The sneaky extra fee Woolworths is planning to charge you
From next week, Woolworths will charge a $3.50 “crate to bench” home delivery fee if customers don’t want to pay for reusable plastic bags.
The supermarket giant, which will scrap single-use plastic bags from next week ahead of the nationwide ban from July 2, said customers could otherwise pay for a flat $1 fee to have their order packed using heavy-duty bags made from 80 per cent recyclable material.
“We’re working to create a greener future for Australia with our customers as we phase out single-use plastic bags both in-store and online from June 20,” a Woolworths spokesman said.
“For home delivery orders, customers will be able to choose if they want groceries delivered in reusable plastic bags made of at least 80 per cent recycled material or via our new bag-free, crate-to-bench service.
“With the new crate-to-bench service, orders are packed directly into our delivery crates, and then unpacked on to a customer’s bench by a delivery driver when they arrive. The amount for the crate-to-bench option reflects the additional costs of providing this new service.”
Coles, however, will not charge a bagless delivery fee. Instead, customers will have the option of purchasing reusable bags for 15 cents or having their groceries delivered in a crate for no extra charge.
“Coles Online’s new bagless delivery option, which utilises reusable crates, will not incur any additional charge to Coles customers outside of the current delivery fee,” said general manager of Coles Online, Karen Donaldson.
“Groceries will be unpacked in the customer’s home and crates will return with the delivery driver. This is something our customers have been asking for and we are happy to offer this service at no additional cost.”
From July 1, single-use plastic bags will be banned in Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia, bringing them into line with South Australia, the ACT, Northern Territory and Tasmania.
Although NSW has not banned plastic bags, both Coles and Woolies have decided to ditch them across their stores.