Search

Old grocery receipt highlights extortionate increase at supermarkets

An old Woolworths receipt from 2021 has revealed the grim reality of increased grocery prices, and how inflation has crippled many in just a few short years. A social media user on X, formerly Twitter, shared her receipt from a Melbourne Woolworths as she highlighted how much more common household items cost today. She said it showed how Aussies were shelling out for costs that appear to have moved well past official inflation levels, which rose to 3.8 per cent by the end of June. “We all knew we’re being ripped off! Australians are now paying up to 200% more for basic grocery items than they were a few years ago!” she wrote. “Oh but inflations (sic) currently back at around 3.8% … yeah my ass it is!!” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Found an old Woolworths receipt circa 2021. We all knew we re being ripped off! Australians are now paying up to 200% more for basic grocery items than they were a few years ago! Oh but inflations currently back at around 3.8% … yeh my ass it is!! Pink Lady Apply $2.90kg… <a href="https://t.co/9OPS6SnOqI">pic.twitter.com/9OPS6SnOqI</a> — Miss Madeleine (@MadsMelbourne) <a href="https://twitter.com/MadsMelbourne/status/1832282784431534448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2024</a></blockquote> Her docket shows how everyday items like coffee grounds, potato chips and stain removers have skyrocketed in price. In the receipt items such as a 250g packet of Bega cheese is priced at $4.50 – it’s now $6 for the same item, discounted from $7.50 according to online pricing. Deli fresh Champagne leg ham sold for $2.50 for 100g according to the receipt, while current prices put that at $4.20. Ozkleen prewash power stain remover is now currently listed as $7 for a 500ml bottle, more than 200 per cent higher than the $2.75 it sold for three years ago. The woman also posted another smaller receipt from the same year, in which she bought grapes and a watermelon. In addition to sharing the image, she wrote, "Another one to add! No wonder Australia is having a cost of living crises! Woolworths Receipt circa 2021. Grapes were $3.50kg, now $14.16 = 304% increase. Watermelon was $1.50 now $6.38kg = 325% increase." Grocery prices have come under the spotlight amid the cost-of-living crisis, with the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission tasked with probing the sector. “We know grocery prices have become a major concern for the millions of Australians experiencing cost of living pressures,” ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said in January. “When it comes to fresh produce, we understand that many farmers are concerned about weak correlation between the price they receive for their produce and the price consumers pay at the checkout.” Coles and Woolworths have defended the price rises as being pushed by supply chain struggles, while both companies posted profits of more than $1 billion in the last financial year. A spokesperson for Woolworths also released a statement saying "Ongoing economy-wide inflation means it costs more for many supermarket suppliers to manufacture their products than it did a few years ago. "We remain focussed on delivering lower prices where we can, with our average prices coming down in the last six months, and thousands of specials every week. "The price of fruit and vegetables can vary throughout the year due to weather, seasonality, supply and demand. For example, Haas avocados are currently not in season." Image credits: X / Shutterstock

Money & Banking

“This is life-changing information”: Shopper discovers little-known Bunnings hack

A shopper has revealed the details of a little-known Bunnings store policy that will ensure a blooming garden. Georgia Magill, a young woman from Perth, was shopping for plants in the hardware store when she was urged by the cashier to keep her receipt. The uni student was shocked why she should hold on to the receipt for a small house plant, as the worker went on to explain why. “She was like, ‘Oh because they come with a 12 month warranty’,” Georgia explained in a now-viral TikTok video. “And then she goes: ‘It doesn’t really matter how they die we’ll just replace them for you within a 12 month period.’” The hardware store created the ‘Perfect Plant Promise’ in February 2020 which states all plants, except for seedlings, can be returned within 12 months of purchase if they die. Bunnings won’t just replace the plant, it also offers money back, if you’d prefer to give up on your gardening dreams. "This is life-changing information,” she concluded in the video. While the policy has been around for several years, many Aussies hadn’t heard of it either, commenting in shock on the TikTok video, which has been viewed almost 1.5 million times. “What? I have literally had Bunnings plants die within weeks,” one wrote, “I did know this… but I also refuse to let Bunnings know how many plants I’ve murdered,” another stated. Another person declared, “It’s such a good idea. I can’t believe I didn’t know it!!” Among the comments were more tips for former and current Bunnings workers, offering some extra tips on how to utilise the policy. “Ex Bunnings worker here, keep the original pot so we know what plant it is, not everyone in store is a plant expert,” one remarked. “(From a Bunnings worker) either take a photo of your receipt or ask for it to be sent via SMS as they fade! For any warranty item,” another suggested. However, one worker urged Aussies not to take advantage of the offer, saying, “We will return your plant with a receipt and ‘proof’ but please don’t abuse this system. Plants die.” Image credits: Getty Images / TikTok

