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Woolworths
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Woolworths Complaints 1456

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7:10 pm EDT
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Woolworths absolute negligence

I have resorted to telling my story here as i have just been absolutely screwed around by your company for the past month and a half.

First of all, my mother in law has just moved down from QLD, she was employed by Woolworths up there and got a transfer down to her local store, after a couple weeks her store manager (who we will call Mrs. A as i don't want to name anyone) came up to her and asked if she was interested in an office job, in the same conversation my mother in law mentioned how i am looking for work so Mrs. A told my mother in law to send me in the following day for an interview.

I was so excited for this that i went out and bought a whole new outfit for this interview, so i go into Blacktown, Westpoint Woolworths front desk and asked the lady for Mrs. A and was asked to sit on the chair outside the store and wait for her, i was left waiting for 45 minutes until she finally looked up and notice me then indicated with her finger to wait a moment, picked up the phone and made a phone call then came out to me and said that Mrs. A is doing interviews tomorrow at 1 pm if i would like to come back then.
So i left, went home, and did it all again the next day, i did get my interview with Mrs. A where she asked me the usual questions you get asked at an interview and jotted my aswers down on a peice of paper, she then explained to me that she has interviewed 6 people that day but there is only two positions going at that time so she would give me a call he following day wether i got it or not to let me know how i went, she also further explaned that she was leaving the next day to go work in a store in Canberra and that if i would need to contact her assistant (who we will call Mrs. D) who was taking over Mrs. A' position.
The next day came around and my mother in law was working and i was picking her up from work, i was sitting out the front of the store and when she finished i was told that i have the job and that i had to go photo copy my drivers license and take it back to Mrs. D so my paperwork could be sent off to HR, i did this straight away and was back in the store within half an hour with my photocopy of my drivers license i was told that i will be contacted in the next two weeks.

Two weeks went by and i had heard nothing so i called up Mrs. D as Mrs. A had now left to work in another state, and when i finally got through to Mrs. D she sounded like she had no idea who i was and said that she would call HR, find out whats going on, and call me back the next day, she never called back, so i followed it up again with her where she explained shes been really busy and that they can only start one employee a week otherwise it too much at once and that one person started that week so maybe i will get a call the folowing week.
Well, i didnt. I let another week go by, and i called Mrs. D again and explained that i just want to know whats going on, i understand shes in a new position herself but this is getting rediculous, she told me that she has had a new assistant start that day and that shes trying to get her up to scratch and then she will follow me up but in the mean time just wait and she assured me that i WILL get either a phone call or an email from HR.
Another two weeks went by where i ‘waitied’ for something to happen, i got compeletly fed up and called Mrs. D again explaining that it has been over a month that i went for the interview and was told i have the job, i had turned down two job offers over the past month because i was dedicated to working for you guys, i am not recieving any payments at all from centerlink and im not looking for work because im being told im employed by you but i just need to wait, its rediculous. She then said that she had no idea that i was told i have the job and that maybe HR is waiting till the end of financial year to put any one on and that she doesnt know how they can put anyone else on as they dont even have enough shifts for the amount staff they already have, she assured me once again that she would follow this up and call me back by 3pm that day with propper answer.

She did call back, at 3 pm on the dot, where she told me that i didnt have the job at all and she doesnt know why Mrs. A even said that but as she is in another state no one can get incontact with her she was really apologetic about the situation and how it hass messed me around. I was so upset that i couldnt even say anything, so i hung up the phone.

I assure you Woolworths i will be telling my story to everyone and anyone i can because the way you neglected me and let me on to belive that i was going to be employed by a loyal and trustworthy company, that is abosutly disgraceful and unaustralian. I will never shop in anyshop that is owned by your company, Ever again!
And just so you know, before this encounter i applyed for several jobs all over the place within your company, please disgard of all my pervious applications as i would rather drink acid and burn inside out then have anything to do with your company!

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Marcia Clare Evans
beerburrum, AU
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Feb 09, 2015 1:24 am EST
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I go to the central lakes Queensland store every week and They very rarely have any stock of 1.25 litre vanilla coke - today I had to travel over 20 klms out of my way to go to another store - this is obviously a popular line - please ensure this store keeps better stock levels - this was a very poor shopper experience and does not help customer advocacy

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J. Fischer
Nhill, AU
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Mar 22, 2015 1:31 am EDT
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I have been shopping at Woolworths in Horsham for the past few years but over the last six months or so every time I go to do my fortnightly shop the freezer and shelves are empty of special items in particular. It doesn't seem to matter what day of the week it is either. This never used to be the case so I will now go to Coles as they always seem to have their shelves stocked. I travel an hour and a half round trip so will not waste any more time going to Woolworths.

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Anonymity4311
Bathurst, AU
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May 27, 2015 9:32 pm EDT

The bathurst store (1310) has the rudest online manager ever. The way she speaks to people is dismal and the way I, personally have heard to speak to fellow staff around is disgusting. I am unsure why she get her position, but maybe management need to either find a better find in the company for her (away from customers ) or just leave the dead weight behind

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Reviewer18372
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Oct 26, 2015 9:10 pm EDT

While watching channel nine on Friday an announcement came on that you are going to drop frequent flyer points from your card system. Please don't do this I and I am sure many other shoppers collect these . I am a pensioner and nearly always shop with you have done for some years. But because I am trying to save for a holiday will have to think twice if you make this official .

