Woolworths
Reviews and Complaints

This matter relates to serious chemical burns sustained by using Woolworths Homebrand Chlorine. See pic.

Below is an email sent yesterday to The Woolworths Customer Claims Team who are totally disinterested in the matter. I can send full details if you give me an email address.

My details: Name-Peter Brooke; Email - [protected]@yahoo.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Geoff,

Also attention Vanessa Thorburn

Re: Home Brand Product - injury to Peter Brooke Ref: 459686
Re our call today, the Australian legal position is basically as follows in relation to the sale of products which cause harm.
As we all know, under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), consumers can seek compensation from manufacturers if the product they purchased causes loss or damage. These losses or damages can range from economic loss to physical harm such as an injury to a person who has used the product. I have used your heavily promoted Home Brand product as a result of which I was injured. That's common ground….yes?! I wasn't even aware that Zodiac Group Australia Pty Ltd existed before Woolworths flicked me and said that I was to go after them and not Woolworths.
The packaging on the product clearly states that the chlorine is "Woolworths Homebrand Triple Action Stabilised Pool Chlorine". Front and back, bold as well as fine print, it's all Woolworths Homebrand Triple Action Stabilised Pool Chlorine. Woolworths used its brand identity to sell more of the goods. See below what I purchased. You have this on your file, of course, but I wonder if anyone there has even looked at it and considered the legal ramifications of the wording of the packaging. I know that you hadn't seen the photo as the file had just been dumped on you and I doubt from the tenor of the conversation that you have bothered to look after said conversation.

Anyway, the packaging is obviously a marketing ploy, pure and simple, to engender confidence with consumers thereby selling more product and making more money. If the product was labelled "Zodiac Group Australia Pty Ltd Triple Action Stabilised Pool Chlorine" it wouldn't sell as well, would it?! Good for Woolworths to have the power & might to be able to do that, but with that form of power commercialization comes a high degree of responsibility to your customers, as well as ethical standards along with corporate responsibility.
Have a look at how Woolworths heavily promotes its Homebrand products (for profit):

Are you aware of the definition of ‘manufacturer' under the ACL? I don't think so! The ACL also defines a ‘manufacturer', which includes businesses involved in the following activities:
• making or assembly of goods;
• importing goods where the manufacturer does not have an Australian office;
• uses their brand identity to sell the goods; and
• promotes their business as the manufacturer of the goods or allows another business to promote their business as the manufacturer of the goods.
The actual manufacturer is generally the first in the line of distribution. If a manufacturer develops and makes a defective product, they may be liable for that defective product. Manufacturers are often the primary party held liable in defective product lawsuits.
The retail store that sold the product does not also have to be the manufacturer to be held liable in a defective product lawsuit. Because the retailer is a part of the distribution chain, the retailer may be liable for the defective product. For defective product lawsuits against retailers, a plaintiff does not even have to be the buyer.

The definition of a manufacturer under the ACL means that a person can be deemed to be a manufacturer, and therefore potentially liable for problems or defects in the goods, even if they had no role in or control over their manufacture. A person can also be both supplier and manufacturer (deemed or otherwise). Despite you telling me that you knew that Woolworths could in no way be considered to be liable under the ACL, with respect, you were quite wrong as I was trying to tell you.

The actual manufacturer not relieved of liability if there is a deemed manufacturer. The categories within the definition are not mutually exclusive and, importantly, the actual manufacturer of the goods will not be relieved of liability because there is also a deemed manufacturer.

Woolworths touts that "Woolworths, corporate responsibility has always been about doing the right thing". Woolworths' words, not mine. Do you think that treating consumers in a shabby fashion as you have treated me in this matter is "doing the right thing"? We all have our standards, Geoff, but I wouldn't have thought so.

You also told me point blank in response to my question on the topic that Woolworths & Zodiac have not spoken about this matter. Really!? What if I told you that I had direct information from someone with a conscience within one of the two corporations involved that this is certainly not the case? In any event, do you really believe that Woolworths and Zodiac would not be talking after an event like this, or maybe even embark on a concerted course of action to ignore me in the belief and hope that the matter would die on the vine?

Kindly have someone who is knowledgeable and in a position of responsibility respond within seven (7) days confirming that we can deal with this matter sensibly.

Also, for the record, Zodiac has failed to respond to my claim apart from acknowledging receipt of same and confirming that the matter has been referred to the correct department.

