Is It Just My Local Woolies or Everyones Like This

If you want to pay cash for a few items, maybe behind 3 people with a few items each, it will take 10-20 minutes to get served. There will be staff members talking to each other that couldn't give a rats ass about getting on the till and helping out.
The other day, I'm waiting at the smokes and phones part to pay cash for groceries. After 5 minutes still not one staff is there at the counter, people wanting smokes are lined up and end up leaving taking their business somewhere else.
Then some idiot in a green uniform says to me, go stand over behind that trolley counter and get served. Finally, they run my stuff through and over charge me on higher priced fruit and they never want to give you a receipt.
Last time I said" You just ripped me off on the fruit, how will I know if you ripped me on something else without the receipt"

They just don't seem to care about how long you wait, they never want to give you a receipt, and they're always hitting you up for a donation, and or trying to sneak it on the transaction if you're paying by card.
Is your supermarket like this?

Related Stores

Woolworths
Woolworths

Comments

  • +47

    Use the self-serve checkout next time?

      • +62

        ? Self-serve machines take cash. Yes it's true that there are card-only ones but there'll be a few that still take cash

          • +18

            @jizmo: Time to move then. I live in a country town and my Woolies has multiple self checkouts that accept cash.

          • @jizmo: its 2023 and you dont use card? why?

            • +12

              @Rukiata:

              and you dont use card?

              reduce plastic use.

              • +3

                @jv: Sounds like a plastic straw man argument.

                • +3

                  @TEER3X: Interesting update on the paper straws. They're found recently to contain more 'forever chemicals' over plastic straws (PFAS); which are horrible for our health and the environment (PFAS are water soluble and contaminate soil)

              • @jv:

                reduce plastic use.

                By using your mobile wallet.

                • -1

                  @DoctorCalculon: The wallet my mobile is in is PU leather.

                  • @jv: Then you can PUck off until you can afford real leather.

              • @jv: Isnt cash plastic?

                • +1

                  @Tleyx: I only use coins.

              • @jv: What do you think denominations of $5 and above are made from?

            • @Rukiata: Here is a starting point for you… https://youtu.be/tIr9GfCtd9U?si=BbhDyJH5dLFAXotK

            • +7

              @Rukiata: Cash isn't illegal (yet)

            • +6

              @Rukiata: Cash is still common. Most people have some. Why not use it? When I take recyling to the depot, I get paid in cash. When I go to garage sales, or buy from Facebook marketplace, they only accept cash. So it still goes around.

              • +8

                @nuttapillar: You can buy apple products for free using payid on marketplace.

                @deonhong

            • +8

              @Rukiata: You really think it's good that we let a company take 1% of the transactions we make using card?

              Paying by card also lets the company see your historic spending habits at their store with the same card (and presumably they share this across their entire corporate group where it exists). Literally just data they mine to induce people to spend more…

              • +1

                @Assburg:

                You really think it's good that we let a company take 1% of the transactions we make using card?

                They are providing an actual service for that 1% you know, it's really not that bad.

                Saves you the time of needing to go get the cash from somewhere, the risk of carrying the cash you may lose or have stolen from you. Hassle of carrying around all the coins you inevitably will accumulate as change etc All these things do have value.

                • @trapper: Each to their own but…. People generally spend less when they actually see the money change hands.

                  Being burdened with hard cash to manage isn't… A real problem.

                  • @Assburg: Just pointing out that there is some actual service being provided for that ~1% charge.

                    If you want to stick with cash then you should, it has its advantages too.

                • @trapper:

                  the risk of carrying the cash you may lose or have stolen from you.

                  So if my credit cards gets lost or stolen I could lose all my savings. But if I lost a $50 note, I just lose $50. 🤔

                  • @pufffdragon:

                    So if my credit cards gets lost or stolen I could lose all my savings.

                    No there is no risk of this, have you had a credit card before?.

                    Your bank will just reverse any fraudulent transactions, you lose nothing.

            • @Rukiata: Gets paid in cash ;) ;) ;)

          • -2

            @jizmo: All self serve checkouts take cash I believe. There is always at least a couple that do cash.

            • +1

              @serpserpserp: Less than half of self service checkouts take cash in my experience.

            • @serpserpserp: No. Not all at all. The majority are card only.

