Buyers beware. If you take up woolworths offer of free home delivery for over $300 spend, you might get charged $20 additionally if your order weighs more than 150k. No incentive to be a loyal customer! They give all these discounts to entice customers, but find ways to get it back. Then if you do not pay the additional delivery fee, the order is cancelled but your credit card is still charged and can take up to 5 days to be credited back!!
Loud Noises!
They have YOUR CREDIT CARD COMPANY'S money! So the inconvenience to you over the 5 days it will take to be refunded is 0
You shouldn't be going on a 2 week vacation if you've only got $300 spending money.
Some of us keep purposely low credit limits (and some simply don't qualify for high credit limits) so it can be an inconvenience not having that credit balance available.
@Son ofa Zombie: he was planning to make a $300 purchase and Woolies 'over-charged' him by $20. That was the $20 that should have remained on his credit card and that he was planning to spend on his holidays?!
@OP, you should just have asked a friend/neighbour/colleague to lend you $20 to spend on your holidays and once woolies have refunded you , you could have refunded them.No big deal.
@Jar Jar Binks: i get it. but you know the site is heading in the wrong direction when folks are bragging he should be spending more money when on holidays.
to the lemming that negged me, if you are spending any money when on holiday, you are doing it the wrong way.
I think everyone is misunderstanding OP, it isn't the $20 charge missing from his card that impacts his holiday, it is the $300 charge that he is waiting on the refund for.
He would have had to spend another $300 on doing his shopping instore as well, so he is down $600 for his normal $300 shopping. That extra $300 may have been part of the holiday money, and he wasn't expecting it to be tied up with Woolworths.
Either way, $20 delivery on $300 groceries doesn't sound too bad. But it should be more visibly advertised, not a T&C small print.
$20 delivery on $300 groceries doesn't sound too bad.
Actually he got charged $20 because the weight for his order exceeded 150kg
He would have had to spend another $300 on doing his shopping instore as well…
Unlikely, how do you fit over 150kg in a shopping trolley? He would also have needed the help of a few people to load over 150k g in his truck , assuming he has one.
Also,AFAIK, woolies has a policy that stops you from buying in bulk. Obviously, OP has found a loophole by buying online.
Op is either
i) a restaurant owner who was buying staples (rice, flour..etc) in bulk from woolies because it is cheaper than buying from a wholesaler. But if that was the case , you would assume he would be using a business credit card and the whinge about not having enough money to go on holidays is just a ploy to get some sympathy votes.
or ii) he is broden. He was buying in bulk for resale (in his shop, online?) and hoping to make a tidy little profit. Things didn't work out as planned and now he's whingeing about loyalty and stuff..I,for one, don't believe we should encourage brodenism or whingeing.
@Jar Jar Binks:
I wasn't disputing the reason for the $20 charge, just making an assessment that $20 for shipping $300 worth of goods is not a bad shipping price relative to the value.
You may be correct on what you believe the OP to be doing, but the point still stands that Woolworths is charging the fee for the goods ordered, holding that money and then charging a further fee based on T&Cs. Which leaves you with two options:
1) Pay the second fee and receive the goods - nothing illegal about this of course, as it is outlined in the T&Cs.
2) Cancel the order, and wait 5~ business days to have your funds released back to you.
Neither of those options are desirable, surely their checkout system is advanced enough in 2015 to work out the exceptions for extra fees - such as 150kg+ - where additional charges can be brought in prior to payment.
@BoneyMalone: I doubt woolies is holding the OP's money. It would be his credit card company. So I would understand if his rant was about the bank taking 3-4 business days to cancel a transaction on his card. Then again , credit means bank money that they are lending you. SO really was never his money in the first place.
Also, as per OP, he has ordered in bulk before and was never charged the $20. So because he got away with it a couple of times, he now chooses to assume that the t&cs don't apply to him… and we are expected to feel sorry for him that they do?!
Maybe if he shared some of his discount codes with us, then we might be more willing to listen to his rant but until then …. ;)
go buy a $0.30 cone from HJ, deep breathe, relax, and then give them a call.
Maybe also buy a new keyboard from Microsoft with a cash back deal or something because your caps lock button might be broken
i STILL HAVE A CAPS-LOCK ISSUE WITH MY KEYBOARD. eNABLED IT A FEW DAYS AGO AND NOW MY LIFE IS GOING DOWNHILL FAST!!! mY FRIENDS HAVE STOPPED TALKING TO ME BECAUSE THEY THINK I'M ALWAYS YELLING AT THEM. pLZ HELP!!!
