Coronavirus: Woolworths opens early for elderly but shelves still low
It was supposed to be the solution for vulnerable shoppers but pre-dawn crowds has led Woolies to admit they could do better.
A well-meaning effort by Woolworths to help out the most vulnerable had the unintended effect of creating a dawn stampede in scores of supermarkets today, leaving shoppers more frustrated than relieved.
Throngs gathered outside stores to take advantage of a new initiative that allowed the elderly and otherwise vulnerable to shop from 7am to 8am at Woolworths for at least the next few days. The aim is to allow them to get a head start on other shoppers who have stripped some shelves clean due to panic over coronavirus crisis. Coles will do the same from tomorrow.
But some said even shoppers in their 80s were “hell bent” on getting in store and they were in danger of being “rammed” by trolleys.
Under the dark pre-dawn skies they came from miles around to get to the Woolies store on Sydney’s north shore.
It was more like a nightclub then a grocer in the well-to-do suburb of Neutral Bay with security checking seniors’ credentials on the doors.
Woolies had to bring in extra door staff to ensure only the elderly were getting in.
GRUMBLES
When the doors finally opened, it was hardly a rush – at least initially. One of the first in line crept into the store on a walking frame.
Many shoppers news.com.au spoke to were pleased they had the opportunity to get in early. But while Woolies’ had never promised to have the stores fully stocked, that was clearly the assumption from some who expected to tick everything off on their shopping list.
Instead shoppers reported essentials running out within minutes, even in this special elderly hour.
There were grumbles that they had got up early yet would head home with less than they needed.
One customer in Canberra said the toilet paper was gone within three minutes of the store opening.
Woolworths says it is selling the equivalent of a week’s toilet paper each and every day. Although many other aisles seems to have adequate stock.
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‘PANDEMONIUM’
The senior shoppers seemed to be keener on getting a few bits and bobs rather than buying bulk. But even that was a struggle.
One customer had just three things on her list: “Loo roll, hand sanitiser, mint jelly.”
Unsurprisingly, mint jelly wasn’t an issue; nor toilet paper at this hour; but hand sanitiser was completely out.
Many customers news.com.au spoke to were frustrated hand sanitiser was the one product that seemed to be consistently out of stock.
The toilet paper wasn’t far behind. There was only Woolworths own brand and Sorbent on the shelves. By 8am the store had almost sold out of its entire stock. Still, at least they were in the hands of more elderly locals.
“I’m shopping for my mother in law who is 91,” said Gordon, who is himself semi-retired.
“She has hardly any left and at her age she can’t get out.”
Down in Melbourne, where supermarkets have been particularly stretched, many seniors left without even toilet paper.
“I wanted to get toilet paper, paper towels and mince and there wasn’t any there,” Pat Riordan, 76, of Glen Huntly told News Corp.
“I asked in store and they said they didn’t get a delivery last night.”
On social media one simply said the elderly hour was “pandemonium”.
JONES’ RANT: ‘ELDERLY ABUSE’
Sydney shock jock Alan Jones went so far as to say Woolies’ was guilty of “elderly abuse” on his 2GB breakfast show this morning.
“There is no stock,” Jones roared, after rattling off a long list of locations where there were allegedly empty shelves.
He berated Woolworths fresh food director Paul Harker on his 2GB breakfast show this morning.
“Now that, quite frankly, leaves you open to very serious charges of elderly abuse. This is abusing people, encouraging them to believe there’s an hour window when they can get what they want, and there is nothing that they believed they were going to get in that one-hour window,” Jones said.
“You’ve alienated people, I think it’s very unfair to completely disappoint and disillusion people.”
Mr Harker replied: “We’re really sorry obviously it impacted people this way. It’s not something we aim to do; it’s day one for us to try something different.”
Woolworths bouncer: 58! Nice try young fella. Get out of here.
