Woolworths Scanning Code of Practice

Ltheabcd1234 on 15/07/2018 - 16:26
Last edited 15/07/2018 - 16:41 by 1 other user

Hey guys, just went and bought some honey at Woolies, the price that was scanned came up higher compared to the shelf price (on a specials yellow price tag).

I asked about it and the check out operator did a price check and he came back and said it was a special tag which expired last week, but they'll honor the lower price, so I paid the lower price and left.

However I got wondering, I know at Coles they give you the item for free if the same situation happened, but when I searched Woolies website, there is nothing like that. I'm just wondering if Woolies also does the free item thing, and if so do they have it on their website? So next time this happens I could ask for the item for free and have their website to back up my claim?

Cheers guys :D

Food & Grocery Coles Woolworths

Comments

  • hogwarts on 15/07/2018 - 16:37
    +6

    Woolies has that policy too

  • Xetrok on 15/07/2018 - 16:40
    +2

    What does the Supermarkets Scanning Code of Practice cover?
    The Supermarkets Scanning Code of practice covers all scanned merchandise within the supermarket, including items that are registered using a PLU number (Price Look up Number).
    However the code does not cover:

    • Liquor and tobacco products.
    • Items with a shelf price of $50 or higher.
    • Where an operator error has occurred, for instance the wrong PLU number has been keyed in or the wrong product is identified by the checkout operator.

    https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/page/help-and-support-faq

    Look up 'scan' as a search

  • JIMB0 on 15/07/2018 - 16:57

    What did Woolworths say when you called them?

    • ronnknee on 15/07/2018 - 17:45
      +12

      "We're not really sure. Please check with OzBargain."

      • theabcd1234 on 15/07/2018 - 18:51
        -1

        Haha
        yeah rang them up as well and they said they'll honor it, just have to bring back the receipt to the store, so looks like I'll get free honey :D

        Thanks for the help guys.

        • theabcd1234 on 17/07/2018 - 12:23
          +1

          What's with the down votes?

  • tight-ass on 15/07/2018 - 18:22
    +2

    I used to work at WW (although some time ago now). Unless things have changed you should have received the honey for free if a 'special' tag has been missed and not removed from the previous week.

    • lolz112 on 16/07/2018 - 13:00
      +1

      Yeah, I was told by some over jealous managers that they only put it through when the customer asked about it. When I finally got codes to be able to do it myself I always did it because mehh.

      • whooah1979 on 26/07/2018 - 06:14
        +1

        by some over jealous managers

        Why was the manager jealous?

  • trustnoone on 15/07/2018 - 20:08

    Not sure if its true now, but from my understanding if you get it corrected at purchase, its exactly that, it gets corrected at purchase. What you need to do is actually purchase it, see that there is a mistake then go to the counter at the front and complain there. At that point the item will be free through the Woolworths thing (Thats at least what I've always known, I have no proof though). It makes it interesting because if something scans at an incorrect price, you have to question whether to say anything haha.

    • Yola on 16/07/2018 - 12:06

      I have received the item for free many times by pointing out the error as soon as it has been scanned. Most of the operators do not know about the code and have to get the superior who usually does know. When you wait till after you paid and go to the service desk you see the supervisor so get the item free without argument. Maybe they do not train the operators to automatically give the item for free and the younger customers who were not around when the code came into existence do not know about it so the Supermarkets get away with it.

  • [Deactivated] on 15/07/2018 - 20:20

    It's a voluntary code of practice. You generally have to ask for the full refund, as usually they only offer the difference first up.

  • MeesusEff on 16/07/2018 - 00:06
    +1

    Yup, gotta bite down on the urge to call checkout chick and just finish the transaction. Head straight to the returns desk and ask, if you looked at the price incorrectly then can just return the item.

  • mintygirl on 26/07/2018 - 06:10

    Yeh I've had things scan incorrect price and they just give me the difference =(

  • hello007 on 02/08/2018 - 00:29
    +1

    To understand the Supermarket Scanning Code of Practice you need to understand why it was introduced in the first place.

    Before barcodes supermarkets were required by law to individually price each item.

    When barcode technology arrived - instead of changing laws - the supermarkets at the time agreed to the Code of Practice.

    Basically it meant that if an item scanned at a higher price than the shelf price - then that item was free.

    Shelf price - back then - meant the price the customer saw on the shelf - including any markdown prices displayed on products on the shelf.

    In short - the price the customer sees on the shelf is the price they should pay.

    I have found that problems occur when the price is marked down with a sticker on the top of the item - but the original higher price barcode is displayed underneath - and the higher price is scanned.

    In this case the customer saw the $2 markdown price - but the register scan charges him $4.

    That error is, under no circumstances (other than customer tampering), the customer's fault.

    The onus is on the retailer to ensure that it is technically impossible for a markdown item to be scanned at a higher price - by covering or deactivating the original higher price barcode.

    If the retailer fails to do this … and the item scans at a higher price then the first of that item should be free.

