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.

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.

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.