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"Go back to your ocean": Olympic medallist insulted by French customs officer

<p>An Aussie Olympic medallist was caught off guard upon his return home to Brisbane, when he was called out by a French customs officer. </p> <p>Jack Robinson, who won silver in the surfing competition in Tahiti as part of the Paris Games, was returning to Aussie shores with his medal in tow and happy with his Olympic performance. </p> <p>However, when he was greeted by a customs officer who happened to be French, things took a turn. </p> <p>The Frenchman took the opportunity to stick it to the Aussie Olympic runner up, relishing the fact that Kauli Vaast, from France, had won gold in the comp. </p> <p>Taking to TikTok to share the hilarious encounter with his followers, Mr Robinson said: "what are the odds of being welcomed like this?"</p> <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: currentcolor !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px; max-width: 100%; outline: currentcolor !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7400700745911225618&amp;display_name=tiktok&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40jackrobinsonsurf%2Fvideo%2F7400700745911225618%3Fembed_source%3D121374463%252C121451205%252C121439635%252C121433650%252C121404359%252C121351166%252C121331973%252C120811592%252C120810756%253Bnull%253Bembed_masking%26refer%3Dembed%26referer_url%3Dwww.escape.com.au%252Fnews%252Faussie-silver-medal-surfer-jack-robinson-brutally-burned-by-french-customs-officer%252Fnews-story%252F48306be5756c2cf2d353787e823bf812%26referer_video_id%3D7400700745911225618&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-sg.tiktokcdn.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-alisg-p-0037%2F99adeff03a574c23861d622aa90e9b89_1723109925%3Flk3s%3Db59d6b55%26nonce%3D74009%26refresh_token%3Db5b746d3b3a1eb36e30b00a6f4cd678d%26x-expires%3D1723780800%26x-signature%3Dh7x7Li%252B%252BEw4xdRkWkw2PKU3jkNQ%253D%26shp%3Db59d6b55%26shcp%3D-&amp;key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p>"Yeah ze French guy in the Australian customs. So on my way back from Tahiti I arrive from ze flight and I get ze dec-er-al-ation, I come to ze customs, the guy looks at me and says 'Ey, better luck next time zon, go back to your ocean.'"</p> <p>Despite the customs officer's remarks, many Aussies praised Robinson's performance in Tahiti, as fans hailed his "amazing efforts".</p> <p>His TikTok was flooded with comments, with many saying they believed that the officer "did not mean it badly", as Robinson confirmed he had taken the jibe in his stride. </p> <p>Others said the Frenchman could "go back to his 'La Seine'", while others remarked, "Bro the French are cocky asf, you did good man" and "Why the French so smug? That's a Tahitian gold, not a 'French' one."</p> <p><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Optus giving away 20,000 free phones to vulnerable customers

<p>Optus will be giving away 20,000 mobile phones to vulnerable customers ahead of the 3G network shut down. </p> <p>Following the footsteps of Telstra, who gave out <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/telstra-giving-free-phones-to-elderly-and-remote" target="_blank" rel="noopener">12,000 mobile phones</a> to their most vulnerable remote and elderly customers last month, Optus will offer thousands of free mobile phones to customers enduring financial hardship and vulnerable customers finding it difficult to replace their current phones. </p> <p>“We know that many impacted customers are actually using a 4G handset that reverts to 3G for calls, so it’s vital these customers understand the importance of upgrading their handsets when notified,” Optus’ head of new products Harvey Wright said.</p> <p>Messages have been sent to eligible customers, and the telco giant has also rolled out special deals encouraging Australian's to upgrade. </p> <p>The move to switch off 3G means that soon certain mobile devices will no longer be able to send texts, make calls, or contact triple-0 in an emergency. A few older 4G handsets will also be affected. </p> <p>Telstra will turn off their 3G network on August 31, while Optus will turn it off on September 1. </p> <p>TPG Telecom and Vodafone have already turned it off. </p> <p>Australia's mobile network operators say that the move will help boost the capacity, speed and reliability of the newer 4G and 5G networks. </p> <p>The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) have also urged customers to take action to ensure that they stay connected. </p> <p>“Whether it’s your day-to-day mobile or one you keep in the drawer for an emergency, we encourage you to check all of your devices to ensure they will be supported once Australia’s 3G networks are switched off,” AMTA chief executive Louise Hyland said. </p> <p>The AMTA suggests that concerned customers should visit their <a href="https://amta.org.au/3g-closure/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a> to find out if their devices will be supported. </p> <p>“It is important to note that while 3G networks are still in operation, those affected mobile devices will continue to connect to any available 3G network while in coverage, to make emergency calls to triple-0,” Hyland said.</p> <p>“However, once the 3G networks are fully closed, these phones will not be able to make emergency calls.</p> <p>“It is crucial to act now if you know you have an older mobile device and you haven’t already upgraded.”</p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Cafe targeted online for charging customer a "heating fee"