Home & Garden

"That's insane": Vintage Woolies receipt shines a light on cheaper days

One mum has gotten more than she bargained for while cleaning out her wardrobe, stumbling across an old Woolworths receipt from 2011. While the item itself wasn’t so exciting - and most would immediately toss it away upon discovery - she looked a little further, and one thing stood out to her: the prices. “I'm currently going through my wardrobe and I found this receipt in a coat pocket," Tegan explained in a video posted to her TikTok, where she displays the receipt for everyone’s inspection. “It's from 2011, very vintage, and I was a new mum." Her purchases can be seen in the clip, highlighting the size and prices of the various items she picked up that year - the likes of baby formula, spinach, chocolate, capsicum, avocado, and lamb cutlets, totalling the sum of just $49.59. As she noted, the price of meat was her main point of interest, as it was “so cheap” at just $13.50 in 2011. Meanwhile, in 2023, anything under $20 is considered something of a bargain. However, for those in the comments, the chocolate was the true upset. And as many pointed out, it hadn’t just gotten more expensive, it had also gotten a lot smaller. “Lol that Cadbury is now 180g and $5.50,” one wrote. “That’s what I looked up,” Tegan agreed. “Less for more”. “Block of dairy milk was 200g too,” another chimed in to add, “now it's 180g”. And another simply declared, “omg that's insaaane how much the price has changed!!” For those whose priority is the baby formula, it was painful, with one pointing out that their brand had almost doubled in price - it had been $23.99 for Tegan back then, and marketed at $40 in present times. “A weekly essential for some parents,” Tegan noted, “would blow out my budget these days.” “My baby drinks the same formula it costs me $36,” another shared. “Gosh I feel for you,” Tegan said in response, before adding, “we went through so many tins.” One had a suggestion to properly compare the prices over the years, telling Tegan she should “buy it all again and put the two together.” Tegan, however, already had a suspicion, responding that “it’d probably be over $100”. <div class="embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620.262px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7222124774753914113&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40iknowtegan%2Fvideo%2F7222124774753914113&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-sg.tiktokcdn.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-alisg-p-0037%2Fo8NV61AAAAAhBcwAO5z9oyIDHEzIgJIMRfJCsZ%3Fx-expires%3D1681808400%26x-signature%3DLWrE8R7Hek5U6KPv29JqPD2%252FH7c%253D&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> Images: TikTok

Money & Banking

“It’s real!”: Warning over new Kmart receipt scam

A Kmart customer has shared a worrying receipt scam that may have already affected thousands of shoppers. Sharing the details on a popular Facebook page, shopper Amanda revealed how she had discovered the scam when she went to her local store to return some products. After realising she’d left her receipt behind in a shopping trolley in the belief she wouldn’t need it, the Sydney mum used her internet banking statement to prove her purchases. It wasn’t until a member of Kmart’s customer service team looked up her transaction that they made the discovery that someone had already returned all the items on her receipt. It’s believed the scammer found Amanda’s discarded receipt and collected the items listed on the docket before returning the items at the Kmart service desk and asking for a refund. “Customer Service at Kmart are happy for me to share a nasty experience today,” Amanda wrote on the North Shore Mums (Sydney) Facebook page. “On Thursday, I purchased a number of items, including five boxes of coat hangers at $10 a box. “On the way out of the store, I showed the exit attendant my proof of purchase and threw the receipt into the trolley (where it stayed). “I realised I had no receipt when I returned today to bring back the coat hangers (my hubby bought same from IKEA) so went to customer service and showed the transaction on my internet banking - which they matched on their computer,” she continued. “The Kmart refunds lady informed me that I had already returned all my purchases that day in the Bondi store. “Turns out, somebody picked up my receipt - walked around Kmart collecting the same items, and then took them for a refund! “It’s a real thing! She promised to share the store manager’s findings when they review the video of the Bondi store.” Fellow shoppers were shocked by her story. “The amount of times I’ve accidentally left my receipt in a trolley or in a bin without even thinking,” one said. “Never again. That’s just shocking.” Another said: “I always see people’s receipts in the bottom of trolleys. I wonder how many people have been scammed and never even knew?” Image: Facebook