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meatloaf 2
AU
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Sep 29, 2014 9:07 pm EDT
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Over the past couple of years this store has gradually reduced the variety of goods from cat food to coffee to the extent that they virtually tell you what you can buy .By that i mean the cat food for instance has less varieties than it did last year and the most disturbing thing is it's ALWAYS the most popular of the varieties which is taken off, not supplied anymore or recalled, Yet go to ANY OTHER STORE and there is not any problem with this ALSO they take off the smaller items SO YOU HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO BUY THE BIGGER MORE EXPENSIVE ITEMS. What a joke I WILL NEVER GO BACK THERE AGAIN...I AM FED UP WITH THIS STORES PRACTICES. RIP OFF. COLES FOR ME.

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gayle byrne
Toowoomba, AU
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Jan 01, 2015 12:53 am EST

I have been collecting the animal cards for my grandchildren and have done 4 books and have only 2 cards to get and would have liked to get 2 more sound readers but have been told their finished . surely a big company would not dissapoint little children or do they not care i'm sure you could do something or dont you care about the little people anymore I have shopped with you for over 30 years but will not be anymore

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Maurice Robertson
Nicholls rivulet, AU
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Mar 19, 2015 5:25 am EDT
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I recently bought a Select Woolworths chicken and rice roll for my dog and for days he was violently ill. When he threw up it was noticeable the food I had given him. I visit to the vet and antibiotic later (cost $76 plus the remainder of the roll %50) and stopping feeding him the chicken and rice roll he is now fine. Have you had a problem with this product?

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Yolanda Richards
ZA
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Jan 12, 2015 6:05 am EST
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I would like to bring to your attention that the Gammon sold in December is the worst I have ever come across.

Apart from the exorbitant prices, I purchased 2 gammons which consisted of more fat then meat.
I am extremely disappointed in the way that Woolworths food products are now increasing in prices and decreasing in quality.

We come to this store because of the excellence of the food but recently I have been completely speechless and disgraced at what Woolworths is doing to its customers.

Please find pictures attached and decide for yourself if this is worth it or not!

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Timaeer
US
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Sep 17, 2010 9:13 am EDT

I bought two meat marinades because it was on sale R14.99. When I got home I realised I paid R21.95 for each item. This happens often when certain products are on sale. (Not only at Woolworths). People don’t look immediately if the pricing is correct and the stores smile all the way to the bank. I’m tired of this.

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DavidFoss94
Wagga Wagga, AU
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Sep 14, 2014 2:25 am EDT

I have a complaint about a woman who served me at the Customer Enquiries/Tobacco Counter at the Gurwood St. Woolworths in North Wagga Wagga, NSW. Unofrtionatley, I didn't catch her name. I was buying a packet of cigarettes and as always I was respectful to the worker serving me. She was impatient and very knarky with me. I asked her if I "Could be a little difficult and split the payment in half, paying both halves with the two cards" (As I was going halves with a friend). She proceeded to be rude and ask how much I wanted to pay on each card, I said again that I wanted to half the amount equally on the two cards. She became unusually impatient and stated that it is impossible to split them in half and someone has to pay more than the other. I have worked in a supermarket when I was in high school and I remember rather clearly that it is actually possible to do that. I'm not good with numbers, so when she asked me how much i wanted to pay on each card, given she was giving me such a bad attitude I became inpatient too and said, "Look, I'm really not sure just make them as equal as we can." Other customers began to line up behind me and I'm sure they would've noticed just how rude she was toward me. As we finally came to a solution that could've easily been figured out minutes ago, I paid the amounts and left furious. I couldn't believe that someone I was treating with respect in the first place thought it was okay to speak to customer like that. After all, we do pay for your wages.

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6:20 am EST
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Featured review
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Dear Woolworths, Prior to Monday the 21st of January, I was a loyal and regular customer of Woolworths grocery stores, petrol stations and Dan Murphy’s. However my views of the company have considerably changed after the occurrence of a number of incidences of, in my view, to be completely unacceptable customer service in both Woolworths stores and Dan...

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8:54 pm EDT

Woolworths I don't eat much and don't like large portions of food, but also don't like to be ripped off

I don’t eat much and don’t like large portions of food, but also don’t like to be ripped off. Two of us ordered the Classic Cafe salad. It consists of chicken, which I assume is the main ingredient and rocket, lettuce and avo, and also croutons and beans. We received per plate, not more than meat equivalent to 1 chicken drumstick each and in my salad I received two very very small rocket leaves, my husband had three. The croutons was stale dried out bread which was vile. One would expect that the quality would be the same as in the store. It falls way short. When this was queried, the waiter said it was the policy of their head office. This was confirmed by the manageress, who tried to defuse the situation by bringing some more rocket and a little bit of chicken. The salad each cost a whopping R53, 00. There are many other restaurants to choose from in the centre. I was also told that this was the 1st cafe run by Woolworths themselves. It seems as if they have no clue on how to prepare and serve meals. Come on Woolies…you need to do better!

