Coles UNDER FIRE for new FREE CONTAINER promotion as its revealed you must spend $200 to get the smallest one

It’s the news that stopped Australia this week - Coles’ latest promotion where shoppers can earn ‘FREE’ food storage containers.

But now the promotion has been hit with a wall of criticism, with some shoppers up in arms over just how much you have to spend to receive even the smallest container.

Coles UNDER FIRE for new FREE CONTAINER promotion as its revealed you must spend $200 to get the smallest one

Image: Getty

The initiative sees customers earn 1 container credit for every $20 that they spend in Coles. And with the smallest container requiring 10 credits - that’s a $200 spend for a tiny 600ml container.

Says one critic: ‘It’s a joke. I’m spending $200 for a tiny container that I could get for a couple of bucks in Kmart? No thanks. Saving credits, all that hard work just to get a tiny container just seems like a big headache to me. It’s not like with Stikeez or Little Shop where you get something in your hand that same day.’

Added another: ‘It’s not free ... if it was free they would just hand it to you. Nothing is free. You have to spend $200 to get it. What aren’t people getting?’

Said a third: ‘Most expensive plastic containers ever! Makes Tupperware look like sistema prices!’ Added one more: ‘I just did the maths ... that makes the 1.4 litre container $400-plus! What is it, made of gold?!’

Image: Coles

However others have hit back at the criticism, claiming that if you shop at Coles it’s a good deal.

Said one: ‘I don't get why people are saying it’s a rip off - IT'S FREE. You shop there anyway and buy groceries there anyway and they give you stamps/token for free to collect for containers. ITS FREE, with your normal shopping.’

Added another: ‘At last! Things for adults instead of teeny rubbish toys for kids. Yay.’

Said one more: ‘Look at it thus way, if you are going buy groceries at Coles over time you will spend lots, better than those $30 spend plastic choking hazard toys, that ended up in the ocean, so in something that most households find useful.’

But still, other shoppers aren’t convinced.

‘When you do the maths and realise you’re paying $200 for a tiny container and well over a thousand for the whole collection, it’s hard to feel like you’re getting anything for free,’ says a critic. ‘Especially when you can go to Woolies at the moment and get a whole pack of containers for $5.’ Ouch!

WATCH THE LATEST ON COLES' NEW FOOD CONTAINER PROMOTION HERE:

Nikki Black

Nikki is obsessed with all things celebrity and dreams she is a long-lost Kardashian. You'll find her binging Netflix's latest 'must-watch' show with a jar of Nutella by her side.