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?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chicky
I see this in a lot of stores. I always check the shelf tag because stores put the price tags on special over the shelf tag. Sadly, they are not always cheaper at all.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mrs P
I just check what is under neath and if it is cheaper I take off the special ticket but this is why inflation is going on because big companies get away with it
 
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 say 'stop whinging as staff are overworked already due to shortages'. Just suck it up princes and princesses!!
 
  • Sad
Reactions: Defiant540
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?
you can see a price rise in the price per 100gm listed. Shop staff are only busy because they are picking online orders, that's why we have larger checkout queues also now.
 
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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chicky
If you aren’t happy with a supermarket then don’t go there again. Go
to Independent Grocers but be prepared to pay more. Aldi Stores don’t have a full range of goods or Express Lanes but they most certainly are a lot cheaper. We do our fruit & vegetables shopping at local markets as fresher and cheaper. Everything is going up all the time. Fact of life . . . . . . Sadly!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chicky
I have been checking prices for many years now and have noticed that if something is on Special always check the price under the Specials tag as well.
But what it boils down too is Know Your Prices. That way Big Companies can't get extra money out of you, they will keep trying though.
 
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.
Imagine all the thousands of people who dont check their dockets. The profits would be enormous. They even offer money back and item free. But thats only for people
who check dockets
 
Honesty brings me to the table once more. When one is limited to TIME mostly when shopping you may have children with you who are tired, hungry or want to go home. Such Mum's are not going to look @ every price they see on the shelf & compare. Who knows for a few cents she has been charged more or less is going to stop her from buying. We are all limited @ the moment to price availability, bargains etc but none of us should complain really. If it was dollars then we would all have something to complain about but, when you see what I mentioned somewhere else of an elderly lady on a walking stick pushing her husband in a wheelchair who was so much bigger than herself, I must admit I can't see complaining is going to make a Supermarket change their attitude really. They surely know short staffing IS their problem. I AM sure they WILL do something after reading so many complaints. CENTS DO MATTER to big families. 100 turns to a dollar & THEY know that for their profit & losses. Our late son used to pull petrol for a service station after school for pocket money & the owner taught him that it's the cents he would need to worry about because they make the paper money everyone wants. I blessed that owner for that lesson to our son early in his school days.
 
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
spelling check please!
 
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
Oh my god don't we have some bloody whingers in our society. Imagine a huge company like Kmart trying to do someone out of 25 cents. Please you whingers get a life!
 

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