Coles worker accuses supermarket giant of ‘gaslighting’ its customers   



News.com.au
November 10, 2024

An anonymous Coles worker has accused the supermarket giant of “gaslighting” its customers into paying more for everyday items as the public continue to battle the cost-of-living crisis.

The woman uploaded a video to TikTok following an awkward encounter with an angry customer while working at her local supermarket.

An anonymous Coles worker has accused the supermarket iant of “gaslighting” its customers into paying more for everyday items.

According to the video, the shopper approached the Coles worker to complain about the increasing price of a packet of Tim Tams.

It was after they spent $7.50 for a big packet of the sweet biscuits, before realising they could have purchased smaller packets for $3, which would have been better value for money.

The customer then reportedly told the woman: “Whoever does the prices at the store should be ashamed of themselves.”

The woman explained that individual supermarkets do not determine the price of an item on the shelf, it’s a job left for the supermarket’s head office.

She has since urged shoppers to do further research into an item before committing to a purchase.

“As a collective, as people, as human beings, we need to start looking at those type of things and looking at grams and seeing what is worth our money,” she said. She added while “$7.50 for Tim Tams is absolutely crazy” and the idea of working for the supermarket “sucks”, the woman explained it wasn’t fair for her to bare the brunt from customers, as she was simply doing her job.

“All I’m doing is earning money so I can pay my bills so I can afford to take my daughter to daycare,” she said.


The ACCC has accused Coles and Woolworths of price gouging.

In a follow-up video, which has since been deleted, the anonymous worker accused the supermarket giant of “gaslighting” its customers by raising the cost of two packets of Tim Tams to $8.

“I feel like the supermarkets are now gaslighting us,” she said. As of writing, Tim Tims are on special at Coles, with a 200g packet of Tim Tams setting you back $4.50, a reported saving of $1.50, whereas a larger 365g packet costs $6.

In the comments of the since-deleted second video, some believed her complaints weren’t justified, arguing shoppers shouldn’t reach for a packet of TimTams if “money is an issue”.

The anonymous worker said these comments was “totally valid” but argued that “some people just want that extra treat … for the hard work you’ve been doing”.

A spokesperson for Coles told NewsWire said the supermarket was “committed to providing fair, accurate and clear pricing to our customers.

“As inflation, high interest rates, increased mortgage and rent costs, higher utility bills and an escalation in education, health care and insurance costs contribute to cost-of-living pressures for Australian families, we know that more customers are eating at home and seeking out specials and discounts to help their household budgets stretch further.

“These increased costs also mean that Coles is paying more to suppliers for the cost of goods we sell, and for the cost of running our business. Despite this, we work hard to provide value to customers though promotional mechanisms including Great Value Hands Down, Coles Weekly Specials, and Flybuys.”

Coles has said the business is also facing increased costs, but doing its best to provide value for customers.

In September, the government launched an ACCC-led inquiry to determine whether supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths were deceiving shoppers with pricing tactics, by allegedly hiking up the prices on hundreds of products, only to drop them again as part of its “Down Down” and “Prices Dropped” campaigns.

“Australia is dominated by uncompetitive markets. The threat of divestiture would lower prices, better service and more innovation and growth in productivity,” said chief economist at the Australia Institute, Greg Jericho in September.

“We need better monitoring of prices in Australia, especially in industries that lack competition. A prices commission would ensure that Australian consumers are not being ripped off.

You mean people really go shopping without a price analysis? It's easy look at the price/g on each item.

Yes of course we need better monitoring, of the already shy high out of this world prices.   

No need to concern yourselves - the pollies, in concert with their tame 'independent' board, will vote themselves a fine upgrade in salary and perks, and on their record, more than possibly a component to make up for their inability to draw, given that they didn't serve, a service super payment like the 'governor-general' sheila they gave that plum job to as well, and be doubly rich.

At least we'll know that our great leaders will not go broke or do it tough.  They might have to vote for pollie's pay to be tax free .... just to (corrects) continue to draw the best available talent, you understand.