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The hidden risks of buy now, pay later: What shoppers need to know

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/vivek-astvansh-1318943">Vivek Astvansh</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/mcgill-university-827">McGill University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/chandan-kumar-behera-1479139">Chandan Kumar Behera</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/indian-institute-of-management-lucknow-6023">Indian Institute of Management Lucknow</a> </em><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100px; border: none; position: relative; z-index: 1;" src="https://narrations.ad-auris.com/widget/the-conversation-canada/the-hidden-risks-of-buy-now-pay-later-what-shoppers-need-to-know" width="100%" height="400"></iframe></p> <p><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/financial-consumer-agency/services/loans/buy-now-pay-later.html">Buy now, pay later</a> is a relatively new form of financial technology that allows consumers to purchase an item immediately and repay the balance at a later time in instalments.</p> <p>Unlike applying for a credit card, buy now, pay later <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4591446">doesn’t require a credit check</a>. Instead, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1108/EJM-11-2021-0923">these programs use algorithms</a> to perform <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/soft-inquiry.asp">“soft” credit checks</a> to determine <a href="https://theconversation.com/if-it-looks-like-debt-lets-treat-it-like-debt-buy-now-pay-later-schemes-need-firmer-regulation-in-nz-211820">a shopper’s eligibility</a>.</p> <p>This means buy now, pay later loans target <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2022/jan/27/buy-now-pay-later-schemes-entice-consumers-spend-more">low-income, tech-savvy</a> <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/27/gen-z-and-millennials-prefer-buy-now-pay-later-services.html">millennials and Gen Z shoppers</a> in an effort to <a href="https://libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/2023/09/who-uses-buy-now-pay-later/">supposedly improve financial inclusion</a> for these groups.</p> <p>However, the newness of buy now, pay later programs means existing <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/acfi.13100">consumer credit laws don’t cover it</a>. This lack of regulation puts shoppers at financial risk of accumulating higher levels of debt.</p> <h2>Credit cards versus buy now, pay later</h2> <p>There are three key differences between credit cards and buy now, pay later loans. First, while buy now, pay later loans are a line of credit like credit cards are, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/04/klarna-to-report-buy-now-pay-later-data-to-uk-credit-bureaus.html">they don’t impact credit reports</a>. Because of this, shoppers might be less cautious when using buy now, pay later services.</p> <p>Credit cards typically have annual interest rates ranging from <a href="https://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/what-is-credit-card-apr/#credit-card-apr-vs-credit-card-interest">15 to 26 per cent</a>. While most buy now, pay later loans have no interest, longer term loans have <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/buy-now-pay-later-loans-interest-rate-fees-tips-what-to-know/">annual interest rates of about 37 per cent</a>.</p> <p>Shoppers are <a href="https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/buy-now-pay-later-how-retails-hot-feature-hurts-lower-income-shoppers">at risk of overusing buy now, pay later programs</a> and accumulating more debt than they can manage. In addition, formal lenders, such as banks, currently have no way of knowing what buy now, pay later debt a person is carrying. The lender, therefore, likely incurs more risk than they are aware of.</p> <p>Second, credit cards typically provide <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2022.2161830">an interest-free period</a>, after which <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/03128962211032448">borrowers must pay interest</a>. In contrast, buy now, pay later users typically don’t have interest fees, but can incur <a href="https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBM-07-2022-0324">late fees for missed or late payments</a>.</p> <p>Falling behind on payment terms <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/andriacheng/2020/12/16/why-retailers-are-embracing-buy-now-pay-later-service-this-holiday-season/">can result in charges</a> that exceed <a href="https://stateline.org/2022/02/02/regulators-scrutinize-buy-now-pay-later-plans/">typical credit card interest rates</a>, causing more harm than interest payments. Low-income buy now, pay later users are <a href="https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/buy-now-pay-later-how-retails-hot-feature-hurts-lower-income-shoppers">particularly vulnerable</a> to <a href="https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/research-reports/consumer-use-of-buy-now-pay-later-insights-from-the-cfpb-making-ends-meet-survey/">using overdrafts to cover their buy now, pay later payments</a>.</p> <p>Third, people typically have just a few credit cards, making it easier to keep track of payments. Buy now, pay later users, on the other hand, usually engage with multiple buy now, pay later lenders through retailers. As a result, it’s difficult for them to keep track of all the buy now, pay later lenders and retailers they made purchases from.</p> <h2>What are the Canadian governments doing?</h2> <p>Canada classifies buy now, pay later as an unsecured instalment loan, which means lenders are subject to laws at the federal and provincial levels.</p> <p>Under federal law, there is an <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1711291/000171129122000011/curo-20211231.htm">annual interest rate cap of 60 per cent</a>. Provincial laws require buy now, pay later lenders to disclose the cost of credit and extend consumer protection rights to buy now, pay later shoppers.</p> <p>At the provincial level, <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/financial-consumer-agency/services/loans/buy-now-pay-later.html">specific laws come into play</a>. Manitoba, Alberta, Québec, and Ontario have passed laws that require lenders to be licensed before they offer these products and be subject to regulatory oversight.</p> <p>These laws regulate high-cost credit products that have annual rates of 32 per cent or higher. This means buy now, pay later services <em>should</em> fall under this category. However, I found no evidence of buy now, pay later lenders being licensed in Canada. This means either lenders are not aware they fall under these laws, or no one is enforcing them.</p> <p>This ambiguity over whether or not buy now, pay later lenders are subject to regulatory oversight could be a hindrance for banks like the <a href="https://financialpost.com/fp-finance/fintech/why-higher-interest-rates-threaten-the-buy-now-pay-later-bubble">Bank of Nova Scotia and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce</a>, as it deters them from entering the buy now, pay later market despite its profitability.</p> <h2>Questions to ask before using buy now, pay later</h2> <p>Before signing up for a buy now, pay later loan, shoppers should consider the following six questions.</p> <p><strong>1. Payment structure.</strong> How much of the invoice amount needs to be paid upfront? The norm is typically 25 per cent. What is the number of remaining instalments? The answer to this is usually four. Lastly, what is the frequency of instalments? The norm is biweekly.</p> <p><strong>2. Sensitive information.</strong> Does the lender require you to provide information about your chequing account? This is sensitive information to give away and puts you at risk of data breaches. Most buy now, pay later lenders withdraw instalment amounts from chequing accounts or debit cards, potentially exposing shoppers to greater risks than credit cards.</p> <p><strong>3. Interest charges</strong> Does the buy now, pay later lender charge interest on instalment payments? The norm is no.</p> <p><strong>4. Late fees</strong> How much is the late fee, when does it apply and what is the maximum amount of the late fee? Typically, late fees don’t exceed $8 or one-quarter of the invoice amount. Late fees usually kick in if your scheduled payment remains unpaid after 10 days.</p> <p><strong>5. Data responsibility.</strong> Who is responsible for your data? Whether it’s the retailer, the buy now, pay later lender or a company whose cloud storage the provider may be using, you should know. In general, the buy now, pay later lender holds this responsibility.</p> <p><strong>6. Licensing.</strong> Is the buy now, pay later lender licensed to sell the loan? Usually, the <a href="https://dfpi.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/337/2020/03/afterpay-settlement.pdf">answer to this question is no</a>.</p> <h2>Buy now, pay later regulation</h2> <p>Two sets of laws and regulations should be implemented to address some of these issues. The first set of regulations focuses on how buy now, pay later lenders interact with consumers. These lenders should clearly communicate <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4359956">all terms and conditions of their loans</a>, including late charges, interest charges and payment schedules, on their platforms to ensure shoppers are fully informed of their financial obligations.</p> <p>The Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom recently issued guidelines allowing buy now, pay later lenders to <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/ca428bc8-65c3-49ed-8ba6-0d6f206098aa">terminate, suspend or restrict access to shopper accounts</a> for any reason without notice. Effective September 2024, New Zealand will require buy now, pay later lenders to <a href="https://theconversation.com/if-it-looks-like-debt-lets-treat-it-like-debt-buy-now-pay-later-schemes-need-firmer-regulation-in-nz-211820">check a shopper’s credit</a> before providing them a buy now, pay later loan.</p> <p>The second set of regulations defines the scope and boundaries of buy now, pay later lenders. On Dec. 9, 2022, California became the first American state to <a href="https://dfpi.ca.gov/2022/12/09/buy-now-pay-later-protect-yourself-before-you-check-out/">classify buy now, pay later as a loan</a>. Such classifications allowed California regulators to <a href="https://stateline.org/2022/02/02/regulators-scrutinize-buy-now-pay-later-plans/">question lenders about their transparency in disclosing the terms of their offerings</a>.</p> <p>The hope is that these laws and regulations will facilitate microlending and not impede the existence of buy now, pay later services, but rather make it safer and more secure for both lenders and users.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/215421/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/vivek-astvansh-1318943"><em>Vivek Astvansh</em></a><em>, Associate Professor of Quantitative Marketing and Analytics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/mcgill-university-827">McGill University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/chandan-kumar-behera-1479139">Chandan Kumar Behera</a>, PhD Student in Marketing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/indian-institute-of-management-lucknow-6023">Indian Institute of Management Lucknow</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-hidden-risks-of-buy-now-pay-later-what-shoppers-need-to-know-215421">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Money & Banking

