Dumbing down of Buunnings

At least at Bunnings you get a good day as you enter and there are sales people who give you a smile.

I find the worst store to [try to] shop at is the larger of the local branch of the national chain that advertises "We Sell Tools Not Toys".

They have order takers not sales people.

Experience #1. I stood in an aisle with my hand on a power tool - which was chained down so that I could not lift it off the shelf to get any feel for the balance etc. An order taker comes down the aisle towards me. I catch his eye. I must want to ask a question about a product. He turns abruptly and walks the other way. I walked out of the store and waved to him as I left.

Experience #2. Wanted to buy a Vernier Caliper. Walked around the shelves until I found them in a locked display counter with the price tags turned down. Stood at the counter and had order takers walked past me to serve "tradies" in overalls and with a written order form in their hand. I walked down to the service area. Finally noticed, because there were no tradies at the counter, and said that I would like to look at the Vernier Calipers that are down there in a display case. Order taker asks which one I want. I respond I am not sure, I would like to look at them and see how much they were. Huff and puff. Which one do you want. I don't know. Well that meant he had to open the case. Finally I got to see what they had. Peed off by then, so left without buying.

Experience #3. Wanted some advise about a product. Stood at sales counter. Tradies were served as they came I was ignored. I nearly got served by one order taker, but the phone rang as he got to me. He hurried off, other order takers walked past and ignored me. Finally one came to help me, by then I was turning to leave.

Experience #4. Looking to buy a lathe. Asked order taker, whom I had trapped in that area, whether the ones on display were the only ones they had. He said yes. I pointed out that the display item I was interested in had rust on it and asked again whether, if I purchased, that would be the one I received. He said yes, they would not get a new one in for me. Brought elsewhere.

I know, I am a glutton for punishment. But most of these instances have been shopping expeditions for product and price comparisions so that I could buy elsewhere. But the order takers were not to know that I did not have a pocket full of money and was hot the trot to buy.

The same business has a large stall at the Sydney Wood Show. There you can't walk past without being hassled by their order takers. Gives me great pleasure to ignore them as I walk past to deal with people who really care.

Give me Bunnings "good morning", "how are you today", "can I help you", "are you being served". The other crowd might stock "Tools Not Toys", but they certainly make no effort to sell them to the general public.

P.S. There is a much smaller branch of the "Tools not Toys" store in the local area. They don't stock the same range of products as big brother, but the staff at that store are polite and helpful, just don't have much to sell.

Understanding the disappointment that raised the "bad" comments regarding (mainly) Bunning's we should all realize that the staff come, mostly, from our local community.
I deal with Bunnies and, if needs be, will ALWAYS approach day staff who I know have been employed there for years - if I visit after normal 'day' hours it's for stuff I KNOW ABOUT.
In a community of 22000 the selection procedure is not likely to identify a physically wrecked/retired tradesman for each section of sales. My local Bunning's is staffed by very cheerful, and helpfull persons who recognize me when I visit - they don't know everything, but go out of thier way to understand my, sometimes, rambling description of what I want.

soth:;

Hi Girls,

If you guys win any of the Gift Vouchers and feel strongly that you should boycott Bunnies, please send then to me.

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Originally Posted by baxter

P.S. There is a much smaller branch of the "Tools not Toys" store in the local area. They don't stock the same range of products as big brother, but the staff at that store are polite and helpful, just don't have much to sell.

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Baxter

We must have it pretty good in Tamworth. We have one of those "Tools Not Toys" branches which has been going as long as the original one and has as the manager who was in the store when it started and runs a very tight ship and has everything they have in the main store and has staff that are very knowledgeable.

In fact in Tamworth we have a Blackwoods, Bunnings, Bearfast & Bearquip, Mitre 10, thrifty Link, Supercheap Autos, several Electrical Wholesalers, several Plumbers Suppliers, in fact we must just about have one of everything at least.

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Originally Posted by dazzler

Drive into the timber area where there are three isles that will take two vehicles side by side and walking areas up each with yellow pedestrian safety lines. Very good OH&S. Sadly the place was so full of crap on the ground there was only one lane.

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I can back that up always stuff in the aisles so you have to reach over and risk broken toes by sliding timber off of racks...

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Originally Posted by dazzler

Next I need a 5mm hex driver to drive the hex screws into the sleepers. Go to tool section. Now once upon a time going to the tool section for me was a similar exp to walking through the cross.......oh the temptation. But now it is with dread.

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I found some there recently in the tools section with all the drill bits, you'd think he would know if I do....

HH.

Well how quick things change,

Just drove past our store and they have grasped onto Lignums view and have repainted the whole front;

It now says;

"If you dont know where to find it you are too stupid to shop here - get lost"


At least they listen to sense
:rolleyes:
:p
:wink:

Dazzler,

Just in case there's any confusion by "he" I meant the bunnies guy...:U

HH.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HappyHammer

Dazzler,

Just in case there's any confusion by "he" I meant the bunnies guy...:U

HH.

