Woolworths
reviews and complaints

I purchased some store baked white rolls during the week and we consumed two of these that evening. However, later that evening I felt quite ill when I flipped the pack over. Inside the pack is clearly a cockroach leg and two dark patches pressed into the bottom of one of the rolls which, to me, look suspicially like squashed bits of a cockroach. I was understandably disgusted with what I saw. I puts me off wanting to purchase your bakery products again. What could be hidden inside a product?

Woolworth got rid of their single use plastic bags. But do offer to buy plastic bags for 15 cents.

NOW ... I went shopping today, brought my OWN bag, at the self serve check out placing my groceries (2 items)in my OWN bag .

A Woolworth staff member asked me if I would like a 15c plastic bag for free. I thought I didn't here right and questioned this. She confirmed and got the answer that all Woolworth in Newcastle area are doing this ...

ARE YOU SERIOUS?!

Make up your mind what you want to do. Do you actually care about the environment at all?!

... and I don't care if people were complaining because they don't like changes. It is about time that people understand that we cannot go on the way we did! So many countries have gone plastic bag free!

I tried to do my weekly shop at Mayfield supermarket (NSW) at 7am on Sunday 24th of June. I assumed being first in the morning I could find specials of the week such as Pepsi Max 24 cans, Deli frozen chips but there were none of these items on the shelves. Also I couldn't find any Max's Kitty litter bags.

overall I was disappointed as only recently started shopping at Woolies because of better products and prices, but with working full time I have limited time to do my groceries and it is a deterrent to go back again.

thank you

Gabriella Tacchetto

I was at the Tuggerah store on Friday 22/6/18 at 8:45am purchasing a piece of salmon. The woman that served me was very rude when I tried to explain to her that I wanted a skinny fillet- her response was in a cranky tone and she said flatly "yeah yeah, gimme a second, I'm looking".
I was surprised and a bit annoyed because I love shopping at Woolworths and I've never had someone be rude to me before. Her name was Jocelyn. I won't be going to the counter again if I see her there. There's no excuse for rudeness and poor customer service. I am always friendly and polite. Really disappointed with this experience.

We went to Woden this morning (23/06/2018) to purchase a 2.5kg bag of bacon which was on special this week. We were served by Emily (who was apparently the Deli Manager). When we requested the bulk bag of bacon she had to go and get it from out the back and when she returned she put it on the scales to get a price ticket. This resulted in us being charged for the packaging in addition to the 2.5 kg of bacon. When we advised her that there was a special code for the bulk pack, she tossed the bacon on a bench behind the counter and wandered off without saying a word. We had no idea what she was doing so tried to get some assistance from another staff member and she yelled that she was coming back. When she returned she advised that she didn't know the code off by heart., put another sticker over the top with the cost for the bacon only. Then she dropped it on the top of the counter.
We buy the bulk pack to prevent the bacon being broken by rough handling, which she was negating with the negative attitude that she was displaying. All she needed to do was communicate what she was doing with regards ti having to get the correct code. No idea how many other customers she has got away with charging the KG rate rather than the bulk rate. It wasn't our first purchase of this bacon this way. If she is the Deli Manager as she claims, would hate to see how she manages her sub-ordinates if this is the attitude she has with customers. She needs to learn to communicate.

Ceasing to supply plastic shopping bags 22.6.18

I sent this message 2 months ago but clearly it fell on deaf ears. Keep reading after this to hear how my shopping experience went today.

Single use plastic
Today, I went for a walk to the beach and at the high tide mark there was a single use plastic coke bottle cap, nearby was a single use plastic mineral water bottle, our dog did her business and it was picked up in a single use plastic bag provided by the council, which I picked up and put in the council bin, thank god for that.
On the way home we went to the post office to pick up a package in a single use express post bag.
When we got home we got out a steak for dinner that was wrapped in a single use woolies tray that was wrapped in plastic. The vegetables were in a: "you guessed it" a single use plastic bag. Thank goodness I still had some plastic shopping bags to line the bin with and put the scraps in.
Oh! So this is one of the few plastics that have a double use. Why would supermarkets demonise one plastic item that they give to you free of charge, but are happy to sell you a packet of bin liners that are thicker plastic and usually twice the size, and you guessed it, they are "single use" bags. Without bin liners there would be an unbelievable mess.
I'll take a stand on 20.6.18 and buy a packet of bin liners to put my shopping in so that they at least will have a double use.
Think about it, the world has gone mad. Call me skeptical, but I think this is more to do about the supermarket chains saving dollars, than being environmentally friendly. Last time I checked, australia has not slipped into the state of plastic pollution that so many third world countries find themselves in.
If they got of their chairs and cleaned up around them, plastic pollution might not be such a problem.
I think this policy is a backward step and not in the environments interest or the customers interest.
Peter k

Clearly my worst shopping experience to date.

