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Woolworths under fire for dropping Australia Day merch

<p>Woolworths has come under fire for their decision to stop selling Australia Day merchandise, as the January 26th public holiday continues to be a controversial topic. </p> <p>The supermarket giant shared that the reason for pulling Aussie decorations off the shelves was due to the “gradual decline” in demand for the merchandise over the years and “broader discussion” about the January 26th date and “what it means” to different parts of the community.</p> <p>“While Australian flags are sold within BIG W all year round, we don’t have any additional themed merchandise available to purchase in-store in our Supermarkets or BIG W ahead of Australia Day,” a spokesperson said.</p> <p>“We know many people like to use this day as a time to get together and we offer a huge variety of products to help customers mark the day as they choose.”</p> <p>Woolworths confirmed on Wednesday that no additional Australia Day-themed merch would be sold in its supermarkets or Big W stores for this year’s public holiday, with patriots around the country quickly hitting back. </p> <p>Leading the backlash was shadow treasurer Angus Taylor, with the right-wing politician saying the decision was "disappointing", adding he didn’t “understand what it is with this constant desire to divide us”.</p> <div id="indie-campaign-DifJheZrCrms7j4pmefw-0" data-campaign-name="NCA FINANCE Cashed Up Newsletter OneClick SignUp" data-campaign-indie="newsletter-signup" data-jira="TSN-268" data-from="1645448400000" data-to="1711803600000"></div> <p>“Australians are proud of their country for the most part and proud of our identity, and they want to see us as a united nation,” he told Channel Nine. </p> <p>He said corporations like Woolworths “need to get on with it”.</p> <p>Mr Taylor was backed up by the shadow minister for education Senator Sarah Henderson, who said the decision was “not good enough”. </p> <p>“If gouging customers on fruit and vegetable prices is not enough, Woolworths is now withdrawing from sale Australia Day merchandise,” she posted on X. </p> <p>“Australia Day is a day for celebrating our freedoms, our values, and our unique Australian way of life.”</p> <p>Despite the outrage, other major shops decided to follow in Woolworths' lead, with Kmart also deciding not to sell any merchandise for January 26th for the second year in a row. </p> <p>Coles have shared they will still be stocking a "small range" of Australia-themed products for those who wish to celebrate the public holiday. </p> <p>The decision to scrap the merch comes after the "Change The Date" movement has gained more traction over the years, with many arguing that Australia Day should be celebrated on a different day. </p> <p>January 26th celebrated the arrival of Captain Cook and the First Fleet into Sydney in 1788: a date which holds a lot of anguish for Indigenous Australians. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Shutterstock</em></p>

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Secret Santa pays off everyone's Christmas shopping at local Kmart

<p>The festive season is all about spreading joy and love and one generous Aussie has gone above and beyond to make people's day so much better. </p> <p>A Secret Santa at a Victoria Gardens Kmart in inner-city Melbourne, covered the cost of items on lay-by for all of the customers at the local store, making some of them cry tears of joy. </p> <p>"We are overwhelmed by our customer's generosity at this time of year, and want to thank them for their act of kindness towards other members of our community," a Kmart spokeswoman said. </p> <p>"We are proud to call them one of our customers." </p> <p>The customer, who chose to remain anonymous, said that they simply wanted to contribute to something positive this holiday season. </p> <p>The shopper reportedly told retail staff that they "just wanted to do something nice for the community." </p> <p>The exact amount of the donation remains undisclosed, but they revealed that most of the items were Christmas gifts. </p> <p><em>Image: Tim Boyle/Getty Images</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Kmart and Target join forces to create mega discount stores

<p dir="ltr">Two of Australia’s favourite retail giants are about to get better in a huge merger creating a $10 billion discount giant.</p> <p dir="ltr">Wesfarmers is set to fold Target into Kmart with hopes that it will improve sales, provide better value for customers, and allow both stores to share backend technology.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ian Bailey the Managing Director of Kmart Group has said that there will be “no impact” to stores, and that the move was an "internal reorganisation".</p> <p dir="ltr">"With customers now demanding value more than ever, this new operating model will unlock a new level of scale and productivity across both brands, so we can deliver even greater value to our customers in the future," he said in a statement.</p> <p dir="ltr">"For store networks and 50,000 store team members – it's business as usual – as we continue to focus on providing the best value products to the thousands of customers in Australia and New Zealand who choose to shop at Kmart or Target every day."</p> <p dir="ltr">The move comes as the cost of living crisis is forcing more and more Aussies to be mindful of their spending habits.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a statement to the <em>The Australian Financial Review</em>, Bailey said that there would likely be “a handful of redundancies" but more jobs overall by next year.</p> <p dir="ltr">He added that one of the benefits of tighter integration and better technology is the ease in which the prices of products can be reduced.</p> <p dir="ltr">He said that the price drop on 1000 Kmart products this month was assisted by merchandise planning tools and a self-navigating inventory scanning robot.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Kmart and Target are both strong businesses. I don't see us doing this from a position of weakness. It's quite the opposite,” he told the publication.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I'd say we're strong, but I think there's an opportunity to really capitalise on this time and find ways to continue to deliver better value for customers."</p> <p dir="ltr">"What we found was that running two businesses it was very, very difficult to get the tech into Target, and to get those benefits. This is really why we decided to push the two businesses into one."</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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“Very questionable”: Kmart mocked after customer's "ridiculous" delivery