Yours faithfully,
Peter Brooke

Approximately 9.45 am feb 28th 2019
Woolworths delivery driver exciting highway, giving us the horn & then giving us the finger, very aggressive & angry.
Omg we were driving along in a 22 ft caravan doing 90km which is to us especially in morning traffic. Safe when drivers pull out in front of anyone when they decide "I want to go into the lane" not caring or taking any notice.
Check you drivers unacceptable fingers to your driver

Good morning, at 8 50 on the 26th of the 2nd 19 a staff member who identified himself as Edward was speeding through the undercover parking area and came to an abrupt stop after screeching his tires near the zebra crossing at the first zebra crossing I thought the man was literally going to run me over, as he got out on the second zebra crossing I told him there is a speed limit in the car park as and he then said to me whos having a bad morning. I replied that he should stick to the speed limit has was in uniform and worked in the complex. I told him I would be reporting him then he said close to my face that I should go ahead he didn't care as his wife was the manager. We were now in front of the customer service desk when he said what country are you from as I'm an immigrant I found this to be highly racist. I then accused him of making racist comments and this had nothing to do with the situation. he was at this stage calling out ineligible comments over his shoulder as he was rushing off the lady at the counter at the time witnessed this and was shaking her head at him, I asked her if this is how the staff behaved at their store. I am a person of sound character and have worked with woolies in the past in my charity work. I am sure the cameras will also confirm the events. I will also report this to the management of the village center and hope that this behavior is not tolerated by Woolies. Regards Katrina Proctor My email is [protected]@gmail.com

Woolworth must think the general public (where all your money comes from) are idiots or we all suffer from short term memory loss! The introduction of the Odd Bunch was originally to give farmers a better option than to burn the produce supermarkets had decided shoppers would not buy, buying them at a reduced price and passing the reduced price on to the Australian public. The Odd Bunch obviously took off and continued the strong sales for a while. Then the money hungry decision makers slowly increased the price and now on a weekly basis I see the Odd Bunch products priced higher than the hand picked perfect produce. The same goes for the help the farmer stunt when you raised the price of milk to $3.30 (3ltr) staying that Woolworths would be donating 30 cents from every 3ltr milk sold so you could help the farmers in these hard times! 30 cents that wasn't from your company and in no way affected your bottom line.in fact I'm sure that not only did your company try to fool everyone into thinking it was Woolworths helping these struggling farmers but I'm sure you also took great satisfaction in claiming the donated amount as a tax deduction. Completely pathetic!

I live in Lakemba and I'm sick of getting your 3inch high bundle of catalogues from woolworths. They are not individually put in individual letter boxes but the whole pile dumped on my balcony which is opposite letter boxes at 1/3 Fairmount st Lakemba 2195, and just for the record my letter box says no junk mail. So am doubly annoyed. If who ever is doing this instead of delivering to individual letter boxes should not be paid as they are not doing their job properly. I want this sorted out so it does not happen any more. I have taken picture if more proof is required.

Jamie

I have just departed your Glenorchy Central Woolworth's Supermarket - where I shop regularly. I was absolutely disgusted by the demeanor of one of your Staff members.

Her name is Laura & apparently she was the Shift Supervisor for the evening.

I have had recent back surgery & as I was carrying my basket on my arm it was getting increasingly heavy & my back was getting more pain. As I only had 1 more item to get I went to the front of the self serve area - where Laura was tiding shelves - or something. I said to her Politely: "Excuse me - (She ignored me) I repeated: Excuse me - I'm just going to put my basket here for a minute while I go & get something else. She avoided eye contact but looked down at my basket with a very annoyed look on her face (I had carefully placed it where it would not have been in anyone's way) she then rolled her eyes & shrugged! & started to turn her back to me! I then said -" I am telling you this because I don't want a staff member to think it's abandoned & start putting my selected items back on the shelves! " (This had happened just after I was out of hospital & I'd Rtnd to find my trolley had been whisked away & unpacked before I could get back to the front checkouts. By which time I was in too much pain to either go around again - nor to stand & wait for a staff member to go & retrieve the items for me. So I departed that time without any groceries! & my neighbour had to go & get essentials for me the next day.
Anyway -. as I was explaining - still politely - to Laura - she just turned her back - giving me a sidelong dirty look & walked away.

Now - I don't know what kind of Customer Relations training this employee has had - but she clearly hasn't even basic courtesy. Gobsmackingly rude. & clearly has Nil Supervisory capacity if this is how she role models communications on behalf of your company. Appalling & entirely uneccesary behaviour.
And a strong contrast with your Greenpoint centre staff - who work in a far more challenging socio-economic area & yet have been unfailingly polite & helpful.
L Monash

11.2% of people living in Australia are vegetarians, that is almost 2.1 million and yet your main stock of cream contains beef gelatine. Coles main stock of cream is vegetarian. Why can't you do the same?