The store that we usually shop at wasn't that busy today, however when we went to the checkout there were long ques at the 3 checkouts that were open. The checkout staff were having great difficulty trying to hold all the different sorts of shopping bags open while trying to scan and place the products in the bags.
My wife and I both commented that it took twice the amount of time to get just 1 customer through. If woolies insist on this absurd policy of bring your own bags, you better put on twice the amount of staff to cope.
We had 2 coles shopping bags in protest for the day, as I refuse to pay for your 15c bags and a number of previous old shopping bags that we wanted to recycle. We were promptly told that the check out staff were not allowed to pack the shop in a single use plastic bag unless we packed it ourselves. I reasoned with the woman that this was the second time it was used and therefore does not fit the decision made by woolies management.in further protest I opened the bag of bin liners that I am now forced to buy and ask her to fill them up as now they are two use single bags. First for the shop and second for the bin liner. The check out lady commented that she had comments all day after her first shift back about the bad decision. Seems like I am not the only one complaining!
The reason is for our own health and safety. By that I mean often when purchasing prawns, fish or meat products often inevitably some fluid escapes into the old shopping bags and they can be disposed of and the others are used a second time as bin liners for food scraps etc.
At our house they are not single use bags!
Now think about this decision in summer. No one will wipe out every soiled bag that has prawn fluid spilt after being defrosted for example. So as not to be forgotten when someone does their next shop the bags go back into the car.
Imagine several 40 + degree days, the car is smelling rank, the bags are full of mould and your so called fresh food is placed into the "million" use plastic shopping bag. When you make people so sick and law suits are thrown at you left right and centre let me assure you there will be no sympathy for this insane policy.
I personally have worked in the food industry and the department of health especially in the take away industry comes down very hard on businesses that cause customers to get sick because of slack business decisions.
You may have kept a few greenies happy however this decision is a bad policy and should be abandoned asap.
The vast majority of aussies are responsible citizens unlike in 3rd world countries. We recycle, we put waste in a bin. Raw scraps in a wheelie bin are not where woolies would want their consumed products to be. It's a sanitation nightmare that your management has not thought threw and you will pay for it law suit after law suit.
Senior directors and management choice, but as an immune compromised customer, wrath will have no fury if I go to hospital for woolies foolish decisions.

Simple solution, reverse the policy now.

Seriously

Peter k that was a loyal customer.

If your up to it, call me for a personal discussion [protected]

I rang the busselton Kent st store yesterday
I was ringing to inform the day shift to inform the nightshift that my fiancé was not going to be available for her shift ( Wednesday evening )
The phone answered and in a tone of " what do you want and why am I talking to you "
Claire ( day shift ) answered and told me her name and what did I want
To which I replied " afternoon claire, just calling to say Kelly won't be in tonight and could you inform nightshift?"
"Kelly? Kelly who? Who isn't coming in ? "
Now on the offended back foot trying to remain calm ... I repeated myself and confirmed Claire had received the message in full.
Claire then in a relieved tone that the conversation was over bid me a farewell and I finished by saying Thankyou and Thankyou for your time.
Woolworths is a company that relies on public interaction and I thought that manners would be the first prerequisite in front counter and answering the phone.
I am more than angry in the way I was treated and the way I get treated while shopping in the store from the old lazy staff that think they are better than me in any way... I use manners while in the store to the staff ( which I am reducing as I get none back ) I even get out of the way of staff with trolleys that are working... for now.
The stagnant 'family circle ' in the store are no better than any other person and to get looked at like I was the dog that shat on their lawn... I have to try very hard not to voice my thoughts as I respect they have a job to do...
They should concentrate on doing it and not trying to belittle and whinge about everybody..
The old store had a team ... the new store has a "them and us"
Efficiency comes from working together. . Not brown nosing and gossiping ...
It's a shame that to have a happy workplace is frowned, on as the fear they are not in control or something
I also come from a place that respect is earnt and not expected... you show it .. I'll give it.
I also hope the lack of profanity in this email is appreciated as I am quite angry, about how I'm treated and my fiancé ... me as a customer and her as a team member ( apparently)
Thankyou
Andrew

