NewIdeaFood
  • News
  • Dinner Tonight
  • Baking
  • Trolley Watch
  • Easy Entertaining
  • Healthy-ish
  • Video
NewIdeaFood
  • News
  • Dinner Tonight
  • Baking
  • Trolley Watch
  • Easy Entertaining
  • Healthy-ish
  • Video
ALDI - DON'T DROWN IN ONE-OFF DISCOUNTS!
Watch 0:15

ALDI - DON'T DROWN IN ONE-OFF DISCOUNTS!

{headline}

{headline}

Amateur cake decorator reveals STUNNING Woolies wedding cake hack!

Amateur cake decorator reveals STUNNING Woolies wedding cake hack!

Woolworths announces "exciting" new change for shoppers

Woolworths announces "exciting" new change for shoppers

DIY wreaths using supermarket lamingtons - the Christmas baking hack of the year!

DIY wreaths using supermarket lamingtons - the Christmas baking hack of the year!

Woolworths slashes price on 140 items in lead up to Christmas

Woolworths slashes price on 140 items in lead up to Christmas

{headline}

{headline}

Woolworths ends Disney+ Ooshies promotion early due to high demand

Woolworths ends Disney+ Ooshies promotion early due to high demand

 Disney+ Ooshies launch in Victoria with two new ultra rare collectibles

Disney+ Ooshies launch in Victoria with two new ultra rare collectibles

Even tougher product limits at Coles and Woolworths as Melbourne enters Stage 4 restrictions

Even tougher product limits at Coles and Woolworths as Melbourne enters Stage 4 restrictions

{headline}

{headline}

ANZAC Day trading hours: When Woolworths, Coles and Aldi are open

ANZAC Day trading hours: When Woolworths, Coles and Aldi are open

Woolworths left red-faced over huge spelling mistake on popular bread

Woolworths left red-faced over huge spelling mistake on popular bread

Breaking: Woolworths lifts coronavirus restrictions on 8 products - including pasta!

Breaking: Woolworths lifts coronavirus restrictions on 8 products - including pasta!

The ‘life-saving' Woolworths trolley trick that’s stunned Aussies!

The ‘life-saving' Woolworths trolley trick that’s stunned Aussies!

Breaking: Woolworths CEO reveals the 3 new items that are flying off the shelves

Breaking: Woolworths CEO reveals the 3 new items that are flying off the shelves

Breaking: 3 hot new foods in Aldi, Coles & Woolworths right now

Breaking: 3 hot new foods in Aldi, Coles & Woolworths right now

Down 35%: The one thing that’s gone down at Woolworths since coronavirus panic shopping began

Down 35%: The one thing that’s gone down at Woolworths since coronavirus panic shopping began

  1. Home
  2. News

'I'm being stalked by Woolworths!' Mum's shock over 'creepy' Woolies app

'They're watching me' - by Amy Sinclair
  • 21 Aug 2019

A Sydney mum has revealed her shock over a new Woolworths shopping bag text alert that was recently sent to her phone. 

The mum-of-two says she was visiting family in the NSW town of Mollymook when she decided to head to the local Woolworths to do some shopping. 

'I'm being stalked by Woolworths!' Mum's shock over 'creepy' Woolies app
Image: Getty

Even though she’d never visited that particular Woolworths store before, as she started driving there she received an alert from the supermarket’s app on her phone reminding her to bring her shopping bags. 

The alert was titled ‘Never forget your bags’ and read: ‘We can help you to bring your reusable bags. Tap here to set up notifications today.’

Speaking to New Idea Food, the shopper said she was ‘felt so creeped’ by the alert, adding that it felt like Woolworths ‘are watching me.’ 

Even more alarming was that the mum wasn’t logged into the app at the time - and had no idea how the app even knew she was intending to shop at Woolworths.

She explains: ‘I was doing the grocery run in Mollymook where I’m staying with family. I hopped in the car to Woolies, one I had never been to before in my life. 

Mums-shock-over-Woolies-alert-1
Image: Supplied/New Idea Food
Mums-shock-over-Woolies-alert-2
Image: Supplied/New Idea Food

‘And as I approached I was shocked to see a notification pop up on my phone...Woolies knew I was on my way and offered to remind me to take my bags. 