<p>A cafe in Melbourne has copped a wave of backlash online after allegedly charging a customer to heat up his muffin for breakfast. </p> <p>The disgruntled diner took to Facebook to complain about the extra fee on his $7 muffin at the cafe and claimed the first he knew of it was when he saw it on his receipt.</p> <p>His post went viral with hundreds of people slamming café etiquette and urging him to go to the ACCC.</p> <p>"A f***ing dollar to heat my muffin? It's cr*p like this that just makes you shake your head and question where it is all going," the customer wrote in his original post.</p> <p>The cafe has since hit back at the post, and the angry customer who wrote it, saying the extra charge had been an error despite Heat Standard $1.00 being written on the receipt.</p> <p>They also said the customer could have simply solved the issue in person rather than blasting them online.</p> <p>"We do not nor have we ever charged for any heating of our wonderful baked treats," the café spokesperson told <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/real-life/article-13465591/Melbourne-cafe-targeted-angry-mob-charging-1-heating-fee-muffin-Aussies-reveal-hidden-charges-theyve-hit-amid-cost-living-crisis.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Daily Mail Australia</em></a>.</p> <p>"Unfortunately this has become a mountain of an issue that could have easily been resolved without a lynch mob caused by negligence at the hands of an influential keyboard warrior who ironically sells the idea of spiritual life practices and being grounded yet flipped out over a muffin."</p> <p>The original post racked up more than 870 comments before it was deleted, and more than 1,000 reactions.</p> <p>Some of those who saw it went on to slam the cafe by sending them threatening messages, commenting on posts on Instagram and calling their business phone to hurl abuse. </p> <p>"It's a sad world when a local cafe that aims for nothing more then customer satisfaction and community values to be upheld gets threatening messages from rogue vigilantes about wanting to see us go out of business over a muffin being prepared and served to quality standards," the cafe owners said.</p> <p>The cafe responded to the growing backlash online by announcing their muffins would be free on Tuesday.</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font" style="margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px; min-height: 0px;"><em>Image credits: Facebook / Shutterstock </em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Big W customer gobsmacked over $4000 shipping fee

<p>A Big W customer was only trying to buy an outdoor play set for her kids but got the shock of her life when she saw the "ridiculous" shipping fee that was over three times the cost of the play set. </p> <p>The Singleton mum had added the $1,200 item to her cart while shopping online and was about to check out when she was greeted with a $4,466 shipping fee. </p> <p>"How in God's name can they charge $4,466 for delivery! Big W are slowly losing my vote!" the outraged mum wrote on Facebook, even swearing off the department store for the apparent money grab. </p> <p>According to the Big W website, the play set is sent via Plum Play, a "trusted partner", and not by Big W stores, and because the woman lives in a rural area, she initially believed that was the reason for the extortionate shipping costs. </p> <p>A few other shoppers criticised the high fee. </p> <p>"That is fricken ridiculous!!!! No one would pay that," one said. </p> <p>"Jesus, are you ordering a few pallets of bricks? No way normal merchandise would cost that much to send," another wrote. </p> <p>A few others questioned the weight of the item and where she lived, while others tried to buy the same item and got even higher shipping fees. </p> <p>"It jumped a few grand for a couple of ks for me," one wrote, with the cost of standard delivery for the play set at $7,858. </p> <p>Some reported fees of up to $50,000, but most were $7,000 to $10,000. </p> <p>The department store has addressed the issue and told <em>Yahoo News Australia</em> that an "error on the website" was to blame. </p> <p>They have since corrected the delivery charges which should have been about $100 for the woman's location. </p> <p>"We were made aware of a delivery calculation error on our website which has since been resolved. We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused," a spokesperson told the publication. </p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Jeweller shares the cost of Albo's custom engagement ring

<p>A jewellery expert has shared the estimated cost of the custom diamond ring Anthony Albanese bought to propose to his long-term partner Jodie Haydon. </p> <p>The Prime Minister shared the heart-warming news of the engagement on Valentine's Day, sharing a loved up snap of the happy couple, as Jodie showed off her ring. </p> <p>Albo revealed he chose Nicola Cerrone’s Leichhardt-based Cerrone Jewellers store to design the diamond ring before popping the question.</p> <p>Now, a different NSW jeweller has shared their estimated  cost of the impressive diamond, telling NCA NewsWire the ring could be worth up to $240,000. </p> <p>The jeweller, who wished to remain anonymous, admitted diamonds are incredibly varied in terms of pricing depending on colour, cut and clarity and difficult to evaluate from an image, but they confirmed Mr Albanese didn’t appear to spare any expense. </p> <p>“This looks to be roughly a 3ct Round Brilliant Cut Diamond on an 18ct Rose Gold Band,” the jeweller said.</p> <p>“The ring is a four prong solitaire with a slightly wider band - definitely a very popular style at the moment!”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3W8CdZyXd5/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3W8CdZyXd5/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Anthony Albanese (@albomp)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The jeweller said Mr Albanese chose a classic style ring but noted the personal touches. </p> <p>“A round brilliant cut solitaire is one of the most classic styles of engagement ring and is consistently the top pick regardless of current trends - however the rose gold band is definitely a more personalised pick,” they said. </p> <p>“As far as pricing goes, assuming the diamond is a natural stone rather than lab grown it could be worth anywhere from $60,000 to $240,000.”</p> <p>Mr Albanese told Triple M radio on Friday that he enlisted the help of the local jeweller in his electorate, with his dog Toto in tow for moral support. </p> <p>“They made it – it’s bespoken. One-off,” the Prime Minister said. </p> <p>“They took different aspects and came back to us with different text messages, photos, and put it together – and Nic was just amazing, the artistry that’s it's got.”</p> <p>“I know what I like – but I don’t know what any of it’s called,” he said. "Toto was with me too.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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AusPost customer faces extra charge for using cash

