Coles and Aldi admit to permanent checkout change as ‘customer satisfaction’ grows | Woolworths, …

Explore the latest developments concerning Coles and Aldi.

Coles and Aldi admit to permanent checkout change as 'customer satisfaction' grows

Whether you love them or hate them, chances are you've likely used one recently. Self-serve supermarket checkouts have been a controversial subject since they first appeared in Woolworths and Coles stores in the noughties.

They have become extremely popular in the years since, and now every major chain, including Aldi, IGA and Costco, has rolled out the technology, which is ever-evolving. Other retail heavyweights like Bunnings and Big W have also jumped on the bandwagon.

While the kiosks have been credited with speeding up the payment process, which would otherwise rely on staff members, frustrated shoppers have heavily criticised self-serve checkouts for costing workers their jobs, increasing instances of theft or making shoppers feel like criminals themselves.

Woolworths, Coles put on notice with price gouging lawsuit threat: ‘Will be enforced’

Australia’s competition watchdog has put Woolworths and Coles on notice, warning it is likely to bring legal action against the supermarkets under new anti-price gouging laws. The supermarket giants have vehemently denied gouging customers and have criticised the looming regulations.

ACCC boss Gina Cass-Gottlieb says the watchdog was likely to sue Coles and Woolworths, “whether it happens in the first year or it happens somewhat subsequent from it”. Speaking to The Australian Financial Review, she said the regulator would closely monitor worrying price rises from July 1 when a ban on charging prices deemed excessive comes into effect.

An ACCC spokesperson reiterated to Yahoo Finance that the regulations banning excessive pricing by supermarkets “will be enforced by the ACCC”.

Woolworths, Coles could face price gouging lawsuit within 12 months

The competition watchdog says it expects to launch legal action against Coles and Woolworths for price gouging using new laws that come into effect this year, with the first case potentially launched within 12 months.

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairwoman Gina Cass-Gottlieb said the regulator would closely monitor worrying price rises from the July 1 start date of the new laws, and she expected the supermarket giants to change pricing practices before then.

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