Woolworths Advertises Half Price but Doesn’t Honor It
Last night around 7:30 PM, I visited my local Woolworths, which was bustling with customers grabbing last-minute dinner items after work or the gym. The store stays open until 10 PM.
I noticed that Shapes were prominently advertised at half price at the end of the aisle, complete with large signage, and since I had friends coming over this weekend (let’s be honest, they were for my own late-night snacking while working from home), I decided to grab a couple of boxes.
After completing my shopping and heading to the checkout, I was surprised when the items scanned at full price. I called over an attendant, who informed me that the half-price promotion didn’t actually start until the following day, and that the shelving was just being set up early. He offered to remove the items from my transaction.
Normally, I wouldn’t make a fuss, but with all the issues Woolworths has been dealing with lately, I felt it was unacceptable, so I asked to speak with a manager. The manager reiterated that the promotion wouldn’t begin until tomorrow, despite the clear advertisement of the half price. I pointed out that this could mislead many customers, as I saw others taking the same items off the shelf without noticing the discrepancy at checkout. After consulting with another manager, they finally agreed to honor the advertised price “as a gesture of goodwill.”
Given the ongoing legal issues and scrutiny the company is facing, I plan to file a complaint with Woolworths, the ACCC, and NSW Fair Trading. This situation is just another example of how they are misleading customers. They might argue that they need to rearrange shelving during open hours to cut costs, which in itself poses safety risks with trolleys and boxes blocking aisles, but this seems like an excuse to deceive shoppers at the checkout.
I have photos of the misleading signage, but I’ll leave it to others to investigate further.
It’s frustrating to hear about your experience at Woolworths, especially during a busy shopping time. It’s completely understandable to feel misled when a product is clearly marked as being on sale but ends up scanning at full price. You did the right thing by speaking up about it, and it’s good to know the manager eventually honored the price as a gesture of goodwill.
Your decision to escalate the matter to Woolworths, the ACCC, and Fair Trading NSW is valid. Consumer rights should always be upheld, and it’s important for retailers to be held accountable for misleading advertising or pricing errors, particularly when they can affect so many customers.
It’s unfortunate that such situations arise, especially when they can lead to confusion and frustration for shoppers. Hopefully, your complaint will help raise awareness and encourage Woolworths to be more diligent with their pricing and advertising practices in the future. Thanks for sharing your experience, and I hope your next shopping trip goes much smoother!