Disgusting Backlash To Early Ending Of Woolworths Disney Ooshies Campaign

“You have left 100’s of young kids upset. and their parents too. I will NEVER EVER shop in your store again. COLES ALL THE WAY!”
When Woolworths was forced to cancel the Disney Ooshies collection prematurely, little did they realise the violent backlash from their disgruntled customers.

The Disney Ooshies campaign was pure marketing gold for Woolworths. Coles shoppers switched to Woolies. Even Aldi shoppers swapped over to Woolworths to get their hands on the princess, superhero and Star Wars plastic characters.

But then it all backfired and Woolworths was forced to end the campaign early due to lack of supply. The giant retailer was left with a trail of vicious parents and disappointed kids who weren’t able to complete their collections. The success of this collectable campaign was tainted with bitterness as mums and dads ripped into the Woolworths social pages with all their pent-up vitriol.

This Is Disgraceful!

“You owe me 8 Disney Ooshies, I purchased extra branded products to achieve this and suddenly it’s all gone! Seriously you make the kids want this stuff and cannot figure out how to service your clients, you keep all the promo stuff up in the store etc, this is disgraceful,” one parent wrote on the Woolworths Facebook page.

Another was furious that she has spent hundreds on shopping, only to be told her local store had run dry of Ooshies.

“I have receipts totalling $681.99 with 24 earned Ooshies. Was told to hold onto receipts and bring in with me on next visit to collect when new stock arrives. Now I’m guessing this stock won’t be arriving, so I’m left empty-handed? Guessing I can’t return some of my shopping for refund? This is disappointing! Will think twice on future promos from now on,” the customer shared.

Many accused Woolworths of being “deceitful” and not having the foresight to realise how popular the campaign would be.

You Are All Pathetic!

However, there was a camp on the other side of the issue that was fuming with all these “pathetic” reactions.

“Wow! People are dying and your biggest concern is an Ooshie? Unbelievable what humans have become,” one disgusted shopper wrote.

“People should just build a bridge and get over it. Promotions like this always state ‘While Stocks Last’,” said another.

“So many Adult snowflakes having a cry over a piece of rubbish designed for children,” wrote another.

What Woolworths Had To Say

Woolworths’ reaction was regret that they had underestimated the crazy demand for the Ooshies.

“At Woolworths, we’re always looking for ways to create a bit of fun and excitement for our customers,” A Woolworths spokesperson said to news.com.au.

“Our Disney+ Ooshies have proven extraordinarily popular with customers, to the point we had to conclude the program early due to customers collecting the last of our stock.”

“These collectibles take more than 12 months to plan and the quantity produced is based on our experience of running many collectable campaigns that we’ve previously offered,” he added.

“We attribute much of the success of our Disney+ Ooshies to customers of all ages connecting with the Disney+ universes, across Marvel, Star Wars, Disney, and Pixar, there was a character for all types of Disney+ fans to collect and enjoy,” he said.

“To our customers, we thank you for your excitement and engagement with the Disney+ Ooshies and apologise for any frustration or disappointment caused by running out of stock.

“For those who are still looking to finish their sets, we recommend safely swapping extras or duplicates with family and friends who have also been collecting.”

The Hack Was The Issue!

We reckon the true issue here was that Woolworths didn’t take into account how many shoppers would be taking advantage of the bonus Ooshies hack to come out with 20 or more collectables with a minimum spend of $30. Perhaps next time, they’ll make this a bit more restrictive to ensure shoppers can’t claim bundles of Ooshies in one transaction.

How do you feel about the early ending of the Woolworths Disney Ooshies Collection? Tell us in the comments below.

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51 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 30 Nov 2023
    12:08 pm
Oh goodness……seriously if thats all you have to worry about in life then you are lucky.

- - mom112217 said
  - 31 Jan 2021
    5:02 pm
It wasn’t an issue for us! It is what it is!

- - Kylie said
  - 20 Oct 2020
    12:48 pm
It’s so crazy how such a small thing can create such outrage. Hopefully Woolworths learn for the next time they have these collectables specials.

- - mom19782016 said
  - 19 Oct 2020
    2:24 pm
Totally ridiculous. I’m sure if parents modelled the correct behaviour to their children – they could have asked on their buy sell swap pages for ones they need, ask neighbours or friends if they were collecting or heavens forbid, go down to the local op-shop which always have a ton when we’ve been there.

