My local Woolworths was turned into a ‘Metro’ store some time ago. The 2 other nearest Woolworths are also Metro now. I usually shop at Coles but visited Woolworths yesterday with a list of products on special. None of the items I purchased had their prices reduced apparently because they don’t offer the specials at Metro stores. I wonder how many people are aware of this? As I wasn’t! So Woolworths is no longer a supermarket but a glorified convenience store with prices to match? Or is it just ‘inner city tax’. I like to research the specials but no point now with Woolworths. Looks like I’ll be sticking to Coles where they honour the advertised prices!
Woolworths Metro Prices
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I've seen catalogue specials offered at Woolies Metro Pitt Street Mall; maybe it's just your Woolies Metro that doesn't offer it?
Metro Woolies don't offer all the specials of the full sized Woolies and sometimes there are specials at Metro which aren't at the full supermarkets. It's a bit annoying as you never know which specials will be offered because there's no online pricing for Metro.
The pricing in 'Metro' stores reflect the costs to run these stores, difficult logistics, extremely expensive floor-space etc
Supermarket specials are run at very low margin and provide very little in revenue besides getting a shopper in store to buy the rest of their weekly groceries at normal high margins.
With the small basket sizes of 'Metro' stores this revenue model does not add up. Woolworth is business and is in the market to make a profit.
End of the day they can charge what they want, your a consumer and you have a choice where you buy your items. Don't like it?? Shop somewhere else.
Or is it just ‘inner city tax’.
Bingo. Inner city stores have hire overheads, more rent, reduced volume of sales, and logistics nightmares mean lots of smaller trucks vs large truck delivering items.
Just like Coles express isn't Coles, Woolworths Metro isn't Woolworths.
Like for like, Metro store products are 10% more expensive than the normal stores. They carry a reduced range, but a lot more of the pre-prepared foods. Some of them are surprisingly good, especially when discounted, such as the poke bowls. There were a lot of discounts when they first opened as the were trying to gauge stock levels.
Metro matches front page catalog only.
The 10% markup is only on some stores.
i'm surprised BNE CBD Macarthur Woolie isn't metro.
Yeah i think the ones in spencer st and central mall melbourne are full woolies too, arent there any in syd cbd?
Edit: there's only one actual Woolies in Sydney CBD, at Town Hall
You'd think my local Woolworths stores are Metro stores because they sometimes don't change the full price tag to a to half price one during national promos. It scans at half price, they just don't want people picking it up to start with. :p
Woolworths Metro is definitely more expensive than the normal Woolies, however I have found that some stuff there is at the special price found in the catalogue. So my experience isn't identical to yours.
That said, I only go there now to pick up some of the food they've got. I've found the sushi, which is prepared fresh in front of you, to be delicious. And then some hot foods like soup is good too.
It might just be your Metros. My ones offer the catalogue specials if the store stocks that item. I'm also noticing more and more basic items are now also normal price and doesn't have the 10% markup.
OK I'll be shopping at Coles… my biggest gripe is there is no way to check prices in advance of shopping there (Metro) :(
Wouldn't think Coles is better, if special price shows on website but not mention in current catalogue it might be online only, you have to walk into a store to check store price.
Also Coles charge high price for online order on some products.This also not only applies to specials, but regular prices too. Eg 350g Cadbury Milk Chocolate is $5.00 in regular Woolworths but $5.25 in Woolworths Metro.
https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/productdetails/757883/cad…
According to the person from Woolworths customer support, this website is only for online shopping, not for price checking!
(Despite the "check stock in our stores" directly below the price, which showed the Woolworths Metro)
I was told that despite being a signatory to the Scanning Code of Conduct, they are not obliged to explain this anywhere.
https://www.choice.com.au/shopping/consumer-rights-and-advic…
"The code says that when an item is scanned at a higher price than it says on the shelf or as advertised, a customer is entitled to receive the first item free and all later items at the lower price."
Woolies metro are similar to Coles express in that they basically do their own thing. They're priced less like their supermarket counterparts and more like convenience stores. Pretty sure most people know about this since they've existed for several years.