xbrgcnOsss6bksqoXKy9y7tLDQXBZPw-eKtIxwzjXGAQp4_LNYrGOaQHiMOiPc_-qjb8QtZXrfKly1-VCmnY21kF3lQNt1iytK7vSc

Social media users are shocked by Woolworths' new digital price tags. Credit: Reddit/swfnbc.

This incident comes after reports that Woolworths had installed new digital price tags in a few of its locations, which sparked conflicting responses on social media.

A number of people have expressed their approval of the move, noting that it is user-friendly, effective, and responsible for the environment.

Others, on the other hand, are worried that with these digital tags, prices could change more easily and more often, and may even be used to track customers' shopping habits.

The new digital tags could also mean that shoppers could no longer 'check' the original price of an item that is supposedly on special.

What are your thoughts, folks? Do you also have a habit of checking the 'old' price behind the special tags at supermarkets?
The store is supposed to display the correct pricing and there is no excuse for errors of this kind, only by penalizing them can they be forsed to take proper care
 
Previously, we wrote a story about how a shopper discovered a 'hidden catch' behind a supposedly 'special' item at Coles.

Now, it seems that a similar situation has happened again. And this time, it was a Woolworths customer who took to social media to air their annoyance.



Sharing on the popular forum website Reddit, a Woolies shopper uploaded a photo of the supposedly 'special' tag of Barilla Pesto Alla Genovese Sauce on the supermarket shelf. It indicated that the sauce's price had dropped from $5 to $4.25.

However, after taking a closer look, the shopper decided to check the original price behind the yellow tag, and they were surprised to see that it was $4, not $5, as written on the discount tag.

'Why do Woolies do this?' asked the frustrated customer.

8SODGeudG92F8cphIzGTEmjdL77ANm2AO2uubiLjxTYgUFhRsnCkZuzNaldimeef99WrvsZyXCd59fkhTwWS_sV6_MwT3psjz2ttOTayIf-dCUDufD0NFwcu8xf3nUEktxi9eAyrM1nWRSLLucJh7t0

A Woolworths customer's photo of a 'sneaky' discovery sparked anger online. Credit: Reddit/Baileyjk01.

The shopper's post gained a lot of attention very quickly on social media, and several users commented that they also found the disparity to be incredibly infuriating.

One user wrote, 'So sneaky. How many people would miss this too?' with plenty of others agreeing with him.

Meanwhile, a second suggested that this could be reported to authorities as 'fraud', with a third suggesting, 'If it's the same product, that's illegal and grounds for some serious fines.'



However, much to the shopper's surprise, not everyone on the forum stood behind them during the pricing incident. Most users said this was not Woolies trying to 'scam' their customers but simply a pricing error made by a (probably overworked) staff member.

'Woolies are not trying to scam you out of 25c at the risk of significant fines. Someone didn't change the base label when there was a price increase recently, and this is the result,' one user wrote in the comments.

Another agreed and added, 'These stores are woefully understaffed, and someone has to go around and replace those labels personally, often hundreds in a single shift, all the while they keep changing.'

'In this case, an item had a price increase and then went on sale before the old ticket was changed,' he went on to say.



Someone who claimed to be an employee from Woolworths also came forward and said, 'This is 100% a mistake from a single person who has missed a ticket when putting a new batch on the shelves.'

Then, they explained that workers are usually 'under the pump' because only two or three people handle the pricing and ticketing jobs, along with payroll, compliance, and cash management duties.

''This is definitely more of a result of cutting hours and saving wages than Woolworths trying to pull illegal scams,' they said.

7fdpW3xFacH5dw_GkonOA9q9VjTQnU-TkUX4lEvwBLSxbODh6xbrgcnOsss6bksqoXKy9y7tLDQXBZPw-eKtIxwzjXGAQp4_LNYrGOaQHiMOiPc_-qjb8QtZXrfKly1-VCmnY21kF3lQNt1iytK7vSc

Social media users are shocked by Woolworths' new digital price tags. Credit: Reddit/swfnbc.

This incident comes after reports that Woolworths had installed new digital price tags in a few of its locations, which sparked conflicting responses on social media.

A number of people have expressed their approval of the move, noting that it is user-friendly, effective, and responsible for the environment.

Others, on the other hand, are worried that with these digital tags, prices could change more easily and more often, and may even be used to track customers' shopping habits.

The new digital tags could also mean that shoppers could no longer 'check' the original price of an item that is supposedly on special.

What are your thoughts, folks? Do you also have a habit of checking the 'old' price behind the special tags at supermarkets?
Woolies and Coles have been using the staff error excuse for years because you can't disprove it. I bought an item some months ago and the checkout price was higher than the ticketed price so I kicked up a stink and was assured it was merely a staff error and after a few words with the supervisor I was charged the ticketed price. Went back to the store a few days later and bought the same item again still on sale and exactly the same thing happened, charged full price at the register, complained and was told staff error yet again ..... It is not accidental in most cases but something they can get away with because it's so hard to prove it wasn't an error...... Aldi's staff work much harder and I have yet to see "human error" on their price tickets.
 
Human error is usually at the bottom of these things, and it's hard work staying on top of all the price changes, so I imagine it was a genuine oversight. If it was a genuine scam they would have removed the old sticker to conceal the evidence. Most retailers will honour the lower price if you point out the difference. I once bought an item at Bunnings that rang up a higher price on the register. When I complained the supervisor went to check and, having verified the sticker price, agreed they would honour it. They overrode the price on the register and I got the item at the lower price.
 
