Bunnings

[DarrenSmith]

I realise it must be hard to employ trades people to work in retail
all the good ones stay doing what they do well.
Some of us are looking for help when we enter these establishments............after EXTENSIVE search of the tool dept to find said help, only to be told he wasn't sure if they had a sharpening guide for chisels and hand plane blades " I suppose it would hold the blade at a certain angle?"
At the last comment I departed , journey unfulfilled.....sad.....spent 6 or so hours cleaning and then hand sharpening an old no 4 record plane . Looks a treat but I know when my sharpening guide[from MITRE 10] arrives that blade will extra scary sharp .... hee hee
I know some of the men and women who work in bunnys are good...... I just wish i could find them!!!:rolleyes:

[Simple]

I work in an office and will occassionally stop in at Bunnies on my way home to pick up some supplies for the weekend. Here's what happened the last time I did this:

I needed to pick up some 80 grit sanding discs so decided to do it on the way home. I walk in, dressed in collar and tie (looking like a real office geek I guess), and start searching for what I'm after. All I could find was a packet of 60 grit and a combination packet of grits.

The entire time I was searching, two employees were standing there having a chat and occassionally glancing at me wondering whether they should come and assist. They didn't, so I eventually went and interrupted their conversation.

After explaining what I was after and getting looked at like - why would anybody dressed like that need to sand something - the employee conducted the same search I had already done.

He tried to offer me the combo pack.

No thanks, I'm just after 80 grit.

He double checked the 60 grit to make sure there were no 80 grit discs inside.

I pointed out that the packaging showed that it does come in 80, 120, etc. Do you have or can you get the 80 grit.

He triple checked the 60 grit pack and then the answer struck him. Sorry, we only have the 60 grit, it's the most popular.

I was dumbstruck! Why did he do a search and how did he come to this conclusion? Did he just remember the statistics on sand paper usage from the 'What Sand Paper Grit Do You Use' survey. Or did he just think I was stupid.

Hiding my smirk, I politely thanked him for his time and left.

Looking back, I wished I had of challenged him on sand paper grit popularity.

My theory is Bunnies employees determine how stupid they think you are by the way you are dressed.

Simon M

[journeyman Mick]

It's not just Bunnies Simon. I have an account at my locally owned hardware chain and a lot of the staff know me so I get pretty good service. On the odd occasion when I've wandered into another hardware store not dressed in my usual boots and stained work clothes I've been treated like an idiot. I don't have any hesitation telling staff I'm displeased with their level of service and have been known to interupt their conversations by yelling something like "hey listen mate, time's money I need to get back to the jobsite so maybe you can finish your chinwag on your own time instead of mine!" If staff are rude enough to not serve you and hold conversations then I think a bit of rudeness is warranted. I don't abuse or swear even if provoked but I will definitely make them feel my displeasure. Try it next time:D

Mick

[joez]

I totally agree.

I regularly visit a tool store franshise that has a store near my home and one near my work.

If I go during a lunch break, wearing shirt/pants/shoes I dont even get a second look.

When I go to the store near my home on weekends, wearing torn and paint stained clothes I always get their "trade prices".

Joe

[Sir Stinkalot]

I always look smashing wether it be the 9-5 wear or the weekend gear so I must always be getting ripped off ..... might be time to go back to the early 90's ... break out the Metallica T-shirts and the flannel and see how much respect I get then. :D

[Zed]

my local bunnies seems ok and I only use it when its conv. and I need a bag of cement or whatever.

I was building a gate and needed some treated pine - the bloke in the wood dept was pretty good - it didnt matter that i had a suit or torn trackies.

he helped carry stuff regardless and also helped select timber - im pretty fussy about what I select... in fact he seemed to respect that i was fussy...

the only real probs i know of is the obvious price issues that you get with a big monolithic company and if you ask the help about something that is not on the shelves or they dont stock it they have no freaking idea... institutionalised they seem...

do what I do - :
1) use em as a last resort or
2) bugger need this quick" or
3) send the missus with some specific instructions on what to get ("My husband said he needs a 13mm drill bit... no a 12.5mm is not what he asked for is it? , are you listening to me you pimply geek ?"


Cn the continuing converstations when you need help side of things - I just wander over and listen to what they are saying, if its work related i'll wait , if its not i'll just interrupt.

TUT TUT

[DaveInOz]

I love Bunnings.

No really.

