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There’s one thing running out of plastic Ooshies or mini milk collectables, but don’t dangle the reward of glass containers or Masterchef knives and then tell me you don’t have any more to give me.

As soon as I got wind of the latest promotions our main supermarkets were running, I started strategically shopping to maximise my credits. I thought the Coles MasterChef knives were pretty cutting edge and I am in love with the Woolworths glass containers so I have been saving up my credits for a free shopping spree.

No More Stock!

It turns out that I may be too late and I’m not happy! Shoppers across the country are reporting major shortages of the grown-up kitchen collectables at both Coles and Woolworths and it’s not really known which stores will be getting more stock, if at all.

I guess I should have learned my lesson from previous collectable campaigns where the frenzy of collecting caused stock to disappear faster than the shops could keep up.

But shouldn’t the retail giants also have learned their lesson? Why didn’t they over-produce the containers and knives so there was plenty of products available for everyone who earned them?

The Knives Are Out!

There’s no point in running a loyalty program when the result of it is actually the opposite – furious customers who feel hard done by. Yes, I know ‘it’s free’, but I spent enough in store to be entitled to my glass container or a big sharp knife!

Consumers have been left frustrated over promotions run by supermarket giants Woolworths and Coles, complaining about stock drying up well before each of their intended official end dates.

Until Stocks Last….

The Coles promotion ends on 9 February, while the Woolworths campaign ends on 16 February, or while stocks last. And I guess that last bit is the pertinent info. “Until Stocks Last” protects the shop legally but it certainly doesn’t protect them from consumer’s wrath when they run out weeks before.

coles knives
Coles Masterchef Knives

There Are None Left!

“So how can I get my free containers? There are none left, I’ve spent two grocery shopping trips at Woolies just for these,” one livid consumer wrote on the Woolworths social media page.

“Woolworths I saved 65 Container points and just like the damn Ooshies, you ran out before I got to use all my points. Why do you keep failing at this so badly. You said it would be restocked, I go to order and there’s NONE. I had ordered one last time and nada,” another angry shopped ranted.

“Woolworths your container promotion is really a scam. Got my 39 points and I’m one point off 40 with three weeks left and I’ve been advised you’re completely out of stock,” another added.

One BIG Rip-Off

Many claimed that these campaigns are just a “scam” and a “rip off” as the supermarkets are using them to attract shoppers to spend more, knowing that they don’t have the freebies to give out.

Similar grumblings have been made by Coles shoppers.

“The 20 point knives ran out in our area well before the end of the promo, or are you ok with encouraging people like myself to keep building their points balance to have them sitting there for no reason but to remind us how greedy you are?,” one disgruntled shopper said.

woolworths collectables storage

There Is More Stock On Its Way….Apparently

Yahoo! News reached out to Woolworths for a comment and the supermarket has ensured customers that more stock is due to arrive.

“Since launching last year, we’ve had an incredible response from Woolworths customers who have collected our free glass containers. The aim of the glass containers is to support those who are looking to make every meal count, by providing storage solutions to reduce food waste, but also help customers’ shops go further, a Woolworths spokesperson said.

“Due to shipping delays caused by Covid, port restrictions, and high customer demand, some stores are temporarily out of glass containers. Rest assured, we have more shipments of additional glass containers on the way that will be distributed to stores across Australia in the coming days and weeks.

“As with many of our collectables, this is a while-stocks-last promotion. Customers can still redeem containers as more stock is distributed in the weeks ahead.”

Have you managed to collect your free knives or containers through the Coles and Woolworths promotions? Or have you been struggling to get stock? Tell us in the comments below.

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  • I hate when this happens. It happens every single time and it’s hardly ever near the end of the promotion period too.

    Reply

  • I don’t see them as a scam but I can see how people get sucked into them. I personally just ignore them if I’m not interested.

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  • So over these gimmicks to entice shoppers. I have been gullible and spent heaps of money only to be left short – all gone. So now I don’t bother.
    To me it’s a scam full stop ????????

    Reply

  • That’s pretty crappy. They really need to honour the points and give them an alternate similar prize if they ran out.

    Reply

  • Considering how much more money people spend to collect these items, I can see how unfair it is when they run out – really why can’t they monitor people’s points, and in the promotion period ensure that there is enough for all?

    Reply

  • I got 6 Steak knives over the promotion so was happy as I already have a very good set of all the other knives they had on offer, wasn’t interested in the glass containers from Woollies as I mainly use containers for the freezer. It isn’t really a scam – you get the points from your regular shop and can then collect something. Wouldn’t shop extra for their competitions anyway.

    Reply

  • I collected one knife only and then I got cut getting it out of the packet

    Reply

  • I have only collected two glass containers after visiting several shops.

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  • I managed two woolies glass containers before they ran out. Majorly disappointed.

    Reply

  • I always work out how much it would cost in actual dollars to get a set and sometimes it is thousands or hundreds when we could go to KMART or Robinson Kitchens cheaper. Especially Woolworths new plant offers again and the punnet is like a thimble when we could buy larger punnet at bunnings cheaper than $ 30 for 1

    Reply

  • I can’t understand that people are fuming about this, nor do I think it’s a scam. Yes it’s a promotion and when you feel the need to strategically shop to maximise your credits than that’s your own choice.


    • Not everyone can afford to double or triple their grocery shopping just to collect the credits.

    Reply

  • Bad purchasing management rather than a scam. Our local Woolies got a shipment yesterday. A Staff Member at the Customer Service desk said customers were lining up before the store opened to get their container. I am not sure how these customers knew a shipment was coming or had arrived but we missed out & it was only 10am. You would think companies would have learnt by now that if they offer a perceived wanted item they should order heaps of them. Even if they do a test market State or Region to see how popular they are.

    Reply

  • I never spent extra just to get the glass containers but I was pretty sure I’d miss out because I can only shop once a month. I can’t afford to drive 400kms a week to shop so I do a massive shop once a month. If I could get one of the containers from Woolworths I would have been ecstatic but I’m not going to get angry because I missed out either. It’s just one of those things that can happen.

    Reply

  • I don’t believe these are SCAMs at all. You don’t have to participate at all. I see it as getting something for nothing. I shop at Coles anyway, and if I manage to earn enough points to redeem, great. If not, so be it. I do think they need to be clearer in their communication though in terms of finish dates. I was fortunate to redeem points for about 4 knives of varying sizes. I was left with 27 points that I couldn’t redeem as there’s no small knives left anywhere, and I didn’t realise the promo had ended, missing out on 11 points on my last shop. This would have given me enough for a large knife that seemed to be left in many Coles stores. I love the adult promos.

    Reply

  • I don’t know why these are called scam promotions.

    Reply

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