I bought this pack on wednesday from hampton park woolworth and returned the same day as it had a foul smell. I got my money back. Again I bought the same product on thursday (today) and after opening the lid, it had a same foul smell. I returned the product again today. My question is what if i would not have smelled and mu kids would have eaten those chicken patties, you know that it could have been infected with bacteria. Who would be responsible for this? I have going to woolworths again for returing the same product twice in a row... which states to me that no one cared on wednesday night or thursday morning to check that specific item before putting on a shelf. This is negligence.. who is responsible. I am very annoyed with this situation and would like to be compensated for the inconvenience i faced

I went to Bass Hill Woolworths NSW 2198 at 17:45 on Wednesday 20/6/18
and I saw on the wall a '20% Vodafone prepaid recharge' advertisement that was on display. I admit that I did not read the fine print that offer was expired 19/6/18.

I went to the counter and asked to purchase 2 (two) prepaid of 30 dollars each, but was surprised when I was charged $60 instead $48. I asked the person who served me why the sign was still on display, and if they wouldn't honour the offer being represented. As it was 5:45pm, there was no excuse for why the sign was still up and I felt it was misleading to customers.

Then the girl who served me tried to help me and called a man name Oedise. She was fine. My problem is with Oedise, who was very arrogant and rude in the way he spoke to me.

Rather than attempting to explain the situation to me or apologising for the misleading sign, he dismissed me and mocked me by saying 'please go have fun' and told me to leave. I was appalled at this rude attitude and complete lack of customer service. Furthermore, when I told him I would make a complaint, he told me to 'go ahead', pointed arrogantly at his name.

The staff member, Oedise, at Bass Hill Plaza Woolworths, has a very bad attitude, and clearly did not show the values of customer service and basic respect that Woolworths aims for. I am disappointed in the service I was shown, and the disrespect towards me that other customers may have also been shown by this staff member.

This has really soured my experience with the Bass Hill Woolworths, and unfortunately I don't really see myself shopping there with the kind of service and attitude shown by Oedise. I hope you can rectify this situation for your sake and mine.

At Woolies Tweed Heads the checkout lady didn't ask for my rewards card and I forgot to hand it to her earlier. She put the sale through and when I showed her the card she said "too late ". She was quite rude about it. I usually wouldn't complain but I'm try to collect the 10, 000 Qantas points you offer at me spending $120 a week and now I can't because of your staff

Hi,
I am an unhappy customer with Woolworths security services in Glen Waverley Woolworths. Yesterday (18 June18)
I was going through the entrance when a Afroamerican descent security guard stopped me to tell me that I can't enter coz my trolley is too full and he wanted me to live it ( my whole groceries already paid and ny handbag inside!) with him !
I said that Im not comfortable with this idea and I won't do it! Then he insisted... I felt offended and said plainly NO and proceeded. He followed me not saying anything and looking at me like I am a thief! Looking at everythingi was touching...I felt distressed and even more offended...! When I was checking out I felt anxious just to live this store and forgot to collect my groceries from the cash register check out! I would like to get it back.
I am officially disgusted with this persons lack of common knowledge and understanding not mentioning any empathy and trust for a customer. This is my closest shopping centre and I'm going to drive to Brandonparks coles just to avoid any more disappointments...

For years we have bought Fillet Steak packed by the butcher's at Caringbah Woolworths. This product is now unavailable. In its place is cryopacked unappetising looking fillet steak, which we will not buy. Instead we will buy all our meat from the local butcher, even though this is less convenient. We hope you will reconsider your decision. Certainly if enough people feel as strongly as we do, it will not save Woolworths money, which we assume, is the reason behind this decision.

