I found a supermarket loophole that offers a discount on laundry powder almost every time I shop – and anyone can do it.
Woolworths customer scores laundry powder at a discount Linda made an online delivery but the product was out of stock instead she was given a 4kg tub of washing powder at a reduced price
A mom shares how she manages to score branded cleaning products at cheap prices
Linda regularly orders groceries online and makes sure the ‘consumption options’ box is always ticked. This means if he wants a product sold out the next best option will be included in the order.
The shrewd shopper used this strategy to his advantage by picking the cheapest item on clearance and hoping that it would be substituted for a more expensive item when it became unavailable.
This trick has worked several times and once using the Woolworths app, Linda scored a 4kg box of Fab Washing Detergent – priced at $14.50 – for a fraction of the cost.
Sharing the tip on a popular Facebook group, she wrote: ‘I was hoping this would happen. I ordered five essential washing powders, $2 each on clearance. Out of stock so I got two boxes of Fab and three laundry liquids for $10.’
When ordering groceries online Linda always makes sure the ‘consumption options’ box is always ticked. This means if he wants a product sold out the next best option will be included in the order. Linda claims that if an unavailable item is replaced with a more expensive item, the cheaper rate is applied.
If he paid full price, the items would all cost $35 – meaning he saved $25.
Linda claims that if an unavailable item is replaced with a more expensive one, the cheaper rate is applied. Although this may not apply to all supermarkets and delivery platforms
Screenshots of the process show how the $2 Essentials top and 4kg boxes of front loader detergent were not available so substitutes were packed instead.
‘Doesn’t it say two supplies for $29 means you paid full price?’ asked one of the post’s comments.
Linda said: ‘No, they always keep the cost of replacements, but there are no extra charges.’
Another joined the conversation and said: ‘They pay $10, you don’t pay the replacement price difference because it’s the shop’s fault they didn’t have stock originally.’
Sharing the tip on a popular Facebook group, she wrote: ‘I was hoping this would happen. I ordered five essential washing powders, $2 each on clearance. Out of stock so I got two boxes of fab and three laundry liquid for $10 (stock image)
The Woolworths website says that if an item is out of stock staff do their best to find a suitable alternative of equal or higher price. It comes at no extra cost and buyers are only charged the price of the original item.
If no suitable alternative is available, the customer will be refunded.
Similarly on the Coles website, if a product is out of stock an alternative will be included where possible.
A Coles spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia customers can opt-in or opt-out of the purchase option – and if a product is out of stock, the lower charge is always applied.
‘If a customer is happy to receive a replacement for an unavailable product, our fantastic personal shoppers will choose a different size of the same product or a similar item from a different brand,’ the spokesperson said.
A customer will only be charged the lower of the price (between the product ordered and the replacement) and if a product is out of stock, the customer will not be charged for that item.
‘There are some products we cannot replace, such as baby formula. This is because such products are specifically chosen by customers based on personal tastes and preferences – and it would not be appropriate for us to replace them.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Woolworths for comment.
Earlier Linda was given Handy Ultra White paper towels ($3.85) instead of the Coles paper towels ($1.90) she ordered.
Others claim they too have been pleasantly surprised by the replacements they found in their Woolworths and Coles orders.
I had an amazing option on my last order. Bought Coles cereal ($2.90) but got Kellogg’s ($9.50),’ one woman wrote.
Another said: ‘I picked up my groceries yesterday and got this wonderful surprise from Ulysses.
‘Ordered 1 x 65 pack of dish washing tablets (on special for $32) and it must have been out of stock as I received a replacement 2 x 50 pack (full price $56 each)
A third said: ‘Last week I was quite happy with my options. A $3.50 box of chicken tenders is swapped for a $13 bag of tenders. Instead of three days, about a week and a half passed.’