              But I've never been to a supermarket that didn't have at least one self serve machine that accepted cash

              • -2

                @spoco2: Read the last part of what I wrote. I really about he collectively, then say at least a couple take cash

            • @serpserpserp: a percentage between 0% to 100% take cash

      • +2

        Sir, this is ozbargain! You need to buy discounted gift cards to pay with.

    • +5

      I am sure the OP knows this is the option. . His comment is not what alternatives there such as C&C, home delivery, going to another supermarket. His complain is about the customer service at the supermarket and if the answer is don't use them but use manual machines instead then that's not really an answer.

      He is not asking for alternatives, just highlight that customer service is applying at this woolies and if its consistent with others or not.

  • +18

    My local woolworths has, totally unprofessional workers, workers who make no effort to do their job, beligerent customers who hassle you for money and a fruit and veg section that is filthy. So seems pertty normal.

    • +2

      ( Waiting for the anti Dan chorus to point the finger of blame )

      Sounds like a workplace culture issue.

    • +3

      If you were a professional and ended up working at Woolworths then that is probably someone who went to jail.

      • -3

        Professional = "Does it for money".

        No more, no less.

        • context is everything mate. clearly zombrex was referring professionalism.

    • -3

      That doesn't sound specific to Woolies, or even location specific tbh… at least not in the prison state of Victoria…

      • I'm in Victoria but some woolworths are definitely better than others.

        • +1

          I guess probably in very affluent suburbs they might want to give a better impression to customers, but that's the exception IMHO.

    • +2

      That's probably reflective of the teenagers living in the area, rather than the company — they should be courteous and attentive, and in many areas you will find that. I don't agree with the way Woolies is deliberately cutting staff and replacing checkouts with self-checkouts, but on the whole the staff in the 3 stores I regularly use, I don't find any issue with the staff at all, just that there aren't enough of them.

    • +1

      It's unfortunate but generally the barrier to entry for employment is low, and though it may vary by individuals if you were outstanding in the 'retail' space you look elsewhere.

  • +3

    It's officially Woolworths post month…

    Megathread time?

  • +14

    I've never had issues with them handing me, or the self checkout station printing a receipt.

    Generally speaking if there isn't someone at a counter, don't stand there expecting to get served. Either line up at a checkout line serving people, or self checkout.

    • +14

      You know the potatoes will be ok on the 6/9 right?

      • +12

        Only if you don't feed them after 11.59pm on 5/9, and don't expose them to light and water!

      • +8

        6/9 - NICE!

      • -3

        If they really are the fresh food people, the used by date would have 3-4 weeks on it before they start to degrade.
        That was my point.

        • Fresh = Not frozen

          That would appear to be Woolworth's preferred and only definition.

    • +2

      I had the 2KG $4 potatoes tonight. They were delicious - well at least as good as any other white washed spud except for Carisma.

    • +4

      Another little cry. I bought 1 litre milk cardboard carton from Aldi on Friday the 1/9 used by date is 29/9. Stopped in at Woolies same milk carton, used by date is 7/9.

      Not necessarily the same 'type' of milk. I came across this elsewhere when I was checkiing if milk can have such a long expiry.

      Probably ESL (Extended Shelf Life) milk. It’s an in between fresh and UHT and has to be kept chilled. The dairy company I worked at, it would only be put into cartons.

      Carton 1 litre is extended shelf life milk (ESL). It can get to 50 days. In processing terms it’s like half way between standard pasteurised milk and UHT milk. It’s heat treatment is higher, so It will taste slightly more caramel than standard pasteurised 15day shelf life milk.

      • That's so cool! Thanks for the lesson. Gonna have to try some and see what the flavour is like. I've noticed that UHT milk tastes different to the regular stuff and thought it was just in my head.

        • Some UHT milk can be quite bad (if you are used to fresh milk), whereas I don't really notice the difference between ESL milk and any other milk. In fact I would call it better tasting.

          Woolworths sell it too, it's the organic milk in cardboard.

        • In England it was sold as "sterilised" in the old bottle days, and children used to request it because it tasted sweeter.

          "UHT" came in during the shift to cartons - probably a marketing move to make it sound "modern" rather than save a miniscule amount on the printing…

      • I used to buy Zymil lactose free milk, then switched to Riverina lactose free because it was a bit cheaper and the use by date was always longer.