They are good at what they do - they are a weekend hardware supermarket, and thats it.
I don't expect advice on gourmet eating at Safeway and I don't expect craftsmanship advice at Bunnings.
What I do expect is a fair range of the common requirements. The kids love the playground, and I get time for a coffee while the kids play.
They don't anymore but the kids did love going down every Saturday for the FREE kids craft sessions.
All this adds up to an easy even pleasant shopping experiance and where you're draging around the kids --- thats all that matters.

This comment was not paid for by Bunnings. Although the girls at the service desk always give the kids free stuff (trucks etc), and Bunnings have been very supportive in providing free craft materials to the local playgroups / kindergartens. I'm happy to look after those that look after me and mine.

[ozwinner]

Hi all
I love Bunnies too..................
Marinated in a red wine sauce, with spuds, peas and carrots.
With a glass of red to follow.
Cheers, Allan

[Sturdee]

My closest hardware store is Bunnings ( formerly Hardware House) and the next is also a Bunninings. From both of them I get good and friendly service irrespective whether I'm wearing my workgear or not.

Sure they have untrained staff working there but also knowledgeable guys as well. In any case they are not the only ones with untrained staff ( see current thread on Carbatec).

Anyway today I needed to get a Triton Multistand so I decided to let my fingers do the walking and rang Mitre10, Bowens and Total Tools for their price and availability. Prices ranged from $ 99. $ 89. and $ 85. compared to Bunnings $ 79.

Not only was Bunnings cheaper they also had them in stock- pity I could not use their famous price match offer.

Cheers,

Peter.

[Dean]

My young ones just love the kids workshops at Bunnies, and the playground too :)

The staff at the local bunnies here are not too bad actually. The ladies in the garden section are very knowledgable and most of the guys in the tool department know enough to get by.

Guess there are just some good stores, and some bad ones.
I go there to buy the odd bits and pieces that don't require a specialist woodworking store visit :)

[John Saxton]

This same point about Bunnies has cropped up before.

The STAFF there are ther for the sole purpose of selling, their Knowledge base relative to what they sell is limited.
They are young predominately with limited training but sufficient to allow them to"reasonably" cope with the Mum & Dad's of this world.

To expect any thing more (and I have been a past transgressor)is to say that you're in the wrong place.
This is volume selling not one on one and the idea is to get as much out the door with as little effort.

If you want expertise and you want deviate from Bunnies then go to a specialist tool shop build a rapport and you'll get the answers and probably the prices you expec t as well as the service to boot.

Bunnies do have a place in the market place but for heavens sake go in with your eye's open!
Cheers:)

[DarrenSmith]

Allright allright...... sigh I do actually agree with all the above statements,[except hold the peas with the bunnie ].
I was a bit miffed when i first posted this, Bunnies do have reedeeming qualities, as Johnno said go with your eyes open.
Thanks for replying to my whinge

Cheers
Darren

[ChrisS]

My experience has generally been ok until you ask for something like "Cut this timber in half so it fits in my wagon". You will get it done, but often have to wait.

I find the worst stores are those converted from Hardware House to Bunnings. I assume that the Hardware House staff were kept on an obviously they had a lower standard.

I also find the trick is to look for the guy/girl who looks the part (like they have a clue) and this often gives a result.

[69volts]

I walk into a bunnings store to the paint counter waiting,no one there. I catch the the eye of a staff member walking pass but heading for the take away store. So I follow him & ask to get some service. Over the PA. he yells it. I go back to the paint counter & wait & wait & wait. Finally he turns up. I ask him for some black tint, he says a small container $5- $8 or you could go down to Dulux & get it free. Then he goes into detail about how bunnings have been steadily increasing their prices since the take over of hardware house. Hey all I wanted is some tint. I took off to dulux got great service & free tint.

Mitre , Hurry up.

[LineLefty]

Try sourcing a lefthanded Circular saw and they look at you like you've got a left hand sprouting from your ear.

Thats bunnings, M10, Carbatec/Timbecon (wouldnt even soruce one for me!)

I know it seems like pendantry but accidentalyl lockign on the ON switch everytime you use hte tool is not very safe.

Whinge!!

[Tonyz]

I have now declared that I refuse to enter Bu...... again. I like service from people interested in their job and trade and have got hooked on Home Hardware Reynella SA Great staff, intelligent, Knowledgeable or find out THEN for you. Also they support woodworkers and TRITON
If I pay slightly more I dont care but in the long term I garanttee I still come away more satisfied.
Tony :) :cool:

[jackiew]

I visited a Home Hardware on Saturday where there were about 4 times more staff than customers and you couldn't move from one aisle to another without being accosted by someone .... absolutely no chance of spotting that item that I didn't know I wanted til I saw it ... i felt positively harassed and left the store with only the item I went in for ... normally i stagger out of hardware shops under the weight of my "impulse" purchases.