<p dir="ltr">As conversations continue about moving to a cashless society, an Australia Post customer was outraged after being slapped with a charge for using cash. </p> <p dir="ltr">Brisbane resident Gerrie Hoogland shared her outrage after hearing about the supposed cash charge through a friend, who claims they were charged $2.20 for wanting to use cash to pay a bill. </p> <p dir="ltr">Hoogland recounted the story on X, formerly known as Twitter, to share the story, while asking if anyone else had encountered anything similar. </p> <p dir="ltr">She wrote, “A friend of my husband’s went to pay a bill at the Post Office last week. He gave them $82.00 in cash and they said they would have to charge him $2.20 for using cash.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“He refused to pay it after telling them cash is legal tender, and then he left without paying the bill at all. Is anyone else hearing more of this?”</p> <p dir="ltr">A number of Aussies took to the comments to call out Australia Post for being “shady”, with some calling the fee a “scam” and a “disgrace”. </p> <p dir="ltr">However the outrage towards Australia Post may be misplaced. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em><a href="https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/australia-post-customer-charged-220-for-using-cash---but-is-the-outrage-warranted-025519571.html">Yahoo Finance</a></em> has contacted the national postal service and understands the fee is set by individual billers, rather than Australia Post themselves.</p> <p dir="ltr">The fee relates to bills paid in person at an Australia Post outlet via Post Billpay and can apply to both cash and card transactions, and whether or not the fee is passed onto the customer will depend on the individual biller. </p> <p dir="ltr">In recent years, a number of billers charge an additional payment fee for bills paid in person, with some notable examples include telcos Telstra, Optus and Vodafone.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em><span id="docs-internal-guid-934db778-7fff-f88e-e460-f8550a0ce109"></span></p>

Money & Banking

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Disabled customer "crushed" by Coles' new smart gate

<p>A customer using a wheelchair has been crushed by Coles' new controversial smart gates, just months after it was rolled out in Aussie stores. </p> <p>The smart gates were added to self-serve check-outs across the country late last year as a security measure against thieves. </p> <p>The gates were installed with a range of other security measures in response to rising theft rates, including "CCTV, electronic article surveillance (EAS), and in some stores new smart gate technology that automatically opens as customers make payment for their products," according to a Coles spokesperson. </p> <p>But on Tuesday a customer, who chose to remain anonymous, said that one of the smart gates “slammed shut” on them and their wheelchair, while they were on their routine shopping trip with their son. </p> <p>After buying a few things the customer said that they were heading to the "wide open" gate, and their son passed through safely. </p> <p>But, when they tried to follow, the gate abruptly closed “hitting” their arms and “crushing” their wheelchair.</p> <p>The gate began to beep and only reopened when the customer pushed their way through. </p> <p>Fortunately, the customer was not injured but wanted to raise awareness on the issue. </p> <p>“I’ll be calling every day until SOMEONE tells me how to avoid being crushed next time,” they said.</p> <p>A few other annoyed customers slammed the "invasive" and "annoying" technology. </p> <p>“One literally snapped shut on our pram as we were pushing our kiddo through,” one person wrote on social media. </p> <p>“I’d walked out the store first, pram and husband following behind. Especially cause they make them too small for you to go side-by-side!</p> <p>“It’s insane, and I refuse to look at any self check out or check out with that in the path.”</p> <p>Another added: “Not long until an elderly person is knocked over by them and breaks their hip or similar." </p> <p>"It’s turning into a jail rather than a supermarket,” a third wrote. </p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p> <p> </p>

Legal

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Woolworths impresses customers with welcome "treat"

<p>Woolworths have given their customers a reason to smile after giving shoppers an unexpected offer. </p> <p>The supermarket giant has been praised for a simple but thoughtful gesture to customers trying to beat the heat while doing groceries. </p> <p>On a particularly hot day, a Woolworths store put bins of ice and bottles of water by the entrance for shoppers to take, with no charge. </p> <p>"Dear customers, we are in for a warm day. Stay safe and hydrated. Please enjoy a bottle of cold water from the store team," read signs attached to tubs at the shop.</p> <p>The small but significant gesture didn't go unnoticed by grateful shoppers, with one customer sharing a photo of the freebies on Facebook and describing it as a "great idea".</p> <p>Another shopper agreed, commenting, "As it was 40°C in Adelaide today, cold water would have been a treat."</p> <p>"Can grab some apples for the kids and a bottle of water," added someone else, referencing the free fruit for children also offered by the retailer.</p> <p>A spokesperson from Woolworths shared with <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/woolworths-stuns-with-unexpected-offer-for-customers-085030601.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Yahoo News Australia</em></a> that this offer embodies a commitment to acts of kindness that are encouraged among the retailer's network of supermarkets.</p> <p>"Our store teams try and bring a little good to our customers every day," the spokesperson said.</p> <p>Not everyone was impressed by the generous offer, however, including a critic who suggested that what the supermarket was "really saying is that there's no air conditioning in their store".</p> <p>Others were also quick to comment that while the bottles of water were a nice offer, what would really help them would be a reduction in soaring grocery prices as the cost of living crisis continues. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook / Shutterstock</em></p>

Caring

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Booking customers on flights that were cancelled – how could Qantas do that?