- - mom462038 said
  - 08 Oct 2020
    8:41 am
I am continuously gobsmacked and often disgusted at peoples ridiculous reactions to things as simple as supermarket giveaway collectables

- - MillyMollyMandy said
  - 07 Oct 2020
    8:21 pm
I found these little things ridiculously appealing for some strange hunter/gathering urge feeling! I missed out on a heap of these when my hubby did a huge $400 shop but that’s just the way it goes – there are much bigger problems on hand nowadays! The thing that got me is that Woolies would have had to have known how big these guys were going to be – people are so stressed they are desperate for distraction and plenty of people adore Disney stuff. They totally knew they would run out. The only thing they underestimated is the backlash!

- - BellaB said
  - 06 Oct 2020
    6:58 pm
Fortunately, people seem to have got a bit of a grip now.

- - mom462038 said
  - 03 Oct 2020
    7:52 pm
Wow, im amazed that people get so carried away about freebies given away at the local grocery stores

- - mom93821 said
  - 30 Sep 2020
    7:34 pm
We only bought groceries we needed and wanted and certainly kept within budget. We did not get all the ooshies and that is ok. We would never create a fuss over not getting a promotion or be rude to anyone in a store.

- - Kimeeja said
  - 30 Sep 2020
    2:00 pm
My kids were super disappointed that they ran out as we had several trips to the shop where they wrote on our receipt that we didn’t get any and we could claim them next visit only to find out that they’d stopped the promotion but there are bigger things to worry about in life
- mom93821 replied
  
  01 Oct 2020 , 6:39 am
  Spot on! We missed out on getting some too, but in the big scheme of things we are just not worried about it. There are indeed bigger issues in the world.
- - shanika said
  - 27 Sep 2020
    10:45 am
I didn’t collect any of them this time.

- - babymumma said
  - 25 Sep 2020
    8:55 am
These are meant to be for the kids and the adults have taken over and made it about themselves like they do with everything else. Since they came out it’s literally said “while sticks last”, do people not understand what that means? If you’re that desperate for them trade with other people, don’t blast the company for something that’s out of their control.
- Mum2archer replied
  
  01 Oct 2020 , 10:01 pm
  yes! agree with this. Alot of people don’t look at the *while stocks last* bit do they
- - WiseLife89 said
  - 24 Sep 2020
    5:22 pm
It is very disappointing, why not over estimate in a circumstance like this and keep it going until supply runs out rather than underestimate and run out early. Campaigns like these are always super popular, coles learnt there lesson, I’m guessing woolies will too…
Very very sad for all the hopeful kids missing out

- - mom146810 said
  - 24 Sep 2020
    3:52 pm
It was clearly mentioned in the campaign that while stock lasts so I dont understand why parents are upset, they buy the add on products because they wanted the ooshies not because woolies forced them toi do so and switching shopping centres was also the customers choice. I dont know why we always blame others for our choices.
- Ellen replied
  
  28 Sep 2020 , 8:00 am
  I agree and don’t understand all these negative reactions at all; people should be grateful for getting a freebie.
- - tessie said
  - 24 Sep 2020
    2:29 pm
I was disappointed when I did my order and should have got 12 Ooshies because I’d spent nearly $500. Mine wasn’t a case of Woolies running out of stock, they forgot to put mine in with my shopping. I have to order on line because I live 2 hours away from the closest store and I only shop once a month. When I rang up I was told to take me receipt back but as I explained I wasn’t going to do a 4 hour trip just to collect them. Can’t blame Woolies though and especially not the staff.

- - Number One Mum said
  - 24 Sep 2020
    1:57 pm
Sorry that was meant to say DISGUSTING in my last comment l shouldn’t used spell check l was writing to fast

- - Number One Mum said
  - 24 Sep 2020
    1:52 pm
Some people collect ooshies in Hope to get there hand’s on the Ultra Rare Ooshies just to make Money on them . l have personally heard people who have No children using your hack trying to get them to make money selling them online That is Discussing l personally think it use to be Fun for the kids to collect the set No Adults collecting them for Money

- - mom466923 said
  - 24 Sep 2020
    10:27 am
Luckily we collected them all before they ran out otherwise my kids would be devastated. I prefer Coles but unfortunately where we live there is none.

- - Supercoolmum said
  - 24 Sep 2020
    10:07 am
That’s quite disappointing but I can’t blame woolies for underestimating. It was good while it lasted though.

- - rovermum said
  - 24 Sep 2020
    9:12 am
I couldn’t care less, but this reaction says so much more about the people carrying on angrily and how they’re role modelling for their kids.