Coles Supermarkets Australia
reviews and complaints

I went through the Woodgrove shopping centre Coles on Sunday July 29th at 10:17pm and was served by a woman named Lorraine who was extremely rude. She didn't say a word when we greeted her, she reached for our 15 cent bag but again said nothing, when we apologised for misunderstanding she again ignored us. Then she charged us for an extra bag without asking our permission first.
She was extremely rude when we accidentally used the wrong card and did not say any sort of goodbye but instead gave us an extremely rude glare as we left.
We were so polite to her and are disgusted that a woman of 15 years working at Coles as indicated by her name badge would provide such horrible customer service considering we have both in the past worked at Coles ourselves and understand the expectations of staff members.
We are shocked and disappointed and will probably not be returning to Coles due to this service.

I would like to create some discussion around a fundamental question; how committed are Coles to reducing plastics? I recently had a read of the headlines ‘Woolworths and Coles to withdraw plastic bags in some stores three months before bans come into effect' I thought fantastic, a responsible and proactive step to reduce the global depandance on plastics. Now I see handfuls of Coles ‘Little Shop Mini Collectables' thrown in like confetti at a wedding. What the hell are you people thinking? We don't have enough of a problem managing the copious amounts of this completely abnoxious product already? Further more the plastic toys are also wrapped in plastic packaging, when will retailers get the message? You blame the consumers with claims like ‘they like it and they ask for it' I find it incredibly frustrating and irresponsible to keep pushing these products under consumers noses and ignore any wrong doing.

28/7/2018 - We shop at Coles Top Ryde every week and today we purchased salmon at the Fish counter. The "service" we received was abysmal. This has happened before but today the woman didn't listen to a word we said, she was more interested in the conversation she was having with her colleague. As a result, the fish is useless to us, as she did not include the oven bag and also we requested two fishes and only received on, so for two of us this is not going to work.

Also, every week we are left queuing for an eternity as there are never enough tills in use, as was the case again this morning. The whole experience leaves a lot to be desired. Maybe as the advert says "that's why they shop at Woollies".

We may have to reconsider and try Woollies as well, as this is unacceptable .

On two occasions at Coles Westmead, NSW I purchased Coles Fresh Chicken breast fillets ($9.00 a kg) and on both instances when I opened it the chicken was rotten. With one packet of chicken fillets I returned to the store to one of the female workers who claimed to be the manager when I know for a fact, Elia is the store manager, she told me to get a new pack and she did not charge me for the new pack.
I believe that Coles really need to look into this particular store in relation to their fresh meat. I also purchased a rump steak worth of $6.00 and it was rotten, expiry date was not for another few days. If I get rotten meat again at the same Coles, I will be notifying the NSW Food Authority.

On 2 occasions i witnessed kayne lockwood of mt gambier coles selling drugs in the store to a customer also i have seen him under the influence of something i considered it to be drugs but i wasnt sure it could have been alcohol i am a mystery shopper and have voiced my concerns about this but i was told i should inform you of my findings as i was reluctant to do this but i think you needed to know

I am horrified at the amount of plastic in Coles, in spite of their claim to be committed to decreasing the amount of plastic. There are plastic bags and plastic wrapping in the fresh food section and every aisle of every supermarket. Free, single use plastic bags have been replaced with larger plastic bags that are available for purchase, Mini Collectables (plastic junk wrapped in plastic) are offered free at Coles checkouts, adding more plastic to landfill. Ivy Home organic milk that used to come in a carton, now comes in a plastic bottle. If anything, the amount of plastic has increased since the so called plastic bag ban. I have seen Mini Collectables dropped on pavements, or left lying around in playgrounds. From here they will make their way into our waterways and oceans. Coles is using plastic as a marketing and revenue-raising ploy and are not taking the environmental impact seriously. The world is drowning under plastic and there is only one solution - ban all plastic. Coles needs to heed this advice.

20/7/18 I was shopping at Coles Shellharbour thisarvo just getting a few things I needed For my 5 children to get though the weekend I had Nearly a full trolley, well when I got to the check out I had to wait 35 - 40 mins till it was my turn 😡 there were only 3 checkouts opened at this time & with 5 people waiting at each check out for there turn. This was at 4:45 pm on a Friday arvo, which you would think this would be there busiest time & would have more check outs opened, they need more! Staff ON
So I approached the manager after waiting for 45mins by then & let him know
Well he wasn't interested at all, all he had to say was I'm sorry to hear this I'm going to help now.
Then I said what are you going to do you need at least 3 more check outs open. This Coles is a Disgrace! The manager needs his head read if this is the way you manage a store you need the sack! I will never be going to Coles Shellharbour again. This is the third time this has happened to me in this store in the last 2 months, Woolworths would never let this happen, if there is anymore then 2 waiting in line they open another check out straight away Woolworths get someone else from the store to stop what there doing to help. This Manager needs to have a hard look at his store other wise you will be out of business!
I have 5 children to fed & spend a lot on groceries each week! Well I definitely won't to spending my money at Coles AGAIN
I feel for the staff they are under staffed & under payed 😡😡 open your eyes MANAGER or get another job that doesn't involve customer service!