<p>A woman has taken to Facebook to mock Kmart over her recent delivery.</p> <p>The shopper shared on Facebook she had ordered a 20mm combination padlock from Kmart and was caught by surprise when it was delivered to her home on February 13. </p> <p>The woman had received a large cardboard box, and when she opened it, it was filled to the brim with plastic wrap to protect the item. However, once she dug out the plastic, she saw a small padlock at the bottom of the unnecessarily large box.</p> <p>“My delivery arrived today,” the woman said on Facebook.</p> <p>Other Kmart fans were shocked by the large box for such a small item, with many users deeming it “ridiculous.”</p> <p>“Omg! Seriously,” a user commented.</p> <p>"Ridiculous honestly yet a pair of jeans get scrunched up into a bag for delivery," another added.</p> <p>"It's absolutely rubbish that they waste like that," a third chimed in.</p> <p>Another comment read, ”How ironic ... how easy is it to break this lock that it needs to be so protected when shipped? Would you need it if it is so fragile? Very questionable Kmart ... What a waste,”</p> <p>Many other users joined in on the teasing, claiming they also received small items delivered in unnecessarily large boxes. </p> <p>"This happened to us recently with a car air freshener," one shopper said.</p> <p>"Yeah they keep sending me one item in a stupidly big box. I’d be much more appreciative of multiple items jammed into a big box to stop wastage or happy to wait for all items to be ready together," another claimed.</p> <p>"I thought my three bowls packed like this was bad!" another commented.</p> <p>Back in May 2021, another Kmart shopper complained that she received a small book in a “huge box.”</p> <p>Although some said it was “terrible”, other users claimed the size of the box shouldn’t matter because it’s recyclable. </p> <p>A Kmart spokesperson told Yahoo Lifestyle that the complaints have been forwarded to Kmart’s online team, and they will reassess how they manage and replenish packaging materials. </p> <p>"Regrettably, in this instance, it appears the team member who has packed this order did not have available or use the most appropriately sized packaging components," the spokesperson said.</p> <p>"While our team are trained and aim to minimise packaging use and waste, it is likely that they did not have access to appropriately sized packaging options so used what was available in an effort to pack and dispatch this order as quickly as possible."</p> <p>Image credit: Facebook</p>

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Clever Bunnings and Kmart scams to be wary of

<p dir="ltr">Aussies have once again become targets to scammers offering them a job at Bunnings or Kmart that pays extremely well. </p> <p dir="ltr">Scammers are taking to Facebook targetting desperate job seekers asking for their personal details via WhatsApp. </p> <p dir="ltr">The ad is offering $48 and $75 for part-time or full-time work and attempts to appeal to those who have no experience, same day pay, and the opportunity to complete training on the phone.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bunnings confirmed that they are aware of the scam and are working on taking it down, advising job seekers to be wary.</p> <p dir="ltr">“One of the latest scams is a Facebook post asking for your personal details via WhatsApp to apply for a job with us,’ the retailer said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Another one is an email with an offer to win a Bunnings gift card if you click a link. We place a lot of time and effort into recruiting our amazing team, and we’re in no way associated with this activity.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We also don’t ask for personal information or banking details in unsolicited communications.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Kmart also confirmed they are aware of the scam and are warning customers to not fall for it, instead to apply on the website.</p> <p dir="ltr">The ACCC’s Scamwatch explained that the ads are some of the easiest ways for scammers to steal money. </p> <p dir="ltr">“If you provide your bank account details, the scammer may use them to steal your money or commit other fraudulent activities,” their website reads.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Be suspicious of unsolicited ‘work from home’ opportunities or job offers, particularly those that offer a ‘guaranteed income’ or require you to pay an upfront fee.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Facebook</em></p>

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Aussie mum's thrifty Kmart renovation hack

