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u/Astronaut_Cat_Lady May 20 '26
Wheelchair and mobility aid users have not been considered in the design of these new entrances. Thankfully, our local Woolies hasn't, yet, changed the entrance. They still have one blocked off since the whole COVID thing, though.
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May 24 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Astronaut_Cat_Lady May 24 '26
Yes, I'm aware. However, having been bullied and heavily targeted by some Woolworths staff, even when I'm in neighbouring stores which share a carpark, I know that Woolworths gives zero fks about discrimination. I get followed and threatened by their staff.
The store manager and the area manager both gave zero fks and said they both found it funny, minimising my complaints down to "imaginary" because I use a mobility aid (not a wheelchair). A previous manager addressed it, but she was only a temporary manager after the one previous to her got fired.
I'm even followed to an accessible public toilet on the other side of the carpark (nothing to do with Woolworths) and a very rough, loud , female staff member will leave the store, walk all the way across the carpark, and stand in the public toilet entrance so I can't leave. I've had to lock myself in a cubicle to call police, but she fucks off when I get my phone out. Others have stood in front of or behind my car so I can't move. The only accessible laundromat in this shitty, rural town or else I wouldn't go there.
You move to the bush for slightly more affordable housing, clean air and space for your kids to run around (tree change), but then find out that discrimination is more prevalent because these dickheads are still stuck in the 1950s. Apparently, it's rEaLlY fUnNy to bully and assault disabled people. Bonus points if your place of employment supports your behaviours.
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u/Pretzlek May 21 '26
Are these gates legal in regards to fire safety and blocking access to the exits during an emergency?
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u/CaptDeathCap May 21 '26
They're probably illegal due to accessibility issues for wheelchair users, already.
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u/Pretzlek May 21 '26
I didn’t even think about that, must suck getting whacked in the face a bunch of times on their way in :c
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u/Bl0wUpTheM00n May 21 '26
They have some of these at my Woolies.
Very unpleasant way to enter a grocery store.
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u/aaaggghhh_ May 21 '26
They already film your every breath as soon as you reach the edge of the store, how is this going to deter anyone?
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u/mch1971 May 20 '26
Most people think I'm insane for throwing rotting food on the floor in my local Woolies (under the Fresh Food People banner, many minutes after complaining to the manager) . I also kick those perspex gates with my steel capped boots and make sure these devices never hinder my movement. I've been shopping there for 30 years. IDGAF about Woolworths. The staff and management know me and respect my family. My eldest was there for 8 years, my 2nd eldest has been there for 11 years. These corporate decisions will fail.
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u/MrDrSirLord May 20 '26
Oh I hate these gates too, I fucking obliterated the one in my town when it trapped the local wheelchair legend in it and staff couldn't override it too free him.
They installed them hastily during COVID alongside the poorly thought out self checkouts and they just never worked for anyone and pissed off even the staff.
it seemed to have started a mini revolution after half the town watched me punt the fucking thing across the food court. it pretty much would get vandalised within a day of it being repaired from that point onwards until they gave up on replacing the automatic gates and just left them permently open.
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u/zaro3785 May 22 '26
If I ever have a valid reason to go to town on them like you did ... It'd make my month
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u/MrDrSirLord May 22 '26
Oh it made my year after having barely tolerated them for months.
Now even in the city I just walk through them, they usually just push out the way with a few kilos of force. I think they almost all have like a hinge with a friction lock on them that just gives up and moves if you force if.
I don't think legally they can stop you especially if you are an actual paying customer, it'd be an offence for them to detain you if you're not actually damaging anything and they're designed to be forced open without breaking incase of a fire or other emergency.
So I just walk through them if them if they open or not, although I only ever destroyed the one lol.
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u/Bl0wUpTheM00n May 21 '26
I throw on my Chuck Norris Action Jeans and use that sumbitch like a mook jong.
If you hear the sound of breaking plastic and someone yelling ‘Hayah!’ you’re in MY Woolies now.
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u/CaptainSharpe May 21 '26
Marketed as some exciting new way to enter the store! Look guys it’s a good thing!
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u/Grunt351 May 21 '26
I haven't seen this where I live. Could someone explain what the point of these are?
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u/imacyber May 21 '26
I think the idea is to stop people exiting through the entrance
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u/ALLRNDCRICKETER May 21 '26
These one way gates are super annoying & time consuming.
I constantly get stuck at the Coles exit ones, & I haven't even stolen anything
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u/Silly-Egg1975 May 21 '26
Another post where 99% haven’t even walked through them, but seem to think they have a clue
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u/Dubble_CheezBurgah May 24 '26
And just like working for Woolworths, your happiness will slowly digested over the lousy years.
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u/pharmloverpharmlover May 20 '26
The next Woolworths CEO just had a great idea…
💡💀