Woolworths
reviews and complaints

Woolworths Moorooka is increasingly understaffed. This is unfair on your customers and your staff.

I had an order in the 4-5pm time slot.

I have been it is now 5:30pm and I still haven’t got my order. I came in and enquires at the customer enquires counter to find a line up of customers with the same issue. The lovely attendant advised that the shipping for my order hadn’t commenced yet.

There are huge lineups at each lane and the self checkout. This is very normal for this shop with only 2 of the 12 counters open.

Please staff this location appropriately.

29 October 17;00 I shopped at Woolworths at The Ridge in Toowoomba. In addition to my groceries I wanted to purchase a pack of STAEDTLER Triplus Fineliner Pen 10 Assorted Colour 0.3mm Tips. I chose to self check out and after scanning a few items including the pens I noticed my total was already over $300 which clearly was incorrect. The sales rep came over and it transpired that the pens (marked price of $23) had scanned at $230. She removed the item from my total. Someone was sent to find the product and correct price. I waited 15 minutes and they had not returned. The staff member Sharon was very polite and apologized for the situation. She asked me if I still wanted the product to which I responded that I did but I didn’t have time to wait any longer to sort the situation out. I was aware of the scanning code of practice but was not offered the product for free as is Woolworths policy. I finally had to leave as the situation was ridiculous. Thank goodness I noticed the error. My understanding is that Woolworths follows the Scanning Code of Practice which states that customers are entitled to receive an item free of charge if the scanned price of an item is greater than the shelf price displayed.

Today 31 October I phoned Woolworths at the Ridge and spoke to someone on the desk who was quite officious and told me that I was not entitled to the scanning code of practice because the product had been removed from my order before payment. Also, I had not asked for the free product and apparently you have to do this. she also stated that Sharon would have asked me if I still wanted the product and I must’ve said no. This is incorrect as I told the woman on the phone. I did still want the product but I couldn’t wait any longer to have the situation resolved. So, my understanding is that unless you do not notice the overpayment until after you’ve paid, you are not entitled to the protection of the scanning code of practice. At no time did the woman on the phone ask me my name or my phone number to follow up with me. She just stated in a very demeaning way that she would let Sharon know for the future. I complained to her that as someone who shops every week at Woolworths for years that I wanted to give Woolworths the opportunity to do the right thing by a loyal customer but clearly she was not interested in this. It ended with her saying, sorry we can’t help you but have a nice day!

The service today was very poor, the food section was crowded and the line was very long with only two cashiers working and 4 staff on the floor. The line went all the way to the back of the store. We asked that another till be opened but no one responded to us. We then asked for the manager when more people in the queue started complaining. The manager came and said that the other teller went to the toilet.Can't she go to the toilet, she asked with sarcasm. Don't they have other cashiers to relieve each other? I waited in the line for over 40 minuted which was not necessary.

I was really taken aback by the poor service offered at this store. I hardly frequent woolies Mokopane I hope it is not an everyday thing.

I purchased a Woolworths Asian Salad kit from the Meadowbrook store yesterday at approx 12.15 pm on my way to work. I bought it for my dinner at work but due to being busy i didn’t get to eat it so left it in fridge at work. Had to go in early today so thought i would have it for lunch and when I opened it the provided plastic fork has had a tine broken off of it. Seeing as the salad is comprised of white and red cabbage it us impossible to tell if the broken tine is somewhere in the salad so for safety sake I have had to throw out my $5 salad!

There is a staff member in your Robina Store who continuously harasses me.

I have asked her to stay away from me and I avoid her at all costs when I come into that store.

I have been a loyal customer with you in this store since it opened some 30 years ago and I have never had any altercations with any of your staff before this woman.

This is the time line of her harassment

1st - I was at the self check out and I accidentally put ordinary bananas instead of organic. She picked me up on my mistake, I apologised and corrected myself.

It was an honest mistake and not an attempt to get something cheaper. I would not compromise my reputation for a few dollars. So no problem this time

2nd- she pulled me up to check my bags when exiting the store. No problem. This has been done before and after a cursory look I’m on my way. This Power crazy woman proceeded to ask me to move things aside. When I protested she said she was just doing her job with a smirk on her face. I called the supervisor and made a complaint and was given the same response by her. I said to her on that occasion to please stay away from me and she said, you stay away from me……

3rd - same sort of incidence where she insists on checking my bags and asking me to move things aside. I told her to stay away from me and would avoid her at all costs after that.

