NO REFUNDS! Woolworths' genius new policy for panic-buyers
Supermarket giant Woolworths is hitting back at shoppers who participate in the coronavirus panic-buying hysteria by changing their refund policy on particular items.
Customers who purchased mass goods amid the present panic surrounding COVID-19 will now need a better excuse to return their purchases ahead of the new policy Woolworths has just announced.
The panic around purchasing necessities has seen the shelves once carrying hundreds of rolls of toilet paper, canned goods and hand sanitiser go empty.
Woolworths today confirmed it is refusing to refund any shopper who may have mass-bought certain items and then regretted the purchase after the transaction.
"From Wednesday 11 March 2020 until further notice, we will not provide a refund where you have simply changed your mind about products purchased from Woolworths in the following categories," Woolworths said in a statement to customers, which has also been posted in stores.
"Toilet paper, paper towel, tissues and serviettes, medicinal (pain relief), cleaning (anti-bacterial wipes, sprays and cleaners, disposable gloves), feminine hygiene and incontinence, baby wipes.
"Pasta and pasta sauce, canned food (fish, vegetables, soup, fruit and canned meals), flour and bread mixes, cooking oils, rice."
Typically, Woolworths’ refund policy allows for shoppers to get their money back if they change their mind on items they bought, as long as the product is unopened in its original packaging, within the best before date and with a receipt.
All Australian supermarkets have been forced to react as a result of the panic-buying across the nation that has left shelves desolate.
Coles took out a full page newspaper ad where they begged consumers to only buy as much toilet paper as they need.
"The sudden and unprecedented demand for toilet paper has created a problem. But the problem isn't a shortage of toilet paper," the ad, which ran in The Australian, reads.
"The problem is that some people are buying a lot more toilet paper than they normally do and more than they need to.
"At Coles, we have a responsibility to ensure every Australian can access their fair share of the things they need every day. And right now, not every Australian can; including the elderly and most vulnerable.
“We can't allow that to continue."
Woolworths also placed a four-pack limit of toilet paper on consumers in the same week that a fight broke out in a Sydney supermarket over mass-buying of toilet rolls.
The new measures come as major supermarkets are undertaking extra cleaning precautions in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus through infrastructure such as self-serve checkouts.