Denied Purchase of Mangos (Past Best Before Date) at Coles

cloudy on 12/12/2024 - 13:44
Last edited 12/12/2024 - 13:52 by 2 other users

Has anyone ever been denied the opportunity to buy something at Coles?

Today, I found a 4 pack of prepackaged mangos, I normally don’t get these, but it was reduced to $2.18. When it scanned at a self checkout, it didn’t work, and the checkout chick came and said oh maybe it’s because it’s past BB. She checked and it was indeed one day past, and said we’re not allowed to sell this anymore.

I was a bit bewildered, and I wonder, if this is true? Anyone work for Coles confirm? What do they do with the mangos now? Chuck it? What a waste!

Food & Grocery Fruit

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Coles
Coles

Comments

  • ihbh on 12/12/2024 - 13:49
    +10

    Same with meat and anything else.

    Yes it's a waste. Could go to Ozharvest/equivalent, farmers as compost/maybe feed, dumpsters for divers to get, etc.

    But put yourself in the supermarket's shoes. Some idiot/a*hole might get sick and because it's past BB, can sue them for big bucks and it could affect their reputation.

    If we all took personal responsibility, then there might be less wastage in the world.

    • Donald McRonald on 12/12/2024 - 14:31
      +1

      it could affect their reputation

      What reputation?

      • netjock on 12/12/2024 - 15:26

        For ripping people off.

        Imagine the outrage they are selling past BB food!

  • MS Paint on 12/12/2024 - 13:50

    It's not just you and it's not just Coles.

  • MITM on 12/12/2024 - 13:51
    +1

    You get sick and sue Coles. They'll send the to Ozharvest instead.

    • JIMB0 on 12/12/2024 - 17:54

      sue Coles

      Which court would hear such a case, maybe the food court?

  • jv on 12/12/2024 - 13:57
    -2

    Has anyone ever been denied the opportunity to buy something at Coles?

    Yes, they are not allowed to.

  • altomic on 12/12/2024 - 14:05

    this happened with me and a pack of mushrooms at woolworths.

    BB was the day before, they looked fine. went to scan with reduced sticker on it and it wouldn't scan. staff member said it was past the BB date and they couldn't sell it to me.

    • jv on 12/12/2024 - 14:30
      +3

      this happened with me and a pack of mushrooms at woolworths.

      Hi Erin…

  • cloudy on 12/12/2024 - 14:17
    +1

    I can understand if it’s an expiry date, but BB by definition can be consumed and sold past date. There are places that just sell past BB stuff…

    Anyway, I just thought it must be something new, but maybe it’s not.

    • jv on 12/12/2024 - 14:32
      +1

      I can understand if it’s an expiry date, but BB by definition can be consumed and sold past date.

      They prefer to reduce their risk of being sued…

    • fantombloo on 12/12/2024 - 17:59

      Mangos should not have BB dates in the first place. These are reserved for categories of food that do not promote / support bacterial growth, which mangos do.

  • ihfree on 12/12/2024 - 14:28

    Happened on one or two occasions with clearance items at Woolworths.

  • mrdean on 12/12/2024 - 14:44
    -3

    Yes I've had it to happen to me. It was absurd. And the checkout chick agreed with me. Another example of the nanny state. For your "safety".

    • Dollar General on 12/12/2024 - 14:48
      +1

      Isn’t this a company policy, not a law they are adhering too?

    • justworld on 12/12/2024 - 15:11
      +1

      It's not really the nanny state. It's the fact that you could sue them for selling goods past their use-by date if you then get sick. It's not worth taking on that liability.

      • mrdean on 12/12/2024 - 15:32
        -1

        I would have happily signed a waiver absolving them of any liability. I really wanted that $1.71 priced ozbargain. In any case, the food got given to one of those food orgs like ozharvest. Not good enough for paying customers but I guess they are happy to take a chance poisoning some other humans.

      • cloudy on 12/12/2024 - 16:38

        its not a use by, its a BB, plus I dunno when it started, but fruits and veggies shouldn't have pre-determined dates set by companies.

  • Trance N Dance on 12/12/2024 - 14:55

    Yeah, I've had it on a carton of flavoured milk. Best before was the following day, it had a clearance sticker on it and the machine said no. The staff member said they're not allowed due to it being past the best before. Pointed out that it wasn't past the best before, but once a sticker has been placed on it protocol is whatever the computer says and they're not allowed to override.

  • browser on 12/12/2024 - 15:02
    +1

    Sounds like a sensible policy.

    It's all good and well when happy customers left thinking they saved a few bucks, but things can turn ugly really quickly when angry customers return to complain the food was off. They will post on social media and appear on current affair programs without mentioning the money they saved.

    It's just not worth the risk to their brand reputation and potential legal obligations.

  • GordonD on 12/12/2024 - 15:17
    +2

    Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

    If they sell past the BB date, someone will complain that its dodgy goods. If the don't sell past BB date, someone else will complain that they're not allowed to buy an OzBargain.

    • cloudy on 12/12/2024 - 16:40

      complain that they're not allowed to buy an OzBargain.

      damn right, I want to buy a Ozbargain! (whatever that is)

  • Baysew on 12/12/2024 - 16:26

    What do they do with the mangos now?

    Chuck them at passing Woolworths delivery trucks.

  • JIMB0 on 12/12/2024 - 16:47
    +1

    Go around back tonight and you'll score them free out of the bin.

    • Sye on 12/12/2024 - 17:50

      Should post this as a deal under freebies

  • apple2016 on 12/12/2024 - 17:14

    She checked and it was indeed one day past, and said we’re not allowed to sell this anymore.

    Yes Coles checkout is designed to block sale of these to avoid complaints / litigation etc . But usually they are given for free if you want them.

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