[GeoffS]

I like Bunnings for all the right reasons mentioned above. I even get excellent treatment from their trade desk despite never wearing work clothes or driving a ute.
Our other 2 local chains - well one always rips you off (their displayed prices are a rip off), you probably get 50% off if you run an account and spend a few $K every month In the other chain, most of their prices are not too bad (not their timber) but the staff, cripes they make Bunning's staff look like the founts of all trade wisdom and unless you wear your work clothes the smarter ones will rip you off.
Cheers

[Barry_White]

I have read this post with interest. In Tamworth we have a Bunnings, Mitre 10, Tradelink, Gasweld, Laminex Industries, Blackwoods, a company called Bearfast, a company called Avro Distributors and a independant builders hardware store with premises nearly as big as Bunnings.

Half of the staff at Bunnings used to work for the original builders hardware store and Elders Building Supplies that BBC bought out.
They were all well trained and very knowledgable and I also believe that the Manager keeps a tight reign on his staff and makes sure that all new staff are well trained.

All the staff will ask if they can help you and you never see any of them standing around yapping.

The local Mitre 10 has prices that will make you gag although they can be screwed on tools but don't carry a very good range of timber, MDF or Melamine mainly handyman stuff.

The Tradelink store is mainly for nuts and bolts and household goods.

The Gasweld Branch is the place to buy tools and have excellent knowledge and can be assured of getting good prices.

All the other stores carry good ranges of tools but are not that competative.

The independant builders hardware has the best prices on timber, MDF, Melamine and ply and Bunnings will match their prices + 10%

[adrian]

The mitre10 in Port Macquarie is generally cheaper than bunnings on timber and small items and they will match bunnings price if you find something more expensive such as tools.
As has been pointed out on other threads bunnings is quite expensive on the small ticket items such as packets of screws, hinges, bolts etc. Their 'cheapest or 10% off' marketing campaign has a lot of people believing that they are the cheapest. They rely on the fact that someone is not going to ring around to get the best price on a $4 pack of screws because the phone calls would negate any saving but if you check the difference between bunnings and other suppliers you will very often find that that pack of screws may be $3.50 elsewhere.

[Sir Stinkalot]

Today at Bunnies I picked up a 60L storage container .... it said on the sticker that it comes with a lid ..... exactly what I was after. Unfortunately the lids sitting next to the container didn't fit. I looked all over the others to see if it had been moved ... no luck ... looked for help .... no luck. I ended up taking the container to the sales desk. I commented that the container should have a lid but I couldn't find one .... the reply was I could have it cheaper .... No I am really after one with a lid .... did you look for a lid? Yes .... Did you ask somebody? .... who was there to ask. After two phone calls I was told that all the lids for these containers have been lost ... however on a brighter note there were some more on the top shelf .... thats all well and good but they aren't going to get them down until next Tuesday. Top customer service Bunnies :o

[GOODLIFE]

Just wait til Mitre10 Mega opens.....

Chelsea heights - 7th June

Dont go in expecting another Bunnings... Nothing like Bunnings. Be excited. :cool:

[Caliban]

Where I live Bunnings are always dearer than Mitre10, I bought a 50 pack of 65mm tech screws at m10 for $17.63, the same pack in Bunnings was $26. When I mentioned it they said they'd match it, they had made me feel like I had the plague just for questioning their price so I didn't ask for the promised 10%, now I feel ripped off and wish I'd been a bit more ignorant. I will not step foot in Kempsey Bunnings anymore, but the next closest Bunnings, Port Macquarie has helpful, intelligent people. So I suppose what I'm getting at is you have to pick and choose and not generalise.
Cheers
Jim

[Bob Willson]

Hovo

wish I'd been a bit more ignorant.

Surely you mean more forceful.:( It is not showing ignorance to demand that somebody lives up to a promise.

[Barry_White]

The difference between Bunnings and Mitre 10 is that Bunnings is a Company owned Store but the Mitre 10 stores are idividually owned franchised buying group. So most of the prices in Mitre 10 stores are set by the individual owners.

Consequently some are cheaper than Bunnings and some are dearer. Mitre 10 is a very big buying group but Bunnings is owned by Westfarmers which is a much bigger buying conglomerate

[Caliban]

Hovo


Surely you mean more forceful.:( It is not showing ignorance to demand that somebody lives up to a promise.