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10:32 pm EDT

Woolworths problems with online application

Early in February 2012 I completed an online application for a store card. After a week of not receiving any feedback I contacted Woolworths and I received a reply stating that the delay was due to an old store card. The only problem is I never had a card with Woolworths before. This in itself is worrying as it seems that Woolworths opens store cards without any consent from the customer.

It also stated that the old account would be removed and the new one opened. Since then I have had to send numerous emails to get any feedback. However the feedback I receive is the same as it was a month ago. Tee old account has to be removed before the new one can be opened. On 14 March a lady called me and again explained the situation.

She informed me that the old account would be removed that evening and the new one would be opened and she would phone me on the 15th or 16th of March with feedback. Not surprisingly I did not receive any feedback and again had to send an email before receiving a call this morning. It seems that the problem has still not been resolved and the employee who phoned me shofted the blame. I am now fed up!

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10:29 pm EDT

Woolworths poor quality of women's clothing and underwear

After many years of keeping quiet as a consumer I have finally decided to take action when things go wrong. I have tried to complain politely to the respective branches, but that is a whole story on its own. First I would like to say that your staffs attitude varies from branch to branch.

I travel for work with my hubby as this is all we can get, so I get to see many towns/countries, and branches of Woolworths. I have met some very polite and helpful staff and then there are the rotten apples. I think the worst attitude I’ve had from a Woolworths branch was in Eastgate in 2009. I was trying on shoes and I needed a pair of boots. I have a ‘high arch’ as does my husband and I was trying to get a staff member to help me.

When I had to explain that I needed a few sizes of the same shoe, she first rolled her eyes before assisting me. When that style could not accomodate my foot, I asked if she could recommend another wider style. She threw the boxes to the floor, had a chat to a mate, before taking 27 minutes to come back with another boot in one size, the shop wasn’t busy, it was Tuesday morning just after opening time, in March.

I asked politely if I could try two other sizes to see which were more comfortable. She then told me the boot fits and I said yes, but maybe a bigger size would feel more comfortable as my foot is wider than most. She stood there for a few seconds then wandered off, I assumed to help me. She never came back. I walked around the shop and found another assistant who told me it wasn’t her department.

I went to a cashier and asked if she could help but she told me to just look for someone on the floor. I approached the cosmetic counter and found two ladies chatting away. I waited ten minutes before they acknowledged me, then one slowly walked me through the shop to find help. She told me she would send someone to the shoe area, I must go and wait there.

An hour passed and nobody showed up. I eventually noticed the first assistant who had helped me. I approached her, trying to control my temper, and asked if she could kindly help me now with some different size boots in three styles. She said to me ‘I thought you were finished’. She then turned to seek the boots. 42 minutes later she came back with one box and said they out of stock. I asked to speak to the manager and got told ‘the manager not here today’. I asked to speak to the assistant manager. She asked why.

I said I have a complaint that she’s not helping me well enough. She then said it’s not her fault I have fat feet. My husband removed me from the shop before I killed her. I went to another shop to purchase boots. They were more than willing to help me, and gain my money, so I bought two pairs instead of one and a good pair of sports shoes.

In 2005 I purchased from the Pavillion, Westville branch, a full set of clothes from Woolworths for a new job, grateful I had one after being unemployed so long. I went to a final interview and was wearing a black pencil type skirt and a short sleeve embroidered shirt. As I got up to shake my new boss’s hand, I bent over to pick up my hand bag only to hear a funny noise.

Realising that my skirt had just given up, up the back seam I asked to be shown to the ladies room. Luckily his female assistant was with him, and she took over and he left. The seam up the back of the skirt had given way – all the way to the waiste band – it was brand new, the first time I had worn it – and no, it wasn’t too small for me. The assistant offered her help via me lending her scarf to tie around my waiste and then said, ‘you should have invested in woolworths’. I said ‘I did, and am I sorry!’.

The shirt I wore that day came undone by the third use. First the hems on the sleeve then the embroidery unravelled. I lost a button the first day I wore it. This is quite common with Woolworths clothes now.

A month later, I was wearing a pair of black high heel shoes, also purchased from Woolworths, Gateway. I climbed a staircase at my new job only to almost break my neck as the left hand heel broke clean off the shoe! It was only the second time I had worn the shoes. I took them back and got a credit, purchased a more ‘sensible heel’ shoe.

These shoes started to seperate and landed up in a divorce as the inside padding came unstuck and the souls left home. In relation, I bought a 3/4 heel black pair of shoes from Main Street, Port Elizabeth branch in 1992 – I wore these shoes at least once, every week and they lasted me 9 years! Now that’s quality! Also about your shoes, you used to give 1/2 sizes, like size 3and1/2, now I either have to chose a 3 or 4 or 5, pending the bad cut of the shoe. What happened to the 1/2′s.

Later in 2005, I tried on a dress in the shop, and made a note to the assistant in the department that the cut is wrong. She looked at me as if I was a mad. So I put the dress on came back to her, and showed her I couldn’t lift my arms as it seemed the seam that stitched the sleeve to the dress was sewn on to long or deep. She went on to tell me that was the style? I wasn’t the only one that complained.