    Any other approach would allow a law of the jungle to rule markdowns. Retailers would then deliberately mark down the displayed item price on the shelf - or the "shelf price" of that individual item and leave higher price barcodes active - and profit from the fact that many customers won't pick up that they've been charged double the price they had seen on the item on the shelf.

    That it clearly against the spirit of the original reason for the code of practice.

    If retailers won't play fair in relation to the above and properly markdown ALL barcodes on discounted items - then maybe laws need to be changed to ensure they do.

    • Yola on 03/08/2018 - 10:28

      Over the years I have received many items for free. One time Woolworth was scanning an $7 item incorrectly so I got it free. Passing a couple of days later it was still incorrect so I got another. I may have even gotten third, I do not remember. I have no qualms about this as obviously they did not bother to change the price even through the operator had to fill out a form for that to happen. I think the vast majority of people do not notice if they are getting charged an incorrect price. It is hard to remember so many prices to know when it happens. I consider it like doing soduku or crosswords. I must say i have not been able to claim a free item for at least 12 months, I think the Supermarkets are getting better.

  • chinezejew on 21/08/2018 - 22:10
    1. Pay for the item in question; keep receipt.
    2. Go back to aisle check if tagged lower than paid on tax invoice.
      2a). If you have partner with you; get them to buy one too and keep invoice.
    3. Take photo of lower tagged price
    4. Wait patiently at the service desk; produce your evidence and request for a scanning policy refund.

    They pretty quick on pulling down the lower tag in aisle.

  • Sojourner99 on 04/01/2019 - 20:50

    Just had price difference on bottle of Stone's Green Ginger Wine. They wouldn't honour the scan policy on alcohol.

    • JIMB0 on 05/01/2019 - 14:18

      Woolworths don't sell alcohol in store.

  • watwatwat on 18/03/2019 - 00:35

    So… I had a situation where I saw a makeup product advertised for $10 (50% off from $20). There were a lot on the shelf marked as this price. Product scans at $20 and after attendant checks, turns out a particular shade of black for this product is $20 and another is $10. I had picked up the product from the $10 area as ticketed but because the 2 products look identical, staff likely ticked it wrong.

    I was an idiot and didn't push hard enough when stupid Woolworths staff didn't offer the Scanning Policy and just told me to pay full price or don't buy it, despite it being their mistake.

    So… the Scanning Policy did apply in this case, correct? It seems like a very strong case. This is super frustrating when the staff are rude and don't know their own policies. Wastes times and pisses off customers.

    • Yola on 19/03/2019 - 18:56

      Really depends on what the ticket said. If it said shade 001 was reduced and you wanted 002 then no. If it did not specify which one then I think yes. But often only some products in a range are reduced and products regularly end up in the wrong place. The code usually apples where say an item is in the catalogue and there are no exceptions listed to the range or its even pictured and then it scans incorrectly. I find often staff do not know about this and you have to speak to the supervisor. I am all for claiming on this see my comments above.

      • watwatwat on 21/03/2019 - 10:40

        I ended up emailing them and they gave me a $10 egift card.

        It must suck to work in retail so that's why a lot of employees are sour.

        • Yola on 21/03/2019 - 11:54
          +1

          Well done for trying. Most people do not. I used to often find items scanning the wrong price after several days of catalogue sale. Either people do not notice or supermarkets dis not change the prices. They have been much improved lately. Freebies are rare.

    • petry on 21/03/2019 - 12:00
      +1

      woolys are abysmal at scanning policy -its deliberate at store level -coles used to be good but under their new management are so toxic its a joke. Coles share price will continue to fall because they burnt the good will they built over decades in a few months.

      basically scanning policy is a myth unless you can see it posted on the customer service area- and are prepared to argue for it. that will involve usually waiting up to 10 minutes to see the manager, whose sat watching you on a monitor….enjoying their free drink and biscuits…

      • jv on 21/03/2019 - 14:52
        +2

        woolys are abysmal at scanning policy

        I've never had a problem with it…

        Maybe if you're rude to them, they won't be as obliging.

    • antiocker on 13/06/2019 - 22:26

      Maybe nobody threw out the red carpet to assist with your obesity fueled diabetic blindness because you're the type of boomer parasite to immediately call staff stupid despite them having nothing to do with the ticketing?

  • Fier2 on 21/03/2019 - 12:03

    Interesting. I went yesterday to woolworth bankstown (nsw) and bought some john west mackerel. The item is supposed to be $1.50 (catalogue and yellow sticker on the shelf) but scanned at $2.65 each ( too late for me as i checked my receipt only once at home). So would that mean every single people who scanned and paid $2.65 should go back and claim it for free ?! I doubt every woolworth is following that policy.

    • watwatwat on 21/03/2019 - 15:28

      Yes, they could get it for free. However, you only get the first item free. So if you buy 10, the first is free.

      • Yola on 22/03/2019 - 12:20

        you need to make 10 separate transactions.

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