I went to sunnybank store in qld do some shopping. My parent had done some shopping there on wednesday but did not know about the little shop my 2 daughter collecting. I went to get them on friday at front counter. Had a rude girl explain that i was not able to collect even though my parents had spent $150 dollar there and i spent another $30 to get our first one. xalling head office the girl i spoke to after explain the issue would only post 2 free one out. My gilr want a set each so 60 in total. I dont understand how i am meant to collector all. I am wasting my money at coles. Then woolsworth runs this event for children that do it fairly. I am extremely dissapointed in coles and will not shop there again. I use to love shopping at coles abut i will not again so disappointed and un happy about this service.

There was a sign at the front of the store that said 15% off iTunes vouchers, I went to use the self service checkout where I noticed the discounts was not applied, I asked the assistant and he told me to go to the front of the store and they would be able to help me, I then proceeded to wait in line for 10 mins only to be told by the girl (Anela) at the checkout that they were not on discount. I took her to the sign to show her at which point she said it was expired and that I would have to pay full price, I questioned why the sign was there and said that she should honour the discount as it is advertised at the front of their store, at this point another girl (who I perceived to be the manager) stepped in to say that they could not discount the product. I at this point asked how to make a complaint and she said that I would have to phone the customer support line to complain, I then asked for the managers name and pointed to the other girl (I think her name was Chloe) however, to my surprise, she then mentioned that the other girl was not the manager. After that I asked to speak to the manager but aparantly that was not possible! Anela phoned him to ask him to come speak to me but she returned with a $2 voucher as a compromise? I said to her that I would like to speak with him and that it is extremely disrespectful that he would not even take the time to come speak to me in person but aparantly he was "out back and too busy to come see me" he clearly didn't want to deal with me! And to offer $2 to apologise is ridiculous!

I am a disability pensioner and regularly shop at Coles Balwyn several times a week. I find the re-usable bags, too big, as to even half fill them they are too heavy for me to carry, so I need many bags just to put a few things in each. This is going to disadvantage me when I have to pay for them. As I am able only to have several items in them including milk, they fall over at the self serve register, in the car and at home, The new register bag holders do not hold them up properly and i have had items fall out and the bag fall with items on to the ground. If I go through a register bags are overfilled, even though I ask not too, as clearly they are trying to save on giving out too many free bags to one person. As well I have been medically advised not to use canvas or re-usable cloth bags due to hygiene risks of bacteria, mould which was highlighted in the USA, as I suffer from low immunity. Clearly NO THOUGHT has been given to people with disability or elderly pensioners in fact your entire ban the plastic bag set-up has clearly made the already difficult task of shopping so much harder, time consuming stressful and frustrating and puts us at a disadvantage of having to struggle, where we should be given every assistance to make our often difficult lives easier. It is a disgrace.

Yesterday I went to Coles Supermarket at Wetherill Park, NSW to buy kids Weet Bix.

I do my shopping with Coles now and then and am quite satisfied until yesterday.

I purchased Weet Bix for $3.00 and put $20.00 bill to pay. Unfortunately I forgot to take my change and when I released what I did, I immediately called Customer Service and told the lady what happened. After speaking to her I went to the store again and showed her my docket and she advised me that Coles cannot do anything about it. I was really surprised at her answer. Now I know it was my fault that I did not pick my change but the lady looking after self service should keep an eye on every Register after a customer leaves. I am talking about $17 change here and not $2 or $5.

My receipt number is 5944. Register Number 115. Time is 15.25. Date is 17/7/2018. Store Number is 7596.

I would like to hear from you regarding this matter. Thank you.

Purchased a ready chef cottage pie
Paid $15 which was a fair price

Cooked pie as instructed 45 mins in fan forced oven
Then did not brown or solidify as a shepard's pie should
Left to sit for 5 mins but when put on plates was a soupy mess

Could not find any mince or if there was minimum amount

This was the most disgusting meal and as a product embarrassing to serve

Our family could not eat nor would I give a gooey mess to anyone

I will never purchase their product or any of their products ever again

Regards

Sean memery
A first time ever complaint over 60 years of age

hello, I have been to your Engadine store twice and have been asked at the checkout "Have you got a bag to put your groceries in"?
I said, yes BUT Coles are giving complementary bags till the end of this month as customers have complained about having to buy a bag for 15 cents.
Your people at Engadine have said NO we are not, you have to pay the 15 cents. I have heard many times on my radio that Coles are giving complementary bags till the end of this month BUT your checkout people are saying when we get there, management have not told them, so carry bags are charged 15 cents. What is going on? You are paying for these advertisements on the radio, telling people they do not have to pay 15 cent for bags till the end of this month, BUT still telling me and I assume everyone else to pay the money, Why? Please send me an answer.
Surely Coles are not so broke they have to get people to pay for their groceries and plastic bags as well? If you are so against plastic bags, why are you selling them? Does not make sense. Why don't you provide paper bags as you did 30 years ago? Getting people to put their groceries through the checkout themselves, packing our groceries ourselves in our own shopping bags, does this mean the end of customer service at Coles? The resolution I am after is Coles providing FREE carry bags (not plastic as you are against them, what a laugh), to your customers. Thanks for listening, and I hope this does not get deleted like it was not sent.