“This is life-changing information”: Shopper discovers little-known Bunnings hack

<p>A shopper has revealed the details of a little-known Bunnings store policy that will ensure a blooming garden. </p> <p>Georgia Magill, a young woman from Perth, was shopping for plants in the hardware store when she was urged by the cashier to keep her receipt.</p> <p>The uni student was shocked why she should hold on to the receipt for a small house plant, as the worker went on to explain why. </p> <p>“She was like, ‘Oh because they come with a 12 month warranty’,” Georgia explained in a now-viral TikTok video.</p> <p>“And then she goes: ‘It doesn’t really matter how they die we’ll just replace them for you within a 12 month period.’”</p> <p>The hardware store created the ‘Perfect Plant Promise’ in February 2020 which states all plants, except for seedlings, can be returned within 12 months of purchase if they die. </p> <p>Bunnings won’t just replace the plant, it also offers money back, if you’d prefer to give up on your gardening dreams.</p> <p>"This is life-changing information,” she concluded in the video. </p> <p>While the policy has been around for several years, many Aussies hadn’t heard of it either, commenting in shock on the TikTok video, which has been viewed almost 1.5 million times. </p> <p>“What? I have literally had Bunnings plants die within weeks,” one wrote,</p> <p>“I did know this… but I also refuse to let Bunnings know how many plants I’ve murdered,” another stated. </p> <p>Another person declared, “It’s such a good idea. I can’t believe I didn’t know it!!”</p> <p>Among the comments were more tips for former and current Bunnings workers, offering some extra tips on how to utilise the policy. </p> <p>“Ex Bunnings worker here, keep the original pot so we know what plant it is, not everyone in store is a plant expert,” one remarked.</p> <p>“(From a Bunnings worker) either take a photo of your receipt or ask for it to be sent via SMS as they fade! For any warranty item,” another suggested. </p> <p>However, one worker urged Aussies not to take advantage of the offer, saying, “We will return your plant with a receipt and ‘proof’ but please don’t abuse this system. Plants die.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / TikTok</em></p>