<p>Home décor on a budget has become the latest phenomenon this past year, with creative women showing off their inspiring rooms that look a lot more expensive than they actually are.</p> <p>The most recent is a mother who has stunned thousands after completely transforming her home for less than $20,000.</p> <p>Stay-at-home mum Rebecca Townsend proudly shares photos of her creations through her Instagram account and says that except for the fireplace and air conditioning system, everything else is the result of her and her husband’s hard work.</p> <p>She managed to find affordable duplicates of designer pieces in order to create a “slice of heaven” on a budget.</p> <p>“With help from family and a lot of hard work, we’ve managed to not have one trade come through the house, we’re pretty proud of that,” she told the <em><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6251367/Mother-transforms-home-using-Kmart-versions-designer-decor.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail</a>.</em></p> <p>“We repurposed and recycled things to save on costs so we can splash out on big ticket items such as the mirror splash back and heater.”</p> <p>The kitchen was torn down, including the surrounding four walls, only a few days after they moved into their new home.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BblAO_EjBSR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BblAO_EjBSR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Rebecca Townsend (@champagne_dreaming_on_budget)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Certain clock designs can put shoppers back hundreds of dollars, but thanks to Ms Townsend's savvy skills, she managed to find a replica for $19, which features a wooden backing to give a more rustic appearance.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl9Bh_7nLbQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl9Bh_7nLbQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Early morning cuddles in bed with Mr.2 ..and every.single.teddy he owns 🤦‍♀️ I’ve got a corner of the mattress, but I wouldn’t have it any other way 🤷‍♀️✨🌟 Enjoy your day instafam 😚 . . . Tap for sources🌟✨ . . . #earlymorninghangs #styling #loungeroominspo #howihome #myfabhome #mydomaine #apartmenttherapy #homeinspo #interior123 #plantmom #planteriordesign #plantsofinstagram #itsajungleinhere #crazyplantlady #rustic #interiormilk #styleitdark #industrialdesign #mybohotribe #chickswithplants #myhomevibe #boholocs #bohemian #thehecticeclectic #kmartstyling #styleonadime #showmeyourstyled #hyggehome #actualinstagramhomes #cornerofmyhome</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" href="https://www.instagram.com/champagne_dreaming_on_budget/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Rebecca Townsend</a> (@champagne_dreaming_on_budget) on Aug 1, 2018 at 3:44pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>To further cut down on costs, Ms Townsend purchased many items second-hand, which resulted in huge savings.</p> <p>In the past, the mother-of-one shared her and her husband’s work after they decorated their bathroom using items from Kmart, ALDI and eBay, totalling to $800.</p> <p>“You don’t need to spend a lot these days to get the designer look, you just need to be savvy, wait for the specials and shop around,” she said.</p> <p>“The bathroom is the only room we didn’t rip apart the moment we moved in, we just cleverly designed it on a budget with items mostly from Kmart to make it more designer.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn2gJjiHpMS/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn2gJjiHpMS/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">YES, I’m back! Well, I’m back ..yes, I’m BACK IN BLACK!!! . . . Black is the new black guysss and I’m all over it like a bee on a flower 🐝 (there’s a spring reference for you there 😉) . . . The bathroom is the only room in the house we didn’t completely gut the moment we walked in the door from getting the keys, we’ve just cleverly decorated it to make it ✨POP✨on a very tight budget of $800! This completely decked the room out from top to bottom including swapping all the hardware out for the more modern black look, you just need to be savvy and look for the bargains (don’t be afraid to be stingy 😜) and get your hands dirty with some #diy the money you save on the little things allows you to splash out on the bigger ticket items! . . . ✨I’ll go into more detail in my stories 🙏 ✨ . . . #diystories #blackonblack #backinblack #bathroomdecor #bathroom #bathroominspo #bathroomremodel #luxuryinteriorsonabudget #cornerofmyhome #newinteriorsontheblock #actualinstagramhomes #apartmenttherapy #interior123 #interior_design #designsponge #interiormilk #howihome #homeinspo #industrialdesign #kmartstyling #kmartaus #styleitdark #styleonadime #deliciousdarkdecor #interiorboom #myhomevibe #myhometrend #dailydecordetail #livefabulousandfearless</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" href="https://www.instagram.com/champagne_dreaming_on_budget/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Rebecca Townsend</a> (@champagne_dreaming_on_budget) on Sep 17, 2018 at 8:00pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Ms Townsend hopes that her décor-on-a-budget will help inspire other people to step out of their comfort zone.</p> <p>Her and her husband worked together on this home project during the time their baby was on home oxygen and was in and out of hospital.</p> <p>“After our son was born at 23 weeks gestation and spent 125 days in hospital, we bought this house when he was only seven months old and on home oxygen, but it didn’t deter us from creating a wonderful home for him to grow up and into,” she said.</p> <p>“Whatever challenges you may face, don’t put renovating off if it will provide you with happiness, if we can do it on a budget through all our ups and downs, you can too.”</p>

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"They used to be better": Nostalgic Kmart pic sparks huge debate