Money & Banking

Husband for sale: Kmart shopper's hilarious find on receipt

A shopper from Kmart has left others in stitches after sharing her funny find on her receipt. “Kmart really does have everything you need,” she wrote. The receipt shows she had purchased a few other items including a reusable bag and an item called "husband". <img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840477/prince-william-and-kate-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/0ab1c2d24f01485584367c67423433ab" /> <div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> Others in the group found it hilarious. “Definitely return,” another woman quipped. “Does he come with a warranty?” another wrote. “Mine was broken as soon as I took him out of the packaging, but you get what you pay for. Took him back for a refund, best decision I’ve ever made,” a third joked. <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/true-stories/woman-shares-hilarious-detail-on-kmart-receipt/news-story/9de7ccded6156f3ac1145f260aa9849b" target="_blank">News.com.au</a> has reported that the code on the receipt appears to be a birthday card for a husband, but Kmart has not commented on what the item is. </div> </div> </div>

Money & Banking

“Check your receipts”: Unlikely glitch leads to free meat for happy shopper

A Coles customer has confirmed customers should check their receipts before leaving the store. Shopper Wendi from a popular Facebook group has revealed how she scored a large pack of porterhouse steak for free after taking a closer look at her docket. The original posted said that when she picked up the meat from the display, she noticed that it had been marked down from $34 to $28 a kilo. However, when the steak was scanned at the register, Wendi was charged the full price instead of a reduced price. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838502/coles-meat-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/5a474424fc49449f8f496fed41611a32" /> After paying for her item, Wendi checked her docket and realised the mistake. She was able to get the product for free due to Cole’s “Promise on Price Scanning”. The Coles policy states that “If a single item scans at a higher price than the advertised or ticketed shelf price for that item, we will give you that item FREE.” Wendi said it pays to be careful when it comes to receipts. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838501/coles-meat-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/fc89914bd3fb41cfb2796e50803a9027" /> “Check your dockets, folks,” she wrote on the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2111126989104914" target="_blank">Markdown Madness Australia</a> page. Other shoppers went on to echo Wendi’s words of advice. “Just yesterday I got English muffins from a bin that said $2.50 and when I got home I see I was charged $5! So annoying,” said one. Added wrote: “Yep always check dockets, it’s crazy how many times you get over charged. At least one item each shop seems to get scanned wrong.”

Food & Wine

Coles shopper shocked at surprising find on receipt

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> A Melbourne Coles shopper has shared a surprising find on her home delivery order. She was stunned to find a note left from her Coles Online driver who delivered her groceries and shared the note on Facebook. “When I am expecting a delivery... I always write a sign to say thank you and just a few words wishing them good health etc so they know they are appreciated,” the shopper said. “Well, it was my turn today. Got a lovely note written on the bottom of my invoice. “It really has lifted my spirits more than I can say.” The Coles Online delivery driver replied to her note with some kind words. "Thanks for the kind words," he wrote. "Stay safe and well. Mal, Coles driver." A Coles spokesperson told 7News that the supermarket will pass on the customer's kind words. “We know lots of customers are choosing to shop on Coles Online at the moment and our Customer Service Agents are busily delivering groceries all over Australia,” the spokesperson said. “We love to hear positive feedback from our customers when they have a good experience, and we’ll be sure to follow up and congratulate this CSA on their thoughtful delivery!” </div> </div> </div>