Home & Garden

Shoppers left feeling nostalgic over new chocolate treats

<p dir="ltr">Chocolate lovers are in for a treat with Cadbury’s new range hitting supermarket shelves.</p> <p dir="ltr">The confectionary giant’s new “slices” range may feel quite familiar to some, especially those who often follow their sweet tooth into well-stocked bakeries, which makes perfect sense when considering the new blocks are inspired by the likes of crackle, hedgehog, and mint cream slices. </p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.cadbury.com.au/brand/cadbury-slices">The Cadbury Slices</a>, which carry a price tag of $5.50, are described by their makers as being “inspired by iconic Australian bakery slices and mixed with our iconic Cadbury chocolate to create a new way to enjoy icons, perfect for sharing.”</p> <p dir="ltr">They were an immediate hit with the masses, with one social media snack reviewer even declaring one of the new blocks to be “up there with some of my current favourites”. </p> <p dir="ltr">In a video posted to her Instagram account, she could be seen entering a Woolworths supermarket to pick up the new range, and outlined her journey before reviewing the goods. </p> <p dir="ltr">She did not, however, try the Old Gold mint cream, noting that she wasn’t really a fan of mint chocolate to begin with. </p> <p dir="ltr">First up was the Caramilk hedgehog, and after explaining the “classic Aussie no-bake slice”, she described how the block had a Caramilk base and contained almonds, toasted coconut, and rice crisps, before noting that she “absolutely loved the taste”. </p> <p dir="ltr">Next came the block “inspired by a chocolate crackle”, which also featured rice crisps and toasted coconut, and “definitely resembled the chocolate crackle flavour”. She noted that it had that “recognisable Copha taste”, although she didn’t believe that was one of the ingredients. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It was so delicious,” she surmised, “and I hope this one stays around for a while.” </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cr7-qyFJS1q/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cr7-qyFJS1q/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Snack Reviews Aus (@snackreviews_aus)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Her joy at the range and their nostalgic flavours were exactly what the company had been aiming for, and as Paul Chatfield - vice president marketing for ANZ Mondelez International - told <em>news.com.au</em>, “the new Cadbury Slices range, features a variety of familiar and nostalgic flavours that Cadbury and chocolate-fans alike will enjoy.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We know Aussies share fond memories of bakery slices and hope they too will build new memories with family and friends as they share a Cadbury Slices block.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram </em></p>

Food & Wine

“Thank you stranger”: Woolies shopper left stunned

<p dir="ltr">A shopper at Woolworths was left shocked after a cashier’s unexpected act at the checkout.</p> <p dir="ltr">The single mum shared her feel-good story in a post on Facebook.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There was such a beautiful young lady working the checkout register tonight,” she wrote in the post.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I had a rough day, and when she asked how my day was, I answered with: ‘Not a great one’.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The mum-of-three was paying for her groceries with vouchers she’d been gifted from friends who wanted to “lend a hand” as her family was struggling.</p> <p dir="ltr">After she put her shop through the checkout, the vouchers didn’t cover the entire cost, so she asked the cashier to take a bag of bread rolls off the total.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Woolies worker surprised the mum by covering the cost of the bread rolls herself. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I don’t recall her name, but I feel that she deserves a massive thank you, as she made my day and turned it around with her kindness,” the mum said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So thank you stranger - you made an old tired mum have faith there’s still kindness in the world.” </p> <p dir="ltr">Woolworths responded to the mum’s Facebook post and said they would share her feedback with the store’s management team so the staff member can be acknowledged for her random act of kindness.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p>

Food & Wine

"I can only do so much": we asked fast-fashion shoppers how ethical concerns shape their choices