<p dir="ltr">A teenage history buff has sent Aussie shoppers on a trip down memory lane after sharing a throwback photo of a Kmart store in 1995.</p> <p dir="ltr">Jimmy Borg, a prolific contributor to the Facebook group Old Shops of Australia, downloaded the image from an annual report in the Coles Myer national archives as part of personal research he was undertaking.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m passionate about history and seeing how things were in the past,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The image shows the entrance of a Kmart store, with a caption underneath revealing that three new stores had opened across Australia at the time.</p> <p dir="ltr">“New stores opened in Indooroopilly (Queensland), Parramatta (New South Wales) and Chadstone (Victoria), together with an additional 15 refurbished stores,” the caption reads.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-4f7cbbc9-7fff-c875-28fb-46fc22ad2a2c"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">The 19-year-old shared the photo to the group earlier this week, describing it as “the Kmart we all remember, the Kmart we’ll never see again”.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/07/kmart127.png" alt="" width="671" height="682" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Jimmy Borg sparked a debate about the controversial layout of Kmart stores when he shared a throwback photo of a Kmart in days gone by. Image: Facebook</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Speaking to <em><a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/kmart-customers-rage-over-modern-checkouts-after-spotting-detail-in-27-year-old-photo-001746584.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo News</a></em>, Borg said he wasn’t a fan of the “new format” at Kmart stores, including the location of registers in the middle of the store, and preferred the Kmart layout pictured in the historical image.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This was the Kmart I grew up with and the one I remember where you could buy garden plants and parts for my bikes and scooters,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I remember the cool Kmart where you could buy consoles, DVDs, CDs, TVs before they changed.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He isn’t alone in his frustrations either, adding that many people who saw his post had “strong” nostalgia for Kmart as it was.</p> <p dir="ltr">Many shoppers shared their particular dislike of the new placement of checkouts, with some noting it made for some uncomfortable interactions with staff.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I still can not get over the ridiculous centre store payment hub... baffles me every time I shop there! What genius thought of that?” one person wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“People pay, get their things and themselves organised to leave and are then stopped by security for proof of purchase,” another said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I've never been back since they started this and their discrimination!"</p> <p dir="ltr">The image also prompted some to reminisce on the things they loved about previous iterations of Kmart, with one man recalling how its gardening section was filled with people on a Saturday morning and others pointing out surprising products that used to be sold there, including guns and cigarettes.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Back in the 1970s they had everything including a restaurant," one person shared.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I loved the cafeteria in our local Kmart, kids loved it in school holidays as we went often for lunch, good times that will never be seen again, so sad,"another added.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-a94dd9e0-7fff-18bd-2320-c339d750bd4b"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Bunnings and Kmart investigated for use of potentially "unethical" tech

<p dir="ltr">Some of Australia’s biggest retailers are being investigated for potentially invading customer privacy with facial recognition technology. </p> <p dir="ltr">Kmart, Bunnings and The Good Guys have been found to be using facial recognition technology on unsuspecting customers.</p> <p dir="ltr">CHOICE has referred the retailers to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) to investigate potential breaches of the Privacy Act.</p> <p dir="ltr">Facial recognition analyses images from video cameras to capture each person’s unique facial features, known as a faceprint. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The use of facial recognition by Kmart, Bunnings and The Good Guys is a completely inappropriate and unnecessary use of the technology,” CHOICE consumer data advocate Kate Bower said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“To make matters worse, we found 76% of Australians aren’t aware that retailers are capturing their unique facial features in this way.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Bower slammed the use of the technology which she said is unethical and affects consumer’s trust. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Using facial recognition technology in this way is similar to Kmart, Bunnings or The Good Guys collecting your fingerprints or DNA every time you shop,” she went on. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Businesses using invasive technologies to capture their customers’ sensitive biometric information is unethical and is a sure way to erode consumer trust.”</p> <p dir="ltr">After conducting a survey, CHOICE found that four in five respondents agreed that retailers must inform consumers about the use of facial recognition.</p> <p dir="ltr">Four in five people had concerns about how the biometric data was stored, and three in four respondents were concerned that retailers would use the data to create customer profiles for marketing or profit purposes. </p> <p dir="ltr">“CHOICE observed that Kmart and Bunnings display small signs at the entrance of stores where the technology is in use. However, discreet signage and online privacy policies are not nearly enough to adequately inform shoppers that this controversial technology is in use,” Ms Bower said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The technology is capturing highly personal data from customers, including infants and children.</p> <p dir="ltr">“CHOICE is concerned that Australian businesses are using facial recognition technology on consumers before Australians have had their say on its use in our community. </p> <p dir="ltr">“With the government currently undergoing a review of the Privacy Act, now is the perfect time to strengthen measures around the capture and use of consumer data, including biometric data.” </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Shutterstock/Twitter</em></p>

Technology

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Scam alert: Kmart customers targeted in bargain hunting Facebook groups