Try shift + f3
Try talking (instead of messaging) to real people.
150kg!! were you buying a whole cow? :)
What? Is that not allowed?
well don't keep us in suspense :) $300, 150kg. that's $2/kg of something …
Home brand flour is 89c kilo. 337kg?
Was 2Lt lemonade on special for $1 recently? That would be around 600kg for the $300 spend.
15L home brand cat litter is $6.55. It would be close to 1kg per liter, so about 687kg for the $300.
Ooh, I think I have a winner - Green Gardner potting mix is $3.75 for 25L. Again it would be close to 1kg = 1L I would think, so 80 sacks for $300, getting close to 2 tonne.
Ooh, I think I have a winner - Green Gardner potting mix is $3.75 for 25L. Again it would be close to 1kg = 1L I would think, so 80 sacks for $300, getting close to 2 tonne.
LMAO
I love me some of that potting mix, at 25L, why don't those suckers lug it my yard and put it in the pot for me!
@mattgal, more likely he was buying goods in bulk for resale. Some of those specials from woolies are cheaper than buying directly from the wholesaler.
I can't hear you over your shouting
http://m.woolworthsonline.com.au/TermsAndConditions
11 Bulk Orders
11.1 If we classify an Order as a “Bulk Order”, your Order may attract a handling charge depending on the size of your Order. Examples of orders that we classify as “Bulk Orders” are as follows:
(a) Order of Products over normal retail quantities;
(b) Order of Products which exceed 150 kg; and
(c) Multiple orders placed during any 7 day period that combined volume meets or exceeds the bulk order criteria.
11.2 If your Order is a Bulk Order, we will contact you as soon as possible after the placement of your Order to advise you of the exact handling charge payable in respect of your Order.
If they didn't contact you then just argue the point.
Beat me to it lol
If they specify exceptions in their ts & cs then yes.
If they specify exceptions in their terms/conditions of use AND it's an exception that the average shopper is very unlikely to hit. Your complain may have more bite if the limit was $50, not $150…
I dunno how you can possibly hit $150 doing normal grocery shopping…
Why do people feel so entitled when they read "free shipping" and expect it to be limitless? You know it's not really free right? It's built into the cost of the items. If the cost of shipping your order for $0 is disproportionately higher than the average order, they are going to charge you $20. Seems fair to me. Go call a courier and see what they charge to move 150kg anywhere…
What's sneaky about it? Their Terms and Conditions are clearly listed and available on their website right below their Delivery Fees.
http://www2.woolworthsonline.com.au/Shop/TermsAndConditions
11 Bulk Orders
11.1 If we classify an Order as a “Bulk Order”, your Order may attract a handling charge depending on the size of your Order. Examples of orders that we classify as “Bulk Orders” are as follows:
(a) Order of Products over normal retail quantities;
(b) Order of Products which exceed 150 kg; and
(c) Multiple orders placed during any 7 day period that combined volume meets or exceeds the bulk order criteria.
11.2 If your Order is a Bulk Order, we will contact you as soon as possible after the placement of your Order to advise you of the exact handling charge payable in respect of your Order.
11.3 If you are unsure whether your Order is a Bulk Order and would like to find out the exact handling charge payable in respect of your Order before you place your Order, please contact our Customer Service Centre on 1800 000 610 or email [email protected].
11.4 We value your Orders. To enable us to service you better, we request that you contact our Customer Service Centre on 1800 000 610, seven (7) days prior to the placement of any Bulk Orders to allow us to ensure that the appropriate stock is ordered and available for your requirements.
Frustratingly, that is quite the norm. It isn't only Woolworths. I can't personally explain how it all works but I presume the delay is purely because of how banking works - these things aren't instantaneous for whatever reasons. Believe me, I'm as confused as you in those regards… :P
But yeah. You're kinda lucky it was only a few days. Plenty of stories around here of people having their money in limbo for periods longer.
It was only credited today because I contacted them. They didnt send the order, nor did they cancel it as they said they would.
The bank approves the transaction when the payment is processed (ie. when you confirm the order online) and places the funds in the account on hold. Woolies can finalise the transaction using that approval code. In this case they will not because OP has requested to cancel the order. The funds remain on hold for 5-10 business days, depending on the bank, and are released back to OP's account if not claimed by Woolies. Alternatively Woolies can send the bank formal notification the funds are no longer required and the hold can be released. Different banks have different requirements for this release process.