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/volodymyr-bilotkach-145437">Volodymyr Bilotkach</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/purdue-university-1827">Purdue University</a></em></p> <p>Fining Qantas <a href="https://www.atn.aero/#/article.html?id=87951">A$600 million</a> if it is found to have knowingly sold so-called “ghost flights” would be fair, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.</p> <p>The commission this week <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/accc-takes-court-action-alleging-qantas-advertised-flights-it-had-already-cancelled">launched action</a> in the Federal Court alleging Qantas engaged in false, misleading or deceptive conduct by selling tickets on flights that had already been cancelled, and not informing passengers of cancellations in a timely manner.</p> <p>The regulator’s charges against the airline, which last month reported a record <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/aug/24/qantas-delivers-record-247bn-profit">$2.47 billion profit</a>, have precipitated the early exit of longtime chief executive Alan Joyce, who quit this week two months ahead of schedule. This court challenge will certainly add to the workload of his successor, Vanessa Hudson.</p> <p>Qantas <a href="https://www.atn.aero/#/article.html?id=87951">has acknowledged</a> that service standards might have slipped as the airline was struggling to recover after the pandemic.</p> <p>The nature of the oversights that led to the airline’s errors will determine the airline’s liability – both to the consumer regulator and to individual claims for compensation.</p> <p>Importantly, the case also points to the need for greater regulatory protection of the airline’s passengers, in line with other jurisdictions.</p> <h2>How did Qantas get in this mess?</h2> <p>The short answer, most likely, is that the carrier did not handle flight cancellations promptly due to the sheer volume of work and labour shortages as it sought to resume operations following the end of pandemic restrictions.</p> <p>The consumer regulator’s allegations relate specifically to May and June 2022. Australia lifted many of its COVID-related travel restrictions in <a href="https://www.voanews.com/a/australia-lifts-covid-restrictions-and-welcomes-travelers-/6451955.html">March</a>, and travellers entering the country <a href="https://www.travelpulse.com/news/destinations/australia-lifts-remaining-covid-19-travel-restrictions">after July 6</a> were not required to show proof of vaccination. The airline was trying to bring its planes back into service and hire or retrain its employees, and generally was struggling to get back to more or less normal operations.</p> <p>In its statement, the competition watchdog noted the carrier cancelled nearly one in four flights scheduled during that period; and for two out of three cancelled flights it either continued selling tickets or failed to inform the passengers –sometimes for extended periods of time – or both.</p> <p>Flight cancellations are a normal part of an airline’s operations. However, the “usual” cancellation rate is <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/air-travel-consumer-report-march-2023-and-1st-quarter-2023-numbers#:%7E:text=DOT%20remains%20committed%20to%20ensuring,first%20three%20months%20of%202022.">less than 2%</a>, less than a tenth of what Qantas experienced in May and June 2022. What is unusual is that Qantas did not immediately remove cancelled flights from its booking system. This is something I have never heard of.</p> <p>One also suspects the airline has had enough “practice” with schedule adjustment during the pandemic to know better. There are clearly gaps in the carrier’s management. It has lessons to learn from this debacle.</p> <h2>What is Qantas’ liability?</h2> <p>The question of the extent of the airline’s liability is not straightforward. Obviously, a business willingly selling a product or service it has no intention to deliver is at fault, and has to face consequences.</p> <p>At the same time, a business selling a product that has defects it is unaware of, despite doing its best to prevent such defects from occurring, will face certain costs (such as those associated with a product recall) but may be spared sanctions.</p> <p>The onus will be on Qantas to demonstrate it made an honest mistake rather than a lapse of judgement. But considering the scale of the problem, the airline faces a very difficult task here.</p> <h2>Individual claims pending</h2> <p>As well as a potential fine, Qantas should brace for a flood of claims from individual passengers who bought a ticket for an already cancelled flight or were not informed in a timely manner.</p> <p>Timing will be of the essence here. If a passenger incurred expenses assuming the flight was operating when it had already been cancelled, such as making a non-refundable hotel reservation, there is a case to request compensation for such expenses.</p> <p>Otherwise, the standard policy will apply: the airline is not usually responsible for any non-refundable and uninsured expenses a passenger incurs prior to the flight cancellation.</p> <h2>Closing the regulatory gap</h2> <p>The regulator should, however, also take a closer look at the existing air passenger rights in Australia.</p> <p>Currently, <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/specific-products-and-activities/travel-delays-and-cancellations">the consumer is entitled to replacement or refund</a> if an airline does not provide services “in a reasonable time” - that is, in the event of a lengthy delay or a flight cancellation. However, the definition of “reasonable time” and the specifics of the compensation policies are left to the airlines.</p> <p>In other parts of the world, actions have been or are being taken to strengthen customer protection. For instance, in <a href="https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/passenger-rights/air/index_en.htm">the European Union</a>, lengthy delays that are the airlines’ fault lead to the carriers paying out cash compensation as well as the cost of accommodation and meals.</p> <p>Similar regulations <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/dot-propose-requirements-airlines-cover-expenses-and-compensate-stranded-passengers">were proposed in the United States</a> earlier this year.</p> <p>Perhaps, if stronger consumer protection rules had been in place in Australia in 2022, Qantas would have managed the aftermath of flight cancellations more diligently.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/212793/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/volodymyr-bilotkach-145437">Volodymyr Bilotkach</a>, Associate Professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/purdue-university-1827">Purdue University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/booking-customers-on-flights-that-were-cancelled-how-could-qantas-do-that-212793">original article</a>.</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Restaurant's "brutal" note divides customers

<p>A restaurant has come under fire for their "brutal" note to difficult patrons, encouraging "privileged" customers who wish to "customise or modify" their menu, to stay home instead.</p> <p>A sign posted to the restaurant's front door urged customers with allergies to eat elsewhere as staff simply cannot "provide the service they require".</p> <p>While some applauded the restaurant's no-nonsense stance, others were shocked by the "rude and disgusting" message.</p> <p>"No means no. Are you one of the small group of people who have been living and entitled and privileged life?" The sign reads.</p> <p>"Maybe your mother has taken the onions out of your salad, put the dressing on the side, or substitute your vegetables. Here, however, all meals are served precisely the way we prepare them. We do not offer custom meals."</p> <p>"Remember, we are not your mother and we are definitely not genies that will make your every wish come true."</p> <p>Chef Jozef and restaurant owner Nathalie listed alternative choices for the "privileged" few including hiring a private chef, cooking for themselves "precisely the way you like", trying another establishment or accept their hospitality as it is offered. </p> <p>"We have been cooking for almost 50 years. We have many kind, friendly people, acquaintances and families that have been coming for many decades," they wrote. </p> <p>"So look around, it is a pleasure to see their happy smiles and provide them with our best food possible."</p> <p>The message also called out those with allergies and food sensitivities, encouraging them to take their business elsewhere. </p> <p>"It is simply not possible to guarantee each product used in this kitchen. Furthermore, we do not have the qualifications to provide you with the service you require," they said. </p> <p>The strongly worded sign caught the attention of many online, with some praising the restauranteurs as "honest" and "brilliant". </p> <p>"Amen, the public is not always right. And actually most of the time they're not. This establishment is well within their right to post this," one person commented. </p> <p>"You know from the very start how things are. It's one restaurant. If you don't like it, there are so many others you can go to instead... No need to have a sook. Just go elsewhere. Some of us would enjoy a restaurant like this," a second pointed out. </p> <p>Despite some support for the restaurant's honesty, others were taken aback with lots of people criticising the hard-line stance for being "snarky" and "rude".</p> <p>One disgruntled person commented, "If you are not able or willing to provide what your guests need or even give service, it might seem better to be honest but this message is rude and disgusting. Don't seek employment in service roles and then complain."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Facebook</em></p>

