Woolworths Complaints Continued... (Page 13)

I have been shopping in Woolworths since I got married 42 years ago & over the years products have come & gone but usually with an explanation but not this time, I finally found a cereal I really like & after buying it for over two years all of a sudden I can't find it anywhere & no-one can tell me why.I do most of my shopping in Warwick Qld, I would like to see this cereal back on the shelf or at least a reason why it can't be.

To Woolworths, I wish to express my disgust with the saturation of your support to the idea of Halloween Day. My family made a visitation to one of your stores today and was shocked and scared by the over whelming visual horror of the grotesque marketing of Halloween. This was displayed by props and staff. Your decision to support this has lost myself and my families support of your business. We will no longer be using your stores to purchase our supplies, as we feel that our children and we should not be subjected to this disgusting behaviour.

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.

Over the past two visits (I average $120 weekly in this store - over the past 5 years) the checkout has failed to recognise: 1. fruit on special for which I was charged full price - approx $3 more - 2. Reduced price mince because the original barcode for $6.67 was not covered and the new price of $5 did not register.

For 2 I did return to the store, was given a credit and allowed to take the mince for nil but it is never convenient to have to return! Furthermore I was told by the customer service rep who returned the money that I should be keeping an eye out at the check out so that these things didn't happen!

On Saturday the 6th October at around 1.15pm myself and my husband sat down to enjoy a meal at your woolworths coffee shop at Design quartes in JHB. the food was delicious as always but when paying the account strange events took place. firstly the lady seated to my left complained that the waiters were busy in their own little discussion and took forever to see that she wanted the bill. When informing my waiter that we were going to pay by credit card he informed us that we need to go inside as the machine was out of use. no problem but upon doing so the lady at the till asked if we were going to pay cash as her machine did not work, I aksed for the printed bill to see my total and she said that the total came to R210.00 again i asked her for the bill as i wanted to see if all was correct, she then said that the waiter would print it. my husband accopanied the waiter to the computer where only then did he enter the food that we ordered. my husband had to tell him what we had????? We own a restaurant and we know how the systems work. how could the waiter not have the table already opened on the computer?? PS the computers were working fine as when i insisted that i was going to pay with my credit card she put the transaction through!!! strange how the computer was working then !!!!

My son an his friends were abused an threaten today by the sucurity guy on duty, I find this very disgusting an feel very racially discriminated for my child an his friends. The security guy was following them around in the store an one of the kids said to him we have money soo why are you watching us the security guy started yelling at the kid then my son tried too help his friend out an say dnt yell at him for nothing an the security guy got all up in his face an was screaming an yelling at my son, an even threatend too hit him with his battern..

The security guy also said that you brown kids are banned from here now, soo tonite I call the store too tell the manager on duty what had happend too my son an his friends an the manager said the security guy was doin his job soo tell me is that his job??? I'm very disappointed in the woolworths store in Port Augusta an will be taken further action unless, someone from this store follow ups on this very disturbed disgusting incident that happend today to my harmless innocent son who I must say is only 13yrs old.. Very disappointed an upset ATM :@

I waited at the front desk of the Newcomb Village Woolworths supermarket for nearly 10 minutes waiting for change for the trolleys. When I was finally served the staff member said here have a token for the trolley. I told her nicely to take her token and proceeded to go down the road another 10 minutes to Coles. A couple of weeks ago I approached the same front desk and the girl told me they weren't locked (why would I ask for change if they weren't locked) then she proceeded to tell me that the trolley boy was supposed to leave them unlocked and she carried on about it and then finally gave me change. I don't need explanations etc from the staff....just give me the change so I can do my shopping.
Can you please tell me WHAT IS THE BENEFIT of of giving out tokens for the trolleys to customers...I REALLY DON'T CARE IF I DON'T RETURN THE TROLLEY AND GET MY TOKEN BACK!!!! Please leave the trolleys unlocked so us customers can easily obtain them without wasting our time and your staffs time!!!!

My wife ordered soup which was delivered to out table without a spoon. I asked the waiter where the spoon was, and he responded, "sorry sir, we have no spoons". There we were, sitting with a bowl of soup (not a mug) and not knowing what to do. Pathetic - that's the only way I can describe our experience at the Main Road, Sea Point Woolworths Cafe at 11h00 this morning. I was so taken aback that I approached the manager who apologised but confirmed they didn't have spoons. Minutes later, the waiter came out running and offered a teaspoon. Soup with a teaspoon? The "bread basket" we ordered was 3 slices toast, no butter and no jams, just 3 dry pieces of toast! The Red cappuccino came cold after I specifically requested it to be extra hot. After a long wait for sweetener, I found the waiter returning from the store as they had no sweetener at the restaurant. If it was April, I would swear it was an April fools joke. 

