How much brainpower would it take?

I've just been to Bunnings. I'm in Victoria where we have stage 3 lockdown so only 4 people allowed per aisle.

I wanted to buy two bolts. The line to get into the bolt aisle was about 40 people long. I asked the bloke at the front of the line how long he had been waiting - over two hours! You could walk into any other aisle in tat part of the shop with no waiting.

I have a bad back and cannot stand around for one hour let alone two. I asked for staff assistance. Was told that there was no other procedure in place. If I want bolts I have to line up with everyone else. Ok Fair enough. I was only at Bunnings for bolts because Konnekt is not open on Sundays anyway. Their bolt section is carp. There were 3 or 4 staff members supervising the bolt section and the waiting line.

Now here's the thing. It's been like that for months now since social distancing started and will be so for at least another 5.5 weeks in Melbourne anyway. The same aisles have long queues to be one of the lucky four to get in and most of the other aisles are nearly empty. HOw long does this have to go on before they work it out that they could subdivide the busy aisles like nuts and bolts into sub categories and spread them over a few more aisles?

Advantages being people have to spend less time in queues minimising exposure to risk of infection, less people in the store means less cars in the car park, fewer people in close contact with their staff so generally happy staff and customers. Sales would undoubtedly increase as more people would be tempted to go. Disadvantages would be a few staff hours to rearrange stock (which would be regained from the reduction in staff needed to supervise the busy aisles) and a small amount of regular customers being confused because some stock items have been moved from their usual spot.

How much brainpower would it take?:roll:

Don't know if it is close, but I've never seen a queue at bunnings Ringwood
No guarantee of course.

I thought we were in lock down. I don't see where it says we can go out for hardware shopping except for emergency repairs.

I had to stand in line at Home Depot (a.k.a. almost Bunnings in US) for almost 40 minutes to get into the store.

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Originally Posted by rrich

I had to stand in line at Home Depot (a.k.a. almost Bunnings in US) for almost 40 minutes to get into the store.

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and as a further comment, here in Canada, Home Depot (aka the Big Orange Retail Giant) is also "queue to get in" and the numbers allowed into the store re balanced against the number leaving.

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Originally Posted by Nifty Nev

I thought we were in lock down. I don't see where it says we can go out for hardware shopping except for emergency repairs.

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True Nev, I don't see where it says that either.

But I can't see where it says that we can't either.

It is certainly not clear and unambiguous.

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Originally Posted by ian

and as a further comment, here in Canada, Home Depot (aka the Big Orange Retail Giant) is also "queue to get in" and the numbers allowed into the store re balanced against the number leaving.

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Which just reinforces my point - the line outside would be getting longer and longer the more that people are stuck in queues inside to get to the popular items. Not dispersing the popular items so that people can get in and out quickly makes no sense at all. Yet here we are.

I have been to Bunnings on 2 occasions just after 7 on a Sunday morning, once during our previous lockdown - in and out in 15 minutes. Only about 10 cars in the carpark.
Same at local Woolies yesterday.
Certainly the best time to go.

In all their adverts, Bunnings remind us that we may have to queue to limit the number in the store.

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Originally Posted by doug3030

I've just been to Bunnings. I'm in Victoria where we have stage 3 lockdown so only 4 people allowed per aisle.

I wanted to buy two bolts. The line to get into the bolt aisle was about 40 people long. I asked the bloke at the front of the line how long he had been waiting - over two hours! You could walk into any other aisle in tat part of the shop with no waiting.

I have a bad back and cannot stand around for one hour let alone two. I asked for staff assistance. Was told that there was no other procedure in place. If I want bolts I have to line up with everyone else. Ok Fair enough. I was only at Bunnings for bolts because Konnekt is not open on Sundays anyway. Their bolt section is carp. There were 3 or 4 staff members supervising the bolt section and the waiting line.

Now here's the thing. It's been like that for months now since social distancing started and will be so for at least another 5.5 weeks in Melbourne anyway. The same aisles have long queues to be one of the lucky four to get in and most of the other aisles are nearly empty. HOw long does this have to go on before they work it out that they could subdivide the busy aisles like nuts and bolts into sub categories and spread them over a few more aisles?

Advantages being people have to spend less time in queues minimising exposure to risk of infection, less people in the store means less cars in the car park, fewer people in close contact with their staff so generally happy staff and customers. Sales would undoubtedly increase as more people would be tempted to go. Disadvantages would be a few staff hours to rearrange stock (which would be regained from the reduction in staff needed to supervise the busy aisles) and a small amount of regular customers being confused because some stock items have been moved from their usual spot.