Yes Bob
that's exactly what I meant.
thanks for the help
cheers
Jim (ex spelling nazi ;) )

[Sturdee]

Where I live Bunnings are always dearer than Mitre10, I bought a 50 pack of 65mm tech screws at m10 for $17.63, the same pack in Bunnings was $26.


Jim,

Whilst getting some timber from my local timberyard I saw that they sell the same screws for $ 13.25 for a 50 pack.

May I be so bold and suggest a little less time spell checking and more time price checking may in order. :D :D

Peter.

[Caliban]

Sturdee
Hurtful, Peter. :o
Especially as you are one of those who spells so wonderfully. ;)
I did all the price checking possible in this little town.
Sorry that I offended your beloved B.... shop.
cheers
Jim (ex spelling Nazi) also ex Bun.....(Kempsey) customer

[stevephillips]

I live in Roleystone which is about 35km fron Perth center but I shop at Eureka Hardware in Wilson opposite where we used to live. The owner Phil can get anything you need if its not in stock and his prices are within spitting distance of the others if not less. On more than one occation Ive needed a tool to do a job on the rental property nearby and rather than drive back to Roley Phil has lent me his, gratis! He is knowledgable and attracts a crowd of handymen and tradesmen who stop and talk, sometimes for hours. Information and advice is freely available and usfull contacts can be made. Its a real hardware shop. ("screwdrivers all round and a double for you barman") :D

[echnidna]

Dont have a bunnies near me though one is on the way.
Have dropped into bunnies at Geelong and Ballarat.
YUK.
Cheaper tools maybe, but their timber and moulding prices are skyhigh and limited assortment. When they do get to Warrnambool the local builders supplies will knock them off very easily. Even in Melbourne I would get timber cheaper and better without problems.

As far as staff knowledge, that is much the same as most employees at BigW or Kmart or the other large chain stores etc, they are just employed to put your purchases in a bag at the cash register. So if you hate dealing with sales people without trade skills just shop elsewhere.

[Theva]

Hi,

I like the convenience of Bunnies. They are open till 9pm on weekdays, suits me fine. It’s nothing but a hardware supermarket.

Pick what you want if it is on the shelfs, fill up your trolley and off you go.

We do not expect the staff at other supermarkets to know much about their products they sell , or do we?

If one likes speciality items or fresh produce then try the fruit & veg shop of one’s choice; or the farmers markets. Same goes for timber, hardware & tools.

Regards,

Theva

[Shane Watson]

Yeah but Bunnies market there business that has staff that are helpfull and in most instance's TRADESMEN there to offer advice. Woolies and coles don't market this way cause they don't offer this service.

[derekcohen]

Do you seriously believe that you are going to find specialist tools in a shop that caters to the handyman (or should that read "handyperson"?)! Cheap tools (because the subtleties of many features are not needed or understood), packaged hardware (negating the need to make decisions), and expensive timber (because the average handyman cannot or does not want to prepare it).

I think that Bunnings provides a valuable service. Yes it is expensive and, like many monopolies, it sets its own prices. Its competition comes from similar supermarkets.

If I want a serious tool, with serious service, and serious advise, then I go to a serious woodshop (like Carba-tec or Timbercon). For timber I mostly shop at salvage yards (and accept the wood prices at Bunnings if I choose to buy there, which I rarely do). I get some screws from Bunnings, but I also shop at a specialist fastening outlet (who still stock traditional brass wood screws).

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Theva]

Shane,

Most of the staff I come cross at our usual Bunnies are tradesmen; to name a few I know - machine operator, steel fabricators & boiler makers. The catch is they are not experts in all available tools, timber etc. If one is after handyman type of advice then they are ok, the knowledge they have is what the gained from their own projects. This level is advice may be sufficient for mum & dad type DIY warriors but not in the league of expert craftsmen.

Do we really expect craftsmen types to hang around Bunnies offering free advice?

So Bunnies advertisements have an element of truth; as all advertisements one have to take them with a pinch of salt.

Bunnies are not a builders supplier, timber merchants, furniture makers supplier quality tool dealers etc but just a hardware supermarket catering for mum & dad types DIY needs; then I wonder why there are two threads about bunnies running?

I have no affiliations with Bunnings, the jellybeans (sometimes) offered by checkout staff does not count :rolleyes: .

I am sure grocery chains do advertise about the freshness of their fish / catch, sweetness of their pineapples etc. Perhaps, I should ask woollies checkout girls about the sweetness of their pineapples next time. :p

Regards,

Theva