<p>You’ve found the perfect dress. You’ve tried it on before and you know it looks great. Now it’s on sale, a discount so large the store is practically giving it away. Should you buy it?</p> <p>For some of us it’s a no-brainer. For others it’s an ethical dilemma whenever we shop for clothes. <a href="https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JFMM-01-2019-0011/full/html">What matters more</a>? How the item was made or how much it costs? Is the most important information on the label or the price tag?</p> <p>Of the world’s industries that profit from worker exploitation, the <a href="https://www.globalslaveryindex.org/">fashion industry is notorious</a>, in part because of the sharp contrast between how fashion is made and how it is marketed. </p> <p>There are more people <a href="https://www.ilo.org/global/publications/books/WCMS_575479/lang--en/index.htm">working in exploitative conditions</a> than ever before. Globally, the garment industry employs millions of people, with <a href="https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---asia/---ro-bangkok/documents/briefingnote/wcms_758626.pdf">65 million garment sector workers in Asia alone</a>. The Clean Clothes Campaign estimates <a href="https://cleanclothes.org/poverty-wages">less than 1%</a> of what you pay for a typical garment goes to the workers who made it.</p> <h2>How much does a worker make on a $30 shirt?</h2> <p>Some work in conditions so exploitative they meet the definition of being <a href="https://www.commonobjective.co/article/modern-slavery-and-the-fashion-industry">modern slaves</a> – trapped in situations they can’t leave due to coercion and threats.</p> <p>But their plight is hidden by the distance between the worker and the buyer. Global supply chains have helped such exploitation to hide and thrive. </p> <p>Do we really care, and what can we do?</p> <p>We conducted <a href="https://doi.org/10.1108/JFMM-06-2021-0158">in-depth interviews</a> with 21 women who buy “fast fashion” – “on-trend” clothing made and sold at very low cost – to find out how much they think about the conditions of the workers who make their clothes, and and what effort they take to avoid slave-free clothing. Well-known fast-fashion brands include H&M, Zara and Uniqlo.</p> <p>What they told us highlights the inadequacy of seeking to eradicate exploitation in the fashion industry by relying on consumers to do the heavy lifting. Struggling to seek reliable information on ethical practices, consumers are overwhelmed when trying to navigate ethical consumerism. </p> <h2>Out of sight, out of mind</h2> <p>The 21 participants in our research were women aged 18 to 55, from diverse backgrounds across Australia. We selected participants who were aware of exploitation in the fashion industry but had still bought fast fashion in the previous six months. This was not a survey but qualitative research involving in-depth interviews to understand the disconnect between awareness and action.</p> <p>Our <a href="https://doi.org/10.1108/JFMM-06-2021-0158">key finding </a> is that clothing consumers’ physical and cultural distance from those who make the clothes makes it difficult to relate to their experience. Even if we’ve seen images of sweatshops, it’s still hard to comprehend what the working conditions are truly like.</p> <p>As Fiona*, a woman in her late 30s, put it: “I don’t think people care [but] it’s not in a nasty way. It’s like an out of sight, out of mind situation.”</p> <p>This problem of geographic and cultural distance between garment workers and fashion shoppers highlights the paucity of solutions premised on driving change in the industry through consumer activism. </p> <h2>Who is responsible?</h2> <p>Australia’s Modern Slavery Act, for example, tackles the problem only by requiring large companies to report to a <a href="https://modernslaveryregister.gov.au/">public register</a>on their efforts to identify risks of modern slavery in their supply chains and what they are doing to eliminate these risks. </p> <p>While greater transparency is certainly a big step forward for the industry, the legislation still presumes that the threat of reputational damage is enough to get industry players to change their ways. </p> <p>The success of the legislation falls largely on the ability of activist organisations to sift through and publicise the performance of companies in an effort to encourage consumers to hold companies accountable.</p> <p>All our interviewees told us they felt unfairly burdened with the responsibility to seek information on working conditions and ethical practices to hold retailers to account or to feel empowered to make the “correct” ethical choice.</p> <p>“It’s too hard sometimes to actually track down the line of whether something’s made ethically,” said Zoe*, a woman in her early 20s.</p> <p>Given that many retailers are themselves ignorant about <a href="https://www.afr.com/wealth/investing/companies-risk-litigation-over-modern-slavery-ignorance-20201215-p56nix">their own supply chains</a>, it is asking a lot to expect the average consumer to unravel the truth and make ethical shopping choices.</p> <h2>Confusion + overwhelm = inaction</h2> <p>“We have to shop according to what we care about, what is in line with our values, family values, budget,” said Sarah*, who is in her early 40s. </p> <p>She said she copes with feeling overwhelmed by ignoring some issues and focus on the ethical actions she knew would make a difference. “I’m doing so many other good things,” she said. “We can’t be perfect, and I can only do so much.” </p> <p>Other participants also talked about juggling considerations about environmental and social impacts.</p> <p>“It’s made in Bangladesh, but it’s 100% cotton, so, I don’t know, is it ethical?” is how Lauren*, a woman in her early 20s, put it. “It depends on what qualifies as ethical […] and what is just marketing.”</p> <p>Comparatively, participants felt their actions to mitigate environmental harm made a tangible difference. They could see the impact and felt rewarded and empowered to continue making positive change. This was not the case for modern slavery and worker rights more generally.</p> <p>Fast fashion is a lucrative market, with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-billionaire-family-behind-fast-fashion-powerhouse-boohoo-2019-11?r=AU&IR=T">billions in profits made</a>thanks to the work of the lowest paid workers in the world.</p> <p>There is no denying consumers wield a lot of power, and we shouldn’t absolve consumers of their part in creating demand for the cheapest clothes humanly – or inhumanly – possible. </p> <p>But consumer choice alone is insufficient. We need a system where all our clothing choices are ethical, where we don’t need to make a choice between what is right and what is cheap.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/i-can-only-do-so-much-we-asked-fast-fashion-shoppers-how-ethical-concerns-shape-their-choices-172978" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</em></p>

Beauty & Style

Shoppers warned against using “secret lip gloss” in Aldi lipstick

<p dir="ltr">Aldi shoppers are a savvy bunch, with many creating and sharing hacks for everything from packing bags to finding the best deals, but shoppers have been urged to stop using one involving the supermarket giant’s range of lipsticks out of fears it could be toxic.</p> <p dir="ltr">The “secret lip gloss” came to light after Aussie shoppers took to Facebook to brag about the “life hack” where the store’s Lacura lipsticks could be taken apart to reveal a hidden “lip gloss”, as reported by <em><a href="https://style.nine.com.au/latest/shoppers-warned-to-stop-applying-toxic-secret-lip-gloss-in-aldi-lipsticks/ac5bf471-5c08-47af-a263-2d8ef83d6da3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9Honey</a></em>.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-6ade7565-7fff-a90a-c117-f531d1794b73"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“My mind is blown!!! Am I the last one to figure out there’s lip gloss at the bottom of the Aldi lipstick???” one Brisbane woman wrote on the social media platform.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/07/lipstick1.jpg" alt="" width="792" height="445" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Facebook</em></p> <p dir="ltr">However, it turns out that the “lip gloss” in question isn’t actually makeup.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to other social media users, the glossy substance is a colour-matching chemical intended to show customers the colour of the lipstick which shouldn’t be applied to lips as it could be toxic.</p> <p dir="ltr">Though some commenters believed the original post, others remained sceptical.</p> <p dir="ltr">“My guess is that it’s not meant to be lip gloss and to show the colour of the lipstick only,” one user wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If it was lip gloss they would have made it easier to 1. Open it and 2. To get it out without having to use a lip brush. I would be very careful.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The original poster also mentioned that they broke their lipstick while trying to get the substance out - more proof that it shouldn’t be accessed.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-8c628f17-7fff-df23-bd55-8fc6e95ec6cd"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“I have just about broken the stupid thing trying to get it off … it actually comes off easily if you do it right,” they said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Facebook</em></p>