4th- today was the final straw. I was going through the self check out and had a box of three packaged fresh tuna that I found on the specials counter at the end of an aisle. It did not have a price but I took two of them and thought I’d check at the check out for the actual price. It came up full price so I reluctantly asked her as she had just come on duty and there was no one else nearby.

Her attitude was condescending and patronising. She said loudly, ‘settle down’, simply because I said I thought these were on special, as they were in the specials section. She created a very bad scene when it was unnecessary. I had to call the manager Josh (who by the way was extremely polite and helpful)

Instead of going back to her position. She stood behind the manager grinning. I asked her to go away as this did not concern her now and her and another staff member proceeded to argue with me, the customer, when it was clearly out of their jurisdiction now.

Anyway, I think she needs a good talking to. I want to be able to shop wherever I want without her constant harassment of me if I’m forced to interact with her, because I actively avoid her

I have NEVER had this problem with any of you staff before so am totally floored by this woman’s behaviour

I have been to this store on about a dozen occasions. Today when I went to the store (12th October) was the last time I will ever set foot in this store! Every time I go there, none of the checkouts are staffed! 6 or 7 checkouts closed, not ONE open - only self serve and a cashier on what I assume is meant to be the “express” checkout. Great fun trying to load half a trolley of groceries up onto that little counter! This wasn’t just today - this has happened almost every single time I have visited your store! Todays visit was especially lovely as one end of the shop absolutely reeked like something had died in the ceiling, and to top it off, when I went to get my fruit and veg before leaving, there was not ONE, SINGLE banana on display. I’ve never seen a store that has completely run out of bananas! oh and I forgot to mention, at the checkout overhearing one of the staff drop an f-bomb while talking to another staff member in full view and earshot of customers! Worst shopping experience of all time! I won’t be going back - ever!

I wish to notify a live slug was found in a packet of Washed and ready to eat Creamy & Crunchy Salad Kit. It was purchased yesterday 8th October from Woolworths Benton’s Square Shopping Center. Upon placing the salad on a dinner plate to eat a live slug crawled out from the salad onto the plate and table. I attach photos of the slug, receipt and packet showing the bar code. 

I not this product is made in Australia and supposed to be prewashed. I will advise the store it was purchased from today. 

Regards Sandra Ainsworth 

Sent from my iPhone S.Ainsworth

Every Saturday morning I visit the Pacific Pines QLD Woolworths facility. A few months ago a new manager for the delicatessen and fish areas was appointed - Nigel. I believe that Nigel has been transferred to Hope Island for four weeks. Could you arrange for Nigel to return to the Pacific Pines store?

The first week Nigel was not at the Pacific Pines site, the seafood did not appear on display until just before 9.00am - the store opens at 7.00am. Last week, Saturday, October 1, 2022, at 9.05am they had managed to put up the price tags but no product.

This week, Saturday, October 10, 2022, the seafood was displayed when I arrived at the store around 7.40am. I purchased Ocean Trout, Sydney Rock Oysters and Crystal Bay Prawns. On display they had whole snapper - the older girl, who had served me with seafood, when asked if they could scale a whole snapper told me she was "much too busy to do that"!

I usually only buy whole fish and to date have never been advised that this is too much trouble. Eventually, I spoke to Daniel, who I am advised is the manager for the day - he immediately selected a snapper and scaled it and apologised.

When I visited the delicatessen area I asked for the sliced meat I purchased to be wrapped flat. IZZI, who I have never seen at this store previously, grabbed the meat, slung it into a plastic bag and pushed it across the counter.

If I am paying $38 a kilo for Rare Roast Beef or ham, I do not appreciate it being wrapped up in a ball. I asked for it to be wrapped flat again, she was extremely put out - acted aggressively, threw the previous package aside and gave me the product wrapped flat. Great customer service !

Overall, the service in these areas is deteriorating. Liz, who transferred to Townsville, late 2021, had a wonderful service ethic. The majority of the staff are very welcoing, happy to answer questions and offer great customer service.

