Countdown

Grocery98% confidence

Countdown is a major New Zealand supermarket chain operated by Woolworths New Zealand, offering groceries, household goods, and everyday essentials through large-format stores and online shopping.

Auckland, New Zealand
countdown.co.nz
Owned by Woolworths Group Limited

About Countdown

Countdown is a major New Zealand supermarket chain operated by Woolworths New Zealand, with hundreds of stores nationwide and its head office in Auckland. It offers a full range of groceries, fresh produce, meat, bakery items, household goods, personal care products, and everyday essentials. Customers can shop in-store or online via countdown.co.nz or the Countdown app, with options for home delivery and click & collect, as well as earning rewards through the Everyday Rewards (formerly Onecard) loyalty programme.

A Countdown charge may appear on your bank or card statement after you shop in-store, place an online grocery order, pay for a fuel or gift card purchase at a Countdown store, or use services like delivery or bag fees. For online orders, you might see a higher temporary authorization hold (to cover variable-weight items and substitutions) that later adjusts to the final amount when your order is picked and completed. Recurring or repeated charges are usually from regular online orders, saved subscription-style “Smart Shopping” lists, or frequent in-store purchases where your card is stored on a mobile wallet.

To verify a Countdown charge, first match the date and amount with your paper or email receipt, online account order history at countdown.co.nz, or app order details. If you still have questions, contact Countdown Customer Care on 0800 40 40 40 (within NZ) or use the Help & Contact section on countdown.co.nz, providing the transaction date, amount, and the last four digits of your card. Common issues—such as double charges, pending authorizations not dropping off, or missing refunds for substitutions or out-of-stock items—are usually resolved by store staff or Customer Care issuing a correction or refund back to your original payment method.

Bank Statement Variations

28 known variations

These are the raw merchant codes that appear on bank and credit card statements that we've identified as belonging to Countdown.

  1. COUNTDOWN BOTANY DOWNS BOTANY DOWNZ NZL
  2. COUNTDOWN BOTANY\CNR TI RAKAU & TE IRIRA
  3. COUNTDOWN CENTRAL MALL CENTRAL MANZ NZL
  4. COUNTDOWN CENTRAL MALL\ROTORUA CENTRAL M
  5. COUNTDOWN CHARTWELL CHARTWELL NZ NZL
  6. COUNTDOWN CHARTWELL\LYNDON COURT\HAMILTO
  7. COUNTDOWN GLENFIELD GLENFLD MANZ NZL
  8. COUNTDOWN GLENFIELD\GLENFIELD MALL BENTL
  9. COUNTDOWN HENDERSON HENDERSON NZ NZL
  10. COUNTDOWN HENDERSON\WEST CITY MALL CATHE
  11. COUNTDOWN LYNMALL\LYNMMALL SHOPPING CENT
  12. COUNTDOWN LYNNMALL LYNNMALL NZ NZL
  13. COUNTDOWN MANUKAU CITY MANUKAU CINZ NZL
  14. COUNTDOWN MANUKAU MALL\MANUKAU CITY CENT
  15. COUNTDOWN MASTERTON MASTERTON NZ NZL
  16. COUNTDOWN MASTERTON\CNR WORKSOP RD & DIX
  17. COUNTDOWN PALMERSTON N PALMERSTONNZ NZL
  18. COUNTDOWN PARAPARAUMU PARAPARAUMNZ NZL
  19. COUNTDOWN PARAPARAUMU\COASTLANDS SHOPPIN
  20. COUNTDOWN QUEENSGATE QUEENSGATENZ NZL
  21. COUNTDOWN QUEENSGATE\QUEENSGATE CENTRE 3
  22. COUNTDOWN ST LUKES ST LUKES NZ NZL
  23. COUNTDOWN ST LUKES\ST LUKES SHOPPING CEN
  24. COUNTDOWN TAUPO TAUPO NZ NZL
  25. COUNTDOWN TAUPO\CNR SPA RD & TONGARIRO S
  26. COUNTDOWN THE PALMS THE PALMS NZ NZL
  27. COUNTDOWN WHAKATANE WHAKATANE NZ NZL
  28. COUNTDOWN WHAKATANE\105-125 COMMERCE ST\

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Countdown charge on my statement higher than the order total I saw online?

For online orders, Countdown initially places an authorization hold that can be higher than your estimated order total to cover variable-weight items (like fruit, vegetables, and meat) and potential substitutions. Once your order is picked and finalized, the hold is adjusted and only the final order amount (including delivery and bag fees, minus any discounts) is actually charged. The higher pending amount should disappear from your statement within a few business days.

What are typical amounts I might see from Countdown on my bank statement?

Most Countdown charges will reflect the total of your in-store shop or online order, which commonly ranges anywhere from NZ$20–NZ$400 depending on your grocery spend. You may also see smaller amounts for quick top-up shops, bag purchases, or service fees, and separate charges for gift cards or mobile top-ups done at the checkout. Delivery fees for online orders are usually bundled into the main order charge rather than appearing as a separate transaction.

Why do I see two Countdown charges for the same day?

This can happen if you made more than one visit or transaction on the same day (for example, a fuel or gift card purchase plus groceries), or if an online order had an initial authorization hold and a final charge. In most cases, the higher pending amount will drop off after the final, correct charge is posted. If both charges fully settle and the totals don’t match your receipts, contact Countdown Customer Care or your local store with your bank statement and receipts so they can investigate and process a refund if needed.

How do I view or get a copy of my Countdown receipt for an online or in-store purchase?

For online orders, sign in to your account at countdown.co.nz or in the app and go to ‘My Orders’ or ‘Order History’ to view past orders, including itemized receipts and final charges. In-store, receipts are printed at checkout, and some self-checkouts can email receipts if you enter your email address; if you’ve lost a receipt, your local store may be able to reprint it using the transaction date, time, and the last four digits of your card. Keeping digital or photographed copies of receipts can help you quickly match any statement charges.

Can Countdown charges be recurring or subscription-like?

Countdown does not run traditional fixed-fee subscriptions for grocery shopping, but regular customers may see similar amounts appear at similar intervals if they place weekly or fortnightly online orders. Some shoppers also use saved “Smart Lists” or repeat their previous orders, which can make the pattern of charges look like a subscription. If you see unexpected repeat orders, log into countdown.co.nz to check your order history and ensure no one else has access to your account or saved payment methods.

How do I dispute a Countdown charge or request a refund?

Start by confirming the amount against your receipts or online order history; if there’s an overcharge, duplicate transaction, or issue with substitutions or missing items, contact your local store or Countdown Customer Care on 0800 40 40 40. For online orders, you can also use the Help section in your account to report issues with a specific order. Approved refunds are usually processed back to your original payment method and may take a few business days to appear, depending on your bank.

Why do I see a small or temporary ‘PENDING’ Countdown charge on my card?

When you add or update a card, or place an online order, Countdown may place a small temporary authorization (sometimes just a few dollars) to verify your payment method. This is not a final charge and will either be reversed or replaced by the correct transaction amount once your order is processed. If a small pending amount remains for more than 7 business days, contact your bank and Countdown Customer Care with the transaction details.

How can I contact Countdown about a charge I don’t recognize?

If you can’t match the charge to any recent shopping, call Countdown Customer Care on 0800 40 40 40 (within New Zealand) or use the contact form and live chat options on countdown.co.nz under the Help or Contact Us section. Provide the exact date, amount, and how it appears on your statement, plus the last four digits of your card so they can locate the transaction. If they confirm the charge is not from Countdown, contact your bank immediately to report potential card misuse.

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