<p>Kmart customers have been warned about a new scam circulating in bargain hunting Facebook groups.</p> <p>They have been warned to watch for advertisements offering Nintendo Switches for $2.95.</p> <p>The fake Facebook post has been circulating in parents' groups online and has already fooled a number of Aussies into handing their card details over.</p> <p>The post includes a photograph showing a doctored Kmart price tag displaying that the gaming device has been reduced from $379.86 to $2.95.</p> <p>It also claims that the lower price point is due to a contract dispute between Kmart and Nintendo.</p> <p>Not only is this is factually incorrect, but it is one of the first signs something is obviously fake, as it is too-good-to-be-true.</p> <p>“Kmart broke its contract with Nintendo and is giving away a Nintendo Switch game console to every Australian for $2.95,” the caption on the scam post reads.</p> <p>One shopper claimed her friend had lost $700 after falling for the scam, as the fraudsters took her bank details and withdrew money.</p> <p>“BEWARE. Another scam page going around, also there is a Dyson one,” she said.</p> <p>“Do not fall for it. Friend did and has lost around $700. They just keep taking from your bank. Can't stop it unless you email them and threaten with lawyers.”</p> <p>“Unfortunately I was one of those people who thought it was real,” another woman said.</p> <p>Some believe the advertisement is so fake it's the consumers fault that they fell for it in the first place.</p> <p>“Phishing messages are designed to look genuine, and often copy the format used by the organisation the scammer is pretending to represent, including their branding and logo,” ACCC's Scamwatch website said.</p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Adding space to your dishwasher just got easier

<p dir="ltr">Looking for more space in your dishwasher? Perhaps you’ve even considered upgrading – but before you do, take a moment to consider this genius solution one eager Kmart shopper has come up with – using only a $10 item. </p> <p dir="ltr">Posting in the Kmart Home Decor & Hacks Australia Facebook group, the woman revealed she had purchased the store’s Over Sink Dish Drying Rack, which is intended to sit over your sink to dry plates and utensils, as well as defrost food.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Got this for my sink, however, it also works great as an extra rack for the large utensils in the dishwasher,” the shopper wrote, also sharing a photo of the drying rack set up in her dishwasher.</p> <p dir="ltr">A word of warning: Kmart doesn’t explicitly state that their drying rack is dishwasher-safe, meaning there’s an off chance your particular dishwasher model may not like it.</p> <p dir="ltr">The dishwasher hack comes as Kmart released its own range of budget white goods online last month.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-7aa1d503-7fff-2ce6-fac6-00d09f15a914"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“The new white goods range was seen as a gap in the market for us to service in this way and provide our customers with everything they need at the lowest prices,” a Kmart spokesperson told news.com.au.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Facebook / Kmart hacks group </em></p>

Home Hints & Tips

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Random act of Kmart kindness found by teenager

<p>A Queensland teenager has shared a heartwarming story of how she found a hidden gift while shopping for Kmart candles.</p> <p>The girl's mum Katherine shared a picture to a Kmart decor Facebook page that showed a $20 note with a note attached that reads, "If you found this, it's yours."</p> <p>"Keep it as a reminder of your abundance! Money is energy and there's an infinite supply available."</p> <p>Katherine added in the post, "Whomever you are who shared your wealth to people, may God bless you and your family."</p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/KMART-MONEY-NOTE.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p> <p>Kmart customers and social media users quickly noticed that the thoughtful gesture came from influencer Isabelle Grace, who shared a photo of her hiding the notes and cash on her Instagram story. </p> <p>The young mum told <a href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/the-unbelievable-story-behind-one-kmart-shoppers-20-cash-find-in-local-queensland-store-c-5701605" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a> that she had placed the four $20 bills around the store with the intention of making someone's day a little brighter. </p> <p>"I did four, I wanted to do five and take out $100. But I needed $20 notes, so ended up getting out $80 so I could do four different notes," she said.</p> <p>"And I went around and hid them in different spots around Kmart and I kind of felt a little bit like a weirdo for some reason, but it was actually lots of fun."</p> <p>Katherine said her teenage daughter will keep the cash and "pay it forward" to pass on the kind gesture.</p> <p>The post on Facebook has racked up thousands of likes, with many commenting about the selfless act from the influencer. </p> <p>"I love random acts of kindness, the domino effect of it is truly so amazing and humbling," one person wrote.</p> <p>"That's a lovely gesture. Hope you found your abundance, I feel it doesn't have to always be money," another added.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook - Kmart Home Decor &amp; Hacks / Instagram @Isabellegrace</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Kmart hack that keeps herbs fresh for up to six weeks