How much brainpower would it take?:roll:

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Have you thought this through?

Would your proposed subdivision be on
fastener size
#1 to #10 in aisle #1
#9 to #14 in aisle #2,
1.6 to 6 mm in aisle #3,
6.5 to 14 mm in aisle #4,
coach bolts in aisle #5,
and so on for imperial sizes


surface coating
galvanised in aisle #1,
stainless in aisle #2,
black bolts in aisle #3,
high tensile in aisle #4,
zinc plated in aisle #5, and so on


besides how many mug punters -- not calling you a "mug punter" -- know the size of the fastener they are after?

how many "mug punters" just wander in with a sample bolt or nut they wish to match? or select the closest match for?



me thinks the "best" solution is to limit the total number of people allowed into the store.

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Originally Posted by doug3030

I've just been to Bunnings.

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Well, that's your first mistake! Bunnings - 10 acres of goods & nothing to buy (of any quality at least.) They never seem to have the screw, nut or bolt size that I need, and even when it is supposed to be stocked, always seems to be out of stock. The good old corner hardware stores used to keep a great range. Even esoteric stuff - just ask & they would rummage around & find it "out the back". Fortunately we do still have a couple like that around here. Sadly, if I'm doing work for family elsewhere its often the only choice, due to predatory practices putting the little guys out of business. Same issue with Officeworks - acres of office stuff & little real variety. Tried to buy carbon paper - staff looked at each other, shrugged & said "what's that?) :?. At a stationary store for @#$% sake!!)

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Originally Posted by doug3030

True Nev, I don't see where it says that either.

But I can't see where it says that we can't either.

It is certainly not clear and unambiguous.

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Yes - it is clear & unambiguous. 10 seconds to find & look at the DHHS website:
Department of Health and Human Services Victoria | Restrictions: Metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire

" If you live in Metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire you need to Stay at Home.
There are four reasons that you can leave home:

1. Shopping for food or other essential items
2. To provide care giving, for compassionate reasons or to seek medical treatment
3. For exercise (outdoor exercise only, with only one other person or members of your household)
4. Work or study, if you cannot work or study from home

Otherwise, you must stay home. "

Bunnings is hardly "essential items" unless you have some sort of household emergency repair that threatens health or safety.

Its people trying to justify avoiding the rules that has contributed to this second wave & the current VIC lock-down.

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Originally Posted by RossM

Shopping for food or other essential items

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Define essential.

I am building a knife vise. Two m6 bolts are ESSENTIAL for its completion.

Your definition of essential may be very different from that being used by 99% of the Bunnings customers but I suspect that yours may well be closer to what the Government meant. But without a clear definition form the government who knows?

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Originally Posted by RossM

Well, that's your first mistake!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by doug3030

I was only at Bunnings for bolts because Konnekt is not open on Sundays anyway. Their bolt section is carp.

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I think I already covered that point adequately.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ian

Have you thought this through?

Would your proposed subdivision be on
fastener size
#1 to #10 in aisle #1
#9 to #14 in aisle #2,
1.6 to 6 mm in aisle #3,
6.5 to 14 mm in aisle #4,
coach bolts in aisle #5,
and so on for imperial sizes


surface coating
galvanised in aisle #1,
stainless in aisle #2,
black bolts in aisle #3,
high tensile in aisle #4,
zinc plated in aisle #5, and so on


besides how many mug punters -- not calling you a "mug punter" -- know the size of the fastener they are after?

how many "mug punters" just wander in with a sample bolt or nut they wish to match? or select the closest match for?



me thinks the "best" solution is to limit the total number of people allowed into the store.

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Attachment 476919 .

If I go shopping for essential supplies I will try and do it at a quiet times.
Friday, went to Bunnings at 4:30. In and out in twenty minutes without drama. Only problem was I wanted 2.5mm cord and picked up 3mm by mistake. :( (Probably put in the wrong spot on the shelf as they are next to each other.)
Went back Saturday at 7:30 to swap cord over. Needed to wait for two other customers at exchange counter, otherwise in and out. Then went to work for half an hour. No queue for temperature check. :)

When we first had lockdown I went to a Bunnings about 2 o'clock on the weekend and there was a queue to get in. Like you, I hate queuing. So I went to two other hardware stores (that are actually closer to home) and walked in and out (after paying) with what I wanted. No queue. I understand that not everyone is fortunate to have other stores convenient, but timing can be everything.