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Woolies and Coles have been using the staff error excuse for years because you can't disprove it. I bought an item some months ago and the checkout price was higher than the ticketed price so I kicked up a stink and was assured it was merely a staff error and after a few words with the supervisor I was charged the ticketed price. Went back to the store a few days later and bought the same item again still on sale and exactly the same thing happened, charged full price at the register, complained and was told staff error yet again ..... It is not accidental in most cases but something they can get away with because it's so hard to prove it wasn't an error...... Aldi's staff work much harder and I have yet to see "human
Woolies and Coles have been using the staff error excuse for years because you can't disprove it. I bought an item some months ago and the checkout price was higher than the ticketed price so I kicked up a stink and was assured it was merely a staff error and after a few words with the supervisor I was charged the ticketed price. Went back to the store a few days later and bought the same item again still on sale and exactly the same thing happened, charged full price at the register, complained and was told staff error yet again ..... It is not accidental in most cases but something they can get away with because it's so hard to prove it wasn't an error...... Aldi's staff work much harder and I have yet to see "human error" on their price tickets.
Aldi’s staff! I have yet to find a staff member in Aldi, apart from the one or two on the checkout ! 🤣
 
Previously, we wrote a story about how a shopper discovered a 'hidden catch' behind a supposedly 'special' item at Coles.

Now, it seems that a similar situation has happened again. And this time, it was a Woolworths customer who took to social media to air their annoyance.



Sharing on the popular forum website Reddit, a Woolies shopper uploaded a photo of the supposedly 'special' tag of Barilla Pesto Alla Genovese Sauce on the supermarket shelf. It indicated that the sauce's price had dropped from $5 to $4.25.

However, after taking a closer look, the shopper decided to check the original price behind the yellow tag, and they were surprised to see that it was $4, not $5, as written on the discount tag.

'Why do Woolies do this?' asked the frustrated customer.

8SODGeudG92F8cphIzGTEmjdL77ANm2AO2uubiLjxTYgUFhRsnCkZuzNaldimeef99WrvsZyXCd59fkhTwWS_sV6_MwT3psjz2ttOTayIf-dCUDufD0NFwcu8xf3nUEktxi9eAyrM1nWRSLLucJh7t0

A Woolworths customer's photo of a 'sneaky' discovery sparked anger online. Credit: Reddit/Baileyjk01.

The shopper's post gained a lot of attention very quickly on social media, and several users commented that they also found the disparity to be incredibly infuriating.

One user wrote, 'So sneaky. How many people would miss this too?' with plenty of others agreeing with him.

Meanwhile, a second suggested that this could be reported to authorities as 'fraud', with a third suggesting, 'If it's the same product, that's illegal and grounds for some serious fines.'



However, much to the shopper's surprise, not everyone on the forum stood behind them during the pricing incident. Most users said this was not Woolies trying to 'scam' their customers but simply a pricing error made by a (probably overworked) staff member.

'Woolies are not trying to scam you out of 25c at the risk of significant fines. Someone didn't change the base label when there was a price increase recently, and this is the result,' one user wrote in the comments.

Another agreed and added, 'These stores are woefully understaffed, and someone has to go around and replace those labels personally, often hundreds in a single shift, all the while they keep changing.'

'In this case, an item had a price increase and then went on sale before the old ticket was changed,' he went on to say.



Someone who claimed to be an employee from Woolworths also came forward and said, 'This is 100% a mistake from a single person who has missed a ticket when putting a new batch on the shelves.'

Then, they explained that workers are usually 'under the pump' because only two or three people handle the pricing and ticketing jobs, along with payroll, compliance, and cash management duties.

''This is definitely more of a result of cutting hours and saving wages than Woolworths trying to pull illegal scams,' they said.

7fdpW3xFacH5dw_GkonOA9q9VjTQnU-TkUX4lEvwBLSxbODh6xbrgcnOsss6bksqoXKy9y7tLDQXBZPw-eKtIxwzjXGAQp4_LNYrGOaQHiMOiPc_-qjb8QtZXrfKly1-VCmnY21kF3lQNt1iytK7vSc

Social media users are shocked by Woolworths' new digital price tags. Credit: Reddit/swfnbc.

This incident comes after reports that Woolworths had installed new digital price tags in a few of its locations, which sparked conflicting responses on social media.

A number of people have expressed their approval of the move, noting that it is user-friendly, effective, and responsible for the environment.

Others, on the other hand, are worried that with these digital tags, prices could change more easily and more often, and may even be used to track customers' shopping habits.

The new digital tags could also mean that shoppers could no longer 'check' the original price of an item that is supposedly on special.

What are your thoughts, folks? Do you also have a habit of checking the 'old' price behind the special tags at supermarkets?
Honestly this has been going on for ages...noticed it before. Surprised that it has only come out now. I think it is done on purpose. Many times I have lifted the sign up to find this happening. Both Coles and Woolworths are guilty of this.
 
I think the shops are to blame, and they get away with it most of the time, as most people are in too much of a hurry to check.
For the occasional few who check ....they correct their price....
So, Seniors, do our bit....catch them out....
I totally agree...I am a very savvy shopper and talking of people being in a hurry: recently saw a trendy young lass race into the aisle after a certain product...just grabbed it off the shelf and off...she did not even notice that if she had bought the slightly larger product she would have got it for a better price than the once she picked up.
 
I always check the old price under the "special" tag and this is not an "oversight" by an "overworked" employee. It's quite a regular thing that the old price is the same as the special price or even worse, the special price is higher than the old price.
 

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