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Unfortunately, seeing as I have hit 40, have over 1300 posts I am now, by law, expected to find hidden nasty meanings in everything written.

So expect to be reported to the moderator, I will post a "I am leaving because of horrible people like HH", and I am going to send a nasty PM as well.:((

So who served you, was it cletus, brandeeeen, or Lignum testing you....:p

do you know what the best bit of advice i got from a bunnings employee was? : "dont but this, go on the internet and look up timbecon or carbatec"...that was before i found this forum.

cheers

im just posting here to make Grunt notice ive posted.

you've all said it already.

I personally dont have much of problems with bunnies, it is after all a supermarket...

HOWEVER sometimes I wear a red tshirt (I have a number of them - I like bright colours...) and go in there and sit myself down on a box to sort screws or think thru my project needs etc.... about 50% of the time customers come up to me and ask me a question like "where can I" or "what can I blah blah.. etc..." I help them then I say "I dont work at Bunnies, maybe you should check with a staff member". generally they thank me and or laugh - a couple of them (Usually older ladies) come back for seconds... (Smile)

I also dont have an issue with correcting a staff member (ALA Deans comment above..) if they are just selling $hit or conning some person I'll tell that person "Not to" or "to" something. I once stopped some imbicle trying to sell a little old lady a reciprocating saw who just wanted to saw thru some old fence posts - I went and got one of the chinga made $15 jack saws in the special bins and told her this is what she needed not a $500 makita recpiro..... she thanked me and gave the bloke a dirty look. I got a dirty look from the bloke meself.. stuff him!:(( If I ever get pulled up by bunnines management about cutting the staffs grass I'll quite happily have a stand up argument nice and loud in front of all the other customers about why they are wrong... (I help little od ladies across the street too..)

Sometimes they even give unsafe advice like "u dont need earmuffs if u are only drilling one hole." Morons...

A semi/skilled bloke/ette (Ie most of u - you know or seem to know what you are talking about) should adopt the "stop the moron teaching an ignoramus how to remove thier own fingers" philosphy like I do - you'll feel better knowing that you've helped 2 people; 1, the moron and 2, the ignoramus... I certainly do.

Having said the above - there are some real nice and knowledgable people in my local bunnies (I go to 3 of 'em nearby and they all have good staff).....

cheers.

Bunnies, love 'em of hate 'em. :cool:

Dislikes.https://www.ubeaut.biz/thumbdown.gif Since they opened in Cairns, 4 other hardware stores closed.
(2 of them were BBC stores that were bought out by them)

Dislikes.https://www.ubeaut.biz/thumbdown.gif They pay their staff peanuts so you can't expect much help. (see note further on)

Likes.https://www.ubeaut.biz/approval.gif The fact that they have prices on their stuff. The remaining competition within a 3 km radius of them don't & when you ask the price they look you up & down before they look in the secret book under the counter. :rolleyes:

Likes.https://www.ubeaut.biz/approval.gif they do have a large range to choose from.

Dislikes.https://www.ubeaut.biz/thumbdown.gif Most of it is crap.

Likes.https://www.ubeaut.biz/approval.gif There are a few older blokes who work there for something to do in semi-retirement (or enforced to cut back because of health reasons) who do know what they are on about & are as helpful as the can be.

Bazza and Baxter, I've shopped at both branches of "tools not toys"... the tamworth one price matched a makita sander when I asked and over christmas set up a dumpy level in the shop and showed me exactly how to use it... 20 minute tutorial... Fantastic service.

The Newcastle one is a different beast all together...

Cheers
Pulse

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Originally Posted by Carry Pine

And what ever happened to all those zillions of Forum members who purchased the GMC thicknesser for $200? Are they landfill yet? Or still buzzing?

Carry Pine (happy browser at any hardware store)

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My GMC thicknesser is going just fine, I know not to over work it and how not to over work it.

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Originally Posted by Lignum

Spot on David :2tsup:

Im so sick of all the Bunnings bashings. All you wingers should cast your minds back to the pre Bunnies local hardware and remember how small and limited they were (even the so called bigger stores)

If you go to your local Bunnies a few times a month you should know where everything is just like a supermarket. And they would carry 95% of anything you need.

If your thick as a brick and you need advice from a pimply kid well thats bad luck. My local (Mentone) is spot on with nice staff and always helpfull. Life without Bunnings would be a real pain in the a$$.

I love `em:2tsup:

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This is decent advice. I love all my local Bunnings stores. I have my weekly pilgrimage there.

I do know that if I'm after something I don't ask silly questions, I do my research first.