I went to woolwoths sammy marks in pretoria on the 23/02/2012 where I was ill treated by their staff member. I was buying using my account where I was told that my signature was not the same as on the card. Immediately I gave the cashier my ID book,she then call their supervisor to comfirm, the name of the supervisor is Thabang he did took both my card and my ID to verify then after ±10 min he did come back and apologize.

While I was asking the supervisor what must I do because I don't want this to happen to me again,the lady called Tshepisi she did ask what was happening then Thabang did explain to her immediately she took my ID and my card at Thabang. She then start complaining that in their store they have a dispute where their Admin manager have to investigate and 2 of the staff member are involve. I did tell her that Thabang have already helped me she must bring my card back then she refuse.

She then told me that Thabang he doesn't know anything about terminals then I ask why did the cashier called her at the first place if he doesn't know anything. Then she kept on going on and on about their store disputes. The I immediately as to speak to the store manager,she then told me he was day off,she will call the admin manager,while we were still waiting for the manager she was still going on and on about the store procedure and the dispute of their store,she even mention that the food bank its her baby she need to check everything.

She then explain the story to the other staffmember in front of the customers,the othert staff member his name was also Thabang,then Thabang did ask her to keep quit all customer at the food bank where looking at us but she keep on going on and on. She then decided to go and check the admin manager. I did tell her that she have my ID yes can go and check on my detail and interview me or she can phone their fraud department.

The admin manager did come and I did explain how I was treated in front of other customers. She did call Tshepiso in but she did not even fill guilty of his ill treatment she gave in front of customers. The reason I an saying this is because I was labeled as a criminal as when I was in a taxi the other lady inside the taxi did ask me what happen in there store,she did hear staff members talking about my incident,were the same lady Tshepiso was telling his friend that they are coming from mamelodi I won't do anything to them.

The next time when I go shopping at this woolworths I will be yreated as a criminal. Maybe even when I go to other stores around pretoria CBD because this happen on the floor next to food court. I was humiliated by all this it have spoil my shopping around CBD.

Today 17th January 2013, while shopping at Woolworths Ashmore (Gold Coast) I wanted to purchase several bottles of Home brand Mineral Water. The shelf was completely bare of both mineral water and soda water (homebrand) I asked one of the staff members to please check if there was any stock out the back. The young staff member returned and informed me that there was, however it was still on a pallet and that he would have to speak to his manager which he did and when both of them re-entered the store the young staff member told me that they were unable to put the stock out until later that night and that I could come back tomorrow and it would be on the shelf. Obviously I was not happy.

During this fantastic shopping experience the so called manager who I beleive goes by the name David Brass did not once approach me to appologise, neither did he even attempt to retrieve the product. I then had to drive to the nearest IGA store to purchase the product. Woolworths Ashmore is always quite a busy store, is it too much to ask that the shelves be monitored and restocked when becoming low. We are always having problems at this store, it is about time you actually employed a manager that is customer orientated and who is focused on good customer service and takes pride in the appearence of the store. Please do something about this store.

I don't think that's very professional and wouldn't u like to improve your business to be the best. And Secondly, trying to buy a lighter at your macqurie pk outlet proved to be very difficult because your staff couldn't keep up with business (even though they have time to stand there talking to each other). And after going up to a register and asking if I could buy a lighter there, they decided to laugh at me and say I'll have to line up for cigarettes, I told them I don't want any tobacco I just need a lighter. I dont see the reason to line up half an hour for a lighter just because your staff is Imcompetant.

I have been a loyal woolworths shopper for several years spending at least $200.00 per week. Lately I have been throwing out quite a bit of produce as it has not been lasting more then 2 days. Last week it was strawberries and peaches. Yesteday I purchased what was called living basil. It still had the root attached and instuctions were to place in glass of water on window sill.

This morning it is completley dead. I know I can go back to the store and have these things replaced but I shouldn't have to. I shop mainly at Woolworths Mona Vale however yesterday I shopped at the new Woolworths at Manly Vale so t doesn't seem to matter where I shop.

