Aug 06, 2021

“I wanted to cry”: Coles checkout worker pays for confused elderly shopper’s groceries

Elderly woman shopping and confused

“I really wanted to share a beautiful thing I witnessed today,” wrote shopper Lyn on Facebook.

An older woman was having trouble getting her card to work at the Coles supermarket checkout. When her card was declined twice, she began to get “confused”.  

A young staff member, Michael, immediately stepped in to help.

And it didn’t end there. The older woman assumed the young man had solved the problem, so gave him little thanks, but that didn’t worry the cashier one bit.

“The elderly lady just thought he had fixed the technology somehow, not realising he had just paid for her $73 groceries.”

“He didn’t look for thanks or acknowledgement in any way.”

Lyn informed the supervisor at Coles Medowie and wrote that “good things are coming his way in life.”

“It warmed my cold heart,” Lyn wrote.

Nearly 1,000 people have commented on the post, praising the young man’s actions.

“It’s warmed my heart. Good luck in your future endeavours young man. You’ll go far in life,” one poster wrote.

A colleague also recognised the young man in the viral post. 

“Reading through this I was thinking it was Michael … then I saw his name. He is a lovely young man and he is an asset to our store. I will be giving him a praise up!” she wrote.

One commenter noted how infrequently customer service staff are acknowledged. 

“Love to hear a good story like this. Customer service isn’t easy and often staff don’t get recognition for exceptional customer service. Thanks for sharing!” she wrote.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. You need a story like this to lift your spirits with all the Covid-19 heartache that is affecting everyone, even this young man whose act of kindness has put a smile on so many peoples faces reading this. Thank you Michael.

  2. If I had witnessed this, I would have repaid the shop assistant the $73 out of my own pocket…..what a lovely thing to do for an elderly person…..could have been my elderly mother (if she was still alive)…..I am an Age Pensioner myself, but doing OK xxxxx

  3. Yes I always shop at Coles in our suburb, their staff are very accommodating and courteous. I am elderly and a bit slow after having my chemo 24 ago. Although looking at me now doesn’t show that I am sick with this dreadful disease. Your staff gives me assurance that they are there to help me. Ish at the customer service, Anthony at the check out and Lance of the fresh produce.

  4. Accolades to you Michael may your life be full of blessings and happiness. 👍👏👏👏

  5. What a beautiful story. I have also witnessed selfless aged care staff purchasing wooly jumpers and warm socks to protect residents from the cold with their own money. Its these little acts of kindness that give you faith in the overall goodness of humanity. The shopping centre manager should refund this boys purchase out of petty cash and make him employee of the month!

  6. Well done Michael, for being so kind in, helping the senior citizen in Coles checkout. To often we become inpatient with seniors in our society, after all we must remember, they did not grow up with computers. If we all extend ourselves in helping our seniors in times of confusion, just as Michael did at the checkout, wow wouldn’t the world be a better place for them.

  7. What a wonderful young man, he has an amazing soul and really deserves acknowledgement from his bosses, this is exceptional customer service and from someone so young, I can’t thank or praise him enough. None of us are going to escape old age. Bless him.
    Thank you young man.
    ❤️🙏❤️🌻❤️👌

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Elderly Woman Dies After Being Attacked By Rooster

An elderly South Australian woman has died after being attacked by her pet rooster while collecting eggs from a chicken coop in her own backyard.  University of Adelaide Professor of Pathology, Roger Byard, recently told the ABC that the woman’s death was a direct result of the rooster pecking her lower left leg and puncturing... Read More

Nursing Home Resident Starts Sewing Face Masks To Fight Coronavirus

Much has been said about protecting people living in nursing homes recently, but it appears as though some residents are more worried about everyone else. Rina Sartoretto, 86, was born in Italy and first started sewing at the tender age of 12-years-old. Mrs. Sartoretto’s skills with the needle and thread developed quickly, and before too... Read More

92-year-old Great Grandma’s Secrets to Living a Fulfilling Life

It’s an exciting time for Audrey Kuchel, a 92 year old from Ballarat, who Feros Care recently announced as the winner of their 2016 Get Bold Not Old photo competition. Get Bold Not Old is part of an ongoing campaign by Feros Care to show that age is just a number, and that the elderly... Read More
Advertisement