For students who haven’t arrive Australia yet. This guide is specially written for you. This is a basic guide how to navigate your local supermarket.
Today I am writing my experience at Coles Supermarket, one of the largest supermarket at Australia.
Tips and things you need to know:
There are usually “entrance” gate at the side, you do not enter from the counter.
You can easily spot trolleys or shopping basket beside entrance.
The supermarket are sectioned into different parts, you can navigate easily. The structures of supermarkets are specially designed to make customers purchase more items. You won’t miss any alleys ;)
Usually, the meat sections are located at the entrance.
How to buy?
- Take a ticket, and wait for your turn
- Raise your hand with ticket in hand
- Tell him/her what meat you like, and how many grams
- Pack up for you
From my experience, the price is a bit cheaper compare to pre-packed meats, usually found at refrigerator. You won’t miss it.
Red meats are usually pre-packed, as shown at photos above.
Some Coles supermarket offers wide range of seafood. Some do not. Depends on your location I think. I rarely buy seafood from supermarket, I prefer to purchase seafood from fish markets.
This is carnivore’s nightmare. Every Coles supermarket offers slightly different choices of vegetables. I think they only sell vegetables which are grown nearby? That’s my assumption, though.
I always have full confident in purchasing Coles’s vegetables because it’s always so fresh. The price is slightly expensive than Chinese and Vietnamese groceries stores, though.
After buying the fresh goods, you can head over to the pre-packed goods. You can easily spot what alley are selling which general items. Look at the signs above every alley.
You don’t have to wonder in every alley if you have a shopping list, which saves you time.
Frozen goods, cheese and juice are usually located at the corner of Coles. Be prepare to walk through this alley quickly because it’s always so freaking cold.
Always keep an eye for items which are on sales. You might not need the item this week, you can purchase it for next month ;) Coles usually have different item on sales each week.
Here is a guide I written, 26 ways to cut your grocery bills.
When you’re done with shopping
Depends on how many items you purchased. If less than 12 item, you are advised to use the self-check out system, which Coles recently implemented.
How to use this machine?
It’s easier than operating a mobile phone – you won’t have any problem operating it.
If you hava more than 12 items, you can queue up at normal check-out counters. Served by humans ;)
However there are a few terms you need to know. This part often confuses first time students.
The check out experience
After scanning the items, they will ask,
“FlyBuys?”, and this always make the student stare blankly at the operator, confused.
Flybuys is a reward card. Only available to Coles. Other supermarket such as Woolworth do not accept Flybuys. FlyBuy official website is here.
Then, the operators will ask “Cash out?” – once again, students look at operators blankly. confused x 2.
Cash out is a service available in every major supermarkets. The purpose is to pass you cash, directly debited from your bank account.
For example, “I would like to have A$50.00 cash out, please.”
You key in your EFTPOS pin number for the total amount of purchased goods (A$35.50)+ cash out amount (A$50.00), and your bank account will debit A$85.50 in bank statement.
You can also choose to use normal plastic bags, or “green bag”. The purpose of green bag is to reduce the usage of plastic bags – suitable for people who care about the environment. These bags costs $1.00 only and can be re-use many times.