My daughter shops at Woolworths Frenchs Forest and is having the same problems. Unless there is an improvement I will be changing to another supermarket.

Woolworths absolutely suck!! Online order delivered to wrong house, delivery driver dumps food on front stairs 2 houses up and forged a signature, woolies don't even offer to deliver the following day I had to go pick it up and I get home and something is missing from my order!!!

Speak with 4 diff woolies reps and not 1 apologises and only offers me a huge $15 credit and tells me a manger will call me first thing monday, that never happened I had to phone them to be told the last person i was talking to sent my msg to the wrong dept, finally a manager calls me this morning to rant n rave about human error and offer me a poxy $25 credit!!

I don't want credit dickhead cause I ain't shopping at woolies ever again!!! Anyone thinking of online shopping please do not use Woolworths!!! I want my $150 refunded to my card!!!

For the first time on Sunday 5th may 2013 I used a kind of new trolley at Woolworths in Benmore (less deep than the standard ones). The front wheels of these new modern trolleys stick out further than the handle bars which is dangerous. I turned quickly to get some vegetables and caught the front wheels. I went flying flat onto the floor and the trolley fell over too. Luckily I was not hurt just shocked...I would advise Woolworths to re assess these trolleys or face the consequences of accident claims in the shops.

My wife and I live on the Woy Woy peninsular in NSW and shop at both Woy Woy and Umina Woolworths stores for our needs on a regular basis.
Last week Woolworths put out a brochure advertising Natures Own Odourless 1500ml Fish Oil 200 caps, and 100g Moccona Classic Medium Roast coffee for 1/2 price.
We could not find either item available on the first day Wednesday 16th January 2013 in the Woy Woy store or on several other visits to both stores on subsequent days.
There were many other similar varieties on the shelves but it would appear the items offered on special were made available in very limited numbers or shelves not replenished adequately to supply customers' demands.city

Someone from woolworths credit card division contacted me on the 26th June 2013 to advise that I pre-qualify for a Gold Woolworths credit card because I was such a good payer on my store card. I advised that I accepted, he did a credit check on me and approved me for R29500 on the credit card. I received an sms on the 3 July 2013 to say my credit card is ready for collection. I went in with my required documents (my ID is on my maiden surname and proof of address on maiden surname but my credit card was approved on married surname of which I took marriage certificate with as well) which was approved in store and my credit card was open and made available to me. I used approximately R9000 on the credit card and went into a Pick n Pay 2 weeks later and the card wouldn’t work, I phoned into the credit card division and was told that my card was blocked because my fica documentation wasn’t correct.

My question is, how can Woolworths/Absa approve me with a credit card without validating my Fica documentation first? And how can they block my card after providing me with the credit? According to the consumer protection act I am In all right to not pay that credit card and service fees for a service I do not have? I have an Absa credit card which is also on my married surname and have no issues with that so I don’t understand and I have a woolworths store card which is also on my married surname?

I went to the woolworths branch in kerk street to exchange my son's boxers.. I understand that your policy states yhst underwear can not be exchanged but exceptions csn be made especial when you can see thst there is no ways thst that those could have been worn. I was referred to a supervisor/Manager (Pacience Ledumo)and I explained to her that my x took our son for shopping and the bought 2 of those 3sets boxer shorts of the same colour and socks which are not his size and that all I wanted was to get a different colour of the boxer shorts and the correct size of socks.

The lady advised that she can see that those were not opened but they need to be consistent in a sence that they cant exchange for one person and not do for the next which I do not agree with as situations and circumstances are different. I could not speak to the store manager ss I was advised he is on leave. All I want isto exchange which to me seems reasonable since I have explained my reasons. I hope someone will be able to make a decision.

Woolworths have now redone the isles in the Fruit and Veg Isles. Where as before the fruit used to be in the front isles and the vegetables at the back, Woolworths have now mixed up the Isles so that they are intermingled. Whoever came up with this stupid idea obviously does not do the shopping. It has now become very time consuming to find items. I will now be shopping at Coles as I haven't the time to go up and down isles looking for what I want.

On 22/01/15 I 'bought midnight beauty seedless grapes' from Woolworths store in Croydon (store Id 3216). There was no price tag at the shelf where we picked up the grapes... At the self-scan counter I was surprised to find that the grapes were priced $8.98/kg. I walked back to the shelf to check the price again, when I found that the price was not displayed at the shelf, I asked the attendant if the price was correct.. She assured me that the grapes were indeed $8.98/kg. by this time my husband had finished scanning all the items and we didn't bother about returning the extravagantly expensive grapes (we paid $9.74 for 1.085 kg grapes).