I don't ask for something like "trimmer routers" like ol' matey who started this thread as it obviously confused the staff at Bunnings. If you knew what you were looking for in the first place - why did you "test" them? By saying "trimmer router" you are saying almost a dozen different products in two words which could be taken many ways depending on what department you were currently standing in. If you know what you are looking for, don't bother the staff and "test" them but go and dream or drool and purchase or leave.

In case anyone thinks I work for Bunnings as I've defended them - I don't. I just don't see the point in bagging someone in this way as has been done here.

There was mention of a kid with pimples not knowing everything about everything, ie not being knowledgeable about everything, how knowledgeable were you ast the same age?

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Originally Posted by Just George

how knowledgeable were you ast the same age?

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I knew everything about everything but when I grew up I know nothing about nothing.
Growing up is a process of forgetting. I think. Now what was I saying. :;

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Originally Posted by Just George

This is decent advice. I love all my local Bunnings stores. I have my weekly pilgrimage there.

I do know that if I'm after something I don't ask silly questions, I do my research first.

I don't ask for something like "trimmer routers" like ol' matey who started this thread as it obviously confused the staff at Bunnings. If you knew what you were looking for in the first place - why did you "test" them? By saying "trimmer router" you are saying almost a dozen different products in two words which could be taken many ways depending on what department you were currently standing in. If you know what you are looking for, don't bother the staff and "test" them but go and dream or drool and purchase or leave.

In case anyone thinks I work for Bunnings as I've defended them - I don't. I just don't see the point in bagging someone in this way as has been done here.

There was mention of a kid with pimples not knowing everything about everything, ie not being knowledgeable about everything, how knowledgeable were you ast the same age?

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Okay George,

Pls name the dozen products that fit that description that would have confused the mentally challenged TOOLS :rolleyes: team member.

If you can i will pull my head in.

Oh and pls tell me where my first post was unreasonable so I can pull that head as well :wink:

cheers

dazzler

:spyme: :cheers2:

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Originally Posted by DavidG

:spyme: :cheers2:

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You should be watching for hail too :D

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Originally Posted by dazzler

Okay George,

Pls name the dozen products that fit that description that would have confused the mentally challenged TOOLS :rolleyes: team member.

If you can i will pull my head in.

Oh and pls tell me where my first post was unreasonable so I can pull that head as well :wink:

cheers

dazzler

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Off the top of my head I can't name any other than the example we have here.

Router Trimmer
If in a computer store (which I know at Bunnings we aren't) a router is a type of modem as well as a woodworking tool.
In the gardening section, a trimmer could be a line trimmer and either powered by battery, petrol or electricity.
In the tool shop, a trimmer could be for cutting tin or other things or as we all know it as being a small router.

I've got a number of those plastic boxes from K-mart, my wife calls them crate boxes - it's like calling your Holden/Ford/Toyota or what ever you have a car automobile. A trimmer is either a trimmer or a 1/4" router.

I've found if you call something by another name other than what is on the package at Bunnings AND other stores whether it is correct or not, they sometimes have No idea what you're on about.

That's no excuse for anyone to go and criticize them though, because without Bunnings there wouldn't be the sponsorship that they give to whatever sporting team they sponsor. There'd be no BBQ'd sausages on a Saturday, no DIY demos, no kids playground for you to leave occupy your kids while you shop/drool.

:buttkick:


:D

George
Im keeping it cool calm and collected here because as I stated earlier I dont want this thread to denigrate Bunnings as a whole become a slanging match or a shyte fight... customer criticism is a good thing for a company to see that is how I started it and it seems Im not alone in my experience

HOWEVER

I would think that if one is standing in the TOOLS section talking to a STAFF MEMBER in that section about a product in that section then it behoves the company to MAKE SURE that staff member KNEW the tools in that section... simple really

But based on your comments... if I had have asked for a claw hammer should the staff member know what and where that claw hammer was and the differnence between it and a peen hammer a sledge manner or a blasted tack hammer? by your comments no they sshould not... that that staff member would know the difference between a palm sander and a belt sander? a phillips head screw driver and a flat head screw driver? a circular saw and a band saw? in your view the staff member should NOT know what goods are within their section... so why exactly should they have a job? clearly there is no need for them in which case Bunnings and supermarkets like them should simply have the checkout staff because with no product or goods sold knowledge they all other staff members are... redundant

George... May I suggest that a trimmer router IN THE TOOL SECTION can only refer to one thing... a trimmer bloody router! also known as a laminate router... however the important word in the TOOL SECTION was ROUTER... BUT none the less the thing is we were in the TOOL section not the gardening section not the computer shop not the electrical section... THE TOOL SECTION... did he look? nope did he care to look nope did he even bother to GLANCE upward to the stock above the show stock? nope... simply put he didnt have a friggin clue what a router was in THE TOOLS SECTION WHERE HE WORKED

