Imagine strolling through the aisles of your favorite store, only to stumble upon something so bizarrely brilliant it stops you in your tracks. That’s exactly what happened to one shopper at a Melbourne Kmart, and it’s sparking a debate about how we share feedback. While exploring the candle section at the Chadstone store, Josh encountered something entirely unexpected: yellow Post-It Notes plastered on shelves, each one a candid, unfiltered review of the products. He couldn’t resist sharing his discovery on TikTok, under the handle joshuacornelius04, and it’s safe to say the internet is eating it up.
In his video, Josh kicks things off with a laugh: ‘One of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. Someone put feedback!’ The first note he highlights is stuck to a melon-scented candle, bluntly declaring, ‘Too artificial. Not worth $2.’ But it doesn’t stop there. Another note, attached to a candle labeled ‘happiness,’ takes a darker turn: ‘Not very happy,’ it reads, paired with a sad face and a single star. The final note? A Darrell Lea licorice-inspired candle gets a side-eye: ‘It smells like licorice, but it’s low-key gross,’ with a two-out-of-five-star rating.
But here’s where it gets controversial: While these notes are far from official reviews—one online shopper raved about the ‘happiness’ candle, calling it ‘an extremely affordable and beautifully smelling candle that fills my home with ambience and love’—they’ve ignited a conversation about the value of raw, in-the-moment feedback. Social media users are divided. Some are loving it, with one person joking, ‘Like ‘staff picks’ at the bookstore, except for candles.’ Another chimed in, ‘Real-life reviews, I like it.’ But others are scratching their heads, asking, ‘Who carries a pen and paper these days?’
And this is the part most people miss: Some shoppers think this guerrilla-style review system is genius. ‘I really appreciate that for real,’ one user commented, ‘cause sometimes Kmart candles are hit or miss.’ Another shared a relatable struggle: ‘The amount of times I say ‘oh, look how pretty’ and it sucks me in with something wild like Vanilla Cookie Crumble Doughnut Fudge cake pop, and then it smells like straight-up gas and foot odor.’ One fan even quipped, ‘We love a helpful queen!’
Kmart has stayed mum on the issue, but sources suggest the retailer values all customer feedback—just preferably through official channels. Meanwhile, the rest of the store isn’t getting the same sticky-note treatment. The new February Living range, for instance, is a hit, with its neutral, earthy tones and trendy pieces winning over Kmart’s loyal fanbase. Take the viral compressed sofa, for example. At $599, it comes packed in a box but inflates into a luxurious three-seater lounge—and the reviews? Overwhelmingly positive. ‘In love! Such a great size and colour,’ one customer gushed. Another asked, ‘Have I been influenced?’ While a third simply declared, ‘OMG I want one!’
Here’s the big question: Is this makeshift review system a stroke of genius or a messy distraction? Should stores embrace this kind of candid feedback, or does it cross a line? Let us know in the comments—we’re all ears!