<p>Savy Kmart shopper reveals how she keeps herbs fresh in her refrigerator for up to six weeks.</p> <p>Sharing in the Facebook group ‘Kmart  hacks &amp; décor’ Natasha raved about how the store’s 4.5 Litre fridge Food Saver which promises to keep items like herbs fresher for longer.</p> <p>“I am so in shock with these Kmart fridge containers,” She wrote on the page.</p> <p>“I bought this coriander on January the 30<sup>th</sup> and have kept it one of the Kmart fridge containers and it is yet to grow limp or rot.”</p> <p>“I kept parsley for over six weeks in one of these containers they are just amazing and such food savers.”</p> <p>Natasha posted a photo of a Coles bunch of coriander which looked fresh, and an image of its use by date which reads “best before 4FEB21”.</p> <p>She also commented: “They have saved me money as well, as I am not throwing out bad fruit and vegetables as much”.</p> <p>Other members have also shared their positive experience with the Kmart food savers, which sell for $9, with a smaller 1.7 litre size going for $7.</p> <p>You can find the container at a Kmart near you or online <a href="https://www.kmart.com.au/product/4.5-litre-fridge-food-saver/2439801?region_id=200001&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwiY6MBhBqEiwARFSCPp6xU5ogbyNsL-tQKtE-GFvmR-s48sNTnjk99e3rVVBnD27krvyczxoCsacQAvD_BwE&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds">here</a>. </p> <p> </p> <p> </p>

Food & Wine

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Surprise warning for Kmart air fryer stuns Aussie mums

<p>A loyal Kmart fan is raising awareness about an often-overlooked warning regarding the popular air fryer, after finding something concerning in her kitchen.</p> <p>Kmart customer Rita shared her concerns to popular “Mums Who Build, Renovate &amp; Decorate” Facebook group after she noticed something strange happening with the bottom of her air fryer.</p> <p>“You hear all the horror stories about air fryers cracking benches (so glad I heard them) so I found this great terrazzo tray that matches my bench at Kmart, and it has cracked” Rita wrote.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843941/new-project-4.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d9205f4e74ee4e0ba9f4cc332a00caa1" /></p> <p><em>Image: Facebook </em></p> <p>“But at least it isn’t the bench!”</p> <p>The recently purchased terrazzo tray from Kmart was placed underneath her air fryer to protect the bench-top from heat damage, after hearing air fryers were at risk to damage surfaces they sit on due to their heat.</p> <p>As per Kmart’s instruction manual, air fryers should be placed and used on a “stable, horizontal, flat and heat-resistant” surface. The company also recommends putting the air fryer on an insulated heat pad.</p> <p>Rita was shocked the terrazzo tray had cracked from the heat underneath her air fryer and went out seeking advice from fellow Facebook group members.</p> <p>“Do I leave it and ignore the crack? Buy another but it will probably happen again or use something else?”.</p> <p>A large amount of group members came forward and said they had no idea air fryers came with this warning and were capable of doing this, whereas others had sage pieces of advice.</p> <p>“Wow, I’ve never heard that! We use ours on a stone bench and I guess I have just been lucky” one user writes. Another said “this is news to me too”.</p> <p>One group member shared she has hers kept on a thick wooden chopping board, also from Kmart. Another member made a similar suggestion although she doesn’t have a stone bench and claims her air fryer has never damaged her laminate bench.</p> <p>Thick wooden chopping boards or heat proof mats were among the most popular suggestions.</p>

Food & Wine

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Woolies employee reveals unknown self-serve checkout hack

<p><span>One Woolworths employee has shown those who struggle with self-serve checkout one easy hack to get you sorted.</span><br /><br /><span>A new clip shared to TikTok by the official Woolworths page, has shared with shoppers a simple way to stop calling for assistance at self-serve checkouts when scanning and bagging items.</span><br /><br /><span>However, followers of the page were more excited to see the employee sharing the hack, rather than the hack itself.</span><br /><br /><span>Woolworths' staffer Liam Kirley shot to fame on TikTok after his in-store videos went viral.</span><br /><br /><span>In the video, Liam shows himself lining up the items to be packed in a single bag before scanning.</span><br /><br /><span>"Press I've got a bag on the machine, then place the bag in the bagging area," he said.</span><br /><br /><span>"Then place all the items you want in that bag on the parcel shelf.</span><br /><br /><span>“Then do something called a power slide, you slide items across and the barcodes will scan easier."</span><br /><br /><span>He shared that the green light will let you know when it's time to scan another item and when you can move your bag.</span><br /><br /><span>Liam also revealed that pressing the new bag button on the bottom left-hand side of the screen will make it easier to start the process again with a new bag.</span><br /><br /><span>The clip also shows shoppers how to scan heavy items without lugging them onto the bagging area or calling staff for help.</span><br /><br /><span>"If you've got a bag item like the water, tap the heavy miscellaneous and then tap the item you want in," he shared.</span><br /><br /><span>Liam rose to stardom on TikTok, by sharing simple secrets for the supermarket.</span></p> <p><img id="__mcenew" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843801/woolies-checkout.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7cc9747b7b0d44038f29d4649ff80cc2" /><br /><br /><span>His viral videos have gained him more than 150,000 followers and seven million likes.</span><br /><br /><span>Now, Liam says he will be running the new Woolworths account, as a content coordinator.</span><br /><br /><span>Woolies launched their new account on TikTok during the week and delves to share recipe ideas, cooking hacks from food experts, shopping tips and sneak peeks into new stores.</span><br /><br /><span>“We are pleased to be launching on TikTok and to give customers an even closer look at what it means to be Today’s Fresh Food People," Woolworths Chief Marketing Officer Andrew Hicks said.</span><br /><br /><span>“TikTok is a great platform to share content and we hope can help make customers’ shopping easier through simple and fun tips and insights.</span><br /><br /><span>“In planning the launch on TikTok, it was important we had an authentic voice of our team that would resonate with the channel's audience.</span><br /><br /><span>"We’re excited to have Liam bring that same authenticity across a range of content to inspire our customers.”</span></p>