That to me is unacceptable staff training at the least complete customer contempt at the worst

IF you had read my initial post {edited by me} you would have seen that my initial intent was not to "test" them but to find the sodding things! :~ which were not on the shelf with the other power tools but up the top of the shelving... mind you they were interestingly enough not in the electrical section either surprise surprise... after that and since then yes I admit it I TEST THEM ecery chance I get... do I know where they are? sometimes yes sometimes no BUT dipstick its NOT MY JOB to know ITS THEIRS! If they dont know then their training is uptashyte and without people commenting about such things here AND in the store it will never change

Will posting such as this here make any difference to how Bunnings trains their staff? Do any senior middle management or team leaders hell even floor staff at Bunnings read these boards? TOO BLOODY RIGHT THEY DO... There are several participating members of Bunnings who post to this board and others I know personnaly who read them

Do you think such companies as Carbetc Timbercon Harre and Forbes PTMS among others DONT read these boards? NEWS FLASH!!! They do!!... do they read theses sorts of threads? YES why? because if they are smart they can use them to guage a section of their customer base customer satisfaction can read and get an average veiw of what a cross section of their cusomer base think of them as a company their staff their product and yes the training they give their staff... some do just that others choose to ignore it but without it no one sees the depth of discontent or better yet the content that their customers gain or recieve from their shooping at their store

HOWEVER

It is not just in the tool section its across the board in this company... YES I have already stated that there are some great people that work there no matter which store.. as with all things and work places there are good excellent and poor staff "the human factor"... so its across the store and not just one isolated store therefore the company SHOULD look at a) their HR section b) Their selection process c) their training programs d) ongoing monitoring of staff at shorter than what appears to be present periods

What I am asking is "is Bunnings dumbing down their staff?" Thats the question being asked... Im not asking a hard question Im not asking for abuse contempt or derogitory comments about the company or staff members in particualr or specifics nor fellow forumites... nor did I expect any... a simple question that you either agree with and choose to give examples of or not... or you dont agree with and give examples of or not :2tsup: easy not difficult and offers up a range of opinion and experiences that others may or may not agree with :doh:

{again edited by me} :doh:

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Originally Posted by Wild Dingo

What I am asking is "is Bunnings dumbing down their staff?" Thats the question being asked... Im not asking a hard question Im not asking for abuse contempt or derogitory comments about the company or staff members in particualr or specifics nor fellow forumites... nor did I expect any... a simple question that you either agree with and choose to give examples of or not... or you dont agree with and give examples of or not :2tsup: easy not difficult and offers up a range of opinion and experiences that others may or may not agree with :doh:

But then sometimes some people just choose to be dipsticks :doh:

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I wasn't going to get involved in this debate as it has been done many times and my view is known, but calling people dipsticks for disagreeing made me change my mind.

So did all those who are unhappy with Bunnings ever let their opinions known to their management.

Did you ever fill in one of their cards at the exit to let them know you were unsatisfied.

If not, why not?

Maybe it is because it is easier to come here and vent your spleen than complain direct face to face to the company.


Peter

(who is heartily sick and tired of the forever whinging)

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Originally Posted by Sturdee

I wasn't going to get involved in this debate as it has been done many times and my view is known, but calling people dipsticks for disagreeing made me change my mind.

So did all those who are unhappy with Bunnings ever let their opinions known to their management.

Did you ever fill in one of their cards at the exit to let them know you were unsatisfied.

If not, why not?

Maybe it is because it is easier to come here and vent your spleen than complain direct face to face to the company.


Peter

(who is heartily sick and tired of the forever whinging)

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Hi sturdee

Maybe you missed the context of the dipstick bit. WD was responding to being called 'old matey' which is fair enough :p.

But you are right that we should use the complaints process more if we don't already. I know I dont but tend just to walk away with the *&*^& and whinge later.

But then again, isnt that a managers job to manage the place correctly. Blind freddie Manager could tell that at least ours needs to be cleaned up so that Mr Dazzler can at least get his ute into the place to load stuff up.:-

When I was running teams I can tell you I didn't need a suggestion box to run them efficiently:wink:

My biggest whinge is just how fantastic they were when they first started and how they have slowly evolved downwards. The ones in canberra were great, great knowledgable staff, clean, tidy and safe, good value etc etc. The Hobart store was great. The Port Macquarie was but isnt now.

Sadly that wonderful experience, and full support, is no longer found for many of us :no:.

I have decided to write to them today about my whinge. Will see how it goes.

cheers

dazzler

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dazzler

I have decided to write to them today about my whinge. Will see how it goes.

cheers

dazzler

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Great. I'm all for telling a company's senior management of the shortcomings of the staff in one of their stores.

