Moved to Forum: Original Link
If the scanned price is different to advertised price then you get it for free. Note that you have to pay for the item first.
If you let the attendant know when you are scanning they just fix the price for you so its not free.
Exclusions are:
- items over $50
- cigarettes
- liquor
Mod: Moved to forum. Refund policy guidelines
This isn’t new, it’s been around as long as I can remember.
But theres no deal on it in ozbargain. And im sure not everyone knows so can be helpful.
We definitely need a random or off topic "helpful hints you maybe didn't know about section" or something because I have a feeling many users are withholding information because they are either afraid or don't know where to post it on here at ozbargain.
This issue needs to be addressed for the good of the colony I mean community.. organization.. cough
Its not a 'deal' and its been part of the scanning code of conduct for decades in supermarkets.
Fruit/Veggies/DriedFruit/Nuts sold by weight are also excluded - I notice at least one discrepancy between the the shelf price and the price on the computer per week and they never give me the item for free.
I should be thankful, they didn't try the 'take the first nut for free line' and pay for the rest.
I did this last week, they input the wrong tomatoes. Went back (only got outside) and got a full refund, plus kept them.
Interesting - I should hassle them more next time.
With fruit and veg, at Woolworths (maybe Coles also?) they have some policy where if you get it home, and some of it is no good (rotten or something I guess) then take it back to store for refund or replacement . I guess it would happen more with prebagged fruit and veg. And also of people cannot see well and/or just load fruit/veg into bag without thoroughly inspecting every peice.
I know someone that gets refund/replacement on this regularly. She puts it away in fridge, then waits till she is going back to Woolworths anyway, and returns the bad fruit or veg.
I did that with 1 potato. Got the potato for free as well as 2 cents in profit as I paid with a card and they refunded me with cash. This was at Coles.
Did you wish you bought the whole sack?
Actually, that's not true. Doesn't matter if it's been paid for or not, it'll be free provided that:
1. Ticket isn't expired (if expired ticket is left up, price must be changed to lower price)
2. It's the correct item. If someone has just dumped an item in front of a cheaper ticket, you pay the full price. If a coles employee has actually stacked items in the wrong place (ie. there's a carton or 2 in the wrong spot, you get the lower price.
3. If it's a marked down item (with long barcode on it) and scans at the higher price because the original barcode wasn't covered properly, you get the first item free, the rest at the lower price.
4. If it's fresh produce scanning at a higher price, you get the first bag free, the rest at the lower price.
5. If it's a matter of the checkout person just entering it in the register wrong, no discount.
May be other provisions that I just can't remember right now. It's always the first one free, and the rest at the lower price.
Source: Coles service supervisor.
Yes I have got it for free after scanned but before paying. People suggest paying and then going to the service counter to get refund. I think the real difference is that the more senior staff work at the service counter and know about this rule whereas at the normal checkout they often do not. I find that at Woolworths the staff are more likely to know and maybe Coles keep it quiet. I must say it is harder to find these errors now. Twenty years ago it was very common and a lucrative memory game. Still it amazes me that at times items scan incorrectly after having been reduced for several days. So many people do not check and get charged more.
Woolworths always have the reduce to clear sticker not covering the oringinal barcode, but i never get it for free
They could have a different policy to Coles.
It's called the Scanning Code of Practice. It's been around for years.
Another point to note - Aldi doesn't follow this code of practice.
Nor does IGA
No supermarket with an "A" in its name
Wålworths?
I won't shop at supermarkets with either an "A" or an "I" in their name
For completeness, let just throw BDFGJKMNPQUVXYZ in there too.
I bet over half of checkout operators don't know about this either.
I thought Coles got out of this thing years ago
With Woolworths recently, I was informed that the limit is over $30, is at store managers discretion , so they can give item for free when scanned incorrectly. I contacted head office recently when local Woolworths ripped off my mother. The head office actually couldn't force store to sort it out, but I asked them to explain the policy to store manager. It was a $50 item advertised reduced to $25, and was charged at full price. 2 were purchased of the item. The first 1 was eventually refunded (after calling head office, then returning to the store) . So item was under the $25 , regardless of full price and regardless of buying 2 .
Store staff themselves aren't even sure of policy and how it works exactly . To their credit, the lady that made the mistake (a supervisor or senior employee there who made the decision initially, after being sought by another staff member) she was very nice sincerely apologised.
My local Coles is funny. At end of night close to closing, they don't usually bother checking when I find price overcharged, they just refund that item without issue. Always check your receipt, items are incorrectly overcharged quite often unfortunately. Sometimes it is because the advertised price from week before is left on, sometimes it is for seemingly no reason. My most recent return was just few days ago, ordered "chicken roll" the really cheap stuff, then on receipt I notice I was charged for premium chicken breast or something like that (>$20kg, whereas chicken roll is about $10) , easy mistake to make I guess, refunded without issue.
Timely article on News.com.au
Can anyone find a copy of the code of coduct that is referred to where Woolworths and ALDI are supposed signatories? The one previously on the ARA website is no longer published.
That’s the one for Indepenent supermarkets
3.1 Application of the Code
This Code is applicable to retailers who operate Independent Supermarkets.
And
Stores” means Independent Supermarkets including Supa IGA, Foodland IGA, IGA, IGA Express, FoodWorks and Friendly Grocers.
https://www.retail.org.au/scanning-code/
http://www.retailcouncil.com.au/scanning/scanning-code
Nope - all previous links seem to be dead now.
I see what you did here