You only have a very limited range of products for vegetaians. All I found was one small shelf. Is there a reason for this?

I look forward to your reply,

Kind regards,

David

My name is Stephanie Paxton my phone number is [protected] my email is Miss.S.[protected]@hotmail.com i am best reached by phone.
On 10/02/2019 at 2:17pm I went into kallangur Woolworth's and purchased 1 Woolworths brand cola 1.25l - $ 0.90 and 1 E Voucher Optus Prepaid - $30.00. The lady on the register asked to check my bags after I handed her my money, I showed her my bags then put my bottle of coke In my bag she handed me 1 receipt and I put it straight into my wallet and walked out through the back fire exit door I sat down in the trolley bay for 5 minuets then walked to the pub car park next door to Woolworths and sat on the gutter in a car park space I pulled the receipt that was handed to me from my wallet o recharge my phone and realised my voucher wasn't printed on the receipt it was only a normal purchase receipt so I walked straight back over to Woolworths and went to there front counter. I spoke to a different worker and explained what happened she spoke to the lady that served me an then called the manager and had him look at the cameras she came back and said the camera show's me being handed a receipt so I must have taken my voucher off and come back trying to get my money back. I explained that if course the camera shows me being handed a receipt but my voucher was not attached and if I was given my recharge credit why would I be here complaining I asked her to check the register as it may show the voucher was not printed or check all there cameras as it would show me walking out the back then across the car park and back again once I looked at my receipt, she refused to do as I asked and told me to leave as I was lying about not receiving what I paid for. I attempted to file a statement to the police but was hung up on due to only having a $1 on the phone box.

Receipt Details: Store 2752 POS 011 TRANS 533 14:17 10/02/2019
Barcode: [protected]

Kind regards.

I have been contacting Woolworth via phone every night for the past week. Even after talking with Supervisors, no one actually follows up or returns my call or email. Best to start at the bottom email and work up to get a clearer picture of how I have been treated (as a valued customer!)

MY RESPONSE TODAY

From: Tammy Mieglich
Sent: Wednesday, 6 February 2019 11:44 AM
To: shoponline@woolworths.com.au
Subject: Re: Woolworths online payment status.

Thank you for your email.

So I assume that you are referring to next Monday after 10am. No problems I will do this, however, it will be after 5pm, or maybe you could phone me once you have fully reinstated my card.

As mention above, payment will be made on your requested day. However, there is still the issue that someone has actually used my card without permission, and in return you barred both my account and card without my knowledge (and did not even put on my file the reason why, which has left me on hold every night for almost two weeks to try and sort it all out!). I would seek further details of who has used my card, where and when did this occur etc. None of this makes any sense at all and I certainly have not been offered any retribution for cancellation of groceries, being told my card has insufficient funds time and time again when it was always an issue on your end, being on hold every night for almost two weeks to try and sort out your issues and pay you money. As such, I would suggest that your Manager contact me asap to discuss the above or I will certainly be taking the matter further eg 5AA, Ombudsman, Member of Parliment etc.

Kind regards

Tammy

WOOLWORTHS RESPONSE RECEIVED TODAY (I feel this is an extremely poor attempt to apologise for what I have just been through - unbelievable!)

From: shoponline@woolworths.com.au
Sent: Wednesday, 6 February 2019 6:53 AM
To: [protected]@live.com
Subject: Woolworths online payment status.

Dear Tammy,

Thank you for taking the time to contact Woolworths Online.

We apologise for any frustration caused but in regards to the payment we ask that you please call us back after 10am Monday morning and we will be able to process the payment minus the missing items that were not supplied.
If you have any further questions please visit our Help and Support page to view our FAQs or alternatively contact us via phone or web chat and one of our Customer Service Representatives will be happy to assist.

Kind regards,

Lance
Customer Service Representative
Woolworths Online
1800 000 610
www.woolworths.com.au

Your privacy is important to us. Please view our Privacy Policy for more information.

Please note: This email will be unmonitored from the 30th of June 2018.
If you have any further questions, please visit our Help and Support page to view our FAQs.

MY EMAIL SENT 5/2/19

Just an update...

No one contacted me either by phone or email! I have phoned Woolworths every night to try and pay the amount on an account that you have 'disabled' with my credit card that you have also 'disabled' - for NO REASON.

Finally, this morning I have convinced one of your staff to look into the verification matter again and in further depth (as my credit card was again denied with 'insufficient funds'), and yes, you had blocked my card (as I have been trying to tell you all week!) Now I have to wait 24 hours for my card to be reinstated on your end, then phone you again to make payment on an account that I did not receive all goods on, because evidently, I need to apply for a refund after full payment as you are unable to deduct the unreceived goods from the total.

