"Dark Patterns" and Other Sneaky/Misleading Practices at Supermarkets

I normally do most of my shopping at Aldi (which isn't exactly perfect itself) but I am noticing my local Coles (Canberra CBD) in particular is either getting lazy or engaging in some shady practices.

Just today I saw the same avocados in two different locations with different price tags on them. I bought a discounted tin of soup and the listed discount disappeared at the checkout (I didn't realise this until I got back to my desk at work and checked the receipt).

Other times i've grabbed a packet of chips thinking I was paying one price but it was disguised as discount on a smaller packet of the same type that was right next to it. Another time I bought something on discount and they charged me full, by the time I returned to the store to ask, they discount tag had been removed so I had no evidence to prove I had been mislead.

Yes a number of these are at least partially my fault, but it really is at the point now where I feel like I have to carry around a camera phone and a calculator.

Am I the only one noticing this? Is this just a case of this particular store being lax with it's labelling? What other "dark patterns" and misleading practices have you noticed?

Related Stores

Coles
Coles

Comments

  • +3

    either getting lazy or engaging in some shady practices.

    You only JUST realising that the colesworth crime gang are doing shady things? lol

    Just today I saw the same avocados in two different locations with different price tags on them. I bought a discounted tin of soup and the listed discount disappeared at the checkout (I didn't realise this until I got back to my desk at work and checked the receipt).

    This is likely someone not updating the prices, rather than something intentional. They can do a lot more dodgy things than something so blatant.

    Other times i've grabbed a packet of chips thinking I was paying one price but it was disguised as discount on a smaller packet of the same type that was right next to it.

    That's just you not seeing the price difference between products. Every supermarket does this, it's nothing new.

    Another time I bought something on discount and they charged me full, by the time I returned to the store to ask, they discount tag had been removed so I had no evidence to prove I had been mislead.

    Simple explanation is that the promotion ended and they were removing it, rather than seeing you checkout at full price as a "gotcha" and removing the stickers.

    Does colesworth do dodgy stuff? Definitely. Are these examples of it? Not really.

  • -2

    Probably poor management at that store rather than a deliberate strategy. If the government is going to force Colesworth to close stores to increase competition, I hope they close down the shitty ones. One of the Coles near me frequently sells rotten and mouldy vegetables. If they can't even tell a minimum wage employee to check everything at least once a day, then they shouldn't be in business imo.

  • Harris Farm has a habit of listing in big words "2 for $6", and a sentence at the bottom in very small font "or $3 each". I totally cant do math.

  • -2

    Damn, had to look at who posted this thinking pam was back with a new story…

  • +2

    What's the bet OP just watched this video that keeps being spammed in my recommended

    • -1

      Yes, that video showed up in my recommended and yes I watched it and yes that's what I thinking thinking of when I used the term "dark patterns"……..damn I feel transparent 😂

      • +1

        Haha don't worry we all do it. Though it just goes to show you how much of a hive mind we all are and how easily we can be steered in a certain direction.

  • +1

    I usually find it the other way round. I have my shopping list set up in the Coles/Woolies app and when in store, always make sure I'm getting whats in my shopping list only - same size packaging. The prices in the app are always correct. I've seen numerous times that an item is on special; but there is no special tag in store - but when I checkout, the specials price is applied.

    Haven't really noticed any items being on special in store (unless its a markdown price); but full price on the app - so I'm likely to believe your particular store is just lazy in removing special price tags.

    • I found items that scan at $3 but the app tells me $2. Price gets lowered. But if shelf price special is not removed take a photo and if item matches with its item number and scans higher it is free up to $50.
      Find on Coles website and print out to avoid issues.

  • -1

    Just today I saw the same avocados in two different locations with different price tags on them.

    It can happen when the price changes and they forget about the other locations. They will give you the cheaper price if called out. Then fix the tickets up.

    I bought a discounted tin of soup and the listed discount disappeared at the checkout (I didn't realise this until I got back to my desk at work and checked the receipt).

    Most likely a sale item from the week before and the ticket wasn't removed or some multi buy discount.

    Other times i've grabbed a packet of chips thinking I was paying one price but it was disguised as discount on a smaller packet of the same type that was right next to it.

    Sounds like a user error that one.

    Another time I bought something on discount and they charged me full, by the time I returned to the store to ask, they discount tag had been removed so I had no evidence to prove I had been mislead.

    So maybe it wasn't discounted after all?

  • -1

    A: Sell your Coles shares
    B: Print out their $50 free policy
    C: Buy ALL items that scan wrongly!
    D: Collect all for free.
    E: Apply for a refund on next store….
    F Start over again……

    • -1

      Who down voted this? It's funny

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