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Coles customers frustrated over 'very popular' promotion: 'I've given up'

Coles' latest Flybuys promotion is already proving to be very popular with stock disappearing from shelves in just two weeks.

The supermarket giant is offering customers free plastic reuseable picnicware, which can be redeemed through collecting Flybuys credits.

The range of melamine picnicware includes bowls, serving bowls, dipping bowls and plates.

One customer recently said she was looking forward to redeeming her saved credits for the picnicware after earning them from her grocery shops. But when she visited her local store, the shelves were bare.

“Went to my local store, excitedly armed with points but the cupboard was bare,” she said alongside a photo of an almost empty Flybuys display shelf.

Shelves offering up free picnicware are already sitting empty. Source: Facebook
Customers are concerned the popular picnicware will quickly sell out, just like previous Flybuys promotions. Source: Facebook

Other shoppers said the popular picnicware was hard to come by with little stock at their local store too.

“My local (Redbank, Queensland) didn’t have any - nor did they even have an end/display where they should go. Has anyone local to me seen them?” one person said.

“I think it’s going to be very popular. I just wish they would keep up with stock demand,” said another.

“We only had the plates & dipping bowls left yesterday. They will get more in. I think everyone has learned to cash AS SOON as they have the points,” commented another, referring to the last Coles promotion which ran out of stock.

The MasterChef Flybuys offer, which allowed customers to redeem cookware for accumulated credits, ran out of stock before shoppers were able to redeem them.

Masterchef cookware and Coles receipt.
In the last Flybuys Coles promotion, customers were left with huge amounts of Flybuys promotion points but nothing to spend them on. Source: Facebook

Shoppers are now concerned the picnicware offer could be a repeat of past promotions and run out of stock too.

“I’ve given up with their free things, they never keep up with the stock with any of them. Little shop, pots, and pans, knives.. I did complain and was told to keep coming in to check, but no luck,” one person said.

“I’m the same. If I need anything I just buy it. I only got that large salad bowl yesterday however if I get enough points for another I will get it but won’t be upset if I don’t. It’s easier just to buy it,” said another.

The promotion will run until October 12 and despite the already dwindling stock levels, customers are hopeful more will become available.

“Thankfully this early into the offer they always restock, this is why I cash mine in as soon as I have enough, so many have waited to use them all at once then due to being close to the end of offer they miss out, I'm hoping they have stock when I go they've been popular at my local too,” one woman said.

“I just claimed it straight away... it's very popular,” added another.

Coles comments on stock supply

A Coles spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia that the promotion was proving to be a hit with customers.

“Our latest loyalty program featuring collectables Picnicware has proven to be incredibly popular with customers," the spokesperson said.

"As the range includes low-credit items starting at just 10 credits, we are seeing customers quickly accumulate enough credits to redeem a piece of picnicware during their weekly shop.

"Our stores will receive regular deliveries of picnicware throughout the campaign so customers will have ample opportunity to collect a piece from the set.”

The picnicware Coles is giving away. Source: Coles
The picnicware promotion includes dipping bowls, bowls, serving bowls and plates. Source: Coles

How does the promotion work?

The offer is open to Flybuys members only who will receive one credit for every $20 spent in one transaction in store and online after scanning their Flybuys card.

After collecting enough credits, shoppers will be able to redeem them for the free picnicware in store.

Customers need between 10 and 20 credits to redeem the range that includes a set of two dipping bowls, a set of two bowls, a set of two plates or two serving bowls.

There are also bonus credits that can be collected on more than 1000 participating brand products.

These include Abbotts Bakery, Head & Shoulders, Colgate, Swisse Vitamins, Fancy Feast Cat Food, Jalna Yoghurt, Blue Ribbon Ice Cream and Dairy Farmers.

The range of picnicware is also available to purchase from Coles stores, while stocks last, starting from $10 for the set of two 10cm dipping bowls.

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