In 2006 I purchased vests and undies for my father from a the Vryheid branch. I followed the instructions as per washing and keeping them good, but to my disappointment, the vests ‘stretched’ beyond shape within a month. I regret to say that the undies are not stocked anymore. They have a wide band of elastic at the waiste, with a cross over feature at the front, which is like a flap, enabling a man to whip it out instead of pushing the undies down.

These undies I was told, were ‘obviously not popular and now are not stocked’. How true this is?

In 2008 I purchased bras for myself from Greenstone, Johannesburg branch. My size bra has not changed since I was married and as they have a ‘no return’ policy on underwear, I took an old bra with to make sure it was the same type, brand and size – although the price had increased. I asked for assistance too. When I got home and tried them on, I found that the bras seeemed very tight and small cupped.

On measuring them against the old ones, the material was less in the cup, and the sides were narrower. Before you say, yes but that’s old it’s stretched, in my ‘hospital bag’, I pulled out a Woolworths bra, same everything, still in it’s packaging with receipt, and found that indeed, upon measuring up, the new bras have “shrunk”.

In 2011, scared to purchase bras again from Woolworths but determined that the quality must have been checked, I purchased again. The bras are still not the right size. To prove it, I bought 3 different size bras and took them home to compare them. If anyone of your staff can show me the difference in size – I will eat them!

In 2012 I purchased new undies from the Phalaborwa branch. Again, I took a sample with and again I was disappointed. Only this time I’ve kept the receipts and underwear. The panties I bought started to come apart after the first wash. Now, I have never had domestic help, no one else washes my clothes, especially my underwear and I follow the instructions. By the second wash, the seams at the elastic edge had all but given away.

I bought eight (5) packs, allowing me to change underwear enough times even in bad weather when washing can’t dry. The panties I bought in January this year, I’m sad to say lie in a heap in a box in my cupboard with their receipt. I used them three times.

Comparing these new panties with some from a purchase in 2006 is so funny I cry. The lack of quality can be seen a mile off. Thankfully I keep a ‘hospital bag’ for emergencies, and keep ‘proof’ of the decline of Woolworths merchandise.
My husband is furious as we are just starting to come right financially and he refers to Woolworths as disposable clothing.

He told me if I buy anything at Woolworths again, he will divorce me, unless you have given me a refund or gift card. I have to agree with him – what a waste of hard earned good money!

I’m happy to report that I buy good fitting bras at Pep stores and they have lasted, kept their shape and not ‘shrunk’. I buy my panties at various outlets, I’m still testing the quality of different stores.

There are many more items of clothing I have bought over the years, but I must be honest, these of the ones that stick out the most. I will also admit that the quality started to decline around 2005 across your branches, and one could easily see and compare this when they found old and new items on the same shelf.

I feel sorry for those that have climbed up in their lives from poverty to a sustainable income only to be let down by the quality of woolworths. I know a lady who comes from such a background. Her main ambition in life was to shop at Woolworths when she made it to a decent income. She is also 37 years old, and she has just got her degree, after many years working and earning her way up and now is able to afford to shop at ‘quality shops’.

She purchased some nightware and a winter coat, a week later she phoned me to tell me the lining in the coat had come undone, as had the sleeve stitching, two buttons had fallen off. She had bought it for her mother, as a thank you gift, who had worked three jobs, 16 hour days, 7 days a week, to keep her in school so she could go on to a better life. Sadly, her mother passed away and never really got to wear a good quality coat in winter.

I don’t mind paying the price as long as the quality keeps up. Everyone who knows me knows, I only buy All Gold Tomato Sauce (all gold all gold tastes so good!) and Mrs Balls Chutney. As poor as I’ve been at times, these are things I don’t compromise. And I can’t complain, their quality has never disappointed me.

Woolworths, you can keep putting your prices up, but your customers are getting wise and angry and are going to keep leaving. – But don’t worry, there is a sucker born everyday that will support your name; I’m just not one of them.

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bloved
Toronto, CA
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May 28, 2012 1:31 am EDT

When I started reading I was thinking "its a bit strange that she's kept a detailed list of complaints since 2009." Then I kept reading and realized that the list went back to 2005!

I think my favorite part was the one where she was upset with the sales person over the cut of the dress. What did she expect the woman to do? whip out her sewing kit and scissors?

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1:39 am EDT

Woolworths I assure you that I will definitely never refer a client to you ever

I applied for a Woolworths card the beginning of January. After a couple of days they phoned my employer to confirm my employment as well as my salary. The lady from Woolworths could not get hold of our Admin Manager (HR) and instead started confirming all my personal details as well as my salary to the first person answering the phone, a colleague. She still asked my colleague what her position was and after confirming that she is just a Custody Clerk, she still kept talking and confirming my personal details. I eventually received my Woollies card in the post as promised.

Signed the card and went to the neares Woolies we have to purchase some items. The lady at the till took my card, swiped it, and the transaction went through without any trouble. I just came from an Engen garage with a Woolies store where I tried to buy a salad. There I was informed that I’m not able to use my card as this is a NEW CARD and that I have to go to THE BIG WOOLWORTHS to purchase a salad.