Normally head office staff don't get to hear about any problems, the very people that report to them, the store managers, are often at fault for not picking up about these things in the first place and even if they did they wouldn't tell about their inefficiencies.

Peter.

Peter
I took the "old matey" comment as an insult a facetious and condescending manner of treating someone you see as or having done something beneath you... so given that my returning the "compliment" with the word "dipstick" I felt was fair enough... I find being called "old matey" in the context used as insulting demeaning and so responded in kind... {I have since deleted the references}

Needless to say...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sturdee

Did you ever fill in one of their cards at the exit to let them know you were unsatisfied.

If not, why not?

Maybe it is because it is easier to come here and vent your spleen than complain direct face to face to the company.


Peter

(who is heartily sick and tired of the forever whinging)

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IF you and some others would just bother to friggin read you would have read

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Originally Posted by Wild Dingo

If they dont know then their training is uptashyte and without people commenting about such things here AND in the store it will never change

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Peter I have had stand up arguments with some "team leaders" and what passes for "managers" at these stores but that was beside the point and not the intent of the thread and as such thought such better left out and so left them out

But Peter tell me this... Why is it "whinging" when someone asks a question regarding a company based on their experience if that question and experience is negative toward the company in question?... yet its ohh so bloody wonderful and totally acceptable to give high praise for good customer service? bloody hypercritical if you ask me

Yours and dipsticks comments were what I was trying to avoid because of their inflammatory content which have the potential for more such comments and then the whole thread gets shafted.

If your... "heartily sick and tired of the forever whinging"?... dont read and stop commenting on the threads you consider whingin threads then :doh: ... theres enough other threads that you and anyone else who is of the same mindset dont have to say a word and then by not seeing reading or participating you wont be heartily sick of anything :2tsup:

Cheers
Shane

It seems everyone thinks the same about Bunnies.
Why don't you go to a real hardware store?????

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Originally Posted by john paine

It seems everyone thinks the same about Bunnies.
Why don't you go to a real hardware store?????

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I think thats a part of the whole point John... in a lot of places there is no "real hardware store" anymore Bunnings has done a very effective job of negating any competition wherever they set up shop... while initially everyone has the viiew that "Wow Bunnings is coming to town? great! some competition is great" then the same real hardware store finds itself unable to compete unable to survive against such a huge store and closes its doors and suddenly there is no competition its either Bunnings, nothing or a bloody long expensive road trip to the nearest local "real hardware store"

How does one find a "real hardware store" after Bunnings have become established and the small "real hardware store" has shut their doors?
It is only after this happens that the locals realize just how dumb the store staff are how much crap Bunnings stock and how much better the small "real hardware store" actually was... but its too late by then isnt it? no oe is going to set up a "real hardware store" with their main competitor being Bunnings quite simply they could not compete in a competative market place against a giant business like Bunnings... believe me I considered it in Mandurah do the research do the sums and thats it its over before you start... you cannot compete and remain viable against a company like Bunnings

Bunnings like Woolworths Kmart and the other big stores are slowly but surely seeing the demise of the small "real store" the local deli the local hardware the local small business catering to a neighborhood is slowly being smothered and shut out by these companies... same for the small timber mills and yards as Colli, Bunnings etc get larger so the smaller mill yards are declining simply because they cant compete against them

Its becoming endemic in this county as in the States and Canada... and part of that is what were seeing in the decline in staff training and knowledge... they dont care or cater to those with knowledge or experience... they target and aim at the less knowledgeable, the new comer and those who just want it now... so they dumb down their staff so that such people who know what they want dont bother them just grab what they want pay and leave... and with Bunnnings present tv advertising campaign its not hard to see who theyre targeting

Yes I agree we could just not go there
Yes I agree we could just go somewhere else {if there is somewhere else}
Yes I agree there are some great knowledgeable people working there
Yes I agree they have a massive range of product
Yes I agree Bunnings is a business and must look to their bottom line
Yes I agree Many staff treat working at Bunnings as a resume filler

What I dont agree with is that their staff dont need product knowledge... or that we as customers should not say something at the time or wherever else the company may have a presence.

Its far to easy to say nothing... hell its easier than being called a whinger for daring to ask a question... its easier to say nothing than to post a thread questioning the companies methods.. its easier to question the motives of the questioner and respondents than to question a company in an open forum... its also easier to say nothing... which Id suggest that most would do just shake their heads and walk away is far easier than standing up and saying something... in the store or anywhere else... but by doing so you contribute to the problem... by saying nothing or as John has said just go to the local hardware {if there is one} you condone the companies apparent dumbing down of their staff.. and yes by that action subtly condone the accidents that will happen when people accept the advice given by their staff that has been shown in some of the posts to be faulty and dangerous because the staff member had buggar all product knowledge!