Food & Wine

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“It's like they hate customers”: Restaurant surcharge ignites the internet

<p>It’s a common experience to look at a restaurant’s menu and find hidden charges laying in the fine print - from service fees to split bill and public holiday costs, it can feel like surcharges are everywhere.</p> <p>And while it’s legal for such establishments to expect as much from their customers, particularly when it comes to public holidays, one particular cafe has ignited a debate over what’s actually reasonable when it comes to such surcharges. </p> <p>An exasperated customer launched the conversation when they <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/brisbane/comments/134a652/how_much_is_too_much_for_a_public_holiday/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted to Reddit</a>, sharing an image of a menu they’d encountered while dining out in Brisbane, and the 25 per cent surcharge attached to it.</p> <p>“How much is too much for a public holiday surcharge?” they asked, before expanding with “what’s a fair go surcharge for a struggling business owner these days?”</p> <p>The comments flooded in from there, and one thing became clear: 25 per cent was well above what many were willing to pay, unless they could guarantee the extra fees were going directly into the wallets of the staff.</p> <p>One got right to the point when they declared, “25% = I eat elsewhere.”</p> <p>“I can understand [a] public holiday surcharge for 10% or 15%,” another said, “but isn't [it] that [being] open on public holidays often attracts much more business than usual, giving the restaurant an advantage such as higher cash flow?”</p> <p>“10% is fair, 25% is robbery,” one agreed. </p> <p>However, not all were of the opinion that walking away from such a cost was the only option, instead noting that “if I go out on a public holiday I am prepared for it to be exxy, I wouldn't have an issue with 25%.”</p> <p>And for some, the public holiday fee wasn’t the issue. Their problem? The extra 7% just to split a bill. </p> <p>“Even if I'm not split billing, f**k any place that charges extra for split billing, ESPECIALLY 7%,” one complained. “JFC, how are people not more upset about that part?”</p> <p>“25% is outrageous, as is 7% for splitting bills. It's like they hate customers,” said one. </p> <p>Another had a few questions about it, writing “that's higher than normal, but why is there a 7% surcharge for splitting the bill? It takes like an extra 30 seconds tops.”</p> <p>“Because people want it, and if they want anything you find a way to charge for it, even if it costs literally nothing,” came the reply. “Gotta get that hustle … Then they wonder why no-one comes back.”</p> <p>Unfortunately for the Redditors, restaurants and cafes in Australia have the freedom to set whatever surcharges they see fit as long as they don’t try to hide them on their menus. </p> <p>As the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has declared, “restaurants, cafes and bistros that charge a surcharge on certain days do not need to provide a separate menu or price list or have a separate price column with the surcharge factored in.</p> <p>“However, the menu must include the words ‘a surcharge of [percentage] applies on [the specified day or days]’ and these words must be displayed at least as prominently as the most prominent price on the menu. </p> <p>“If the menu does not have prices listed, these words must be displayed in a way that is conspicuous and visible to a reader. These measures apply to pricing for both food and beverages.”</p> <p><em>Images: Reddit</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Subway falls a foot short for one customer

<p>A woman has run into some trouble with her Subway sandwich after taking to it with a measuring tape. </p> <p>The irate customer had been suspicious about the supposed dimensions of her “6-inch sub”, and decided the only thing to do was to find out for herself if she was on to something or not. </p> <p>However, the woman didn’t succeed in putting her fears at rest, instead proving them to be right. </p> <p>The sandwich, advertised as being six inches long, measured up to be just over five. </p> <p>In her annoyance, she told the company that they should be doing better - in her words, “to up your game” - if they expected to be charging extra for what customers weren’t actually receiving. </p> <p>“Usually I wouldn't really care,” she noted, and then explained in some of the world’s most relatable terms, “but I was super hungry today.”</p> <p>To add insult to injury, she also revealed how she’d gotten "one less piece of salami and pepperoni” than usual, and noted that this was simply not up to standard, and that she had inside intel to prove it - her sister had been a Subway manager for years. </p> <p>This wasn’t the first time Subway had run into trouble over the size of their sandwiches - a customer in Australia once took their anger straight to court, going so far as to sue the company in 2013. His photo, posted to Facebook, showed that his footlong sandwich was not the promised 12 inches, but instead 11. </p> <p>That case was settled for a staggering $525,000 (approximately $798,042.00 AUD), and in 2015, Subway introduced new in-store regulations towards ensuring their products measured up, as well as additional disclosures for their consumers.</p> <p>At the time, Subway acknowledged that the media buzz surrounding the case had motivated its decision to settle the case, while the judge was firm in his belief that the smaller sandwiches actually contained no less food in terms of weight.</p> <p>“The settlement acknowledges as much when it says that uniformity in bread length is impossible,” he said, “due to the natural variability of the bread-baking process.”</p> <p>To many, however, this was not - and seemingly never will be - good enough. And to others, it’s a tale as old as time that they’d tired of hearing. </p> <p>“It's clearly a ‘SUBWAY 6 INCH’ and meant as a description rather than a measurement of length,” wrote one fed up individual on yet another related story, this time posted to Reddit. </p> <p>“In that case,” mused another, “there should be a new policy wherein every Subway employee should be required to do air quotes when using the term ‘Footlong’.”</p> <p><em>Images: Reddit</em></p>