Beauty & Style

Boomers are thrifty shoppers and Aussies throw out more than we think

<p dir="ltr">Fast fashion has become the subject of much criticism lately, mostly because of its reliance on cruel (and often illegal) conditions for workers, and its enormous toll on the environment – including increases in clothing heading to landfill.</p> <p dir="ltr">A new report from Vanish has found that the average Australian buys 27kg of new clothes and discards 23kg every year, with the nation throwing away a whopping $6 billion worth in this past financial year.</p> <p dir="ltr">The report, called <em>Stain on the Nation</em>, asked Aussies about their clothing habits and their opinions on everything from whether you should throw clothes in the red bin or donate to charity, to how much waste they think they throw out each year.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-6aeb0c8e-7fff-232b-0a92-b80ffc2b9a9b"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">It found that 6,000kg of clothing enters landfill every ten minutes, which is a serious issue considering clothing takes years to break down and releases carbon emissions in the process.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb_UWlUPzX3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb_UWlUPzX3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by UPPAREL (@upparelofficial)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Much of the country (40 percent) also believe that Australia ranks 6th and 12th place in the world for textile consumption per person, when in actual fact we are in second place, behind the US.</p> <p dir="ltr">Surprisingly, the report also found that those aged over 55 were the thriftiest of the different generations, with 76 percent spending less than $50 a month on new clothes. </p> <p dir="ltr">In comparison, 71 percent of 18-25-year-olds spend more than $50 a month on clothing.</p> <p dir="ltr">But the difference in spending could be attributed in part to the gap between the old age pension and the cost of living, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealing that living costs have increased by 3.4 percent for age pension households, versus 2.6 percent for working households, according to the <em><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-03/what-the-rising-cost-of-living-means-on-australian-age-pension/100947258" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Following the report, Vanish announced a new campaign, with texticle upcycler Upparel, to divert one million clothing items from landfill over the next two years, starting with an installation of 3,000kg of clothing at Sydney’s Bondi Beach and in St Kilda, Melbourne.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1ef36b88-7fff-3c73-f0b8-059c6c872baf"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">With 6,000kg across both cities, the installations are meant to represent the amount of clothing thrown away every 10 minutes.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Beauty & Style

Cheaper in Oz: One Kiwi shopper’s savvy way to save on groceries

<p dir="ltr">A New Zealand woman has shared the unusual way that she saved 35 percent on her usual grocery bill - and it involves and it even comes with free shipping.</p> <p dir="ltr">The woman, who asked not to be identified, told the <em><a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/kiwi-shopper-saves-35-per-cent-ordering-groceries-from-australia/BL3RATPOZGLJQASWDRVY3DC4O4/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NZ Herald</a></em> that purchasing her usual groceries from Australia and shipping them to New Zealand ended up being significantly cheaper than shopping at her local supermarket.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Otago woman ordered 13 items from the neighbouring country, including pasta, nuts, dried fruit, rolled oats, toothbrushes, shampoo and hair dye, via Amazon.</p> <p dir="ltr">She told the publication she received her goods within five days, having paid just $AUD 93.30 ($NZD 100.59).</p> <p dir="ltr">“I only bought items that were included in a free shipping promotion, so I wasn’t charged for shipping. According to the receipt, shipping would have added $15,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">When she compared prices using the Countdown online shopping app, she found that the same items would have cost her an upwards of $30 more, totalling $NZD 139.96 ($AUD 129.82).</p> <p dir="ltr">She found the best deal was on toothpaste, which she paid $AUD 2.50 ($NZD2.69) for.</p> <p dir="ltr">“All the items were long-shelf life items. I don’t think ordering from Australia would work for fresh food,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Though she made a significant saving, the savvy shopper says she might not repeat her “crazy little experiment” due to the carbon footprint that came with it.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-baad06f1-7fff-9595-6d01-0b32442ccaaf"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Money & Banking

Snowed in shoppers spend the night in IKEA

<p>Six IKEA shoppers and two dozen employees have spent the night in an IKEA store in Denmark after being snowed in. </p> <p>Up to 12 inches of snow fell during the blizzard, trapping everyone inside the Aalborg store on Wednesday night. </p> <p>Rather than bracing the harsh weather to get back home, the customers and staff had an impromptu sleepover of a lifetime in the store's inviting showroom. </p> <p>Those trapped inside got to pick from IKEA's extensive range of beds to test out for the night, giving a whole new meaning to 'try before you buy'.</p> <p>Store manager Peter Elmrose told the local Danish newspaper, "<span>We slept in the furniture exhibitions and our showroom on the first floor, where we have beds, mattresses and sofa beds."</span></p> <p><span>He said customers were able to pick out which bed they were thinking of buying and try it out for real, as everyone spent the night eating and watching TV. </span></p> <p><span>Peter said despite the unusual conditions, the night went "super well" and everyone had "a lot of fun".</span></p> <p><span>Denmark's public broadcaster reported that staff from the neighbouring toy shop also joined in on the impromptu sleepover, as they were also stranded too far from home with the bad weather. </span></p> <p><span>The toy shop manager Michelle Barrett said, "</span>It's much better than sleeping in one's car. It has been nice and warm and we are just happy that they would let us in."</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">"We just laughed at the situation, because we will probably not experience it again."</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Courtesy of IKEA</em></p>

Travel Trouble

Woolworths shopper finds python snake in the spice section

<p>A woman shopping at Woolworths in Glenorie says she was looking in the spice aisle and her face was suddenly 20cm away from a three-metre-long python.</p> <p>Speaking to 7NEWS.com.au, the shopper – Helaina Alati - said: “I was browsing and turned to my left and he had come out and his face was about 20cm from mine, just looking at me.”</p> <p>“It was almost like he was asking me to take him outside!</p> <p>“I just happened to be the one that found it.</p> <p>“He must have been there for at least a few hours. He was sort of hidden behind the spices and I didn’t see him at first.</p> <p>As luck would have it, Alati is a former volunteer snake catcher, so she offered to rescue the slithery fellow.</p> <p>“It was super mellow, not aggressive at all. I’m guessing he came down from the ceiling. He was about 10ft (3 metres) long!” she said.</p> <p>“I’m glad I’m the one that found him, most people would have freaked out!” she added.</p> <p>“I told the staff I used to be a volunteer snake catcher so I grabbed my snake bag and relocated him into the bush.”</p> <p>Most shoppers at Woolworths would’ve have been so calm to find a three-metre python in the spice aisle of their local supermarket, but Alati said there was nothing to worry about.</p> <p>“He was so relaxed and non-aggressive,” she said.</p> <p>“Don’t want to demonise these beautiful animals anymore!”</p> <p>Alati bundled the python into a material bag and released the snake safely to the surrounding bushland shortly after.</p> <p>A spokesperson for Woolworths told 7NEWS.com.au the matter was dealt with calmly and safely.</p> <p>“A slippery and rare customer was spotted in the spice aisle of our Glenorie store yesterday morning,” the spokesperson said.</p> <p>“Once it was sighted, our team members reacted quickly and calmly to cordon off the area for the safety of customers.</p> <p>“A snake catcher removed the slithery customer, who was released safely into bushland shortly after.”</p> <p>It’s still unknown as to how the snake came to be inside the store but it’s believed Woolworths has animal control measures in place and the Glenorie store has done some checks of these measures.</p> <p><em>Photo: 7NEWS.com.au</em></p>