I purchased unleaded petrol from Coles Express, 386 Pennant Hills Rd, Pennant Hills.
The main board on the road stated "Unleaded" (with no octane detail) was around $1.53/lt. I approached the next available fuel pump, which offered diesel, gas and "Unleaded petrol 95". As there were no other unleaded options and the main board didn't stipulate the octane, I took the only unleaded option available assuming it would be the cheaper unleaded option as there were no "premium" options. I noticed that it was charging at $1.72/lt. Assuming this was an error, I stopped immediately and went into the cashier who informed me that that was the correct price for the unleaded I had chosen. He said that only the fuel pumps at the front of the lines had the "Unleaded 91" which was the one listed on the main board, so only half the pumps had UNleaded 91 because they couldn't fit all fuels at every pump.
I finished filling and paid the amount, but was very angry about firstly, being mislead when the price was not differentiated and secondly, by the attitude of Coles staff who have to back this unethical policy that is probably happening nation-wide.

Ever since the elimination of plastic bags, I have had issues with the self-check out system. I am happy to bring my own shopping bags but I had to pack my groceries properly in my bag and the scanner is too quick to detect error and I had to get assistance from staff. I noticed this happens to a lot of customers. I pity the staff running around to fix this error. I asked the staff why this is so and she said we take too long to rearrange our things or sometimes my hand is in the bag and it detects an error etc. This is causing stress and delays.
Today, I shopped at Woolworths and it was a breeze! I could scan and place my things straight onto my trolley and I see customers taking their time to put groceries on their bags with no problems. Why can't Coles follow the same system. If not, I am inclined to shop where it is easier and quicker for me and that also includes Aldi which already has their system well thought of.

I visited Coles Kippa Ring Queensland on the 9.7.18. I presented at the service counter to ask for a staff member from the frozen section. One staff member was serving at both a check out counter and the cigarette counter. I waited my turn as there were other customers lined up at both counters. When the staff member had served the customers that were before me, she ignored me and continued to serve other customers. I excused myself and she ignored me three times and then just grunted at me.
I put my basked down and walked away. I asked another staff member for the manager. I spoke to Sarah who was very polite and tried to explain away the other staff members behaviour, but she seems to have missed the point. She stated that she had been there helping the other staff member but was called away to the back dock. That wasn't my point, the staff member, Sue was very rude.

I'd like to lodge a complaint regarding my card. I have been using my card for years and have many points on it. I have tried to contact via phone and have sat on hold 6 times, finally spoke to matt - id mlope_fb. I do not know why my birthdate is incorrect but apparently it is and now all my years of being a loyal customer is being dismissed. I can prove who I am but am being told that because my birthdate doesn't match they can't and won't do anything with me? I am happy to send a copy of my license to verify that it is me and that I am able to access the points on my card (that I have been using for years!).
As you can tell I am feeling very frustrated. I am a divorced, single mum of 5 kids. I have been saving these points to be able to use for groceries and now I am being denied them! Please help me sort this. Every company has alternative means to verify an identity - I can prove who I am! The birth date information on my account is incorrect and I don"t know why but it is incorrect! I want it fixed and I want my points I have been collecting!

Hi, I have just made a salad using your baby spinach leaves and was horrified to find a three pronged piece of plastic that I had bitten into. This is not acceptable. I could have choked. What if a child had swallowed it? How can a piece of plastic get into a bad of spinach. I am a regular costumer of yours but won't be shopping there again. I can't risk it. I will also be letting people that I know to be careful if shopping for spinach.
I know you are a huge company and mistakes happen but this is outrageous!
The store I purchased this from was Banksia Grove Coles
Regards Ashlea Wines

I visited Coles Woodcroft / Doonside yesterday at approx. 11:00 with my 2 young children. I went through self serve with a trolley almost 3/4 full as all of the assisted lines were incredibly long.

There was a boxes to one side that were full of the $0.15 bags ( these were free at the time) and picked up approx 7 of them, as I turned around to start scanning these items the lady assisting ( I use this term loosely) snatched the whole lot out of my hand took 3 away and SHOVED the rest back into my hands then walked off without saying a word.

It is all over the news about not abusing the staff about the abolishment of single use bags but how about the staff be trained in customer service and most importantly common curtesy?

I recently purchased a box of Coles branded bone shaped dog biscuits from ‘Coles Gatton' and found a peice of wire Embedded in the end of one of the biscuits. As I would normally just take the biscuits out of the box and give them to my dogs without looking at them I'm extremely concerned as to how many other contaminated biscuits my dogs may have consumed! The piece of wire is approx 11/2 - 2 cm long. I would expect that this complaint should be cause for a product recall due to the fact that a piece of wire like this could certainly cause a serious injury to the intestinal tract/ gut of any pet that consumes the product. I have purchased this product many times but due to this issue I will most likely not be purchasing again & would like to warn other pet owners of the serious/potentially deadly outcome should they feed this product to there animals. I would also expect a response from Coles with regard to this matter.