Warning: this is a true story

[TermiMonster]

I went into Bunnies yesterday and asked the guy:
"Do you have jarrah flooring"
He said:
"you want a jar of what?....":doh:

This is a true story. (in the timber section)

[RETIRED]

You might have been in real strife if you'd asked for Marri.:wink:

[doug3030]

"you want a jar of what?....":doh:

I was building a verandah, so I went to bunnings. I asked the bloke; "I need some timber for the floor of my verandah"

He must have been having a bad day cos he replied: "Do you want decking?"

Not being one to back down from a challenge, I replied: "how would you like to be good enough?"

I got a couple of good hits into him then cleared out before his mates turned up. :2tsup:

Now I shop at mitre 10. They arent as aggressive there.

Cheers

Doug

[Wongo]

Do they have Blackbutt?

[rrich]

In Home Depot (The equivalent of Bunnings) I'm looking for some Vix bits. A gentleman next to me asks the HD guy, "Do you have any 1 inch augers?" The HD guy says, "We don't have nothing like that." I said to the gentleman pointing, "Like those?"

In Home Depot, I'm looking for some casters. They are all mixed up in boxes under the bottom shelf. I'm trying to find four that are all the same. I'm sitting on the floor, pulling casters out of the boxes and then putting it back in the correct box. A HD guy walks up and growls, "What are you doing?" My answer is "I'm looking for four identical casters. As long as I have the caster in my hand I might as well as put the caster in the correct box." The HD guy says, "You should work here." and then he walks away.

In Home Depot, I needed to purchase two outdoor light fixtures. I see the fixture that I need on display but none in the bin. Up above, 2-3M high, there are the fixtures that I want. Near by is a set of steps on wheels. I go get the steps and start to wheel them into position. A HD guy walks up and says, "Customers can't use this ladder." I countered with, "Well then would you go up there and get the light fixture." His answer was, "This isn't my department." and wheels the stairs away. I climb up on the shelving and as I'm moving one of the light fixtures to another and lower shelf, HD guy #2, obviously a manager, walks up. "What are you doing? he demands. I look at him and toss one of the light fixtures to him saying, "Here catch." and then "This one too." Then I climb down. HD guy #2 asks, "Why didn't you use the stairs on wheels?" I looked him straight in the eye and said, "Because one of your employees took them away from me." HD guy #2 just stood there with his mouth hanging open.

Have faith, the world over, home centers all hire the same type of people. It's a sad state of affairs.

[Ruddy]

Been there, done that.........often.

[AlexS]

Needed a couple of screen doors, Bunnings had them for $168 in their on-line catalogue. When I went to the nearest branch, they only had one in the colour & style I wanted, so I went to the next nearest. They had two @ $99 each, but one was on display. No probs, bloke took it off display, but it didn't have the lock. No idea where it would be, he says. Oh, there it is in the bin with all the other screen doors.
Get home, find it's still missing the main mechanism. Back out to the big green shed, rummage around in the bottom of the bin behind all the other doors. Success!

[crowie]

I had a mate who worked on top end landscaping projects in and around Sydney...
He & his family moved to the country but the sort of high landscaping he used to do wasn't in such demand, so when the local Bunnings was advertising for people he applied and was put in the electrical department, something he know very little about.... got to love there managements thinking or lack there of.....

[Wongo]

and now he is one of the specialists. :B

[doug3030]

and now he is one of the specialists. :B

Probably. You have to wonder about the "titles" that Bunnings staff wear on their nametags.

A couple of months ago I encountered a young lady, probably late teens/early twenties with a nametag title of "timber specialist".

Honestly, all I did was to ask her a couple of questions about the comparative benefits and workability of a couple of types of timber in their range compared to some of the species in my timber vault and she ran off bawling her eyes out :oo:. Did I do something wrong?

Cheers

Doug

[Wongo]

:D :D You are nasty man.

[Mobyturns]

a nametag title of "timber specialist".



All that means is they can tell the difference between ply & timber.

[rrich]

. . a young lady, probably late teens/early twenties

She was working at Home Depot . . Obviously a new employee as big bad Billy Goat Gruff was guiding her.