Family & Pets

Unbelievable deal: ALDI shopper scores lamb roast for under $1

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">An ALDI customer has shared how she bought a lamb roast for just 83c and the unexpected reason why.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Posting the story on the </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1034012533313136"><span style="font-weight: 400;">ALDI Mums</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Facebook page, Monique said she was excited to pick up the dinner favourite at her local ALDI.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The half leg of lamb was still four weeks out from its ‘best before’ date, so it wasn’t reduced because it was close to expiring.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Upon closer inspection, the ALDI label shows that it had been incorrectly weighted at 68g.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Seasoned ALDI shoppers estimate that a similar leg would weigh anywhere from 1.5kg to 2kg, with the error pricing it at well under 100g.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I was so excited about my bargain find today I knew you mums would appreciate it!” Monique wrote on the page.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I paid a whole 83c for this lamb roast today as it was marked and weighed wrong!”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Monique said she even checked if the price was right with the checkout worker.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I was like so this is marked 83c, does that mean I get it for 83c? He went and spoke to his manager and they were like ‘Yeah we can’t charge you any more for it’.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since it even scanned at 83c, Monique said, “I was like, ‘Yes! Get in my basket!’”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fellow shoppers were amazed by her good luck.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Lucky you, enjoy! Just about need a bank loan to buy any cuts of lamb these days!” one said.</span></p>

Food & Wine

"Disgusting": Woolworths shopper likens store policy to the Holocaust

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>A furious Woolworths customer has been slammed online after they compared a standard store policy to the Holocaust.</p> <p>The customer ranted on the supermarket's Facebook page to complain after a worker had called the store manager to approve $1,300 worth of gift cards being purchased.</p> <p>The woman visited the supermarket in Leura with her husband to purchase the vouchers for his clients when they were questioned by the staff.</p> <p>“We told her it was none of her business at first then told her the reason. She told us it was due to some scam, what scam I’m paying for the cards to give as gifts as part of promoting the business!” the woman wrote.</p> <p>“Last time we checked we live in a democracy but it appears communists run Woolworths,” she added.</p> <p>“The lady said she was just doing her job just what the Germans said during the Holocaust.”</p> <p>The post has been slammed by hundreds, with many calling the woman "disgusting" for the "offensive" comparison.</p> <p>“How dare you compare this situation to the holocaust!!! “ one woman wrote, adding, “the staff were looking out FOR YOU, in case YOU were being scammed.”</p> <p>“Did you really just compare information sharing at the point of sale to the holocaust?! Yikes,” another customer said.</p> <p>A Woolworths spokesperson confirmed to<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/woolworths/disgusting-woolworths-shopper-slammed-for-likening-store-policy-to-the-holocaust-c-1759974" target="_blank"><em>7NEWS.com.au</em></a><span> </span>that the policy was introduced after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission raised concerns about scammers targeting individuals with demands for payments via gift cards.</p> <p>“As a responsible retailer, we want to play our part in reducing harm to consumers from scams,” the spokeswoman said.</p> </div> </div> </div>

Money & Banking

ALDI shopper causes $180k in damages after smashing alcohol

<p>Footage of a woman going rampant and causing severe damage to an ALDI store by smashing bottles of alcohol has caused great concern among customers. </p> <p>The video was recorded at a supermarket in Stevenage, UK, on Wednesday (local time) afternoon.</p> <p>Footage shows the woman wearing a hoodie and a backpack removing bottles of alcohol off the shelves with her arms.</p> <p>She then slips in the mess she created and falls to the ground.</p> <p>“Oh god, she’s not right,” a man is heard saying off-camera.</p> <p>The woman quickly gets back up and starts her tirade of breaking more bottles.</p> <p>The man off camera notices the woman has cut her hand and it’s covered in blood, while another person reveals the police won’t arrive for a while.</p> <p>“I’ve never seen anything like this,” someone is heard saying.</p> <p>A man who was waiting in the check-out line asked the woman to “calm down” and the woman threw a bottle of booze at his leg.</p> <p>The store manager estimated the damages to cost approximately $AUD180,270 when taking into account the loss of stock and revenue due to being forced to close the store to clean.</p> <p>According to The Comment, police officers arrived at the scene at around 2.30 pm and arrested the woman, who was taken to hospital and treated for her injuries.</p> <p>Image credit: <a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/entertainment/viral-weird/woman-smashes-500-bottles-of-alcohol-in-five-minutes-during-bizarre-aldi-rampage-c-1662545" target="_blank">7NEWS</a></p>