See by saying your view you give your opinion good or bad... this then can help!! others here may take note and start to make sure they know what theyre after before they go there but at the same time be aware to check the info the staff give them, the company may take notice and quietly impliment change, and the staff that read it may well think "shyte is that right?" and begin to make sure to pick up their game and encourage others they work with to do the same... but its easier to do and say nothing isnt it :roll:

Shane,


So you felt insulted, don't think that was intended by the poster concerned, but you decided to insult some back.

Great Idea, not.

I may consider myself similarly insulted by your comment "friggin read" so I should insult you back. I think not for we should all be above personalities and name calling and deal with the issues concerned.

I haven't debated the relative merits of the complaints of which some seem to be well founded except to ask if management knows about them.

My question was and is :"So did all those who are unhappy with Bunnings ever let their opinions known to their management. If not, why not? " and I don't consider stand up arguments with team leaders to be management.

So unless you can post that you have contacted Bunnings about your complaint and their reply I consider your posts to be whinging.


Peter.

How about the lot of you just discuss the points made or not made in the posts, and growl about any perceived personal comments to your dog rather than including them in your posts. No-one likes having a post moderated, we don't like having to do it, and there's enough to bicker about in this argument without getting personal. Hmmmm?

Richard

Relax Richard its okay mate :2tsup:

So far the thread has been as it should be... until George made what appeared to me an insult to which I responded in kind and which on reflection I will edit my response and remove the insult I initially posted in reply

Up to that point I see no problems on this thread... have some patience before weilding your big pink emu feather and you will see it should all work itself out without anyone feeling your feather on their noggins okay :;

Sturdee and I are simply having a disagreement with that

I have responded at length to John regarding his comments

A point I would like to make is that I didnt disagree with George responding... other than the percieved insult... it was just such responses I was hoping for as with all the other responses

Now to address Sturdees latest post if I may?

Peter
The human factor kicked in and I reacted at what I percieved as an insult... however with the benefit of doubt I see its possible that an insult was not intended and will edit my posts to reflect that

As to the matter of you choosing to see this as whingin or not... sometimes mate regardless of what one may say in their defense or within a post sometimes people miss some of what is said

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wild Dingo

Peter I have had stand up arguments with some "team leaders" and what passes for "managers" at these stores but that was beside the point and not the intent of the thread and as such thought such better left out and so left them out

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I saw no need to address the matter of weather or not one has discussed their issues with management of Bunnings or not initially with this thread quite simply it was not the point nor of relevence to the question I was asking in my view... but to try to clarify although I certainly see no reason for me to have to clarify or prove anything to you or anyone else for that matter... as I have previously stated Ive also had "discussions" with management as well... not all were heated not all were arguments the implication {apparently lost} was that Ive gone through the ropes with them in store to the point of having stand up arguments with them... this method as we are all aware is not a good method but none the less it can and does get to the point where it does happen... not as often as a quiet talk not as often perhaps as someone writing their complaint on a scrap of paper that may or may not be read by those who should read them

Quite simply for this thread I saw no need for such to be included

And further more as a final note
1)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sturdee

My question was and is :"So did all those who are unhappy with Bunnings ever let their opinions known to their management. If not, why not? " and I don't consider stand up arguments with team leaders to be management.

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Id kindly suggest that you create your own thread and ask this question there for until you can answer the question asked at the begining of this thread... that is... "do you consider Bunnings are dumbing down their staff?" I will have no choice but to consider your posts argumentative trollings for you neither direct yourself to the question initially asked a question that others have no difficulty addressing from either perspective by the way... but pose your own questions and do not address the initial question asked.. ergo trolling

2)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sturdee

So unless you can post that you have contacted Bunnings about your complaint and their reply I consider your posts to be whinging.

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Fair enough see 1) above

See Richard easy :2tsup: :U

Before anyone takes any of this personally, it is aimed at no individual in this thread.

Bunnies are dumbing down, no question. I think they are not alone, and are following a general trend of meeting the minimum requirement to keep costs down.

If people want good advice and quality tools then go elsewhere and expect to pay for it. I frequent a woodworking store and two specialist tool stores. I do not kid myself that getting advice at the specialist store, and a price, then going to the big green store for a pricematch is a smart thing in the long term - that is WHY these stores disappear. The dumbing down occurs AFTER the competition is gone but customers are too stupid and greedy to realise it. Unfortunately, those that do are not enough to keep the good stores going.

I get a little peeved that some people go to these stores expecting a good level of service then use all sorts of tactics to reduce the price. Frankly, a lot of the customers I have seen disgust me:

• they steal,
• they open packages and leave them on the shelves,
• they let their kids mix up the nuts, bolts screws etc, :((
• They change their mind about items and just dump them wherever they change their mind,
• they use tools then bring them back, saying they don't work, when they clearly have finished making their deck and now want their money back,
• tradesmen use cheapo tools and continually return them for warranty (when the company specifically excludes trade use from the warranty) pushing costs up,
• they damage stock while looking at it.