I mean really, a salad and I have to drive all the way to A BIG WOOLLIES because my CARD IS STILL NEW. Why did the same thing not happen at my SMALL WOOLLIES, THE FIRST TIME I USED THE CARD? That would have made sense! So please URGENTLY advise what I need to do to USE MY CARD AT ANY WOOLLIES, BIG or SMALL, and not get embarrassed EVER AGAIN by someone at the TILL telling me that I can’t use this card because it is NEW!

As a new customer I have not had a very pleasant experience with “Woolworths”. I assure you that I will definitely never refer a client to you ever, as I have no good service to BRAG about.

You might think that you are “The BEST”, but believe me, there’s a lot better out there when it comes to service. I never had that problem with EDGARS, (instead they reward their clients and actually want you to shop there) and Mr. Price( where I got my card immediately and can use it at any Mr. Price, BIG or SMALL, SPORT OR HOME). If I knew what I know now, I would never have WASTED my time applying for a Woollies card!

I expect you to have the decency to get someone to phone me and tell me how to fix this problem with this card, and I want someone that is going to deal with the problem, and not just confirming that they received my complaint and someone will contact me shortly.

WOOLWORTHS OWES ME THAT!

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Idocare
Washington DC, US
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May 18, 2012 5:15 am EDT

Uhm, why would you buy a salad on a credit card that has a 28% interest rate?

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9:03 pm EDT

Woolworths woolworths store scam of incorrect pricing

There is a very small Woolworths store at Padstow that I only frequent out of convenience because more often than not the service is very bad and nearly every time I walk in the store I notice a merchandising mistake or product pricing mistake without even trying.I have to ask them to fix it because it’s intellectually frustrating to see it.Obviously it occurs through either carelessness or stupidity.It is a small store in comparison to other stores & therefore they don’t have a great range of product brands and types, so you would think it would be easier for them to manage it but no…

There is one particular cashier there (an older lady with short brown hair) who is so hopeless that I just leave my goods and walk out in disgust at mainly her stupidty.I usually try and avoid the stupid ones but yesterday I stood in her line to be served & sure enough she still had not learnt a thing about efficient high service cashiering…She refused to give me a bag when I asked until after I’d paid, so my goods were still sitting there on the counter after I’ve asked for a bag? It varies from that to her triple handwork to get the goods in the bag (very slow and inefficient).You get the idea…

Many times I’ve vowed to boycott that store & I stay away for some time but due to convienience only I go again.They’ve lost a lot of custom from me…Most people go to Riverwood to get good service and product range.At least there I can serve myself…

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9:51 pm EDT

Woolworths not happy with my experience at woolworths in roma today

I live 3 hours out of Roma on a rural isolated cattle property! The alarm goes off at 4am, I have breakfast get dressed and away before 5am… i pull into woolworths at 7.50am to get the Grocery shopping out of the way as there if 50, 000, 000 more jobs to do for myself and my husband! Woolworths is the only shop in town opened at 8am which is why we shop then… well the doors finally opened at 8.10am (10 min late, after customers knocking on the front doors!) 9.30am i’m lined up with $980.00 order which is a regular order for my family from Woolworths!

Then they tell me my ham and the rest of my cold gear has to sit out until 10am before pick up is opened! Well this is absolutly unacceptable to do this to a customer that has just spent close to $1000 in your store… This customer service is poor and disgusting. The ammount of money woolies in Roma would make out of Rural bush people would be huge, extend the coldrooms, extend the pick up area, what ever the problem is… fix it if you wish to keep me as a customer! 10am to 4pm for the pick up is not acceptable customer service for a rural town such as Roma (9am to 6pm is fair!)

And then some dope working in pick up tried to give me someone else's groceries. Not Happy With My Experience At Woolworths in Roma Today! Look after your customers that look after you!

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Jaza
Port Macquarie, AU
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Dec 23, 2012 5:45 am EST

Woolworth's Roma supermarket is the worst woolworths I have ever been in or worked in
All the staff are unhappy and any complaint gets brushed under the carpet
Management wouldn't know how to treat people if it bit them in the ###.
The woolworths CEO needs to get rid of all management there and start a new.
You can't keep treating people this way it's not right
I say bring in a Cole's supermarket in Roma.
Cause you guys suck

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9:06 pm EDT

Woolworths very unfriendly person and I think the manager there should keep up with the service woolworths provide

I really love shopping at Woolworths but today this cashier I had was giving me an attitude that I’ve never experienced else where! This is the Walmer Park, PE branch at the food section. Her name is Kim, she just started her shift and was being very rude I must say. She didn’t bother to greet, never mind mentioning smiling back at me. The way how she was scanning my food and throwing to the side, giving me the look like I did something wrong and banged the pen on the surface for me to sign. Very unfriendly person and I think the manager there should keep up with the service Woolworths provide.

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10:36 pm EDT

Woolworths come on woolworths how about looking after your customers

I am a staff member at Temora Woolworths store, and dread going to work each day. There are three members of one family working in this store and all we hear is back stabbing and ### all day. One particular family member not only ### about staff members but customers also. I am sure if Woolworths conducted a survey most staff members would say the same. All we can hope for is that they be transfered to another town. WE HOPE! Please Woolworths management rescue this store, come see for yourself.