This morning I purchased hair dye at the Werribee plaza Woolworths store.
I went through the self serve register and was charge $13.00.
This was incorrect because it was selling half price this week. $6.50.
I call the young girl to tell her that this price is incorrect. She had it checked and I was correct. It was supposed to scan at $6.50.
I said that I get this item for free now because im over charged.
She call the manager and he scanned my item at HIS OWN REGISTER and it scanned at $6.50.
He said that I was wrong.
( and looked at me as if I was lying).
I argued with him and eventually we scanned my item on two self serve registers and both scanned at $13.00.

My question to you is
"Why are you over charging innocent shoppers who have to self serve?"
And
Why did my item scan correctly on the cigarette booth register.
So not happy with Woolworths service and store.

Ruth Astbury

I bought this cheese on the 9th, opened it on the 10th of June and it appeared to be moldy and off, even though the expiry date is the 19th of june. I have attached photos displaying the mold and the date of the expiry date.
Have bought this cheese several times and have never had an issue previously. Also I am a regular shop at woolworths and have never had any other issues with their service and products !

Last week my wife purchased a pre-packed roast lamb product from Tweed City Woolworths (NSW). (i.e. the uncooked lamb roast roll) We did not keep a receipt, and can't tell you the exact name of the item or the price.
It was a boneless, rolled roast lamb item, bound in string and covered with plastic.
We consumed part of this roast lamb on Friday, using a conventional covered frypan/roasting pan.
We added very little olive oil.
After the cooking process was complete we noted there was nearly a cup full of leftover oily/watery liquid in the pan.
I know from my research there is sometimes a percentage of H2O "injected" into meat. I accept this.
However, we were very concerned about the initial observation of the excessive fat content after the roasting was complete.
Two days later, as most families do, I cut slices off the left-over roast for a lunch snack.
I was horrified to view the huge amounts of fat in each of the slices! Well over half of each meat slice was fat!
This is an extremely unhealthy situation, and I am amazed that Woolworths allows these lamb roast rolls to be sold, especially in light of your recent healthy food promotions and "Thats why I shop at Woollys" campaign.
It was disgusting.
I felt like posting the enclosed photo on my Facebook and giving Woolworths a bad plug, but have refrained from doing so, as 98% of my shopping is done at Woolworths outlets, and I am normally very happy about the service.
The photo shows the fat that was not consumed after four slices were cut off the cold lamb roast. It doesn't paint a nice picture.
No more lamb roast rolls for me, and I'm sure my cardiologist would agree.
Regards
Peter Ford

There is black on the end of one chicken breast and I black vein running through it. Too revolting an too risky to make my kids dinner. Had to throw the lot out. Not happy as that was only meat I had defrosted. Sick of it costing me money. The takeaway dinner to replace off chicken, the petrol to get that and the petrol to take the chicken back to store, the wasted vegetables an sauce I cooked an opened . I don't want my kids to have takeaway for dinner but your off chicken left me no choice.

Hi
I went woolies at Strathfield today.
And I tried to buy tabaco rollies.
I just asked her is there Rothman blue rollies one. And she just said she doesn't have anything. So I asked her then what do you have? Or do you have gold one or something like that.
She didn't say anything and just looking for tabaco. And she screamed paper or filter! Like that. Everyone looked at me. It was really terrible experience so I asked her why you are so upset? Like this. And she just said I asked you a lot! Like this. But she didn't ask me at all and also I didn't ask that I want paper or filter like that. And when I paid after some western girl came there. And suddenly that cashier was really friendly and ignored me.
Why? Because I'm Asian? I was really shocked. I was not rude and I just wanted to buy cigarettes. She was Hellen I guess. She was quite old lady and looks western. Also I wanna get apologize from her. I don't wanna go to woolies at Strathfield anymore.

To whom this may concern,

My name is Travis Hayes and I have recently purchased an Australian roast leg of lamb from the Cessnock store.
The purchase started with my family wanting to have a roast lamb for tea, I thought that this would be a good idea and proceeded to Cessnock Woolworths to buy this product. I normally shop here most weeks as I believe the food is normally of a higher standard to Woolworths competitors..
The lamb purchased was not at a discounted price or on special and was at a cost of $10 per kg with the overall cost of the lamb coming in at $22.46 for witch I have saved receipts as well as packaging.
Upon cooking this product the lamb was both distasteful as well as tuff and old to the point of not being nice to eat and my family complaining about the lamb..
I am not a complainer and go with the flow but this product was terrible and we had to order takeaway elsewhere.. I will attach photos of the packaging and receipts as well as bank statements reguarding purchases..
I am not sure were to proceed from here, as this is my initial letter and thought on this matter..
Thanks for taking the time to read this letter and I look forward to hearing from you soon..