On the other hand the stores allow this behaviour and the government is happy for insurance to pick up the tab for the damage or loss. This goes onto the price tag and all the customers pay for it.

Back on track, if your store is dumbing down it is most likely because their competition is gone and they are going for some profit. Service is something you get in a competitive environment.

Ah, that feels better, rant over. :U

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wild Dingo

Id kindly suggest that you create your own thread and ask this question there for until you can answer the question asked at the begining of this thread... that is... "do you consider Bunnings are dumbing down their staff?" I will have no choice but to consider your posts argumentative trollings for you neither direct yourself to the question initially asked a question that others have no difficulty addressing from either perspective by the way... but pose your own questions and do not address the initial question asked.. ergo trolling

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Shane,

If my posts appears to be trolling, then I apologize to you. It wasn't intended to but mainly to ascertain to what extend people have gone to when they are displeased with any store, Bunnings or otherwise.

For the record my nearest Bunnings store is Nunawading with both Vermont and BoxHill being close as well. During all the years that Nunawading has been here (2nd oldest in Vic) I have found the staff to be helpfull and pleasant to deal with, they always have a smile and know where things are (or get someone else to help me who does know).

Admittedly I generally don't need help, but the times that I did they saved me heaps of money by advising the items I was looking at weren't suitable or needed.

One was an old retired plumber who was the only one who told me that my existing gaspipes would need replacing for a new instantaneous HWS and the other time an electrician who told me that a named and expensive bell transformer wouldn't be up to the task and suggested I get a cheap garden light transformer instead, one which I already had. In both cases they talked themselves out of a sale to my benefit.


So to answer your question, no I don't think they are dumbing down their staff at my local store. Maybe they have a better management team in place, hence my question.


Peter.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Groggy

Frankly, a lot of the customers I have seen disgust me:

• they steal,
• they open packages and leave them on the shelves,
• they let their kids mix up the nuts, bolts screws etc, :((
• They change their mind about items and just dump them wherever they change their mind,
• they use tools then bring them back, saying they don't work, when they clearly have finished making their deck and now want their money back,
• tradesmen use cheapo tools and continually return them for warranty (when the company specifically excludes trade use from the warranty) pushing costs up,
• they damage stock while looking at it.

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I didnt see you in the Craporium?

Unfortunately this is the way the big retailers have programmed their buyers to behave, open, touch, feel, whinge, bring back.

Years ago, you only bought what you felt comfortable with, in price and quality, now you buy, whinge, take back.

The big retailers have made a rod for their own back.

Al :?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Groggy

[I]


I do not kid myself that getting advice at the specialist store, and a price, then going to the big green store for a pricematch is a smart thing in the long term - that is WHY these stores disappear. The dumbing down occurs AFTER the competition is gone but customers are too stupid and greedy to realise it. Unfortunately, those that do are not enough to keep the good stores going.

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:clap3::clap2::clap::clap3::clap2::clap::clap3:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ozwinner

Years ago, you only bought what you felt comfortable with, in price and quality, now you buy, whinge, take back.

The big retailers have made a rod for their own back.

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Things have changed. I can't help but think that lawyers have had too much to do with it though, and reason has gone through the window. It IS fair to return a broken item if it was in that condition when purchased or in fair use. That simple rule of fairness is terribly abused though.

Retailers I think are scared to say no to customers for a number of reasons. Everyone is so concerned about their "so called" rights nowadays when what they should be concerned about first is their reponsibilities. We should not have one without the other.

Back to the original question..... are "bunnings dumbing down"..... I would say it appears so.
Are many other specialty stores doing likewise...... most certainly.

Why is this so.
Good question.

With some it is management being recruted from non related industries or large conglomerates buying business they know nothing about, there for their management dont usderstand the business they are manageing.

Is it comming back to bite them... hell yeh.... but..... some of them don't know they have been bit.

The management system will be telling them there is an excess of mass recently accumulated in the nether regions, but because of their lack of knowledge they havn't figred out that they have a large dog attached to their ass.

cheers

l work in a tool shop its funny realy some of you are just like the custmers that yell and sream that they never going shop here again see them again in a few days time:oo: if you dont like shopping there dont come in:2tsup:

A question for every one of you.

Bunning's current advertising campaign depicts staff as ... well ... not the brightest of creatures. I guess some advertising guru thought this was cute or something.

Ask yourselves, how has this campaign affected your mental image of the shop. As someone who hasn't been in Bunnies for yonks (and who avoids it because I always spend money I don't really have free), it has made it easy to accept Ding's assertion that Bunnies are dumbing down ... yet I can't honestly say I have any evidence to support it.