I bought cherries from Woolworths store yesterday and when we started to eat them last night we found that most of them were rotten, mushy and horrible, I will be returning them to the store today, and at this time of year the traffic on the road is very very busy, and of course there is the extra running around that I don’t need not to mention the extra cost. This is not the first time I have found that woolworths so called fresh food company is not so fresh, they should have been as the shelf had only just been filled and it was early in the morning.

So come on woolworths how about looking after your customers, one very very unhappy customer and employee.

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12:48 pm EDT

Woolworths call centres are pathetic

Woolworths call centres are a waste of time and money! For 2 days I have been calling, faxing and emailing. Emails don’t get responded to and calls don’t get returned. Every time you call you get through to a different person who you then have to explain the whole sob story again to or leave a message for the 5 other people who you originally spoke who never return calls. In-between this you get cut off after holding 20 min! I find it ridiculous that the very same documents that FNB will accept to change details they will not! Woolworths spend less money on your adverts and more on your call centres and training up your staff! Your service is PATHETIC!

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10:27 am EDT

Woolworths card payment declined 3 times

I went into Woolworths in Jean avenue Centurion. Bought a few things like I always do. Went to the cashier, she scanned the items. I gave her my standard bank card. She swiped it 3 times and said it was declined. I said I would draw the money but for some odd reason none of the ATM’s worked, I guessed standard bank must be off line. So I drove to the next place, to see if I could draw money. Due to me not be able to buy it there I went to another store to buy the things I needed. To my surprise it went off from my account. So now what?

I was humiliated in front of a whole store, I didn’t took my items home as my card was declined 3 times according to the cashier, so I paid for what exactly?

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Zoran Panzich
US
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Jan 10, 2020 12:33 am EST

WOOLWORTHS – Manjimup.
On Tuesday 7 January 2020 my credit card was declined. Luckily, I had some cash in the wallet. After paying for the items I went to Westpac, where the credit card was OK. Funny it did not work at Woolies in Manjimup.
Then today (10 January 2020) at about 9.45am Woolies in Manjimup declined a credit card and a handy card. I got a new Hany card on Wedes and so I tried it the Westpac outside machine and it worked fine but not at Woolies. Why.
After Woolies declined 2 of my cards, I went to Dunnings where the Hany card worked well and I got some fuel! After that I went to West[ac Manjimup where I told the cashier the story and what happened to me at Woolworths, Manjimup. According to trhe cashier maybe the Woolies terminals do not connect correctly.
My credit card has more than $10, 000 and Handy Card account has more than $7000 to draw from. So it seems strange that all the problems relate to Woolworths, Majimup. I was embarrassed to say the least when one card and then both cards were declined!

Zoran Panzich B.Ec. (Hon. Memb. AJA.)
1 Guilfoyle St. Manjimup. WA 6258.
Email – zoran@wn.com.au
MobPhone - [protected]

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10:12 am EDT
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Woolworths poor policy

I recently experienced the extremely poor customer return policy of Woolworths. I have always felt that when returning an item if it is being returned in the same condition in which it was bought and you have the slip to verify purchase, that the store should provide a full monetary refund and not a voucher Why should a consumer be held to ransom to purchase something at that store while they retain your money, earn interest and have the value of the returned product returned to their stock?

What makes this situation worse is that they are not upfront about this policy, they hide behind red tape. They say that they will refund a credit card payment with a credit card refund only to insist that the credit is applied to the same credit card number that the items was bought with. Only a cash purchase is refunded with a cash refund. The problem with this system is that it forces the consumer who did not buy the item to get a voucher. By forcing a voucher on to the customer, they are in essence coercing you into “a forced contract with them” where you can only spend that money at their store, while all this time having the money in their bank and the items back in their inventory. This leaves the customer with the risk of not finding the required item they need and having to spend additional money elsewhere while the value of your voucher gets reduced (inflation and no interest).

This means that if your credit card has expired before time of return of item you will not get a credit to your account. If you received the same items in a baby shower you will be unable to get the money back for the items you return.

In my case, my husband bought me a jersey and he specifically left the price attached and gave me the slip in order that I would have the option to get a refund or exchange the item. The jersey was not to my liking and I took it back to the store with the slip and price attached. The store refused to give me a cash refund or to refund my credit card (even though my husband and I have a joint account).

I find this practice extremely consumer unfriendly. It seems to be an excuse for Woolworths to insist on pushing their vouchers on to the consumer. They should be secure with their products and service to give a customer the choice of refund. As stipulated in the Consumer Protection Act, the customer is entitled to a choice and is entitled to not be forced into further commercial engagements or agreements with the vendor store.

It seems as if they insist on giving back the same R50 note that was given to them when the item was bought. They may refund with two R20 and a R10. By the same token I do not see how they have the right to insist on refunding the credit to the same credit card number that the item was purchased with. A credit is a credit! The credit card number is incidental for them to refuse a simple refund. I do understand that in the accounting system it may not marry up 100% of the time but why should the consumer be responsible for their accounting inadequacy?