Suggest that Nigel return, or someone who can arrange to have product on display close to the time the store opens.

I understand that there are staffing and product supply issues at Pacific Pines QLD store but it is very annoying to be treated in this manner. I have been a customer of Woolworths for over 14 years at this site.

I suggest that the staff, particularly in the delicatessen and fish area, be advised that: CUSTOMERS PAY YOUR WAGES!

Saturday, October 8, 2022 9.30am

For the past several weeks my local Woolworths store has had a rapid decline in the items available on shelves and in fresh food, particularly the meat segment. I have been advised by staff at the store that it is supply change issue, which is either an outright lie or the line they are being advised to use.

The reason for this assumption is that I can go less than 10kms from Bateau Bay, to either your Tuggerah store or Erina store and get just about any product I want, including meat. With your warehouse/distribution centre based here on the Central Coast, it is unlikely the supply chain issue is at that location.

So, could you please advise me why your Bateau Bay store is seeing its patrons treated as second class, or is this a planned withdrawal of this store and you are preparing us to start using your closest stores,

Just did my fortnightly grocery shop at Woolworths Hawthorne East and had a half trolley full and in a lot of pain as I have two aggravated hernias at the moment and so I asked the manager if anybody could help me on a register to which he replied that he was under staffed first of all and then when I pointed out the 17 staff on the floor working stock he came back with nobody on tonight is trained on using registers so nobody can help you. I find it really hard to believe that out of 20 staff that I could see in total plus a manager that nobody knows how to use a register and if so why didn't he is the manager offered to help me I was clearly in pain I find this service outrageous and disgusting and I expect to call back

on the second of october i ent to woolworths moorooka to purchase cat littre for my 16yr old cat, was told they had run out and would have some tomorrow today i went back today and still their wasnone there i saw the manager who had a very conersending and arrogant attitude to me iam a 65 yr old man didnt even apoligise for the sloppy work ethic the staffat this store really need to go to pr lessonsd i believe i should have the product free

i am regular customer at woolwoths, i noticed a staff at self service counter is picking on me several times. Today see the same staff standing in front of my self service counter and starring at me. i understand the duty and respect the staff of what they do but today i felt very uncomfortable and angry. this is a harassment for a customer who is there for hard earn money to spend. The incident happened today i.e 3/10/2022 @ 11;30 am in hurstville woolworths counter. she always look very rude. i hope woolwoths should give proper training to staff on how to not offend a customer.

I shop at Warriewood Woolworths every Friday, spending on average $300 per shop. I would say 90% of the time my shopping is scanned incorrectly. So I always check my receipt before leaving the store. Most of the time, the errors are around the item being double-scanned, like the scanner is too sensitive. Today, three products were double-scanned. I found 2 on the receipt at the time, so I lined up at the counter to get a refund on incorrectly scanned items. And now I've got home and realise a third product has been scanned twice. I'm not doing my shopping at Warriewood Woolworths any more. It's too frustrating. The staff are lovely and always helpful. But there is something seriously wrong with the scanning of products. There must be heaps of customers betting ripped off every single day, if they're not checking their receipts. Is this a strategy used by Woolworths to make more money?

I visited the Forster NSw store today at 12:45 and went through the self serve area, my card wouldn't scan and I looked for a staff member to help me however no one was available. The lady who was there had gone out of the store instead of staying at her post to assist. Other people were also waiting and became frustrated on why no one was there to assist us.

After waiting several minutes the lady finally came abck into the store and when I informed I had been waiting several minutes, she raised her voice to me at which point I told her I would not except this typ of aggressive behavior.

If a customer is expected to behave with respect, then, I believe it should be returned.

Respect deserves respect.

I have been shopping at this store for the last 12 years, I will not be returnng and will inform my friends and famiy of this issue.