‘I was so creeped I felt like checking the backseat of the car in case there was a Woolies staffer lurking there.’

Woolworths uses geofencing on their app, which alert customers when they are near a store - up to 200 metres. And while they believe the shopping bag alert is helpful for some shoppers, anyone who doesn’t like it can opt out of receiving notifications through the ‘more’ menu on the app or through your phone’s settings. 

Says a spokesperson: ‘At Woolworths, we’re always looking for ways to make shopping easier for our customers.

‘The Woolworths App offers many notifications to help customers with their shop, including the option to receive a reminder to bring their reusable bags as they approach a store.

‘To take advantage of this reminder, customers need to opt in to this specific feature.’

Woolworths believe the shopper must’ve agreed to share her location and receive notifications, the busy mum isn’t so sure. 

‘I’m quite confident it was automatically accessing my location but wouldn’t swear by it, am a busy mother after all,’ she says.

‘It felt like Big Brother stuff, like Woolworths were stalking me,’ she added.

Amy Sinclair
Amy Sinclair
Amy Sinclair is a contibutor for New Idea Food.

Subscribe to New Idea-$12 for your first 12 issues!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to New Idea

Subscribe to New Idea-$12 for your first 12 issues!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to New Idea

Recommended to you

ALDI - DON'T DROWN IN ONE-OFF DISCOUNTS!
Watch 0:15

ALDI - DON'T DROWN IN ONE-OFF DISCOUNTS!

{headline}

{headline}

Amateur cake decorator reveals STUNNING Woolies wedding cake hack!

Amateur cake decorator reveals STUNNING Woolies wedding cake hack!

Woolworths announces "exciting" new change for shoppers

Woolworths announces "exciting" new change for shoppers

DIY wreaths using supermarket lamingtons - the Christmas baking hack of the year!

DIY wreaths using supermarket lamingtons - the Christmas baking hack of the year!

Woolworths slashes price on 140 items in lead up to Christmas

Woolworths slashes price on 140 items in lead up to Christmas

{headline}

{headline}

Woolworths ends Disney+ Ooshies promotion early due to high demand

Woolworths ends Disney+ Ooshies promotion early due to high demand

 Disney+ Ooshies launch in Victoria with two new ultra rare collectibles

Disney+ Ooshies launch in Victoria with two new ultra rare collectibles

Even tougher product limits at Coles and Woolworths as Melbourne enters Stage 4 restrictions

Even tougher product limits at Coles and Woolworths as Melbourne enters Stage 4 restrictions

{headline}

{headline}

ANZAC Day trading hours: When Woolworths, Coles and Aldi are open

ANZAC Day trading hours: When Woolworths, Coles and Aldi are open

Woolworths left red-faced over huge spelling mistake on popular bread

Woolworths left red-faced over huge spelling mistake on popular bread

Breaking: Woolworths lifts coronavirus restrictions on 8 products - including pasta!

Breaking: Woolworths lifts coronavirus restrictions on 8 products - including pasta!

The ‘life-saving' Woolworths trolley trick that’s stunned Aussies!

The ‘life-saving' Woolworths trolley trick that’s stunned Aussies!

Breaking: Woolworths CEO reveals the 3 new items that are flying off the shelves

Breaking: Woolworths CEO reveals the 3 new items that are flying off the shelves

Breaking: 3 hot new foods in Aldi, Coles & Woolworths right now

Breaking: 3 hot new foods in Aldi, Coles & Woolworths right now

Down 35%: The one thing that’s gone down at Woolworths since coronavirus panic shopping began

Down 35%: The one thing that’s gone down at Woolworths since coronavirus panic shopping began

NewIdeaFood
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Dietary info
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Dietary info
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • New Idea
  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • Better Homes and Gardens Shop
  • All Recipes
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Who
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Girlfriend
  • That’s Life
  • Home Beautiful
  • 7plus
  • 7News
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
  • The West Australian
  • Perth Now
  • Airtasker
  • Society One
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from New Idea Food

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to New Idea-$12 for your first 12 issues!

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to New Idea