Coles Free Product Offers Online Substitution Loophole Survey Rewards And Membership Benefits

Coles, one of Australia's major supermarket chains, offers several methods for customers to obtain products without payment. These include an online substitution policy that can be exploited to receive free items, a survey program offering gift cards, and a membership rewards system. This article examines these methods based on available information.

Coles Online Substitution Policy and Potential Loophole

Coles Online has a substitution policy that allows customers to receive alternative products when their ordered items are unavailable. According to Coles' response as reported in the sources, customers can choose to opt in or out of substitutions during the checkout process. When a product is unavailable, Coles will notify customers by email and, if substitutions are permitted, will provide a similar item that may be a different size or brand. Customers are charged the lower price between the original and substitute items.

Some customers have discovered a method to potentially obtain free products through this system. A shopper reported on The Kick It Forward podcast that by ordering a product consistently unavailable in Australia, such as a specific Japanese ice cream, they would receive a substitute. By then expressing dissatisfaction with the substitute, they would receive a refund, effectively obtaining the substitute product for free.

The process described involves: 1. Ordering a product known to be consistently unavailable 2. Accepting the substitute offered by Coles 3. Expressing dissatisfaction with the substitute 4. Receiving a refund for the substituted item

This method reportedly resulted in the customer receiving a free tub of ice cream weekly. However, sources indicate that Coles may refuse to provide credits to customers who repeatedly request refunds for substitute items. The supermarket's fulfillment team reportedly monitors refund requests, and customers who have received multiple credits for dissatisfied substitutions within a three-month period may be denied further refunds.

Coles' official position emphasizes that substitutions are intended to provide convenience when products are out of stock, with customers only being charged for items they actually receive. The terms and conditions clearly state customers' choices regarding substitutions.

Survey Rewards Program

Coles offers a program where customers can earn gift cards by participating in surveys. According to source [1], customers can receive free Coles, WISH, and PayPal gift cards by completing surveys. This program appears to be separate from the Coles Circle membership and provides direct financial rewards rather than points toward future purchases.

The survey program offers: - Free Coles gift cards - Free WISH gift cards - Free PayPal gift cards

The specific details about survey length, frequency, and redemption requirements are not provided in the source data. However, it is clear that participation in surveys is one method customers can use to obtain value from Coles without making purchases.

Coles Circle Membership Benefits

Coles Circle is Coles' membership program that offers additional benefits to customers. According to source [4], membership is free, and participants can earn points through various activities:

• Completing surveys
• Participating in quick polls
• Engaging in community conversations

Each point earned provides an entry into monthly prize draws. Members can track their points and activity through the "My Account" section of the Coles Circle website, with detailed information available under "My Activity" and "My Prizes."

The program emphasizes community engagement and provides several features: - Recipe sharing capabilities - Community interaction - Points-based reward system - Monthly prize draws

Members are encouraged to keep their details up to date and actively participate in the community to maximize their benefits. The program also includes guidelines for respectful interaction among members and collaboration with moderators.

Conclusion

The provided source material is insufficient to produce a 2000-word article. Below is a factual summary based on available data.

Based on the available source data, Coles provides several avenues for customers to obtain value without direct payment:

1. The online substitution policy, which some customers have exploited to receive free products by ordering unavailable items and then rejecting substitutes
2. A survey program offering gift cards from Coles, WISH, and PayPal
3. The Coles Circle membership program, which rewards participation with points toward prize draws

It's important to note that the substitution loophole appears to be a short-term strategy that may not work indefinitely, as Coles reportedly monitors for and may deny refunds to customers who repeatedly request credits for dissatisfied substitutes. The survey and membership programs, however, appear to be legitimate, ongoing offerings.

The provided information does not detail traditional free sample programs for products like beauty, baby care, pet food, health items, food, or household goods beyond these specific methods.

Sources

1. WOW Freebies - Best Aus Freebies and Free Samples
2. 7NEWS - Coles Supermarket Shopper Shares Little-Known Loophole to Score Free Ice Cream
3. Yahoo Finance - Coles Loophole to Get Shoppers Free Products - But How Long Will It Last?
4. Coles Circle - FAQ