So the issue has been that evidently, someone who was unauthorised has used my card...so instead of prosecuting them, you have penalised me by cancelling my orders, blocking my credit card (although there is ample money to cover) and blocking my account! I had a similar issue around Christmas with Dan Murphy and although I was not offered any real explanation, I believe my account etc was reinstated...was this the same person?!

I would seek that the matter is followed up further, what if the same person tries to use my card details again, will I then have to phone every night for almost two weeks and be treated like a criminal!

Very annoyed and disappointed that not one of your supervisors followed through with their promise of investigating with the Verification Team, as I have requested every day (or even contacted me at all).

And all I have been trying to do is pay you money every night and get to the bottom of all the issues!

Where is your customer service? I sent this email through on Friday...it is now Tuesday!

I cannot even begin to describe how unprofessional and frustrating this whole situation has been...and the thought that the actual culprit probably still has an active account.

I will wait for another 48 hours for my reply.

Tammy

MY EMAIL SENT 1/2/19 WITH NO RESPONSE

From: Tammy Mieglich
Sent: Friday, 1 February 2019 7:23 PM
To: customerservice@woolworths.com.au
Subject: Major Issues with your service

My Name is Tammy Mieglich of 12 Sandpiper Way, Hewett. I am unable to give you my account number as I no longer have access.

Last Thursday I submitted an order online for delivery on Friday from 5pm-8pm. As I was waiting for my order to arrive as it was the long weekend and I needed to prepare food for a trip the following day, I noticed an email informing me that my order was actually cancelled 20 minutes after being placed.

I phoned Woolworth Support immediately and was told it was cancelled and there was nothing they could do. After many phone calls and persistence, as I needed the groceries for the long weekend (basically that night), your representative was able to organise a collection at 8.30pm the same night from Munno Para store. This was then also cancelled shortly after. I then phoned again (waiting well over 30 mins) to be told again, it has been cancelled and will not be available for collection at the agreed time. Finally, I spoke to the original person who assured me it would be there and he would re-submit the order again (4th time lucky I guess).

After arriving at Munno Para Woolworth, they first did not have any record of me or items for me to collect and asked if I had come to the correct store (luckily someone then came along who knew of my order and brought out my items). After I arrived home and was putting the items away, I realised some items were missing. I have informed Woolworths of the missing items when I phoned to pay for this order. I have tried to pay on a few occasions, however, Woolworths keep saying my card is declined and I need to contact the bank. I have been in contact with my bank and there is absolutely no issue on my end. As I keep telling your staff, I use this card on a daily basis and have more than ample funds to cover the amount.

The other issue is that instead of taking the amount of the missing items off of the actual outstanding account, they have given me a credit (I doubt I would be using Woolworth for a very long time after my dealings in the past week), therefore, have requested the money is taken from the amount owing as I don't want to pay for items I didn't receive. I have been told that I would need to apply to have this money put back onto my card after full payment has been made.

The next issue is that I have no access to my Woolworth account. Although when phoning am assisted in resetting it, after getting off the phone I am then unable to access again (I assume I am now blocked).

I have dealt with so many issues in the past 7 days with regards to Woolworths. At present, I am just trying to pay money for goods received last Friday as promised. And then I would like to know why my order along with my account has been cancelled/blocked.

Every night I call Woolworths and wait over 30 minutes with no solutions to any of the above issues. I have asked on numerous occasions to speak with a supervisor only to be told they are too busy. I cannot believe how I have been treated and would appreciate all issues to be addressed and amended asap.

I most certainly would like explanations to why this has occurred.

Well I finally received a call back (after waiting almost an hour) and I again demanded to speak to a supervisor, finally someone who says he will look into it, however, the call was then disconnected (I am still sitting here with my card in hand again, ready to pay you...and still waiting for a call back!)

I look forward to speaking with someone soon.