Money & Banking

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“It warmed my cold heart”: Coles checkout worker praised for helping struggling senior

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A young checkout worker’s kind act towards an elderly customer has almost brought an onlooking Coles shopper to tears.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Shopper Lyn shared the story on Facebook, revealing how she was blown away after watching how the cashier reacted when the elderly woman became confused while paying for her shopping at Coles in Medowie, Port Stephens.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I really wanted to share a beautiful thing I witnessed today,” Lyn wrote.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“While waiting in line at my local Coles supermarket, the elderly lady in front of me was having trouble paying with her debit card. It declined twice and she was confused at why it wasn’t working.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“A beautiful young boy working on the checkout told her it’s OK, I’ll fix it for you, and proceeded to pay for it using his own phone to access his account.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The elderly lady just thought he had fixed the technology somehow, not realising he had just paid for her $73 groceries. He didn’t look for thanks or acknowledgement in any way.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I wanted to cry at witnessing the absolute care and generosity of a fabulous young man called Michael.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lyn concluded the story by assuring everyone that she had told the store supervisor of Michael’s kindness.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It warmed my cold heart,” she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hundreds responded to the story, sharing how touched they were by the cashier’s generous act.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Some people are just winners. Awesome work young bloke. You’re going places,” one said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“His parents would be super proud,” another added.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“OMG there still is good in this cold, mixed-up world. Michael from the bottom of my heart, thank you. You have restored my faith in the younger generation,” a third wrote.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A Coles worker from the Medowie store said: “Reading through this I was thinking it was Michael, then saw his name. He is a lovely young man and he is an asset to our store. I will be giving him a praise up!”</span></p>

Food & Wine

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"In your face, ALDI!": Shopper shares hack to slow down checkout

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">An ALDI customer has shared a hack for beating the fast pace of the store’s checkouts and has received a mixed response from others online.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">ALDI staff are known for their high speed scanning of groceries at the checkout, and a shopper has shared an image of the simple thing she does to slow them down.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The photograph shows a series of grocery items spaced out along the conveyor belt, with around 30cm between each item.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She claims this trick ensures she has enough time to pack items into her trolley or bag at the other end of the checkout.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“In your face ALDI! Just so we got time to pack!” she captioned the photo.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 351.4548238897397px; height:500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842759/56af82373d000fbf58e0cc7cf01a0e13364e9926-161x229-x0y67w459h653.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/53b9ae1571cb47468cd7c6896aa0f03f" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Facebook</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While many have praised the technique, others were angry and accused the shopper of being “selfish” and “annoying”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Stop trying to pack your bags at the checkout. Put your groceries back into your trolley after they’ve been scanned and pack them at the packing area like you’re supposed to. You don’t need to do stupid things like this if you just follow the rules,” one person said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“People like you packing their bag at the register is so annoying and selfish. Try packing them at the bench like everyone else,” another added.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“If you are selfish enough to do that I hope they really throw them at you,” a third wrote.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“How childish,” another said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A former ALDI worker also contributed to the debate, saying she had come across this tactic in the past.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“When I worked at ALDI and people did this, I would hold the first item back from the sensor with my arm until everything piled up,” she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Meanwhile, others praised the idea and told people “to lighten up”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Great idea. Might try it next time I don’t feel like taking on the ALDI ninja fast cashiers lol,” said one.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Facebook</span></em></p>

Food & Wine

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“Did you know about this?”: Incredible Kmart hack you didn’t know you needed