Valid thought?
Should I have another cup of tea?

Richard

Bunnings is owned by Wesfarmers. Say no more.

I used to work in a timber and hardware store in rthe early 80's. It was a family owned company and the old guys in the family used to come in and chew the fat with the staff wander around checking that all was well. You'd often hear regular customers call "G'day Jack" or "how are you today Charles" the two elder Directors of the company. They'd wander into the lunch room talk WITH the staff not at them. Listen to our comments and generally wander off with a nod of approval. The company spared no expense making sure their staff were well trained in any new tool that came on the market and that we all knew everything about tasmanian timber necessary to service the core clients, builders, hundreds of the buggers. And we got paid to do the training too and they put on a meal after work. The company existed as timber merchants, harvesters, millers and later hardware retailers for over 130 years. I loved the place and old Jack who was a foundation member of the Hoo Hoo Club (timber industry people who did things quietly for charity).
One day Charles died then Old Jack, real gentlemen both. Old Jack was also a real knockabout bloke and what he didn't know about timber you could write on your small fingernail in large print.
Then the whizz kid idiot sons took over. Decided it was time to enter the DIY market which as most will remember really took off in the mid 80's. Bought in a slick marketing guru from Sydney (never been south of Melbourne before) who convinced the board to realign the corporate strategy, move away from the building trade get in to DIY and go 8AM to 8PM 7 days in a new whizz bang warehouse type configuration. One of the idiot sons announced to all staff without any consultation that henceforth the company was selling its state of the art sawmill, building an enormous DIY Centre and we'd be open 7days a week and we'd be "expected to volunteer to work saturdays and sundays week about. I stood up and quit on the spot. As did about 7 others. The timber workers union back then was gutless so the others were too shlt scared to say boo.
The next day the idiot son called me up to his office and offered me 2600 extra a year to stay. $50 a week. Told him no and left the following week.
A couple years later the big DIY Centre closed down and became the new ultra modern sales and service centre for a Toyota dealership. So thanks to the idiot sons (one of whom is now dead - at a young age sadly) this company, a scion of the Tasmanian Timber Industry for over a century just fell off the map. I still see some of my former workmates working in other non-DIY timber/hardware stores though one of my former bosses now manages a Bunnings store near where I live. And I have to say, his staff are very well versed in the stock they carry. One guy is an Oz born of Asian heritage with red, green and purple striped hair and if you ask him for a flingle tatcher with a dorfner on the left strewfiz he can take you straight to it. When I walk in the door theres always a couple of staff standing there and they ask what do you need today sir (or mate if you're a regular like me). On the other hand, the staff at the hugely impersonal Bunnings Warehouse across the river are 7 shades worse than hopeless. The only thing they do well is sausage sizzles. The last time I went there all the Triton equipment was up the back of the tool section with the leather aprons and water pressure cleaners. Last year when I wanted same spare parts for my triton WC2000 one guy ther bent over backwards trying to get the parts. They eventually arrived thanks to our man in Japan. When I asked to see the manager so I could put a good word in for the young bloke who tried so hard (without success) to get my parts, the guy I spoke to just wasn't interested. As I was walking down the stairs from his office the young passed me going up. He was summonsed (i found out later when I asked him) and given a warning for wasting so much time on a customer who only wanted 25 bucks worth.

No, Bunnings hasn't been dumbed down. The industry has been that way for about 20 years and only wants ignorant DIYers as customers.
My 2 cents worth and I empathise with you totally Ding..
Rant off.
CHeers

Bunnings owned by Westfarmers?
In that case I'm glad that Bunnings are doing what they are doing as I part own Westfarmers (shareholder) and fully expect them to make the best commercial decisions for my financial benefit.

The days of people choosing to pay higher prices for purchases, to support businesses that provide a high level of service and staff knoweldge, are long gone. People are not willing to pay for that service.

Bunnings' business model is a response to the commercial/economic reality, i.e. a business follows a particular path in order to maximise corporate/shareholder profit.... which is an obligation that the Board of Directors has to the company owners. The company owners will sack them if they don't do this.

If the customer base that Bunnings service changes, I expect that Bunnings will change, in a timely fashion, to ensure that they keep maximising profits.

So, for me the question isn't "Is Bunnings dumbing down?", but rather "Has Bunnings the best business model for the current market environment?"
As Bunnings are the most successful business in their particular market, the answer would have to be a resounding "Yes".

So while I'm happy with Bunnings, I still go to the smaller, individually/family owned, stores.... as they best suit my my needs, and I'm happy to pay the higher cost and never ask for a Bunnings price match.

So, Bunnings offer the service that the majority of their market wants.... and I'm free to go elsewhere.