Bunnings - Does Anyone Here .............

[Metal Head]

Work for them presently or in the recent past?.

I am thinking of applying to work in the local branch on a casual basis. I have been told by a friend of a friend who works for them, that fulltime positions are generally filled by existing casual staff. Can anyone confirm if that is true please?

I know a few years ago that as any employee with at least 3 months service was able to purchase items with a reduction of 20% from the price the customer(s) would pay. Can anyone confirm that is true please?

Is there anything else I (and for others who are thinking of joining the company) should be made aware of?

Thanking those in advance who are kind enough to answer any of my questions.

Cheers
MH

[Daddles]

Is there anything else I (and for others who are thinking of joining the company) should be made aware of?

Experience would suggest that all successful applicants undergo some form of surgery where any semblence of wood working ability or knowledge is removed and replaced with marketing driven drivel.

Richard

[Honorary Bloke]

I think Scooter works for Bunnies. You might give him a PM.

[Groggy]

Experience would suggest that all successful applicants undergo some form of surgery where any semblence of wood working ability or knowledge is removed and replaced with marketing driven drivel.

Richard

Scooter ain't gonna like that!

[Daddles]

Seriously, I would think a person concerned about hardware might find himself better employed with one of the smaller, more personal stores, such as a carefully selected franchise of Mitre10. For example, I'd happily work for the Mitre10 near me that is part of the Barrow and Bench chain, because they seem to be modern equivalent of the old style hardware store, whereas the other Mitre10 is owned by another firm that just seems to be a smaller (and even less effective) version of Bunnings ie, ad campaign driven dross.

Richard

[Honorary Bloke]

Scooter ain't gonna like that!

So true!

[Daddles]

I think Scooter works for Bunnies. You might give him a PM.

I can only comment on the Bunnies stores that I deal with ... or attempt to deal with. Maybe it's different where he works.

Richard

[manoftalent]

I am not sure? I'll just get/ring/someone
they used too be over here??
I'll just "find" someone who can help...
I am (concentrating really really hard) with a customer right now, I'll be back with you soon....
We dont stock that item, I'll just (attempt to) ring another store and find out if they have it...( if they do at least I'll know what section its in, I have no clue what this guy is on about)...
sorry ....I dont work in this section .....I'll find someone who does
I dont normally work in this area ...whats it look like??????
oh I saw one of those thingamies just last week ......I think its over here?


.........the above I am sure is just a small extract of what ppl experiance at bunnies and although we might laugh and enjoy countless frustration while dealing with them, at the end of the day it could be worse ...the ppl could be working for you or with you ......at least they are "gainfully" employed....

all jokes aside, when it comes to "service" ....you only get out, what you put in ....

[Rossluck]

I can only comment on the Bunnies stores that I deal with ... or attempt to deal with. Maybe it's different where he works.

Richard

I think the problem, Richard, is not so much the employers but the management. From what I've learned from my visits to a local Bunnings is that they understaff and overwork. This means that the elusive staff start to resent the customers who wander around like sheep in search them.

For example, I recently wandered off from the plumbing section in a Bunnings in search of someone with red and green clothing, and found one of them in the paint section. This person, once caught, reluctantly agreed to help me. Despite the gfact that we were surrounded by paint, I asked her for the price of a particular toilet suite. While we wandered back towards plumbing, she confided that most employees avoided the plumbing section because of "constant questions from customer".

By contrast, in another store on the Gold Coast, a staff member was so over-the-top attentive that he reminded me of a religious nutter. I was wating for him to produce his agenda. Something like: "yes, here at Bunnings God has provided many tools for His followers. Would you like to come to a meeting tonight?."

[Pulse]

It's true, I couldn't handle working there, I'd enjoy the first month and after a while I'd start telling the customers to get someone else it because they obviously don't know what they are doing!
Pulse

[Wood Borer]

Give them a break.

Bunnings don't pretend to be the seller of quality specialist tools nor do they pretend to have specialists working for them.

I see the comparison similar to reasonable take away food cafe and and an expensive restaurant. If you choose the take away joint, the prices are lower and the menu is simpler.

Bunnings staff are easy targets especially if they are inexperienced however I have received good service and advice from Bunnings staff.

Some of the small hardware stores are understocked, full of junk and owned by fools who think that if they are members of the local Chamber of Commerce they can whinge and charge like wounded bulls. One such store near we lived when in Melbourne told me he was more into metalwork than woodwork. When I asked him for either a brazing rod or a silver solder rod, he had never heard of them!!!! He also repeatedly knocked the likes of Bunnings.

Only a complete fool or person with challenged organs would bother going to a Bunnings store expecting to purchase an LN plane or Festool gear and an even bigger fool would brag that the staff hadn't heard of these brands or didn't know the finer details of such products.

I think Bunnings do a reasonable job for the market to which they pitch.

[Eli]

I was buying up for my first paint job here, and I was amazed at the level of help I got. I gave that girl a half million questions and she didn't skip a beat. Mileage varies of course, but I've had so much more trouble with stocking issues, and return policies so far than I have with the staff.

[Sturdee]

So a simple question about employment conditions at Bunnings is turned into a rant against Bunnings.

Not surprising really, but it is disappointing that those members either can't read or don't understand what was asked here.

To me they appear just like those workers at Bunnings that they bitch about, ill informed, uninformed or just plain stupid.

Peter.

[dai sensei]

My son works for Bunnings on a part time basis and loves it. He is smart and works hard, started on trolleys and cash registers after 2 weeks of fully paid training. After six months he started work in electrical and the tools section and has been there almost 2 years. He moved to Brisbane earlier this year and they even helped him get a transfer to another store next to where he lives. The only problem he has is that the roster is done 6 weeks in advance at the store where he works and it is difficult to change.

I believe all promotions are offered to internal people first, then other stores, then outside people - but don't quote me. If you are interested in a job, give them an application, I'm not sure if they advertise that often.

He finds them a very friendly mob to work for with plenty of social activities, especially around Xmas. They even give really good Xmas and birthday packs. Last Xmas he got car tool kit (bag and tools), tow rope, jump cables and a really large good car rug - better than anything I ever got from all the companies I've worked for. Families are also often invitted and one year even I got a few small gifts.

As for discounts, all of his family gets 50% off the proffit margin for the item. So sometimes it is a big discount, othertimes small.

I know Bunnies gets a bit of a bashing around here, but from my experience with my son, they sound like a pretty good mob to work for.

[felixe]

Well done wood borer, my sentiments exactly!