Food & Wine

“Check your receipts”: Shopper issues Woolworths plastic bag warning

A Woolworths customer who noticed an unusual charge on her shopping receipt has warned others to check if they too have been stung by an extra cost. The woman said a staff member intentionally scanned a reusable bag that she brought from home at least three different times as she was checking out. Taking to the company’s Facebook page to issue a complaint, she expressed her confusion as to how a wrinkled-up bag inside her handbag was mistaken for a brand new one. “For the third time (that I am aware of) you have charged me 15 cents for my own bag,” the shopper wrote. She said it was not about the money but made her question how many others had been charged. The woman said that although she always keeps a reusable bag in her handbag, so she didn’t get “caught out”, the decision seems to have backfired due to careless staff members. “Those bags are so neatly and tightly folded that it should be quite obvious to anyone that they have not just been picked up in store that day,” she wrote. “The scrunched-up handles and few little tears are also a dead giveaway. Not to mention the fact that when I hand it over, I say, ‘Here’s my bag’.” The woman advised others to “check your receipts” as she was certain that she wasn’t the only one hit with the charge. “I’m not the only one this would be happening to. Shame on you Woolworths,” she said. A spokesperson for Woolworths responded to the shopper saying it was an error on the staff member’s part, but that they “wouldn’t intentionally re-scan” the reusable bags. “We’d be more than happy to fix it up next time you’re in store. We like seeing our customers bring their own bags and wouldn’t intentionally re-scan them,” said the representative. “If you can please let us know the store visited, that would be appreciated, and we’ll ensure the feedback is forwarded to the store management team. We look forward to hearing from you and appreciate your understanding.”

Food & Wine

“Absolutely disgusting”: Kmart under fire over police interrogation

Kmart is under fire over new claims that police were sent to a family home and wrongly accused a father of stealing $21 worth of merchandise from the store. Brisbane woman Bharathi Ranjit explained the situation on Facebook saying that two police officers had showed up at her home and accused her husband of shoplifting. She said that the claims were based on a purchase made three weeks earlier at Kmart’s Mount Ommaney store in Brisbane's out suburbs. “(We were) surprised and shocked,” Ms Singh wrote. “We quickly apologised and said we didn’t know how that could be possible.” Police explained that her husband had made the purchase, scanned his Flybuys card and walked off into his car without paying for the merchandise. They also claimed that staff took a photo of his car registration. “Why didn’t the staff/duty manager stop him and verify then?” the mum wrote. “The officers were asking us to present a receipt as a body of evidence of the purchase. Gosh. We usually don’t print receipts. “I calmed down and took a couple of minutes to review our transactions on the card.” After speaking with the police for half-an-hour, Ms Singh showed the officers a receipt on a mobile banking app. Police deemed “that is good enough” and left the residence. Ms Singh has warned others to keep their receipts in case something like that happens to them. “But I am so mad at Kmart Mt Ommaney management team for messing up my weekend and causing me unnecessary mental stress,” she said. “Please keep your receipts. If I didn’t have a smart phone with a banking app the situation wouldn’t have been favourable.” In response to her Facebook post, Kmart Australia has apologised for the incident. “We're sorry to hear about your experience with our Mt Ommaney store,” Kmart wrote. “We can understand how disappointing this situation would have been for yourself and your husband, and we apologise for the inconvenience caused.” However, others were quick to give their thoughts on the matter. “Absolutely disgusting,” one man wrote. “I'm surprised the police bothered you for such a small amount of money,” a woman said. Another said that “it’s not right to do that” and explained that Kmart staff should’ve spoken with the man directly instead of contacting the police.