Food & Wine

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“Very questionable”: Kmart mocked after customer's "ridiculous" delivery

<p>A woman has taken to Facebook to mock Kmart over her recent delivery.</p> <p>The shopper shared on Facebook she had ordered a 20mm combination padlock from Kmart and was caught by surprise when it was delivered to her home on February 13. </p> <p>The woman had received a large cardboard box, and when she opened it, it was filled to the brim with plastic wrap to protect the item. However, once she dug out the plastic, she saw a small padlock at the bottom of the unnecessarily large box.</p> <p>“My delivery arrived today,” the woman said on Facebook.</p> <p>Other Kmart fans were shocked by the large box for such a small item, with many users deeming it “ridiculous.”</p> <p>“Omg! Seriously,” a user commented.</p> <p>"Ridiculous honestly yet a pair of jeans get scrunched up into a bag for delivery," another added.</p> <p>"It's absolutely rubbish that they waste like that," a third chimed in.</p> <p>Another comment read, ”How ironic ... how easy is it to break this lock that it needs to be so protected when shipped? Would you need it if it is so fragile? Very questionable Kmart ... What a waste,”</p> <p>Many other users joined in on the teasing, claiming they also received small items delivered in unnecessarily large boxes. </p> <p>"This happened to us recently with a car air freshener," one shopper said.</p> <p>"Yeah they keep sending me one item in a stupidly big box. I’d be much more appreciative of multiple items jammed into a big box to stop wastage or happy to wait for all items to be ready together," another claimed.</p> <p>"I thought my three bowls packed like this was bad!" another commented.</p> <p>Back in May 2021, another Kmart shopper complained that she received a small book in a “huge box.”</p> <p>Although some said it was “terrible”, other users claimed the size of the box shouldn’t matter because it’s recyclable. </p> <p>A Kmart spokesperson told Yahoo Lifestyle that the complaints have been forwarded to Kmart’s online team, and they will reassess how they manage and replenish packaging materials. </p> <p>"Regrettably, in this instance, it appears the team member who has packed this order did not have available or use the most appropriately sized packaging components," the spokesperson said.</p> <p>"While our team are trained and aim to minimise packaging use and waste, it is likely that they did not have access to appropriately sized packaging options so used what was available in an effort to pack and dispatch this order as quickly as possible."</p> <p>Image credit: Facebook</p>

Food & Wine

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How not to tell customers their data is at risk: the perils of the Optus approach

<p>Optus fears data on up to 9.8 million of its customers has been accessed in a <a href="https://www.optus.com.au/about/media-centre/media-releases/2022/09/optus-notifies-customers-of-cyberattack" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sophisticated cyberattack</a> – including, for some customers, passport and drivers licence details, as well as phone numbers, dates of birth and email addresses.</p> <p>It made the announcement through the media, in the middle of Thursday’s national day of mourning public holiday, and during the four-day long weekend in Melbourne in the lead-up to the AFL grand final.</p> <p>At first, it didn’t text or email its customers. Instead, it issued a <a href="https://www.optus.com.au/about/media-centre/media-releases/2022/09/optus-notifies-customers-of-cyberattack" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a> in the belief this was</p> <blockquote> <p>the quickest and most effective way to alert as many current and former customers as possible, so they could be vigilant and monitor for any suspicious activity.</p> </blockquote> <p>Trust in the media is at an all-time low. Communications authority Edelman reports that globally, only <a href="https://www.edelman.com/sites/g/files/aatuss191/files/2022-01/2022%20Edelman%20Trust%20Barometer%20FINAL_Jan25.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">50%</a> of people trust the media, down from 62% a decade ago. Far more people (61%) trust businesses.</p> <h2>Tweets rather than texts</h2> <p>It has been <a href="https://studycorgi.com/the-role-of-integrated-marketing-communications-campaign/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">conventional wisdom</a> that brands should take an integrated approach to marketing communications. Many channels are better than one, increasingly so as audiences for traditional channels continue to fragment.</p> <p>An integrated marketing approach need not mean communicating through every available channel, but it should mean strategically selecting channels that are trusted and consumed by the brand’s customers.</p> <p>One of the best channels Optus has is its own phone network, and it is experienced in using it to contact its customers.</p> <p>Customers are likely to expect this where Optus has something important to say, and they are likely to trust a direct message from Optus more than one filtered through the media.</p> <p>They are even likely to spread it via word of mouth through friends who also use Optus, giving the company a continuing role in shaping the message.</p> <p>Instead, Optus backed up its press release with tweets.</p> <blockquote> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Hi Marie, we issued a press release and proactively reached out to media as this is the quickest way to inform all our existing and former customers so they can be on high alert for anything suspicious. Kartik</p> <p>— Optus (@Optus) <a href="https://twitter.com/Optus/status/1572949683332583428?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>Optus has around 5.8 million active users, around 21% of the Australian population. They are a cross-section of the population, having little in common other than the fact they use Optus for communications.</p> <p>Some of Optus’ customers, especially those in Gen Z, might not use traditional news media. They wouldn’t have received the message through that channel.</p> <p>Former customers dating back to 2017 are also likely to be affected by the breach, taking the total affected to around <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/technology/sophisticated-attack-optus-hackers-used-european-addresses-could-be-state-linked-20220923-p5bkfn.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9.8 million</a>, about one third of the population.</p> <p>Twitter is used by about only about <a href="https://www.genroe.com/blog/social-media-statistics-australia/13492" target="_blank" rel="noopener">18%</a> of the population, and the overlap with Optus customers might not be large.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">We'll be contacting impacted customers soon with more information and details on how we'll support them. Optus will not be sending links in any emails or SMS messages. If you believe your account has been compromised, you can contact us on My Optus app (2/2) ^George</p> <p>— Optus (@Optus) <a href="https://twitter.com/Optus/status/1573136010904363008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <h2>What can brands learn from Optus?</h2> <p>As marketing and branding experts, we’ve distilled three lessons, each well known before the data breach.</p> <ol> <li> <p>When you have news affecting your customers, tell them before anyone else, in a personalised, one-to-one approach.</p> </li> <li> <p>Use channels that are trusted and consumed by your customers.</p> </li> <li> <p>Encourage word of mouth through your relationships with your brand community and loyal customers.</p> </li> </ol> <p><strong>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-not-to-tell-customers-their-data-is-at-risk-the-perils-of-the-optus-approach-191258" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</strong></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Legal

