Woolworths

Last week there were reports of customers harassing Woolworths workers because the closing down sales bargains were “not cheap enough”. It is difficult not to feel for the workers, who, in addition to the imminent loss of their livelihoods, have to face such attitude from customers.

We all like a good bargain and feel we have conquered something when we get something ridiculously cheap. I can understand, however, why things are not being just given away at next to nothing by Woolworths. The duty of the administrators is to maximise the amount left in the coffers when the doors finally shut. This cannot be achieved by selling items at a massive loss, because then the loss becomes even bigger, as you are still paying staff, rent and other expenses.

If people expect things for next to nothing, then it may as well have been cheaper for Woolworths to put everything outside, with a ‘help yourself’ notice and shut its doors to minimise costs.