        But a couple of times I found it going off before the use by, so I switched back.

    • +1

      Yo jizmo

      Do I have this right:

      You are publicly bagging Woolies out in an online forum because they were offering to sell you potatoes that still had a few days to go before the expiry date, for $2 a kilo?

      If that is indeed correct, that's a total w@#k.

      • That's what I was thinking - potatos past their best are better by the litre.

    • The best before date on the potatoes you mean.

  • +6

    And yet they made billions profits

    • +3

      "Treat them mean keep them keen". Trade ethics and motto of Qantas, Woolies customer experience team.

  • +20

    " You just ripped me off on the fruit, how will I know if you ripped me on something else without the receipt"

    Is that your first response when asked if you want a receipt?

      • +38

        I can see why you're getting the experience you're getting lol.

        • She's not that ugly from 40 feet

          • +7

            @jizmo: Maybe they confused you with your sister?

            • -2

              @Ughhh: Well, he confused a bit of fruit. As I said, they're not real bright

              • +20

                @jizmo: You seem to think that they're all against you. You also seem to be speaking about people like they're a pos when they're just trying to get a wage in a role where they can't hide from w$+kers wanting smokes, paying cash and treating them like shit.
                Maybe you should not bother with the fruits if they upset you so much.

                • -1

                  @cookie2: They're paid to serve, not stand around and talk about what they're doing next weekend.
                  If you think 5 people waiting to get served are all (profanity) and want to treat you like shit before you've even served them.

                  You'll make the national employee of the year at Woolies.
                  Keep up that spirit

                  • +2

                    @jizmo: Ahhh jizmo, you just keep 'reeling them in'!

                  • +1

                    @jizmo: I'm convinced that you're at least 50 years old with that attitude.

                    You probably think that everyone needs to just "pull themselves up by their bootstraps" and "I had a house on one wage when I was young!"

      • +3

        Post as as deal?¿

  • +1

    No it's '23 and i use Card + Self Serve

  • -2

    omg people shop at woolies still
    from this post
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/797030
    i thought everyone shops at aldi

    am i stupid or am i missing something. ehy would u shop at woolies
    u like fully rich and like wasting money?

  • +14

    "Some idiot in a green uniform"….

    No reason to insult others.

  • -1

    Take a video and post it on social media and tag woolies.

    Probably the only way you'll get any traction.

  • +1

    OP, refer to this Feedback & Enquiry Form and attention your rant thoughts via that form accordingly.

    /Thread

  • +4

    I think a lot of it depends on your local Woolies and the manger that runs it. Mine also seems to suffer from a smaller area for stock storage, leading to empty shelves for particular items. This happened after the store was renovated to make it larger, obviously at the expense of storage.

    I've been using the same store for 40 years, and the local Coles for about the same time. The staff at Coles have generally seemed happier doing their job.

    The local Woolies manager also accused me once of being a theif, after I had loaded up with more than $300 worth of meat they had mismarked and my son had done the same. They tightened up their act after our extended family probably took them for $1000 in free meat.

  • +3

    and they never want to give you a receipt.

    Whether they want to or not is irrelevant if you ask for one.

  • +1

    My local Woolies has gone like this. I'll only shop there if i have to. I note that coles has put on more seniors in the service roles which, in my area, is beneficial.
    Otherwise, my preference is Foodland/Drakes.

    • -1

      Foodland/Drakes

      Let's add Foodworks and IGA to the list while we are at it.

    • True but not when you want to buy the Coles Mastercard GCs.

  • +3

    Light up a ciggy while you wait, that will get their attention 😆 , pls post update afterwards

    • Or you can just walk up and punch one of them.
      Doing crime on Woolworths property will also attract the attention of the boys and girls in blue.

  • +3

    Just yours…

    The ones I go to are actually pretty good. I was at a super busy one yesterday and they were moving people through really fast, staff super attentive and watching the queues. All the staff they I’ve seen have been positive and friendly.

  • For self-checkout, my local Woolies has 8 x card and 2 x cash-and-card machines (usually taken up by card customers).
    As a cash customer the sole Woolies supervisor does get embarrassed when they shuffle the card customers past me
    as I observe maybe they should have more cash machines …

    • -2

      Maybe you should consider getting a card.

      • Nice try, The Government.

        • At least they can't get your finger prints off your card, unlike cash.

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