Woolworths customers take aim at queues of Chadstone baby formula ‘personal shoppers’
Parents have demanded Woolworths “toughen up” and stop baby formula shoppers ignoring the two-tin per customer policy and buying in bulk, as pictures emerged of queues at Melbourne’s biggest shopping centre.
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A supermarket at Chadstone shopping centre has come under fire for allowing dozens of shoppers, believed to syndicated exporters, to queue to snare tins of baby formula, flouting the two-tin per customer policy.
A photo emerged on Reddit last week showing dozens of people, believed to be daigou — personal shoppers who make huge profits sending formula to China — lining up at dawn outside Woolworths.
The post sparked outrage with almost 190 comments, with people saying they were “fed up” by the shortage.
One parent wrote: “As a fellow parent of a 7 month old these things get me so mad. I’ve discovered that buying online from Chemist Warehouse is flawless … it’s saved a lot of stress and effort.”
Another wrote: “I see them in packs all the time at my local Woolies and Chemist Warehouse. They do rounds. They pretend they’re not together when they are. And pretend they can’t read the signs that say there’s limits.”
Customers are also taking to the supermarket giant’s Facebook page to complain.
Donna Melbourne, who posted a video on the supermarket giant’s Facebook page, wrote: “Woolworths Chadstone you need to toughen up...when I arrived this morning outside there were a team of people running in and out buying baby formula in bulk and filling more than 10 shopping trolleys outside”.
“When I spoke to the onsite authority in Woolworths they insisted that is was OK to do two per transaction for as many times as they want — what a joke — there is either a limit on blatant profiteering or not.”
Amber Clarkson also took to the supermarket’s Facebook page in April, posting: “(At) Chadstone Woolworths this morning, lining up for baby formula. They’re running all over the store, scrambling to get their tubs to sell overseas.
“What about all the mothers living in Australia? This store will most likely sell out before 9am hits. I see this happening almost every time I come here now. So inconsiderate,” she wrote.
Consumer expert Gary Mortimer said daigou shoppers were often international students or tourists visiting Australia.
“Australia is well-known for its high food manufacturing standards and we’ve got a broadening middle-class in China that want to give their children a headstart in life and that’s based (on) milk formula.”
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“They’re willing to pay exorbitant prices to get hold of Australian-produced baby formula.”
A Woolworths spokeswoman, who asked not to be named, said the supermarket had a two-tin transaction limit on baby formula in place, with store teams working hard to ensure customers had access to stock when they need it.
“Baby formula stock was available at our Chadstone store all last week and remains available today,” she said.
“We encourage any parents who find their chosen baby formula is unavailable on the shelves to speak with store management, so we can help get them stock as quickly as possible.”
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