HAS ANYONE ELSE ORDERED 150KG BEFORE? THE ONLY WAY I RECKON I COULD ACHIEVE THAT IS WITH DRY DOG FOOD AND BEER.
Lyfe essentialz.
Is that not allowed either?
cartons and cartons of cheap soft drink cans (coke or pepsi). I see it a lot in store, usually it is shop keepers buying for their own store to resell at $3 a can.
Or a Bunnings bbq! :)
yeah, my Dad buys for the Mens Shed BBQs at Bunnings they are in but wouldnt be buying $300, 150kgs of drinks and sauce.
IF YOU HAVE A WOOLIES DISCOUNT CODE, BE SURE TO POST IT ON OZBARGAIN… THERE MAY BE SOMEONE WHO CAN WORK OUT HOW TO STACK IT AND EVERYONE POSSIBLY CAN GET CHEAP GROCERIES AND LIQUOR…ITS BEEN A WHILE SINCE THE LAST WOOLIES RORT!
ᵒᵏ
SHOUT THAT OUT! EVERYONE HERE WILL BE UP FOR THAT! BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS FOR ME ONLY. gIVE A DISCOUNT (FOR MY LOYAL SUPPORT WITH LARGE ORDERS) BUT ADD ON FOR DELIVERY!
Gee, I get no sympathy here!
I'd hazard a guess that it might be more due to the fact that your original post was in caps lock.
You might wanna read this: http://netiquette.wikia.com/wiki/Rule_number_2_-_Do_not_use_…
No, I've had my say. I just wanted other to know, but it seems everyone here has read all the fine print and didnt need to be made aware. Anyway, all you lovely people you replied, I have more to do on this beautiful Melbourne day and am off now for a fortnights holiday at the beach. Love that!
150kg of sunscreen?
No because I didnt get my order!!!!!!
Lol, chilli out. You didn't read the T&CS, you order a unusually heavy order, they have a clear policy for how they deal with it. You obviously, either never bothered to read it, or just assumed its all ok. And now you are stuck with a few days less credit, you're not even at a loss. And you're screaming? I'd hate to think how you would deal with a real loss in life.
Gee, I get no sympathy here!
What? Is that not allowed?
If you want sympathy:
Say things that a simple teenager can comprehend.
Don't use complex words or concepts.
Don't pick on big business (unless socially-accepted). Don't pick on government.
Don't require the audience to power on their brain.
Use legal references of restrictions.
Make it humorous.
Also, do not use more than 160 characters. End with something snappy.
Your welcome.
That's because you didn't read the T&Cs when you ordered. Trying to shift the blame on to the discount code is not going to work.
Did you buy heat beads for your holiday? That's a lot to pack… What will you do now?
(Grabs popcorn)
Any idea how many packets of popcorn 150kg would be ?
Popped or unpopped?
I'm thinking around 1500 packs of popped.
Does popped popcorn weigh more than unpopped popcorn, this could be one for mythbusters.
@t_c:
I suspect they weigh the same, but the packs you buy will probably reflect the volume. i was thinking you'd probably buy a 100g pack of popped or 200-500g of unpopped.
Are you not notified if your order is considered "BULK"? If you not you should be prior to making payment I would think.
You do realise that ANY credit card refunds take a few days for the banks to process?
I tell all my customers to wait 3-4 days for the refund to appear on their statement.
Also you're complaining about a LEGIT fee that is in the terms and conditions because YOU failed to read it?
Man I can't wait till you get your ass ripped with contracts and PDS haha
Yep - I got charged $30 additional, then they had the nerve to tell me "we'll we needed 1/2 a truck just for your order".
When I phoned up to complain they referred me to their website about "commercial orders" blah blah blah - I only went all in just to take advantage of the $30 coupon.
Fail….
They should be giving discounts for orders that take up half a truck - its more economical for them to only load / unload and make one stop for one customer. Far less man hours involved than say 6 x 25kg orders!
I think people misunderstoof OP point overall the shouting. He/she simply means that if Woolies was to charge the additional fees, they should do so at check out before he/she pays. Is this correct OP?
Personally i think $20 is too much, almost the same as my weekly grocery..
150kg is also a bit much if I'm honest.
That would require all goods sold have a weight attached to it on the system. I doubt that's the case.
I reckon, the system carriers no weight checking and adding. What happens is, 99.9999% of all orders look and seem reasonable. And the person just delivers it.
This time around, the person who packed it said "WTF" this is rediculous. Surely we have some policy against this, and checks. There is no policy, but it is an additional fee, so let's charge the OP. Seems fair, given this is not a routine occurrence.
