Masters no more

[chambezio]

I find it hard to understand why businesses go belly up when on the face of things they look to be a good business.
In Tamworth about 20 years ago Formica opened a warehouse to distribute their laminates and board products. We already had a Laminex branch successfully doing there thing. Formica organised an investor to build the shed and at the time it was the biggest shed in the southern hemisphere using plywood portal frames. Well the opening was a pretty lavish affair and a couple of hundred people turned up to hear speeches from the Australian GM as well as the NSW manager then the local manager. The line up of faces on the dais were all about 40 at the oldest. I remember thinking "where are the older people in charge?".
Well the branch ran for maybe 4 years then pulled up stumps leaving customers having to ring Sydney to make an order which was then put on overnight freight. The shed was still paying its lease by Formica even though it was empty!!

To me the exercise was a great waste of money due to immature management ideas. The share holders would not have been very happy at all. Then as time goes by Laminex Industries buys out Formica. This also raise the question....at what point does the term "monopoly" come into play because both companies carry the same products?

Money is being wasted by all kinds of companies by management that seems to get away with it.

Edit/Add.... the real losers are the staff. In country towns employment is not so easy to find/keep so in essence these badly managed companies are playing with people's lives.

[david.elliott]

What I found interesting was that when Masters first opened it "felt" like the attitude of staff at the B store changed overnight. All of a sudden they were everywhere, walked you to what you asked for, and everyone of them nodded and said G'day when they saw you...then, when the M sale or closing became common knowledge it was like B turned the clock back. Spooky.

Was trying to buy paint in B at Armadale WA on Sunday along with about 6 others standing around the paint counter. Just a litre of red for a door.. Actually considered walking out and going the M 500mts away. There has always been someone at their paint counter, apart from late evening once.

When we found the staff at B there was a young lass and fellow in one of the aisles.
She was stacking shelves and he was trying it on...my wife, not famous for her diplomacy sometimes, pointedly pointed out that there were folk, including us, waiting he was nonplussed and casually made his way to the counter...

[Glenn.Visca]

I have noticed similar at a couple local green sheds. More interested in restocking than serving customers who want to destock.

[chris0375]

To me the exercise was a great waste of money due to immature management ideas.

I think it's a bit ageist to suggest that simply because the people you saw were less than 40 they somehow made immature decisions.

I know of a very large, top 50 USA companies, that closed almost all warehouses Australia wide. An extremely detailed analysis suggested that it was most efficient to have one large warehouse in Melbourne and freight everything from there. Overheads were reduced enabling the company to be more competitive. Remember freight to 80% plus of Australia's population would be less than a days driving.

[bueller]

What I found interesting was that when Masters first opened it "felt" like the attitude of staff at the B store changed overnight. All of a sudden they were everywhere, walked you to what you asked for, and everyone of them nodded and said G'day when they saw you...then, when the M sale or closing became common knowledge it was like B turned the clock back. Spooky.

Was trying to buy paint in B at Armadale WA on Sunday along with about 6 others standing around the paint counter. Just a litre of red for a door.. Actually considered walking out and going the M 500mts away. There has always been someone at their paint counter, apart from late evening once.

When we found the staff at B there was a young lass and fellow in one of the aisles.
She was stacking shelves and he was trying it on...my wife, not famous for her diplomacy sometimes, pointedly pointed out that there were folk, including us, waiting he was nonplussed and casually made his way to the counter...

I don't know if it's just the times I go but Morley Bunnings seems to always be like that, never any staff around and only one counter ringing up sales. So annoying.

[david.elliott]

Maddington only EVER has one till open. When it gets busy you go to the returns counter...
The rest are the DIY things. Now I'm perfectly capable of using those, they don't faze me, BUT I point blank refuse to. Getting "served" to take the money off me is most times all they need to do to take money off me.
I drive there, I walk around in circles to find what I need, effectively serving myself, and then they expect me pay by myself...It's not like they're doing much for my dollar except putting it on the shelf..and IF their claims were true with the prices I could kinda agree to it...but!

[bueller]

Maddington only EVER has one till open. When it gets busy you go to the returns counter...
The rest are the DIY things. Now I'm perfectly capable of using those, they don't faze me, BUT I point blank refuse to. Getting "served" to take the money off me is most times all they need to do to take money off me.
I drive there, I walk around in circles to find what I need, effectively serving myself, and then they expect me pay by myself...It's not like they're doing much for my dollar except putting it on the shelf..and IF their claims were true with the prices I could kinda agree to it...but!

It's so frustrating. They have the gall to actually close the self service checkouts at mine so you wind up with 10 people lined up at one counter.

[justonething]

Might be a lot faster than that... looks like they closed their Ebay store overnight and today the stock management system went offline. Online ordering and "click and collect" is also now offline... so they killed their distro literally overnight...

One must now ring stores directly to check stock level and availability.

I got an email today from masters :
----------------------------------
Unfortunately, we will be unable to continue offering online purchases or Click & Collect. Of course, our website is still available to browse for information and we will keep you up to date with what's on offer via email.

It looks like mangagement has decided the best way to wind the place up is through the brick and mortar outlet. First in best dressed.

[justonething]

It concerns me mightily that a disorganised rats nest like Bunnings is the only choice for many.

i hope smaller businesses take up the opportunity to fly into the gap.

Over the last 12 months I've taken great pains to find all the small suppliers here in Canberra. The little guys and specialty places, but my number one frustration is finding from them what they sell and their prices. Many, if not most, are their own worst enemies.

I like to use them. It feels good, plus they invariably offer identical prices, can order in more variety and offer decent service. They just need to get better at advising exactly what they sell.

May be we should start a non-bunings timber and hardware thread where people can post the good local places where they get good stuff. For example, where would one goes to get titebond 3 if they don't want to go Carbatec after Masters have closed?

[Bohdan]

Been visiting Masters for the past 2 weeks buying stuff at 30-60% off, all fixings 50% off, interesting how low it will go now decision made to close

Dropped in on Masters at Williams Landing to see what might be on special - only some junk near the checkouts and a few odd white goods, everything else at full price. It appears discounting varies from store to store so if you see any store that is discounting let us all know.

[Dareen]

Hi WP,

eviscerated

Great word. Leaves me in no doubt as to your explanation.

Cheers, Fred

[Sam]

I went down to my local and it was business as usual except triple the customers all wandering around not buying. Read online afterwards that the fire sale starts monday Masters fire sale to start Monday

[Pac man]

At Rouse Hill now. I predict a slow and painful death.
sale announced in Media and similiar customer numbers as per a normal day.
10% off most
20% off garden furniture
30 % off cabinet fixings and door hardware

make sure you say hello to the security guard in the tool shop as they are lonely and have nothing to do

[NathanaelBC]

... was surprised to see the Bessey line there. Might have to try and catch some on sale before they disappear

AFAIK they stock just the one length of one model of Bessey clamps; I buy my Bessey's from gettoolsdirect.com.au - they stock them all.

GTD's packing is a little light-on though, considering that's $400 of clamps there:

GTD.jpg

[Mr Brush]

This seems to be the new normal....no such thing as a "fire sale" any more. Dick Smith 2.0 more like. Long drive for me to the nearest Masters (Gregory Hills), so not worth the trip unless there are some decent discounts.