I asked, "Where is your high pressure laminate sheets?"
bbBGG says, "We don't carry nothing like that."
I answered, "Yes you do. It is usually next to the pre-made and pre-formed counter tops."
YL says, "Oh, I know where that is."
bbBGG growls, "You take care of it then."
As YL and I are walking she asks, "What did you call it?"
I explained, "High pressure laminate is Formica brand but you carry the Nevamar brand."
YL then says, "I just learned something."

Unfortunately I've not seen YL since. Obviously smart enough to find employment elsewhere.

[crowie]

All that means is they can tell the difference between ply & timber.

Some would not consider ply as REAL TIMBER!! :U

[doug3030]

Some would not consider ply as REAL TIMBER!! :U


Thats ok, some would not consider her a real timber specialist either :D

[bsrlee]

You wonder how these places stay in business.

My local Bunnies had a large trolley of end-of-line and 'missing parts' screen doors, all for $50 or so. I bought one with the intention of enclosing a small area under a footway as 'secure' storage, a few missing screws would not be a problem to me. My neighbour's wife saw it the other day & said she would like on to replace their existing screen door so next trip to Bunnies I had a look for the trolley - I found an actual knowledgeable & helpful employee who helped me find where they had hidden the Cotter/split pins - would you believe they are considered 'Hi tensile bolts'? - neither did I.

Anyhow, I asked about the door - he informed me that the manager had directed staff to put the lot in a dumpster & send them to landfill - a complete economic loss to Bunnies as well as environmental disaster. This is the same clown that held on to my mobile phone that I had dropped instore for a few days before taking it to lost & found

The problems in these places starts at the top.

[hybridfiat]

Went to Bunnings last year in July looking for the 'cut to fit' corrugated roof flanges for flues, breather pipes etc.
A young girl came up to me as I walked in and asked if I needed help. I though "this is going to interesting", so I described what I wanted and without so much as a delay she said "aisle 35 down the end bottom on the right".
That's where they where too!
My experience of Bunnings has been pretty consistently good since then.
In October while I was putting the new floor down I ran out of Selleys LD Floor Adhesive and so did all the Bunnings stores near me (Id bought all their stock). So I tried 2 local hardware stores. Big stores, well established stores who cater for tradies so I thought. They had no idea of what I was talking about. I rang: The store assistant went and looked at the tin they had and came back,
A: "yes we have some floor adhesive"
Me" "is it low foaming"?
A: "I don't know" :doh:
Me: "can you look"?
a little while later A: "it doesn't say anything on the tin".
Me: "who makes it"?
A: "I dont know".:~
After 20mins I gave up and rang Bunnings.
They found a store that had some and when I got there the bloke in that section had been using the stuff to put a floor down at a friends place. He was full bottle on the stuff.

[popawisky]

LOL at Bunnings etc. My best experience at the green shed was when I asked if I could check a set square for accuracy, was informed that being metal, not wood it was accurate not allowed to check.
So a delightful half hour filling a trolley from all areas of the shop, returned to the same tool expert and again was not allowed to check the square. Wonder how long it took them to return the contents of the trolley to the shelves.

[NathanaelBC]

To be fair to Bunnings, at least their returns policy is pretty good / loose:

"Hi, I want to return …"
"… what's wrong with it?"
"It le…"
"… got the receipt? Want to exchange or refund?"
"Refund please"
"Done"

:2tsup:

[TermiMonster]

To be fair to Bunnings, at least their returns policy is pretty good / loose:
:2tsup:

True.

[david.elliott]

last week and could not help overhearing a conversation between a staff member and a sweet young thing (SYT)
the convo went like...
S...I'd like to hang some pictures on my walls,
H...What kind of walls are they?
S...Cavity walls, I think?
H...Then you need these he says, giving her Wallmates, and instructing her to place them on the end of a screwdriver a push/turn on the wall... and wandering off.
At this point, being a show off, and unable to resist an SYT, I talk to her.
Could not help overhearing, I say, but where have you cavity walls? (I asked as here in WA gyprock clad walls are still quite rare/unusual)
S...In my house she says.
M...What makes them cavity I ask?
S...There are two rows of bricks with a gap. Aren't they cavity walls?
At this point the image of her with wallmates on the end of a screwdriver push/turning on a hardwall plaster wall pops into my head.
So... I point out the error, take her to nylon anchors and the picture hanging stuff, ask her if she has a drill and a masonry bit, she does, she thinks. I figure she can drill a hole, put one of them in and hammer it home...