— Craig Reucassel (@craigreucassel) March 16, 2020
I took my BIL to Woolies in Conder ACT. He's deafblind and has an intellectual disability. At 0705 we had to line up to enter and then line up for TP. ALL TP gone by 0703. We missed out. The suppliers cannot manufacture and deliver to keep up.
— Stephen Collins ðŸ”🥾🌲🌳ðŸ¹ðŸŽ¯ðŸ‡¦ðŸ‡ºðŸ‡³ðŸ‡¿ (@trib) March 17, 2020
The @woolworths hour for vulnerable/elderly was gr8 in theory but not in practice.
— Sophie Elsworth (@sophieelsworth) March 16, 2020
âž¡ï¸ Sick & elderly all congregated in one spot.
âž¡ï¸ Crowds were insane, people getting agro.
âž¡ï¸ Supermarket failed to restock shelves.
âž¡ï¸ Security and police in tow.
âž¡ï¸ People leaving empty handed.
Supermarket giant @woolworths has admitted its dedicated shopping hour for the elderly "wasn't perfect" with many supermarkets facing stock shortages. The supermarket has pledged to take "the lessons of today" and continue to operate the dedicated slot.
— Georgia Clark (@GeorgiaBClark) March 16, 2020
Woolies’ supermarkets managing director Claire Peters said she regretted shelves not being full and the chain would learn and do better.
“We’re doing the very best we can to get more stock into our stores and onto shelves as quickly as possible in the face of unprecedented demand,” she said.
“We’ll be taking on the lessons of the day and getting better along the way.”
Another part of the firm’s strategy to bring calm to the aisles is that from tomorrow it will close all stores at 8pm, earlier than usual, so it has more time to replenish shelves overnight.
Woolies has insisted there is more than enough product in Australia, people are simply buying lots more of it at once, leading to sparse stores and limits on popular items.
‘I’M HAPPY TO BE 80, FOR ONCE’
At Neutral Bay, customers were more conciliatory towards Woolworths’ early opening gesture.
“It’s the best idea they’ve ever had,” said a Mrs Williams, wearing her chic sunglass indoors. “I’m happy to be 80 for once.”
“A lot of elderly people are frightened and it’s excellent they can shop early so they don’t feel pressured,” said local John who had bought a spare Sodastream cylinder, “so if I’m locked down at least I can make some fresh soda water.”
But calm the store was not. As queues for the check-outs began to snake around the store, some staff admitted they had never seen it so busy, so early.
“It’s more crowded this morning than when I came in yesterday,” said Judith Simpson, of Waverton.
“They may be elderly but I actually think a lot of the people are hell bent on getting what they want. You’re in danger of being rammed by trolleys.”
“Everybody needs to get stuff, but don’t run people over on the way,” another said.
Most shoppers looked very dimly on the panic buying that had led to the drastic measure to let seniors shop early.
“People queue jumping, not respecting one another. It’s a sign of panic but it’s also a sign that people are losing a bit of their humanity for their fellow man,” Andrew Bird, of Mosman, said.
“You see people with six packs of biscuits. I mean how long they will take to eat that?” Ms Simpson said.
“I’m not hoarding. I live on my own so I don’t have the space anyway,” Mrs Williams said. “I don’t know where they are putting these things.”
“It’s grotesque,” said one shopper.
Younger customers, barred entry until 8am, began to form a line outside.
“It feels a bit silly queuing in a line to get into the supermarket,” said Mark, who with his wife and small child.
“But I think it’s really important to let the elderly shop. You can see how slow moving many are, they need that extra time.”
As it ticked over to 8am, the under 60s were allowed in further packing out the store.
One elderly woman, with her 12 pack of Sorbent in her trolley, gingerly walked up to the burly security guard. “Thank you for helping,” she said.
Ms Simpson was relieved her shop was done.
“I had to get up very early and drive in the dark to get here. So I think I might go back to bed now. At my age, I have the luxury of that.”
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