Food & Wine

Kmart shopper spots error on new laundry hamper

<p>A Kmart shopper spotted a hilarious mistake she spotted on a brand-new item she purchased.</p> <p>“Hmm, think there’s something wrong here,” the woman wrote, sharing an image of her new ‘Lights and Darks’ laundry hamper in a Kmart Facebook group.</p> <p>“Think I’ll have to take it back to Kmart. I haven’t quite finished putting it together but will have to pull it apart again,” she said.</p> <p>According to the shopper, the cloth baskets are not attached the wrong way, as it appears that the words on the "dark" side have been printed upside down.</p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837064/kmart-body.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ec9aaa6668a441e6aa8f938cfe28ce44" /></p> <div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>“I did pick up one box and had the end of the box open and everything come out whilst I was walking through the shop with it,” she said.</p> <p>“Had a very nice Kmart lady nearby who saw what happened and helped me collect the bits only to realise one piece was missing.</p> <p>The shop assistant ended up opening the box of the item she now has set up at home to check all the pieces were there.</p> <p>“She was so helpful and lovely. Pity we didn’t check the words were the right way up,” the woman quipped.</p> <p>The mix-up was a hit on the Facebook group.</p> <p>“I would just keep it, it’s funny,” one person wrote, with many agreeing it was now an ‘original’ item.</p> <p>“I love it. Upside down and all,” another agreed.</p> <p>A Kmart spokesperson has said it is believed to be an isolated incident but the store is investigating the example.</p> <p>“At Kmart, the quality of our products are our number one priority,” the spokesperson told <a rel="noopener" href="https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/kmart-shopper-mistake-light-dark-laundry-sorting-hamper-033604569.html" target="_blank" class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtflink"><em>7News</em></a><em>.</em></p> <p>“We are currently investigating this with our quality team and believe this may be an isolated incident as we have not been made aware of this sort of printing error before.</p> <p>“We welcome the opportunity to resolve this directly with the customer and encourage the customer to reach out to our friendly customer service team.”</p> <p><em>Photo credits: Facebook</em></p> </div> </div> </div>

Caring

Not fair! Aldi shopper with huge Special Buys haul sparks fury

<p>A group of Aldi shoppers have slammed a man online after he bought a haul of Special Buys items in one go.</p> <p>As keen shoppers rushed to the store to get a $69.99 Stand Mixer when they hit the shelves, many walked away empty handed due to limited stock.</p> <p>However, an annoyed shopper who was disgruntled that they missed out took to Facebook to slam a man for buying six when they couldn’t even purchase one.</p> <p>She posted to the Aldi Mums Facebook page explaining the situation.</p> <p>“I went to Aldi this morning at 8.30 am to buy a stand mixer from Special Buys today,” she posted in the group.</p> <p>“I end up having nothing at 8.35 am because of this. Is it fair? As per ALDI staff, they can't put any limits on Special Buys. That guy ended up buying six of the stand mixers.”</p> <p>People in the group were quick to agree, saying that there should be a limit on how many you can purchase in one go.</p> <p>“Two is ok but not six, they should limit it,” one user wrote on the post.</p> <p>“Not fair at all. This always happens,” another user agreed.</p> <p>Some commenters were curious as to why he had bought so many.</p> <p>“And I bet he will sell them for more online. I hate people who do that,” one user commented.</p> <p>Others jumped to the defence of the man, saying he can purchase whatever he likes.</p> <p>“It's his business of why he had so many, not for the rest of Australia to judge,” one user wrote.</p> <p>“Maybe he's the nominated shopper for the street? Maybe he has a big family? Maybe we should mind our own business,” another commented.</p> <p>“Don't know who's worse… The guy with the trolley or the person taking the photo,” another added.</p>

Money & Banking

Royal fright: Duchess Kate stuns shoppers with last-minute Halloween shopping spree at local supermarket

<p>The Duchess of Cambridge has been spotted browsing for Halloween kids’ costumes at a local supermarket near the family’s country retreat on Thursday.</p> <p>According to<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/10204789/relatable-kate-middleton-praised-royal-fans-spotted-shopping-sainsburys-norfolk/" target="_blank">The Sun</a></em>, the Cambridge family are spending the half term school holidays at their countryside retreat, which is known as Anmer Hall.</p> <p>An onlooker said the Duchess of Cambridge was spotted picking up Halloween costumes with Prince George, 6, and Princess Charlotte, 4.</p> <p>“It was lovely to see her [Kate] just being a normal mum shopping with her kids,” the onlooker said.</p> <p>“I love how she [Kate] just goes about her normal life, she is so down to earth.”</p> <p>Another onlooker told<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/kate-middleton-stuns-shoppers-popping-20718032" target="_blank">The Daily Star</a></em><span> </span>about the encounter.</p> <p>"Another shopper said that Kate was in the shop near the clothing and pointed where she was to me. I just couldn't believe it.</p> <p>"She was with Charlotte and George looking at Halloween outfits, but her bodyguard was kind of watching people with phones and telling them no pictures.”</p> <p>Royal expert Phil Dampier said that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are making sure that their kids are getting a “normal childhood”.</p> <p>He spoke to Fabulous Digital about it.</p> <p>“William and Kate have made sure that their three children are getting as normal a childhood as possible and they all love the outdoor life.</p> <p>“At Anmer Hall in Norfolk they go for long walks in woods and have frequent trips to the beach.</p> <p>“Kate’s mum Carole is very close to George and often takes him out alone.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2Bb_K0FDmT/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2Bb_K0FDmT/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Princess Charlotte arrives for her first day of school at Thomas’s Battersea, joining her older brother Prince George ✏️📚🏫</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/kensingtonroyal/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Kensington Palace</a> (@kensingtonroyal) on Sep 5, 2019 at 1:15am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Fans were quick to praise the Duchess for being “relatable”.</p> <p>“Over the years I've enjoyed seeing pics of Kate going about routine things like shopping,” one fan wrote.</p> <p>“She is a perfect representative of the Crown while on royal duties, and just relatable Kate when not on duties.”</p> <p>Another added: “Humble family.”</p>

