Supermarket giant Woolworths has stopped asking customers to make donations to charities at self-service checkouts following widespread frustration.
Previously, Woolworths self-service checkouts asked shoppers to voluntarily round up their total to the nearest dollar and donate the difference to one of its charity partners.
However, the company quietly removed this call for donations in December 2023 after a Christmas campaign with OzHarvest.
The move comes after criticism from thousands of Australians who felt the supermarket chain should donate part of its profits, especially amid the cost of living crisis.
“A company that has made huge profits over the past few years is asking you to round up the amount of your purchase to donate to various charities. What nonsense!” wrote one shopper online.
‘How about we take it out of shareholder dividends or senior management salaries?’
Another added: “We are struggling to put food on our own plates with the prices supermarkets charge, so why don’t they donate money and food themselves?”
Supermarket giant Woolworths has stopped prompting customers to donate to charities at self-service checkouts after widespread frustration
Australians had expressed anger at the feature since it was introduced in late 2022, as many began to feel the pinch of a cost-of-living crisis.
However, others supported the feature, noting that no one should be offended by donating to a charity.
“I have no problem with this. It costs less than a dollar and is usually for a good cause.”
A Woolworths spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that the rounding option had helped raise millions of dollars.
‘We would like to thank our customers for their continued support of these community initiatives.’
The supermarket giant has suggested other ways for customers to make donations.
A spokesperson previously told Daily Mail Australia that “customers have the option to make a small donation of change at our self-service checkouts, or they can also purchase a $2 token in-store.”
