SOPHIE ELSWORTH
June 4, 2018
News Corp Australia Network
SHOPPERS who order groceries online instead of visiting a supermarket are being slugged as much as 10 per cent extra on many items, new analysis has revealed.
Supermarket giant Coles has been found to charge customers ordering their groceries via the store’s online app or website more on popular grocery items such as coffee, flour, biscuits, yoghurt and crisps, new analysis by News Corp has revealed.
Consumer groups have warned it’s a case of “buyer beware” and customers should be mindful that ordering with the click of a mouse may end up costing them more.
Customers are being charged up to 10 per cent on items if they order online instead of buying them instore.
Queensland Consumers’ Association’s spokesman Ian Jarrett said offering customers difference prices instore versus online made it confusing to compare apples with apples.
“It can make life more complicated for consumers to make well-informed decisions when they do this, particularly with inconsistencies,’’ he said.
“A lot of people seem to shop online for convenience so there may be less price conscious and value conscious than other shoppers.”
The analysis found on a range of popular items an extra 10 per cent was charged on the online Coles site versus visiting a Coles supermarket, this included;
— White Wings Plain Flour 1kg — $3 versus $3.30 online.
— Nescafe 50g coffee — $5 instore versus $5.50 online.
— Savoy/Jatz biscuits 225g — $3 versus $3.30 online.
— Farmers Union Greek Yoghurt 200g — $2.20 versus $2.42 online.
— Grainwaves Sour Cream 210g — $4 versus $4.40 online.
A growing number of Australians are ordering their groceries online.
A Coles spokesman confirmed they do charge “a small price premium” on some items when customers order them online.
“There are some categories where we apply a small price premium and this is to help cover the cost of our convenient service, including the dedicated team members who select our customers’ groceries,’’ he said.
“Most of our fresh food items such fruit, vegetables, meat, deli, bread, milk and eggs as well as baby-related items such as nappies and baby food are the same regular price online as in store.”
Customers can sometimes make savings if they visit a supermarket instead of ordering online and paying higher charges.
Woolworths’ general manager of eCommerce sales and digital innovation Faye Ilhan said there was continued growth in shoppers ordering groceries online but customers were not charged any extra for doing so.
“More and more of our customers are turning to online to help save time on the weekly shop and it’s important they can have trust in our prices when they choose to do this,’’ he said.
Woolworths said customers do not pay more for any items online than they do in store.
Prices compared at Woolworths and Coles supermarkets and online on the weekend of June 2/3.
Subscribe to our free mailing list and always be the first to receive the latest news and updates.