A Glance at Woolworths and Coles

高婧怡

In this essay, I am going to illustrate some unique features of supermarkets in Australia.

1. The separation of goods

Woolworths and Coles mainly sell fresh food while only limited clothes and electronic equipments which are sold in the sub companies, such as Big W, Target and Kmart.

2. Goods with different selling mode

Woolworths and Coles sell things in differently; they sell eggs in a dozen. In addition, milk is packed in a large bottle which is at least one liter per each. Whats more, parts of beef, pork and chicken will be wrapped and then marked with a label telling what part it is. What matters most is the high quality of the goods, each food is marked with a label saying ‘best before. However, if the food is going bad soon, they will have a discount which is 25% off usually, sometimes even 90% off.

3. The Prices vary between goods

Shampoos, milk, beef are really cheap, but imported make-up cost higher. The reasons behind this phenomenon are due to that Australia is a country abundant in beef and many natural resources but with a high business tax.

4. The Convenience of Shopping

Every supermarket have a category paper which depicts where each item is in, this facility is so human-oriented in my point of view.

5. The Security of Shopping

There are no certain people here to keep an eye on you in case of stealing, and the supermarket is open to everywhere under no requirement to store your bags in certain places, so you can shop everywhere with your bag being not afraid of being checked.

6. The Respect between customers and staff

When you pay your items to the cashiers, they naturally say ‘How are you and sometimes ‘Have a nice day at the end which will make you feel respected and warm.

7. The Bonus of shopping.

During the first month in Brisbane, I was not familiar with the discount system and bought many expensive items. After seeing a lot of brochures and being told that every supermarket has discount every week on different items. I began to buy things on purpose.

8. The Opening Hours of Woolworths and Coles

In China, the shops open and close at a certain clock during the whole week, while it varies in Australia which often closes earlier on Saturdays and Sundays. When it comes to the public holiday, the shopping center will be closed all day.

In conclusion, despite Woolworths and Coles close during holidays which makes me uncomfortable, I really like shopping here for they give me more convenience and freedom with the fresh food and kind service attract me most.

References

WEKIPEDIA,2013.ColesSupermarkets.[Online]Availablefrom:

iki/Coles_Supermarkets>[19 March 2013].

澳洲超市.[Online] Available from:< http://www.douban.com/note/155837261/>.[12 June 2011].

澳洲大型超市逐個数.[Online]

Availablefrom:.[15 April 2010].