Travis Hayes

Unhappy shopping experience

I purchased lots of nappies (30 bags in total) when it's on sale on 21/2/2018.

However, many of them were picked up by the shop assistant with wrong size (a smaller size) by mistake. It's in unopened boxes so it's hard to tell one size from another. But I paid the correct amount for the size I needed. (Its about 10 boxes so I wouldn't be able to do myself).

Upon realised later on (about 1-2 months), I thought it should be a easy issue and will be exchanged without hassle.

We don't have time to bring the whole lots to the shop so we exchanged 5 bags from Woolworth in Mansfield. All good. Easy transaction.

After we used up the stock we purchased and exchanged, we decided to go the Top Ryde (the shop we purchased the Nappies) to exchange all rest of them.

Yesterday, 7/6/2018 we went to Top Ryde Woolworth. I was told the duty manager Kavor (not sure the spelling is correct) is the person we should talk to.

Kavor came later on and I was advised that he can't exchange for "costing" reason. And cannot explain clearly why it would be a more expense for him. And he tried to deny that we purchased from Top Ryde. (we brought all the receipts from Woolworth with us, so one of the receipt was completely irrelevant which was for a purchase in Macquarie store back in 2017).

Upon patiently explain the situation, he agreed we can exchange whatever stock the store had on the shelf. So I went to brought all stock they had. Lucky I got 4boxes.

He came after me and saw I got so many and he's showing unhappy. (He did not expect I can get so many). I'm sure the shop must have more but he refuse to help, I talked to him in the shelf area. He then disappeared.

I came back to the customer service desk, and was told Kavor was not there and I have to wait.

We wait about 10 mins but he still not showing up even if the others called him over the shop announcement speaker few times. He then called a gril over the phone asked her to service us.

The gril did not exchange the Nappies but did a return of mine and a new purchase, and asked me to pay the difference. I'm care about the $30 which is nothing to me but I was really disappointed by the behavior. They treat customer like IDIOT.

I refused to pay and insist to talk to the manager. Kavor did not show up, despite the others called him over the speaker many times.

20 mins later, we have to sent someone to find him so we can talk.

I asked him why he changed his mind 20 mins and we cannot accept it. He started confusing me by saying nonsense and [censored]. He still trying to be confused on the receipt which is irrelevant.

I was told that we need to come back another day to solve the issue, which is not acceptable. He changes mind every mins.

I told him 3 options:
1. you do the exchange for me. it will be a happy ending.
2. you call your manager now and get issue solved.
3. I walk away with correct product I paid for. You call security or policy, we might have a big night.

He still saying I need to come back another day.

Due to his attitude. I choose to walk away and asked him to call the security and police. I walked very slow and he started jelling at me, which made me angry so I yelled back. He said this is his nam

The security came, we explained the whole story one after one. He 100% agreed with what I said but he still trying to confuse people by saying I use another shops receipt trying to exchange from his store.

I told security, you have no right to stop me to go home because I have the correct receipt and correct products. The security agreed and asked we to to do a statement.

I also told Kavor, we can still solve the issue now. There is no harm for anyone, I did not take any advantage from Woolworth, I just simply pickup the correct product I purchased 4 months ago.

Kavor later on told me that he accepted what I said but told me I can't seek exchange for the rest from him, I can talk to his manager or go to other shops to exchange, but not him.

We shake hand and say goodbye.

Really disappointed by his performance. I will defiantly complain

Good afternoon,
I am writing to you let you know my disgust after driving to town today to do my weekly shopping at Woolworths & purchasing yoplait yoghurt mango flavoured. Once getting home my children went to have it for lunch and discovered the best before date was 7/5/18 being over 4 weeks out of date! (Today's date 11/6/18)..
Yes I could return it & get a refund but it's another drive to town!
I haven't got the time with raising 5 children or extra fuel to burn with another trip to town.
I am really disappointed!
Not to mention the fruit section today was a disgrace & fruit was rotton particularly the mandarins & bananas were almost black..
just extremely disappointed!
Thank you for your time
Regards
Corrine woods