Major change on Woolworths shelves that has divided shoppers

By CAITLIN POWELL FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: 16:19 BST, 16 April 2025 | Updated: 17:37 BST, 16 April 2025

Woolworths customers are divided over hidden cameras installed to monitor stock availability.

A Sydney shopper took to Reddit on Sunday after spotting a tiny shelf-mounted camera in the oat milk section at their local store.

‘This camera is chest height. I hate you, Woolworths. I didn’t see any signage, this is so gross,’ they said.

Some shoppers shared concerns about the height of the cameras while others were more alarmed about the in-store signage warning customers of the new technology.

The growing speculation prompted Woolworths to explain the purpose for the cameras mounted at bottom of shelves near the price tags.

The supermarket giant introduced the cameras in less than 15 stores as part of a trial that has been running since June 2023.

The cameras take photos of stock every hour and, while they may include images of customers inadvertently, they’re silhouetted out.

Signage has been erected in stores participating in the trial, both at the front of the premises and throughout the aisles. 

Customers are divided over Woolworths placement of cameras to monitor stock availability every hour (stock image)

A Woolworths customer posted a photo on social media of a shelf-mounted camera found at their Sydney store (pictured)

‘Any customer imagery captured will be silhouetted out,’ a sign at a Kellyville store in Sydney’s north-west read.

The trial has divided Aussies with some calling the cameras ‘invasive’.

‘I just don’t get why this is necessary though. That’s what night fill workers are for,’ one wrote.

Another added: ‘I’m scared and angry. I don’t want any of this. Just use your POS data, this is ridiculous.’

But some questioned why others are worried about the technology when extensive CCTV already exists in many stores. 

‘This will actually be what makes me fully stop shopping there,’ one wrote. 

Another added: ‘The 17,432 other cameras in the store recording your movements and actions were perfectly okay but this one sent you over the edge?’

A third wrote: ‘The signage says it is for stock, not shocking.’

Some customers on Reddit raised concerns about the ‘chest height’ cameras but Woolworths said people will be silhouetted in the images (stock image)

A customer from a store in Kellyville shared photos of the signs (pictured) notifying shoppers that a trial is underway to ‘improve product availability’

Woolworths introduced the cameras in aisles, freezers, produce and chilled sections. 

‘The cameras, which alert our team members when shelves or products need to be restocked, means more of what our customers want is more readily available,’ a spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.

‘We’ll continue assessing the benefits of this technology as we proceed with the trial.

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Major change on Woolworths shelves that has divided shoppers

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