Bunnings

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:

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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 :)

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:)

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

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.

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.

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!!