19 October 2026 · Issue 141
A cheap basket is only part of a good shopping experience. You also need stock that is actually available, clear safety information and someone who can help when an order goes wrong. This Monday, we look at new doubts about automated customer service, the continuing banana supply squeeze and a small checkout charge worth avoiding. We also revisit the consumer watchdog’s Kmart case. The aim is simple: fewer surprises before you pay, and a clearer path if something needs fixing.
When a Chatbot Cannot Help
A CHOICE survey of more than 1,000 people found just over half believed increasing use of artificial intelligence had made customer service worse, reports Andrew Brown of AAP, published by PerthNow today. Fewer than one in ten respondents thought AI made products and services better; these are consumers’ assessments, rather than a technical test of individual services.
CHOICE is calling for stronger safeguards, including restrictions on using personal information to set individual prices and better protections against scams. Those are proposals, not new rules already in force, in Brown’s AAP report.
If a support chat keeps circling the same answer, keep a copy of the conversation and ask for a person to review the issue. Put your order number, what went wrong and the outcome you want into one short message. Treat an automated answer as a starting point, not a reason to abandon an unresolved complaint.
Keep a Backup for the Banana Bowl
Banana availability remains a store by store question rather than a reason to assume every shelf is empty. Reporting last week, Demi Huang of 7NEWS described Woolworths notices linking limited Cavendish supplies to cooler weather in Far North Queensland, with the retailer expecting supply to return to normal by November.
Huang also reported shoppers encountering gaps at Coles and ALDI, while some available fruit was unusually green. Availability was fluctuating across locations and days, so those reports do not establish that your local store is out of stock (Demi Huang, 7NEWS).
For an online grocery order, review your substitution preference before checkout. If bananas are essential for the next day’s lunchboxes, choose a backup fruit rather than relying on a supply forecast. Compare the price per kilogram and buy only what you can use.
The Bag Charge You Can Leave Behind
Coles has raised its paper bag price from 25c to 30c and the price of larger reusable bags from $4 to $4.20, according to Ella George of The Nightly, published by the Kalgoorlie Miner on 14 October. The report says the online click and collect bag fee remains $2 per order.
Coles attributed the changes to higher costs, including materials and transport, in its response to George’s report. At the reported new paper bag price, four bags add $1.20 to a shop; that arithmetic is a small reason to keep a reusable set where you will remember it.
Put bags beside your keys or inside the bag you take shopping. For a collection order, check the bagging choices and fees shown for that service instead of assuming the checkout charge and collection charge work the same way.
Check the Safety Information, Not Just the Price
The ACCC began Federal Court proceedings against Kmart on 15 October, alleging inadequate warnings on cosmetic nail glue and failures to comply with button battery standards. These are allegations in proceedings, not a court finding of liability (ACCC’s case announcement).
The regulator says cosmetic nail glue can cause burns when it contacts fabric, and says Kmart added a fabric burn warning in December 2024. Kmart says the matters are historical and have been addressed, disputes the criticism of its warnings, and has apologised to people affected by nail glue injuries, reports Joseph Sahyoun of Nine.
Read the instructions on products already at home as well as on new purchases. The proceedings are not a new blanket recall: the ACCC’s announcement identifies a Smart Tag recall from 2024 and advises immediate medical attention if a button battery may have been swallowed or inserted (ACCC’s product history and safety advice).
Top 5 Deals of the Day
Five stores. Five categories. The strongest headline discounts we verified from today’s retailer scan.
We attempted all 116 retailer sale URLs in today's pool and retrieved usable content from 106. Ten pages remained unavailable after fallback checks, so those retailers are excluded. Retrieval does not mean an offer was fully verified: this ranking includes only eligible stores whose headline offer, product availability and Australian delivery we could confirm. Individual item markdowns, unsupported sale claims and other unverified offers are excluded. Offers and stock can change.
Discount
UGG ExpressFootwearUp to 80% off selected Spring Sale styles. Nala slides are $45 from $55, with the checked grey size available. Australian shipping is free over $100.80%OFF2
SportsgirlFashionUp to 70% off sale clothing. The Bronte Lace Trim Midi Dress is $49.95 from $109.95, with availability varying by size. Australian orders are dispatched from Melbourne.70%OFF3
GrahamsJewellery50% off eligible gold under $3000 and silver through 25 October. A silver bangle is $429 from $859. Exclusions apply; Australian delivery is free over $69.50%OFF4
MyerDepartment store50% off selected bedding and other home ranges. A Vue pastel pink double sheet set is $64.97 from $129.95. Standard delivery is free on eligible orders of $99 or more.50%OFF5
Scooter HutScootersUp to 50% off selected scooters and accessories while stocks last. The black Kaabo Mantis Urban is $999 from $1699. Delivery is within Australia; confirm your postcode at checkout.50%OFF% discounts shown are indicative across each store’s sale range. Individual product savings vary.
One More Category Worth a Look
Typo: 25% off selected Christmas gifts and decorations. A South Park ornament is $7.49 from $9.99. Exclusions apply; standard Australian delivery is free on $75 or more.