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Wine Is Good
Wine Is Good
US
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Jul 25, 2016 5:33 pm EDT

Most people can not read the date on a label. Did it say EXPIRE or did it say BEST BY or BOTTLE DATE? Or was there just a bunch of random numbers that you were assuming were the expiration dates? What are CC's?

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Reviewer94617
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Mar 03, 2016 5:52 am EST

I am a regular customer of Woolworths and I have never had any complaints at all. Today when I done my weekly shopping, I got home and started unpacking my groceries and noticed that the Cc's that I purchased were out f date by 4 months. I didn't even think it was legal to sell out of date products. The worst part is that when I returned to the store to get a refund, the lady actually refused to give me a refund. So I was left with food that I am basically going to have to throw out. Very dissapointed in Woolworths Inverell.

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kanye31
AU
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Nov 06, 2011 11:44 am EST

What cant you buy from woolworths though? Spend the money on your groceries for gods sake.. what do you so desperately need cash for?

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5:01 pm EDT
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Woolworths wrongly itc listed

I paid my Woolworths loan and card up in full in September 2010.Woolworths wrongly allocated my payments and said I owe them money. After explaining everything to them and sending proof of payments they admitted the fault was by them. They said they will correct everything and I will not be ITC listed(December 2010). Today I found out my ITC is bad because it shows that I owe Woolworths 6 months payments. I phoned them and they said they will send me a letter stating I do not owe them anything - still waiting for the letter. I feel they should take me off ITC as soon as possible.

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5:42 am EDT
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Woolworths poor service

i have shopped twice at the moe woolworths now and not been given my reward points. the first time the girl forgot to ask and before i could get the card from my purse she had completed the sale and told me opps sorry. the second time the girl had not been paying attention and got the card details from the customer before me, he put his credit card into the eftpos machince an she continued to swipe my grocheries and then when we told her the mistake as she had not yet scanned his 3 boxes of soft drink (which she advised him to leave in his trolley) she said ill finish scanning yours. i then paid asked to swipe my reward card and the girl told me sorry but the points are on that mans card, all because she was not doing her job correctly.
this is unacceptable and the girls at the reg seem to not care that you dont get your points..

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Dodge James
Glenorchy, AU
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Aug 14, 2014 5:01 pm EDT

Kanye31. You are a dropkick. It would appear from your comment that you consider yourself to be superior to the person you are attempting to belittle. Go look in the mirror idiot, the incompetent from Woolworths will be standing right beside you. The MOE, VICTORIA store has long had a reputation for poor service and customer care as do most Woolworths stores. Did you bother to check that? I doubt it. Or do you just shoot your mouth off to attempt to feel superior? It aint workin'. DROPKICK

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kanye31
AU
Send a message
Nov 06, 2011 11:46 am EST

If it means so much to you, present it to them STRAIGHT AWAY. Have it in your hot little hands ready to go. Okay?

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3:19 pm EST
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Woolworths account query

My email address [protected]@webmail.co.za CC Claasen Id No. [protected]. My ref no.[protected]. I have a problem with the woolworths/munnik basson da gama team. Last month a consultant from your office phoned me and told me that i must make a last payment of R260 to settle my woolworths acc, which i paid. Just 4 fun i went and pay an extra R50 afterwards 2 see if my credit will show and it did show the credit available. Today 10.03.2011 i went in to woolworths store and made a payment of R50 just to see if the account was stil showing the credit available and it only showed the R50 that i paid. And if the account has been settle why dont you give me a clearance letter, so tel me what happens now. Do i stil owe you people. Let me know, cause im on the verge of contacting the ombudsman if im not satisfied with your response

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Corlein
ZA
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May 20, 2013 2:38 am EDT

I am one extremely unhappy customer, as lots of the Woolies customers are. I am a 52year old woman of 65kg and about between 5 and 7kg overweight. I bought your opaque anklehighs (44 decitex) lots of them, different colours, 2 pairs per pack. The packaging says "One-size-fits-all" How the hell can one size everyone fits? I am not even big-built and my legs are now scarred for life and will surely never be able to wear a dress above or on the knee again, nevermind knee-length pants or shorts. As I can see from your facebook page, Woolworths does not even try to respond and/or reply to any complaints they receive. I would really like to know how Woolworths is gonna compensate me being scarred-for-life. I was just wondering. Your facebook page, is it just there to compliment Woolies, not to log complaints?

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5:12 pm EST

Woolworths poor quality of food products

My husband bought woolworths chocolate mousse pudding (R44) on Saturday - just in time for Mothers day -- found large lumpy gelatin like substance in the pudding - totally unedible, totally disappointed as this used to be my favourite pudding. Also bought the Organic vanilla flavoured large tub of yoghurt at a price I may add - the quality has dropped drastically - it's now like milk - not at all creamy and thick like it used to be. Even the sticky toffee pudding's quality has gone down - the sponge seems to be rather dry - which it never used to be. I sent a complaint to their customer services - i haven't heard anything from them - not a word. It's sad to see that Woolworths doesn't engage with their customers.

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AndersonAnne
US
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Jul 14, 2016 9:22 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Purchased this product today; the rice was not cooked properly and had hard chalky middle; this was for the whole dish. Unpleasant to eat but had to as that was all I had at work!