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Electricity retailer tells customers to leave

<p dir="ltr">A small electricity retailer has told its customers to leave and find another company as they expect their prices to soar. </p> <p dir="ltr">Victorian energy supplier Electricityinabox expects its prices to increase by a whopping 95 per cent on July 1.</p> <p dir="ltr">CEO Morgan Duncan sent out a letter to all customers telling them that "only the lazy or crazy would stay" with the company. </p> <p dir="ltr">The letter begins with a straightforward statement telling customers “you need to find a new electricity provider today".</p> <p dir="ltr">"You need to be aware that smaller low price high value retailers are exiting this market. Four have already exited, some of them closed their doors," it continues.</p> <p dir="ltr">The company will continue to provide certain services but is expected to leave the electricity sector due to the increasing demand making it expensive. </p> <p dir="ltr">Energy companies ReAmped, LPE, Discover, Elysian and Future X have told customers to look elsewhere, while Momentum, Simply, Mojo, CovAU and Nectr have stopped accepting new customers.</p> <p dir="ltr">The news comes just a week after Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) called on Aussies to reduce their electricity consumption. </p> <p dir="ltr">Australian Energy Regulator (AER) and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) have warned retailers not to take advantage of the situation.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Scam alert: Kmart customers targeted in bargain hunting Facebook groups

<p>Kmart customers have been warned about a new scam circulating in bargain hunting Facebook groups.</p> <p>They have been warned to watch for advertisements offering Nintendo Switches for $2.95.</p> <p>The fake Facebook post has been circulating in parents' groups online and has already fooled a number of Aussies into handing their card details over.</p> <p>The post includes a photograph showing a doctored Kmart price tag displaying that the gaming device has been reduced from $379.86 to $2.95.</p> <p>It also claims that the lower price point is due to a contract dispute between Kmart and Nintendo.</p> <p>Not only is this is factually incorrect, but it is one of the first signs something is obviously fake, as it is too-good-to-be-true.</p> <p>“Kmart broke its contract with Nintendo and is giving away a Nintendo Switch game console to every Australian for $2.95,” the caption on the scam post reads.</p> <p>One shopper claimed her friend had lost $700 after falling for the scam, as the fraudsters took her bank details and withdrew money.</p> <p>“BEWARE. Another scam page going around, also there is a Dyson one,” she said.</p> <p>“Do not fall for it. Friend did and has lost around $700. They just keep taking from your bank. Can't stop it unless you email them and threaten with lawyers.”</p> <p>“Unfortunately I was one of those people who thought it was real,” another woman said.</p> <p>Some believe the advertisement is so fake it's the consumers fault that they fell for it in the first place.</p> <p>“Phishing messages are designed to look genuine, and often copy the format used by the organisation the scammer is pretending to represent, including their branding and logo,” ACCC's Scamwatch website said.</p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Woolies life-changing ‘scan and go’ feature that customers are loving

<p dir="ltr">What if there was a way to track exactly what you buy and how much damage you’ve done before you get to the checkout of your local grocery store?</p> <p dir="ltr">Well, there is and Woolies shoppers are loving it.</p> <p dir="ltr">The supermarket giant has been slowly rolling out Scan &amp; Go and so far it’s available in 49 stores across the country.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sydney influencer Queenie Tan, who is known for sharing money saving tips on TikTok, recently discovered the feature on her Woolies app and has described it as “life changing”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You need to try this Woolies hack!” she said in a clip.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Just open the Woolworths app and click on settings [then] Scan &amp; Go.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The 25-year-old shared footage shopping at her local store, telling viewers the feature allowed you to scan your items as you go and add them to your bag.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You will see how much it will cost and how many items you have,” Queenie said. “I don’t have to be shocked at the counter anymore.</p> <p dir="ltr">“When you’re done shopping you can head to the Scan &amp; Go counter and the best part is there’s no line and your food is already in your shopping bags.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Queenie made it clear it’s not available at every store, but as Woolies opens new stores and renews existing stores, Scan &amp; Go will be considered part of the mix.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Customers download the app on their phone and simply scan the product barcodes as they walk through the store if Scan &amp; Go is offered at their local store.”</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ad6d1e3e-7fff-6ea0-a12f-250ca4f882a5"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Queenie’s TikTok has amassed almost 1 million views with shoppers eager to give it a go.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: TikTok</em></p>

Food & Wine

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The Woolies bakery item that has customers raving