Next day my husband happened to go to the same store again to buy something else. He was shocked to find that the same 'midnight beauty seedless grapes' has a display stating 'was $2.89 now selling @ $1.89/kg '. He called me immediately to find out if I still had the receipt from previous night's purchase. Fortunately I still had the receipt in my wallet. When we questioned the staff at the customer service about the price difference, she said it was the fault of the scanning machine and refunded the extra money charged for the purchase (it was a refund of about $8.00).

My question is how does such a thing happen and customer is overcharged 8 times? Does the Woolworths store know how many customers bought those overpriced grapes that day and never realised they paid 8 times the correct price? How often does this happen at Woolworths? It is impossible to check the correct price of every item from the grocery trolley . Woolworths should track all the sales for those overpriced grapes and refund the money to the customers. Very annoyed about this lapse from such a reputed retail giant..!!!

I will never buy fruit and vegetables from Woolworths again. I am sick of throwing out rotten avocados. No more! Does anyone else shop their and find the quality of their food to be going down lately? I would be curious if you had the same response!

To the Hierarchy of Woolworths management, I'm a loyal customer who shops at the end of the day after work and I find it excessively inconvenient when I purchase items and the express lane at Woolworths Chester Hill is unopened due to in sufficient staffing. What is the point of having an express lane when it is un staffed? How come Woolworths doesn't hire staff when they are needed. Every time I go there it is an on going scenario, same situation where the staff there simply say use the self service lane or wait behind the heavy trolleyed shoppers. How inconvenient is that when every second counts? I don't want to use automated or self service, I want a person to serve me. I am un satisfied with the customer service to a degree that a lot of my friends and colleagues agree with me. I hope this matter resolves quickly

To whom it may concern, Woolworths are advertising Australian prawns at a discounted price for Easter unfortunately, I have had two unpalatable experiences with Australian prawns which I purchased from two different Woolworths stores…the prawns were bought about four years ago…too afraid to buy since then.

My complaint is; the prawns are too salty…my Aunty also bought prawns from East of Perth, Belmont area (I live North of Perth) and had to throw them away, too salty.

I am annoyed because I am a weekly shopper at Woolworths and am unable to take advantage of Woolworths Australian prawns when on special.
Prawns are the only seafood that is inedible at Woolworths…salmon, lobster, and other sea food is fine.

Kindest regards,
Lesley.

Normally if a pruduct I buy is unsatisfactory I either throw it away or never buy that product again. However this seems to be happening more frequently especially with Woolworths Home Brand. Many named brands that you used to stock seem now to be unavailable. It wouldn’t be a problem if your Home Brand was of equal quality

Woolworths Home Brand Fishfingers – absolutely tasteless, appeared to be some form of mash inside the crumbs that was a grey colour. No sign of any fish flakes whatsoever. Will definately not buy again.

Woolworths Home Brand Pizza – a cheaper product than McCann or similar but you seem to have forgotten the topping. We had to add cheese, ham etc to try and make it edible. Very poor quality and will definately not buy again.

Woolworths Broad Beans – please bring back Birds Eye. Your product is inferior and a strange muddy green colour. I bought two bags and had to throw both away.

Today I cooked a piece of Shoulder Pork (1.9kg) that was purchased at Woolworths Dural. There waws so much fat which had obviously been added to make up the weight. After having the pork for dinner (for two people) there is about 250g left. I intend to return the product to Woolworths tomorrow

This is really just a small sample of my gripe against Woolworths. You’re making massive profits so why are you trying to rip off customers. Maybe you have such a huge market share that you are becoming blase and as a result quality is suffering. I’m thinking of shopping at Aldi’s instead.

We bought some mince from Woolworths Beenleigh on 25th march 2014, this mince had a used by date of the 27th march 2014. We cooked the mince on the date of purchase and noticed a rather foul smell emanating from the mince. After trying the mince once cooked the smell and taste was still not right. We believe this product may have been already out of date.

This has cost us an entire meals worth of products as we had bolognaise that night so we used sauce pasta and cheese for this meal. Feeding 2 adults and 5 children is expensive enough without having to throw out an entire meals worth of food because the product is not edible.

We anticipate that woolworths will respond to this matter.