Woolworths responds to $2 Olympic coin outrage as prices jump: ‘Unacceptable’

Bags of Woolworths $2 Olympic coins are being sold online for hundreds of dollars. It's left a sour taste in some supermarket customers’ mouths, who said they hadn't been able to secure the coins themselves.

Woolworths and the Royal Australian Mint recently released four $2 coins to celebrate the Australian Olympic and Paralympic teams in Paris. Customers who pay in cash in-store have a chance to collect the coins, with a new one released every two weeks.

But there have now been a number of the coins listed on eBay and Facebook Marketplace for higher prices, with some sellers listing bags of the coins for up to $200. A Woolworths spokesperson told Yahoo Finance they were aware of the listings.

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“We're aware and are currently looking into this. We don't encourage the resale of these items and It's clearly unacceptable and doesn't meet our expectations, and those of the wider community,” a spokesperson said.

One Mandurah customer lashed out at Woolworths after she noticed the listings.

“When are you going to do something about bags of Olympic coins being sold?” she wrote. “That's why so many of us are being told they have run out. Do better.”

Another customer shared her frustration and said she had been left empty-handed trying to secure the coins.

“My local stores have bags in the till but won’t open them. It’s ridiculous. They aren’t ‘allowed’ to choose which coins I get, nor can they open a bag of them if they already have other coins in the till,” she said.

How can customers get the coins?

Woolworths customers can get the coins when they pay in cash and receive change in-store.

The supermarket has noted that “all coins are distributed by chance and are only available while stocks last”. One design is released every two weeks into cash tills across the eight-week period.

If you are willing to pay for the coins, you can purchase them through the Royal Australian Mint directly or Australia Post.

A set of three 2024 Australian Olympic Team $2 Coloured coins can be purchased for $20. The 2024 Australian Paralympic Team $2 coins are available for $8.

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