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'Disgusting': Woman's photo at Woolworths checkout sparks debate

A Woolworths customer has lashed out at another shopper, describing her as a “hoarder” for her “enormous” grocery shop in a Victorian store.

A customer wrote on the Woolworths Facebook page on Sunday they were “disappointed” and “angry” when the woman spent about $1200 at a store in Highett, in Melbourne’s southeast.

“Her items included about 15 trays of mince. So, so selfish,” the customer wrote just before the supermarket reinstated purchase limits in the state.

The post was accompanied by an image of the grocery belt that included several packets of mince, eggs and other groceries.

“I was the only person who challenged her. Manager was ‘not in yet’,” the disgruntled customer continued.

The upset shopper urged Woolworths to “stand up to these disgusting individuals” and went on to describe the customer as “unfair and greedy”.

Pictured is a Woolworths store (left) and a woman's large grocery shop on a grocery belt (right).
A woman has taken to Facebook to accuse a Woolworths customer of 'hoarding' Source: AAP/Facebook

The post quickly attracted comments from others on social media but the majority of them didn’t support the original poster’s opinion.

“How does this affect you?” one person asked.

“I’m concerned for others who do miss out due to selfish hoarders,” the original poster responded.

Another hit back: “I think it’s sad that there are ‘disgusting individuals’ who think it’s their job to ‘challenge’ and criticise complete strangers on their grocery purchases while knowing nothing about their situation.”

Several others agreed and suggested the woman doing the large grocery shop may have a reasonable explanation for buying so many groceries.

“She may shop for a daycare centre or group home,” one suggested.

“I thought the same thing, that person could be getting things for elderly neighbours, could also be for a small business, or they may have a huge family – who knows,” another said.

The original poster replied to followers and said she felt there should have been a purchase limit on the items but people continued to respond, suggesting many reasons for such a large purchase.

A Facebook post of a woman complaining after another Woolworths shopper was spotted doing a large grocery shop.
The Facebook post that sparked debate over a woman's large grocery shop at Woolworths. Source: Facebook

“Some people shop for one month at time and live a long way from a Woolworths,” a person suggested.

“This is a normal shop in my mum’s household, I dare you to say something to her,” another said.

People with large families responded and defended the “enormous” shop.

“I have eight kids plus myself and hubby, and we shop fortnightly. I know people are going to judge and comment, this is the reason why most people like myself have anxiety attacks because of the judgement we get for shopping for larger families,” one woman wrote.

Another woman stated that part of her job requires her to make bulk purchases such as the one pictured and she cautioned the original poster not to make assumptions.

“My work provides meals for people with disabilities and more often than not our shop looks like this,” she said.

“I get your assumption and do understand your frustration as it has made it hard for us to continue our service. But we must alway remember an assumption is just that,” she said.

Yahoo News Australia has contacted Woolworths for comment.

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