Australian mum issues warning over Woolworths self-serve

A mum has issued a warning to fellow shoppers after noticing a glitch while using the self-serve checkout — and dozens have reported the same.

A mum has issued a warning to fellow shoppers after noticing a glitch while using the Woolies self-serve checkout — and dozens have reported the same.

The woman was buying a Gabby’s Dollhouse colouring book for $6 at Woolworths. However the pencil book was instead scanning up as eight books. It meant it was a total of $48.

“We scanned one and it scans up as eight,” she said in a video posted to social media.

She was thankful she checked.

When staff tried to help her, it kept scanning up as eight. She also claimed the shop assistant said it “wasn’t the first time” it had happened.

“There is obviously something wrong with their computer system” she said.

She urged everyone to double check their dockets before walking out of the store. Several other social media users claimed to have gone through a similar experience.

A mum has pointed out an issue she had at Woolworths. Picture:TikTok/@moon_muffin_

“I work at Woolworths and the exact same thing happened to me on a big register with that exact item and it came up with eight,” one said.

One commented: “I had this happen at Coles. I scanned a can of Monster energy drink, scanned as a pack of four for $15.50. It was meant to be $3.25. When I looked through I realised three out the six cans scanned like that!

“I got the opposite at Aldi the other day, scanned a 1/4 Watermelon (it had a barcode) and went to put it on the scale to weigh, it said it only weighed 111g and was $0.28. Didn’t question it,” one added.

One said: “I scanned the barcode on my pack of eggs the other week and it scanned on the Woolies system as 15 packs of eggs! Instead of almost $6 it was nearly $90.”

“That exact thing happened to me as well … it was a colouring book with pencils,” another added.

One commented: “It happened to me at Big W. An $18 item scanned at $168 done all codes nothing changed.”

Others said you should be checking your receipt no matter what.

”Isn’t this common knowledge when checking out at a supermarket,” one said.

Woolworths responded to the complaint. Picture: Supplied

Another added: “I check as I am scanning most times, but I always scan the receipt fully before leaving. Because if I’ve already paid and there’s an issue, usually get it for free.”

A Woolworths spokesperson told news.com.au it was an “isolated incident” related to the barcode on the item.

“The scanning error on this barcode has since been corrected to ensure it doesn’t happen again,” the spokesperson said.

“We’re glad to see that our team was able to quickly rectify this issue in-store and the customer was only charged for the correct quantity.”

News.com.au understands any customers that have an issue in store are encouraged to speak to the Woolworths team to work it.

The same is understood for Coles, with customers encouraged to seek out Customer Care if they have any concerns.

Originally published as Australian mum issues warning over Woolworths self-serve