I did my shopping at Plenty Valley this morning 25/09/2022 like I do every sunday. I was in the fresh produce department and I wanted some red grapes, the container was empty so I asked one of the male team members if they had any and he said that they had`nt put them out yet and that they were out the back, Did not offer to go out the back and get me some. So I asked another male team member if they had any and his reply was just whats in the container, which was empty. Not impressed at all..complete laziness from both of these team members, plus neither of them would know what customer service is because they never had any. I find most of the team members at plenty valley rude and arrogant. We pay there wages and we get treated like this, Managment at plenty valley need to make there whole team do a course on customer service and how to treat customers with respect. The only 2 decent team members plenty valley has is the Lady in the meat room and Dimmy in bakery they both are always happy to help and friendly. NOT GOOD ENOUGH. YOU HAVE LOST MY CUSTOM AND I WILL NOW SHOP AT COLES ONLY

I visited a Woolworths store yesterday (20/09/2022) and saw there were brand new green plastic trolleys. I picked out a small one and was very impressed how light and easy it was to manoevre and the size was just right for the small amount I needed to purchase.

However, it had been raining and the inside having a bigger area than the metal trolleys was that wet I had to find some paper towel to dry most of it off.

Another minus is that there is no hook to hang your shopping bags on, putting bags inside the trolley takes up precious room and I feel it is safer to have my bag hanging by the handle so it's not opportunistic for anyone to reach in and take if it's inside the trolley.

As I had little to buy and only had my handbag with me it was fine but when I do my big shop I am going to take up most of the trolley with shopping bags and handbag.

Regards, Annabelle Pullen

I attended my local Bridgewater Woolworths Supermarket this afternoon 17/9/22 and was yet again forced to listen to the Shelf Staff that are employed speaking loudly in the language of their country. This to me is not at all professional in an environment where there are many customers in any given day that also are forced to hear the same. These cultures desire to relocate to Australia and as such need to speak only English when in their workplace. It appears that they are rude and disrespectful of all the Woolworths Customers that walk past or stand beside them while shopping in the store. This seems to be a regular occurrence because i hear it every time I shop in the Bridgewater Store but I usually just ignore it and shake my head but today they seemed to be having an argument judging from the fast rate of speed they were using in the conversation. I feel both offended and disgusted that they ignore the customers like myself and just speak in their home country dialect.

I would and I hope rightfully assume that English is what they are required to speak in their work hours. And if this is what should be occurring then thewy all need to attend a meeting to have it reinforced.

Yours Maryann Lloyd

The skewers were pretty much scrap chicken with fat and little chicken and the steak was on special but was charged full price until I went back to the checkout and they the discount of the special and your butchers adding water to bring the weight up. when you try to cook it it ends up boiling with all the water from the meat.

I think this is unacceptable comming from a major company.

I have woolworth landlord insurance many years and woolworth normally provides a [10% discount] for my shopping every month. Suddenly the reward card fails to honour the 10% discount today on 3 Sep. 2022.

I try to report the reward card failure with Woolworth web but the CHAT of the web, asks me to call [protected] before 7 pm, but there is no one to attend my call at 5pm.

I try to login woolworth web with my email [[protected]@hotmail.com]. Woolworth send me a code 746112 but the web did not recognise the code and block my login any more!

Good evening

This afternoon I purchased in good faith 5 packs of twin Philips globes, 10 globes in total from your Woolworths store in Sale Victoria.

The value of my purchase was $40

When I got home, we realised that the globes were a fraction too long for the intended light fittings. When I was in the store the globes appeared to be of normal size.

I immediately returned to the store asked for a refund as the globes were not as I thought. The store did not have enough of the correct globes to be able to make an exchange.

I was told by Kylie, that the Woolworth's store refund policy stated I could not get a refund however if I wanted to do some grocery shopping, I could exchange the incorrect globes at the checkout for some grocery items. Since I already done my grocery shopping, I left the store with the globes, feeling very annoyed that I could not return or at least receive a credit for the globes.

So, what am I supposed to do now? According to Victorian and Australian consumer law I am legally entitled to a refund or credit at least. The purchase wasn't a change of mind, the purchase was rejected. But according to your staff member I'm supposed to now buy some bread and milk or whatever to value of $40 just so I can return the globes. Having worked in retail myself I find this notion quite ridiculous and very bad customer service.

I hope you can clarify your returns policy which I may add differs from Bunnings and Coles who in fact told me if I had an issue with any future globe purchase, they would happily refund my money.

Kind regards

Helen Masin

[protected]