Legal

Disgust after customer finds gross instruction on burger receipt

One man has been left feeling sick after discovering a gross instruction on his burger receipt. On June 17, Curtis Mays from New York visited the Bohemian Hall and beer Garden in Astoria, NYC. When the man had finished his chicken burger, he looked over the receipt and found that one ingredient he had not requested was added to his meal. Along with his cheddar cheese, mayo, toasted bread, caramelised onions and a side of onion rings, was a note to "add spit". <img width="499" height="390" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7819262/1_499x390.jpg" alt="1 (156)"/> “I ate my burger already, I felt like I was gonna throw up,” Curtis told <a href="http://abc11.com/3615399/" target="_blank">ABC 11</a>. “I asked her [the server], ‘Why would you do this?’ And she couldn’t explain it. She said she didn’t do it, so I was like ‘Who prints out the receipt?’ So she said, ‘I take it up there and print it myself.’ I said, ‘So you did it? Why are you lying about it?’ She just walked off,” he added. Curtis then immediately went to the manager to discuss the instruction to “add spit” that was found on his receipt. “He was saying, ‘How can we compensate you?’ I was like, ‘How can you compensate somebody for spitting on your food? I ate this already,’” Curtis said. The waitress was fired on the spot and Curtis received a full refund for his meal. The managed told the ABC that although the incident was “unacceptable”, it is “very unlikely” one of the chefs actually spat in the burger. What is your worst restaurant horror story? Let us know in the comments below.

News

Why you should always ask for a receipt at McDonald’s

A McDonald’s employee has shared a tip he claims will ensure you have the freshest fast food meal – and all you have to do is ask for a receipt. Kamran Adan, who worked for a year in a London branch, says staff will ensure a meal is in tip-top shape if you ask for payment details in case you’re a mystery shopper. “Basically between 12-2pm and 5-7pm workers have to be extra careful because that is when gapbusters (mystery shoppers,) who are paid, visit McDonald’s restaurants and rate their experience,” <a href="https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-favorite-McDonalds-hacks" target="_blank">he wrote on Quora</a>. “This then goes to the overall store rating and every store manager will do everything to ensure this rating is as positive as possible.” Kamran says staff quickly realised that mystery shoppers “always ask for a receipt (so they can get their food costs reimbursed by the company employing them.)” Sharing the tip with fast food fans, he added: “So, if you ask for a receipt in that time everyone will be immediately alert that you could be a potential gapbuster and they’ll make sure to serve you the freshest burger and fries and give you priority over everyone else.”

Retirement Income

New traffic light supermarket receipt

Customers won’t want to scrunch up their receipts for too much longer because a new receipt system will allow shoppers to view a quick nutritional tally of everything they just purchased. The traffic light supermarket receipt adds up the total calories, sugar, fat and salt in a shopping trip and scores them on the nutritional value. A green score will let shoppers know that their food choices are “good”, amber for “so-so” and red will advise customers to “rethink” what they have put in their shopping trolley. Nutrition academics backing the system believe it could “revolutionise” food shopping as people will get an instant gauge to the nutritional value of the food they are consuming. "Current evidence suggests that whilst consumers generally find the traffic light nutrition labelling useful, there are limitations, particularly when considering a person’s overall nutritional intake," said University of Birmingham sport and exercise nutrition lecturer, Matthew Cole, in a statement, "A new receipt-based system could bridge this gap, and provide an additional tool to help aid consumers in their food purchases, providing an overall summary of their entire food purchases." Matthew’s research reveals that a traffic light summary would help most shoppers make healthier purchasing decisions, which most say is a key consideration while shopping. The traffic light receipts were crafted in 2016 by Hayden Peeks with aim of “trying to solve the obesity epidemic”. "With this information, the complexity of the issue is dismantled and in one simple graphic anybody can get a good idea of how healthy their diet is," Hayden said. The United Kingdom uses a traffic light system on individual packaging. The Australian Medical Association and the Cancer Council have supported the traffic light system as the easiest and most effective way of labelling food.

Technology

Our Partners

Over 60

News

Shop

Catalogues

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Old grocery receipt highlights extortionate increase at supermarkets

“This is life-changing information”: Shopper discovers little-known Bunnings hack

"That's insane": Vintage Woolies receipt shines a light on cheaper days

“It’s real!”: Warning over new Kmart receipt scam

Husband for sale: Kmart shopper's hilarious find on receipt

“Check your receipts”: Unlikely glitch leads to free meat for happy shopper

Coles shopper shocked at surprising find on receipt

“Check your receipts”: Shopper issues Woolworths plastic bag warning

“Absolutely disgusting”: Kmart under fire over police interrogation

Disgust after customer finds gross instruction on burger receipt

Why you should always ask for a receipt at McDonald’s

New traffic light supermarket receipt

Our Partners