Tammy

Whilst driving home along pine St north Ipswich your truck 590qsh around 1230 pm sat 2/2/19 came out from fitzgibbon St onto pine St cutting us off and the other side of the road for his turn. I do not believe that particular road is safe for use of us h a large vehicle and suggest an alternate route so as not to cause an accident or unnecessary panic on such a busy road.

the lettuce i purchased from your gracemere store had hairs in it similar to dogs. ive previously purchased it before and noticed it last time but i feel disturbed noticing it again and dont even feel comfortable washing it off and eating it
the crates the lettuce i picked up from said wilson farm lettuce, i would like to think the conditions food is picked is in a sanitary environment

Recently opened 2 cartons of Woolworth Skim Milk, both had gone off. No obvious damage to packages. Both from the same batch and purchased from Woolworths Dickson within the last few weeks. Photo of batch numbers Etc included. Have been using this product for many years without any complaints or problems. I am not that worried about a refund but am concerned that there some quality control problem I a product I use regularly

I have been coming here for years and there has been no minimum spend for parking validation, suddenly without any one letting us customers know suddenly has gone to a $10 minimum to park. I spoke to a staff member inside who said the staff didn't even know it had changed. If your going to make such dramatic changes to your parking validation, you really need to let your customers know so we dont get stuck. Not every one can spend $10 get out of the lot. Thanks for the time.

Hi,

I was doing some grocery shopping on 26 Jan 2019 (Sat) around 1pm. When I had to pay, I did it st the self service kiosk. After scanning all my items, the system froze and no matter what the staff did they can't do anything. The staff then got me to a counter to help.

Unfortunately, a few items like the grapes and blackberries were not accurately priced so they had to check. By then, I was already very late.

I also bought a whole watermelon that was priced at $4.88. The staff insisted that all whole watermelon is by weight. I mentioned that we're 2 boxes, 1 was priced at $1.80 per kg and the other was the lunar new year while prices at $4.88 each. The staff did not bother to do a price check and basically not interested to help. I decided not to buy it.

After paying, I went to the box, took a photo and showed the salesperson. She then just asked me to approach the staff (gave me the name of the person) and said that he is the one sorting the items.

I am not going to go round the store and find the person. The staff were just standing around talking. There were 2 of them and no customers that they needed to serve at that time.

That was the worst service I had ever experienced in a Woolworths store. I am definitely avoiding going back there if I could help it.

I love this product and have been buying it for some time but was wondering if there is a red dye put in the product as I accidentally dropped some on my white shorts, I immediately wet the part of the shorts that was stained then added a paste of Vanish then soaked overnight, washed it but alas the stain is still there albeit a little lighter.
What concerns me is, is this product natural or has something been added.
Anxiously waiting for your response.
Regards
Jackie Cook

Bought the above today, Fri 25th Jan 2019, opened package up to have for my lunch and found 1/2 of 1 bread roll was hollow and another 1/4 of it was hollow and very dry. I usually buy the Sweet Potato Rolls, which are soft and beautiful. Bought the above rolls as there were no SP rolls on the shelf at Woolworths in Greenfields, WA 6210. It is so hard to get gluten free products and they are expensive. I am also a Vegan which even makes eating more expensive...This I have done as I have allergies to certain products and additives, I am also intolerant to Gluten.

The last 3/4 times I have been to Woolworths Pimpama, I have bought steak, and every time it has been off underneath when I have opened it to cook it. So you can't see it's off when you buy it. I'm very disappointed, as I freeze all meat I buy and then bring it out the day it is going to be cooked. I've never had an issue with any other meat, just the steak I buy from Woolworths. I've checked my freezer, nothing is wrong with it.

I have complained previously and have never had a reply. A few weeks ago, I received a delivery which had some unacceptable goods, all of which I had to put straight into the rubbish. These were a punnet of strawberries - at least 3 were mouldy, two tomatoes - both had mould where the stalks would have been and a packet of carrot sticks, which were dried out and inedible.
I have my groceries delivered about every 2 weeks and have always been very satisfied with the service and quality and I'm just about to place an order this week, but I think I shall have to switch to Coles instead - I can't afford to keep throwing food out!

The order was for Kaye Rowe, Croydon, Victoria
Received 31/12/18
Order No. [protected]
Regards,
Kaye Rowe ([protected]@netspace.net.au)

I bought these kitchen kebabs, brought them home and cooked them, inside, on a grill. Once I served them my son found a fly covered in bbq sauce, cooked into the chicken. The whole family was disgusted as you can imagine and we had to send out for pizza. Very disappointing and left us concerned about the cleanliness of the prep area in our local Woolworths.

Hello my name is Jason Sillankorva and I am a loyal customer to Woolworths. I prefer Woolworths over Coles and Aldi for all my family's weekly needs especially when it comes to our 3 cats. I came across essentials 4.5kg clumping cat litter after trying a vast variety of litter across all price ranges and found the mentioned litter to be the most cost effective for our budget. Recently I have noticed it is not clumping the way it always has since I started using this product and that has been quite a time. I have only noticed this in the last month a suspected it might have been just a bad batch but as it is still not as effective as it once was I can't help but ask what has changed. Any information on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Regards Jason Sillankorva.