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Reviewer69389
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Jan 14, 2016 12:49 pm EST

Worst wine ever. Im all for tannins. But this is ridicilous. I can send photos. Disgusting! To say the least

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Reviewer60955
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Jan 13, 2016 1:18 am EST

Bought Rump Steak on Saturday at Midland Woolworths Centrepoint and went to use it on Monday and discovered it was off. Use by date was the 17th January. Absolutely digusting. What a waste of money. Fresh food people NOT.

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Leesh Lew
Rockingham, AU
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Nov 13, 2013 5:50 am EST

I went to the waikiki woolworths store this afternoon and purchased my usual weekly shopping and when I got home and unpacked my celery I noticed it was all withered and half of it was rotten in the middle.

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9:53 am EST
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Featured review
This review was chosen algorithmically as the most valued customer feedback.

I was at the Adderley street branch and was shocked to hear a manager (sheila) shouting and actually swearing at staff on the floor and me as a customer walked past and heard this.This is just rude and unproffesional and you don't talk to staff like that.I was even more shocked when i asked the staff member about the managers attitude and she said it'...

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7:30 pm EST

Woolworths woolworths food can afford to ignore customers

I'm not one to complain, but this is one 'bridge' to far. I have always spent up to 5 minutes waiting at the hot food counter to get served and today was no different but this time there was someone behind the chicken rotisserie filling it with chicken. There is a glass font through which this person could see that there were two people waiting for her. There was no acknowledgement of our presence nor any movement on her part to assist her CUSTOMERS.

Now i'm quite sure chicken would not go off in the time it takes to help two people on their way with their hot food. Eventually another of the floor staff, emerging from the back, called her repeatedly to come out but she continued with her back room functions. It took this second person at least a full minute to get her outside. By that time I was angry and walked away.

I'm happy that Woolworths can afford to lose out on a sale of about R100.00, and I'm sure it's shareholders would commend their staff in ignoring their customers to complete mundane tasks. I also returned to the counter two minutes later and again there was no-one manning it. I received a shrug when I confronted WW on their service.

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4:31 pm EST

Woolworths no reason for declining store card application

I applied for a Woolworths store card, TWICE and was declined - no reason was given. I then checked with ITC and I was credit clear, empirical score is 1, no defaults whatsoever. I then applied for an Edgars storecard and they accepted my application within 2 weeks.

Now what's Woolworth's problem? The mere fact that I'm 24 with no bad debt should serve as an indicator that I'm not a reckless consumer...so what's the point of offering a service like this, but you get declined..on what grounds?

I finally get a reply after a long time, which explains that I do not have a credit record...I was absolutely gobsmacked- Why are you offering a financial service if you're not willing to give credit to a guy who has no bad debt?!...The reason I'm applying is to cover myself incase I run over my budget and need an outlet maybe for the last week of the month or a few days before payday...I'm not going to use the **** card for my monthly grocery shopping!

Are there perhaps other companiesorganizations that would possibly grant me access to a storecard for perishable goods and willing to take on another stakeholder? because WOOLWORTHS ARE TOO 'exclusive' for me.

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Leila Andrews
US
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Mar 09, 2022 11:03 am EST

This very thing happened to me and they say that you only need to be older than 18, earn more than R2000 and have an SA ID to qualify. I have all those things but they still declined. Please explain?

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About Woolworths

Screenshot Woolworths
Woolworths South Africa is a retail chain offering a variety of products including clothing, food, beauty items, and homeware. Known for its focus on quality and sustainability, the store provides fresh produce, grocery items, and a range of apparel for men, women, and children. Services include online shopping and in-store returns.
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Overview of Woolworths complaint handling

Woolworths reviews first appeared on Complaints Board on Aug 23, 2010. The latest review In-store loss prevention inappropriate targeting women was posted on Apr 1, 2025. The latest complaint staff corruption was resolved on May 26, 2019. Woolworths has an average consumer rating of 1 stars from 1458 reviews. Woolworths has resolved 26 complaints.
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  1. Woolworths Contacts

  2. Woolworths phone numbers
    1800 000 610
    1800 000 610
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    7%
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    Woolworths Online
    1300 767 969
    1300 767 969
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    13%
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    Woolworths Supermarkets
    1300 655 055
    1300 655 055
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    Woolworths Petrol
    1300 101 234
    1300 101 234
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    50%
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    Rewards, Insurance & Credit Cards
    1800 641 497
    1800 641 497
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    Trolley Tracker
    1300 665 386
    1300 665 386
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    Business
    +61 288 850 000
    +61 288 850 000
    Click up if you have successfully reached Woolworths by calling +61 288 850 000 phone number 8 8 users reported that they have successfully reached Woolworths by calling +61 288 850 000 phone number Click down if you have unsuccessfully reached Woolworths by calling +61 288 850 000 phone number 5 5 users reported that they have UNsuccessfully reached Woolworths by calling +61 288 850 000 phone number
    23%
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    Woolworths Group
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  3. Woolworths emails
  4. Woolworths address
    1 Woolworths Way, Bella Vista, New South Wales, 2153, Australia
  5. Woolworths social media
  6. Janet
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    Apr 07, 2025
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Woolworths is ranked 102 among 124 companies in the Retail Stores category

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