<p dir="ltr">Woolworths have revealed how they make the ever so popular finger buns. However -  there is one thing some customers wish they had more of.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a TikTok that has clocked-up half a million views, Woolies staff member Liam Kirley, who runs the supermarket’s page, shared a step-by-step guide of how the store makes its classic iced finger buns – which are priced at $3 for a pack of four.</p> <p dir="ltr">The whole process takes under an hour, with baking staff mixing the dough first for about five to six minutes, before letting it rest for another 10 minutes.</p> <blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@woolworths_au/video/7075502253838224642" data-video-id="7075502253838224642"> <section><a title="@woolworths_au" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@woolworths_au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@woolworths_au</a> Your classic afternoon snack. <a title="woolies" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/woolies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#Woolies</a> <a title="woolworths" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/woolworths" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#Woolworths</a> <a title="wooliesgang" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/wooliesgang" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#wooliesgang</a> <a title="♬ original sound - Woolworths_au" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7075502204211268353" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ original sound - Woolworths_au</a></section> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Then it gets moulded,” Liam explained while sharing footage of the process.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We then let it proof and rise with the self-raising yeast in it.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The dough then goes into the oven for 20 minutes.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In the meantime, <a href="https://www.news.com.au/topics/woolworths">Woolies</a> bakers prepare the icing which comes in two flavours – either pink with sprinkles or white with coconut.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The buns come out of the oven, we glaze them and then they cool off,” Liam said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And then we ice them – and this bit is satisfying,” he says while showing icing oozing out of a piping bag.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And that is how we make our famous finger buns at Woolies.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Liam’s clip has been liked more than 63,000 times and hundreds of viewers have taken to the comments section to express their love for the tasty treat.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I love your finger buns; I get them every time I go to Woolies!” one shopper wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The fact that I’m literally eating one then I come across this video,” said another, while a third person added: “Of [course] this comes up after my family ate the whole pack and I didn’t get one.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“I honestly thought these were just a gift from god,” a fourth person joked.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, while many continued to rave about the bakery item, others said it lacked one thing. “Mate, love the finger buns – they were my childhood – but they never had enough icing,” one person wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Needs more icing,” said another, with a third agreeing: “Not enough icing though.”</p> <p dir="ltr">One shopper suggested they should “put icing around the whole thing but the bottom”.</p> <p dir="ltr">It is understood that Woolies currently has plans to change its finger bun recipe.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s great to hear excitement around our Woolworths Iced Finger Bun range, which has been a customer favourite since it launched,” a Woolworths spokesperson said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: TikTok</em></p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-1a399ad0-7fff-11c9-ab2b-08afb149a0b4"></span></p>

Food & Wine

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Intense debate sparked among fiercely loyal Aldi customers

<p dir="ltr">A new feature on Aldi bread has sparked intense debate among the supermarket’s loyal customers.</p> <p dir="ltr">The retail giant is currently trialling cardboard recyclable tags on many of its loaves of bread, replacing plastic tags. ALDI said it’s made the step as part of its commitment to become more sustainable.</p> <p dir="ltr">“ALDI Australia has a number of commitments to improve the sustainability of our product packaging, including a goal to reduce the amount of plastic packaging across our own-label range by a quarter by 2025,” an ALDI Australia spokesperson has told 7NEWS.com.au. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We have started trialling recyclable cardboard bread tags on a select range of our bread products, and we continue to work closely with our business partners to identify opportunities to transition to cardboard tags on more of our products.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The next few years will see us continue to remove plastics from our range or replace it with sustainable alternatives and by 2025 all remaining packaging will be either recyclable, reusable or compostable.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Since being shared on social media, ALDI’s new cardboard bread tags have sparked intense debate.</p> <p dir="ltr">Many agree that the new sustainable tags are “a brilliant idea”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Every bit of plastic that we can easily replace with a recyclable version is so much better for our environment,” said one.</p> <p dir="ltr">Added another: “This makes me very happy. Hopefully we can lose the vegetables in plastic wrap next. Good direction.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Said a third: “I was impressed by this too!!! And I found the plastic ones would sometimes pierce the bag.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Wrote one more: “ALDI has a commitment to recycling, I think it’s great, use the reuse-able clips, save our environment.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Others have said they were disappointed in the cardboard tags, saying that they don’t work as well.</p> <p dir="ltr">“These really are the worst thing since sliced bread,” said one Facebook user.</p> <p dir="ltr">Another wrote: “I absolutely hate them… they break or become flimsy the first time you open the bread! So I’ve saved a whole heap of plastic ones and swap them as soon as I get home!”</p> <p dir="ltr">Added a third: “My bread ended up through the boot of my car these clips are useless.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Said another: “I love that it’s not plastic but the cardboard isn’t working well. I got a loaf of bread and it was raining, all open by the time I got to the car.”</p> <p dir="ltr">One more wrote: “It’s a great sustainability initiative however they’re so crap that they fall off after the second time getting bread out. Same for other stores too, not just an Aldi issue.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Another added: “Can’t stand them. They break so easily. I’m glad I kept my old plastic ones.”</p> <p dir="ltr">However, other Facebook users urged ALDI users to rise above the various issues.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Tip to anyone that is complaining. You can buy reusable metal pegs or even reuse other plastic tags,” one wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You just need to think outside the box. Man we are living in an interesting time of convenience and self entitlement. These tags are the worst thing for our ocean.”</p> <p dir="ltr">A few others pointed out a very Australian problem with the new cardboard tags.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You can never really fix a thong blow-out with it though,” said one.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ef1705f7-7fff-3f2b-a59b-73467a04c56c"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Another joked: “Won’t last long when I use it to fix my flip flops! Seriously though, good on ya ALDI.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: 7News</em></p>

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