Aussies call out huge problem with Coles’ new ad: ‘Completely forgotten to do one thing’
Furious Australians are feeling ‘gaslit’ by Coles’ new ‘Great Value, Hands Down’ slogan after supermarket giant posted a $1 billion dollar profit.
The supermarket launched its controversial new campaign earlier this month, but the claim that Coles products are ‘great value’ was the final straw for many customers.
Online commentator Erica Mallett summed up the anger at Coles, saying Australians feel ‘gaslit’.
“The new Coles advert has completely forgotten one thing: reading the room,” she said.
“Amidst accusations of price gouging and posting a $1 billion profit… they just released a new platform called ‘Feels Like Value’ that is leaving consumers struggling to afford groceries feeling appalled and appalled.
‘The last thing shopping at Coles feels like right now is value.’
Coles’ new ‘Great Value, Hands Down’ slogan has been met with anger as customers say they feel ‘gaslit’ because ‘the last thing shopping at Coles looks like now is value’
Despite the criticism, Coles insists the ‘Great Value, Hands Down’ campaign will help Australian shoppers save precious dollars.
“Coles stores across the country and Coles Online have delivered immediate value to customers by reducing the price of more than 500 products for at least three months,” a spokesperson said.
‘Overall, the savings for the basket of over 500 Down Down products averages 19.7 percent.’
Earlier this month, Coles CEO Leah Weckert admitted that high inflation in Australia is boosting profits as more people eat at home rather than eating out.
“Eating out, takeaway and cafe coffee are increasingly seen as treats for a special occasion,” she told analysts as she announced a $1.1 billion profit.
Meanwhile, customer Tim Price called the supermarket after it cut many checkout positions as profits soared.
![Aussies call out huge problem with Coles' new ad: 'Completely forgotten to do one thing' 2 Australian man Tim Price (above) has criticized Coles for 'complaining' about theft despite making huge profits](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1694482872_9_Aussies-call-out-huge-problem-with-Coles-new-ad-Completely.jpeg)
![Aussies call out huge problem with Coles' new ad: 'Completely forgotten to do one thing' 4 Coles customer Serg Carre (above) called out Coles for making $34.5 million from paper bags alone](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1694482874_124_Aussies-call-out-huge-problem-with-Coles-new-ad-Completely.jpeg)
Hundreds of Aussies are flooding social media (above) with rants about grocery giant Coles for boasting $1 billion in profits
‘Coles has made a billion dollars in the last year, but they are angry, they are complaining because apparently theft in their stores has increased. Inventory loss due to theft has increased by 20 percent,” he said.
“Here’s something for you, Coles. If you throw away all your staff and have everything settled automatically, people will steal.
“To make a $1 billion profit when people are struggling with the cost of living and then have the audacity to complain that theft is increasing. Theft is on the rise because of your decisions.
“You’re still making a $1 billion profit, but if the theft increases, I’m not surprised, and it’s your fault, so you have to live with it, Coles.”
Another Coles shopper, Serg Carre, slammed the supermarket after it removed 15 cent reusable plastic bags from circulation but started charging customers 25 cents for paper bags.
“I’ve just left Coles and they have a sign saying, ‘We’ve taken 230 million plastic bags out of circulation,’” he said.
‘Let this sink in, they used to charge 15 cents per bag. If they sold 230 million bags last year, that’s $34.5 million worth of plastic bags.
‘Coles has made $34.5 million from selling plastic bags. Now they sell paper copies. How much are they going to make?’
![Aussies call out huge problem with Coles' new ad: 'Completely forgotten to do one thing' 6 Coles insists its new 'Great Value, Hands Down' campaign will help Aussies save on their weekly shopping trips](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1694482875_93_Aussies-call-out-huge-problem-with-Coles-new-ad-Completely.jpeg)
Coles insists its new ‘Great Value, Hands Down’ campaign will help Aussies save on their weekly shopping trips
Many Aussies agreed, with one saying: ‘It now costs 25 cents for a paper copy and you need two to carry what a plastic one can carry.’
A second said: ‘The paper costs more and it tears before you get home so you can’t reuse it.’
“Now I’m out of plastic bags to use as garbage bags, so I’m buying plastic garbage bags too,” wrote a third.