And given the situation, where woolies have refunded the amount and the OP is only a few days out of credit ( and no OP, this is NOT your money), I see nothing wrong with this.
Certainly nothing to be screaming and kicking over, and demanding sympathy from the world over his "loss".
The size and weight of a product is one of the most important pieces of information they have. They most certainly know how much every single item they stock weighs and I would bet they also know the volume of every item as well.
Think about unit pricing and why volume and weight are important.
I didn't say they don't know it. I'mssaying it's possible the ordering system doesn't try to add it all up. Remember there are fruits, veggies, meats etc that might not be sold by weight.
And as I said, if it's not a common occurrence, it's common practice to not complicate a IT with extra function specifications for the 1 in a thousand (maybe tens of thousands) occurrence.
They know they weight of every item because it's used with self-checkouts.
@pennae: I can confirm that they don't. They only know the weight of the items that are sold by weight.
@Jar Jar Binks: then why do I always get "unexplained item in bagging area"? ;) Nah, really, how can the self checkout distinguish between a 2L bottle of Pepsi and a packet of muesli bars (and it seems to!) if the weight is not recorded? I'm curious!
@pennae: The only reason I know this is because I recently had to return something that I had bought. I was barely out of the supermarket, so i went to the customer service/enquiries desk and tried to return it but we couldn't find the item on my receipt. Instead they found another item on it.
Everyone was perplexed. They called a supervisor and he noticed that an incorrect reduced for quick sale sticker had been stuck to the bottom of the item that I've bought. The product that I bought was upwards of $10 and I would guess weighed over 650 gms while the reduced sticker was for an item that had normal price of $3.99 and was reduced to $2.50. It probably weighed 300gms max.
@Jar Jar Binks: Was that through self-service check outs? (when you made the purchases)
Some Woolworths had their scales deactivated for a LONG time - two of my local Woolies definitely didn't weigh the items as you placed them in the bags, so you could theoretically scan item A but put item B in the bagging area with a different weight, and it wouldn't beep or alert you/anyone. I loved shopping there (not because of anything devious lol) purely because it wasn't a continuous pain in the arse with the machines being overly sensitive and screaming "Unexpected item in bagging area!!" if you'd accidentally taken the bags off too quickly or had an item leaning on the register while in the bag, etc etc. I like to be quick… not slowed down by technology (even if it's a user error) :P
But yeah, there is another Woolies in a dodgy area not too far from my suburb that always had their scales activated… for obvious reasons :) The lines would move so slow in self service there because machines would constantly need help from staff due to all these little user errors with the scales in the bagging area / technique wise etc.
Recently-ish my locals activated their scales though. Only realised this when I'd scanned and bagged some stuff, and took the bag off the rack thingy too soon (before the green light - which, prior to the scales being activated, were always permanently green.. so I'd never paid any attention or noticed them being red/green once they'd finally activated things).
Anyway. TL;DR - some Woolies did (any there might still be some out there that do?) have their scales deactivated and wouldn't detect weight discrepancies when bagging. Maybe yours is one? Or… who knows? Maybe clearance / reduced price stickers are different too - perhaps the registers just scan the new price without recognising all of the product details? (I dunno, I made that up..)
I was also convinced they weighed things and had it all on record and synced with the scales.
@waterlogged turnip: Yes through self-checkout.
Here's an example have you ever bought a pack of cheese and chives puffs (there's 2 in one pack).How much does each pack weigh?
Or those baked cheesecakes. On the box, it says they weigh 700g (?) , can you guarantee that all of them are going to weigh 700g after they've been baked and decorated?
Not sure if making any sense. Have only slept 3 out of the last 32hrs. need sleep. 'night
Correct - if Woolies have the ability to know the weight of all of their purposes for self check out purposes, surly they know the weight of goods sold online and can advise of "additional" charges before checkout. I guess its a system in its relative infancy and will improve over time.
Do Woolworth's sell a "teaspoon of cement".? 150kg of this can harden someone up.
150kg is equivalent to about 17 cases of coke. That's a lot of back and forth trips to the truck. Who knows how big the whole order was.
what kind of bargain hunter doesn't order more than 17 cases of coke at a time?
I think that's what the OP bought! Coke was half price for one day only two weekends ago.
what kind of bargain hunter doesn't order more than 17 cases of coke at a time?
One that has missed a Bourbon deal from Dan Murphy.
I'd be asking for compensation
Cancelling the order should not charge your card. Especially if these fees were hidden until after you had already commited to the order
Stop shouting