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A post on TikTok has gone viral after one user shared an amazing Kmart feature that could revolutionise the way you shop online. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rangihuia Woods (@rangihuiawoods) was taken aback when she realised the retailer allowed shoppers to view a piece of furniture in their own home.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">By clicking “view in your space” when on a certain piece of furniture’s page, users get to see just exactly how it would fit in real life through augmented reality.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I just wanted to show you guys to see if I’m the only one who didn’t know about this,” Rangihuia said in a post.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The video showed how if a shopper went to the site and clicked on “view your space”, they would then be taken to a page that provides AR experience. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842448/evergreen-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/538b54a559444a50b346aae222ea8bc8" /></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The feature says that in order for it to work, users must “point your camera at the floor or the surface and move it side to side”. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The hallway table then is shown to virtually appear on her camera, inside her home so she can see how it fits into the space. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“So you can use it on your phone and you can place it in your house!” she said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“What the hell?!”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kmart reportedly launched the feature back in September last year. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842449/evergreen-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e5db16745800421496b63bac3710ae7b" /></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The retailer also launched a new chatbot called KBot Assist to answer any questions one might have about a product.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The immersive AR and AI experience was designed to bring joy and inspiration to customers’ lives,” Kmart head of digital Melissa Wong explained.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“With extra help from our AI chatbot personality – KBot assist – we have been able to make shopping easier for customers by sprinkling delight across the customer journey,” she added.</span></p>

Retirement Life

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Kmart label fail sends shoppers into stitches

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A Kmart shopper has spotted a hilariously incorrect warning on a label attached to a branded set of curtain lights. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Taking to the Kmart decor Facebook group, the customer shared the bizarre label with fellow shoppers that read: “if the cable of the light chain is damaged, it cannot be repaired and the dog must be destroyed.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842427/kmart-plus-lynne-home-and-away.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/3adc5a974cf14ea5859018831457badd" /></span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Facebook</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The woman captioned the hilarious image with: “I guess it’s a good thing we’re not dog people. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Who knew string lights could do such a thing?” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many could not decipher what the typo or intended joke actually meant, but the bizarre instructions left Facebook users in stitches. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“That’s a bit harsh,” one person wrote. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“That escalated quickly,” another added. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“What bloody dog?!” a third comment read. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another shopper offered a hilarious alternative to the label, suggesting that the “person who wrote this was like ‘I wonder if anyone actually reads these… let’s put something weird and see.” </span></p>

Beauty & Style

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Former Kmart employee shares store secrets

<p>A former Kmart employee is sharing the company's biggest secrets and revealing the hacks that every shopper should know.</p> <p>The video has gone viral with more than 22,000 views.</p> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H1EcAGvq4q8"></iframe></div> <p>She also explained why checking barcodes is VERY important while shopping at Kmart.</p> <p>"The last digit on the barcode changes after every new season," she said.</p> <p>"So if there are two toasters that look exactly the same and the last digit of one barcode is eight and the other is nine, the one with the eight should be cheaper.</p> <p>"It has to be the same model, they just tweak the product and the price I found doesn’t come up straight away on the system."</p> <p>She also revealed the best time to go shopping, which is between 8 am and 5 pm.</p> <p>“This is when the full-time and very experienced staff members are working, so they are more able to answer your questions," she explained.</p> <p>The best time for bargain hunting is right after Christmas and Easter.</p> <p>"On Boxing Day there’s a whole section that drops down to between five cents and $5 but it is usually wiped out on Boxing Day by customers so it’s good to come in early.</p> <p>"In between campaign periods like “Back To School” they would mark things down because it’s not as busy but a lot of the times, quite randomly, they will slash the prices of a bulk number of books, clothes or appliances.</p> <p>"It’s usually when a newer model/garment has been updated, fixed or isn’t selling.</p> <p>"The price will drop down drastically but the item doesn’t really change by much."</p>

Money & Banking

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Why this self-serve checkout “hack” should never be tried in store

<p>A self-serve checkout hack video has gone viral, amassing almost over a million views; but supermarket chains have warned customers against it.</p> <p>The video posted to TikTok was shared by a Woolworths customer who revealed that machines have a coin slot flap that can be lifted, which can allow shoppers to dump multiple coins at once instead of inserting them one-by-one.</p> <p>“Oi Aussies, did you know that at Woolworths you can pull this up to insert your coins when you have too many?” she said in the video.</p> <p>However, supermarket chains are asking customers not to try out the “hack” as it is not intended for customer use, and shoppers can risk jamming the machines.</p> <p>Woolies staff commented on the video, writing “Noooo don’t do this, the machine will jam then we gotta fix it.”</p> <p>Another said: “You’ll end up waiting longer … great way to jam the coin slot they have to individually go on a belt to be sorted so the machine knows what’s been put in,” another added.</p> <p>A Coles spokesperson told news.com.au it is not a simple hack shoppers should ever attempt.</p> <p>“The purpose of the coin flap is to prevent debris, food and other small objects from getting into the machine which could cause jams.</p> <p>“However, we do not encourage customers to put an excess amount of coins, i.e. piggy bank full of coins.”</p> <p> </p>

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