Family & Pets

The Kmart jumper “blunder” that has left shoppers divided

<p>A Kmart shopper has taken to Facebook to share the ‘error’ she spotted on her son’s new jumper.</p> <p>On the Facebook forum Kmart Mums, the mum shared a photo of her three-year-old in a jumper from the retail store that had been given to him by his grandmother.</p> <p>Hundreds of shoppers have debated over the ‘glaring error’ since it was initially shared online – do you think Kmart got it wrong?</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="499" height="725" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7819328/1_499x725.jpg" alt="1 (159)"/></p> <p>The astronomy themed jumper, which features a dinosaur, has ‘east’ and ‘west’ printed on the opposite sides.</p> <p>Some members of the group said the mistake was “obvious”, while one customer admitted they had purchased the item without noticing the error: “OMG I bought this today and didn’t even notice.”</p> <p>One user slammed Kmart for the mix-up and suggested for the designers to “look at a compass”.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="1285" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7819329/2_500x1285.jpg" alt="2 (95)"/></p> <p>However, the reason why east and west are reversed on a sky map is because the map shows the sky as you look away from earth, whereas a geographic map shows the Earth from above looking down. </p> <p>Therefore, east and west are correctly switched around. </p> <p>Some social media users realised that the jumper did not have an error and said the astrological map was correct “when looking at the stars”.</p> <p>One person wrote: “It’s a star map – it’s correct!”</p> <p>Another asked: “Did no one here learn about constellations and maps when they were in school?”</p> <p>Did you initially think there was an error on the jumper? Let us know in the comments below.</p>

Beauty & Style

“Is nothing sacred?”: Shoppers outraged after seeing Christmas decorations rebranded for Easter

<p>While there are many Easter traditions that continue to be enjoyed by families, such as the beloved Hot Cross buns, it appears that stores are doing whatever they can to capitalise on the holiday.</p> <p>Shoppers have been left shocked after seeing popular Christmas items rebranded for Easter such as Easter crackers, trees and even wreaths.</p> <p>According to <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/5729709/easter-trees-crackers-sale/" target="_blank"><em><strong>The Sun</strong></em></a>,</span> UK retailers Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, John Lewis and Not On the High Street, are all selling the strange Christmas items for Easter.</p> <p>Despite most families’ stock-piling on plenty of Easter eggs, the decorations have been marketed as a way to “add a little fun” to Easter or to “get more” out of Easter.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">I see your Easter crackers, and I raise you an Easter wreath. <a href="https://t.co/LmnwvcePrG">https://t.co/LmnwvcePrG</a> <a href="https://t.co/drme7OY0r1">pic.twitter.com/drme7OY0r1</a></p> — shan (@shanbennet) <a href="https://twitter.com/shanbennet/status/969370910380535808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2018</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Since when were Easter crackers a thing?! <a href="https://t.co/UxcenpWfsk">pic.twitter.com/UxcenpWfsk</a></p> — Danny Webster (@danny_webster) <a href="https://twitter.com/danny_webster/status/967106412697571329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>According to Carolyn Bailey from Good Housekeeping, themed-decorations are a great way to transform your home for Easter.</p> <p>“Baubles are a big part of how you would decorate your house for Easter,” she told The Sunday Telegraph.</p> <p>“I would really recommend putting them in a hall so that when your guests arrive you have a homemade Easter tree with lots of baubles on.”</p> <p>Even the royals are getting on the decoration bandwagon with the Duchess of Cambridge’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, selling Easter trees on their Party Pieces website.</p> <p>However, most people seem unimpressed by the strange money-making ploy.</p> <p>One Twitter user wrote, “Is there nothing sacred? On the theory that it worked for Christmas, marketers now invent ‘Easter crackers’ and ‘Easter trees’."</p> <p>Another user wrote, “Easter trees and crackers… just what the planet needs, more seasonal trash.” </p> <p>How do you feel about Christmas decorations being rebranded for Easter in retail stores? Let us know in the comments below. </p>

News

Shoppers find disturbing messages in clothes tags

<p>Shoppers at a Zara store in Istanbul were deeply distressed after finding heartbreaking messages from exploited Turkish workers claiming they had not been paid for their labour.</p> <p>Workers from Bravo, an outsource manufacturer for Zara (and a number of other retailers), had been entering Zara shops and attaching tags to clothing, reading, “I made this item you are going to buy, but I didn’t get paid for it."</p> <p>The message also urges Zara shoppers to pressure the fashion giant into paying them.</p> <p>Bravo closed down overnight after the messages were discovered. Campaigners allege the company owes them three months’ worth of pay and severance allowance.</p> <p>Tell us in the comments below, have you ever found a strange message in an item of clothing?</p>

Beauty & Style

Shopper posts hilarious snap of vegetarian section at German supermarket chain

<p>An Aldi customer noticed something strange at their local supermarket’s vegetarian section.</p> <p>Instead of a diverse variety of vegetarian options, the freezer shelves have been packed solely with garlic products.</p> <p>UK Journalist Joe took Twitter to share a photo of his local Aldi, commenting, “The ‘vegetarian’ section at my local aldi is literally just garlic bread and as a vegetarian i’m very happy and here for it” (sic).</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">the "vegetarian" section at my local aldi is literally just garlic bread and as a vegetarian i'm very happy and here for it <a href="https://t.co/CvAbffK42K">pic.twitter.com/CvAbffK42K</a></p> — joe (@gnarlydweeb) <a href="https://twitter.com/gnarlydweeb/status/891300221900251137">July 29, 2017</a></blockquote> <p> </p> <p>However, Joe isn’t the only shopper to notice Aldi’s definition of vegetarian products with another customer posting an image of three fridges packed full of bread.</p> <p> </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Get urself down to Aldi garlic bread boy , they've got 3 fridges full <a href="https://twitter.com/gothicdogsclub">@gothicdogsclub</a> <a href="https://t.co/zewfqfltAL">pic.twitter.com/zewfqfltAL</a></p> — Molly Kate (@PaisleyGoth) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaisleyGoth/status/889512541017309185">July 24, 2017</a></blockquote>

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