By ZAK WHEELER, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA

Published: 22:53 EDT, 3 October 2025 | Updated: 22:53 EDT, 3 October 2025

A cosy vintage store has defended its decision to charge customers a $5 entry fee saying it was forced to act after brazen shoplifters began targeting the boutique. 

Goosey Goosey Gander in Burra, South Australia, shocked customers after it hung a sign on its door asking shoppers to pay $5 just to come inside. 

Regular customers who are known by the staff will not have to pay the fee but new visitors passing through the town will be asked to pay. 

The controversial sign states the $5 fee is ‘refundable on purchase’, which implies the deposit will not be returned to window shoppers. 

A staff member said the entry fee had been introduced because the vintage store has had ‘so much bad behaviour and stealing’. 

It came after a man passing through Burra with his daughter shared a photo of the sign on Facebook and accused the store of making a ‘tidy profit’ from its customers. 

Aussies were divided on the entrance fee in the comments, with supporters insisting it provided staff with a safe environment to conduct business. 

‘It is apparently a shop supporting local artists… Definitely off-putting though and an explanation would be better with maybe a gold coin donation,’ one woman said.

The $5 entry fee is to counteract rampant shoplifting in the store, a staff member said

The $5 entry fee is to counteract rampant shoplifting in the store, a staff member said

Goosey Goosey Gander in Burra, South Australia, has implemented an entrance fee to be paid by customers wanting to look around inside (the store is pictured)

Goosey Goosey Gander in Burra, South Australia, has implemented an entrance fee to be paid by customers wanting to look around inside (the store is pictured)

‘Pretty good idea really, save them dealing with stupid time wasters. Wish I could do this in our store,’ another wrote. 

‘It’s really just to discourage people that have no intention of buying and usually in response to high theft and breakage,’ a third said.

‘Fair enough, free county. Pun intended.’

However, the majority of commenters slammed the store, with one questioning if it was even legal to charge an entry fee in the first place. 

‘Not legal surely,’ they said. 

‘This should be reported to the appropriate fair trading department,’ a second wrote.

‘I wouldn’t go in how dare they charge to enter,’ a third said. 

South Australian stores can legally charge an entry fee so long as it is reasonable and clearly visible upon entry, according to Australian Consumer Law. 

It is legal for a store to charge an entry fee so long as its signage is clear and not misleadings, according to Australian Consumer Law (the second-hand store is pictured)

It is legal for a store to charge an entry fee so long as its signage is clear and not misleadings, according to Australian Consumer Law (the second-hand store is pictured)

If there is no confusion or misdirection caused by the rules stated on the entry fee sign it is completely acceptable.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Goosey Goosey Gander for comment. 

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Goosey Goosey Gander: Aussies divided after store began charging customers a $5 ENTRY fee