I should feel bad but I don't.

We have all heard of the apprentice being sent to the store for striped paint, a left handed screwdriver etc - be careful of a left handed circular saw as Makita actually used to make one.

A while back I ordered a pizza, it was made and cooked, just as the operator was about to cut it I interrupted, I asked if it could be cut into 6 pieces instead of 8 as I didn't think I could eat 8.

There was a very pregnant pause and stunned look followed by a blustering flood of words to the effect of - the company's policy was 8 and could not be changed.

I had been caught by my own joke which obviously flew very high over the operator's head. I agreed that the person could cut it into 8 as I didn't want them to be in trouble for not following company policy.

Not sure if it was a case of hearing but not listening or indoctrination.

Straight through to the keeper I reckon.

I would not feel bad either. We seniors or near seniors have to have our fun. :Do

I was with a mate at the deli in the supermarket when he asked for a stick of kabana. As is often the case the deli assistance asked if she could break it in half ..... my mate quickly responded that he would prefer if it was sliced lengthways instead :U. This too was lost on her!

I was in Woollies the other day at the deli counter, and told the lass there that the chickens were no good, she asked "why was that" I replied "cos they're stuffed" went straight over the top of her, but another lass quite a bit older, laughed as she got the joke.
Younguns have no sense of humour :D:D:D

Hi.
Yea we should some times be ashamed of our selves. I went into a chemist and a lass was helping me decide which Strepsils' I needed. I asked her if she knew what was wrong with you if your nose ran and your feet smelt, she said she did not know so I told her "you are upside down", she gave me a polite smile and a blank look and then the penny suddenly dropped and she roared with laughter. We were being closely watched by the other girls and when she was finished with me they wanted to know what was so funny and as I went out the door they all broke into laughter at the mental picture of a pare of feet sniffing and a nose jogging along.
Regards

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore

.........
Younguns have no sense of humour :D:D:D

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They are conditioned to be prompted to laugh by the canned laughter track on TV, when that is missing they don't know when someone said something funny.:rolleyes:

In the days when you had to sign the back of your credit card I once signed mine with a texta pen as I was sick of the biro ink smudging. At a supermarket one day whilst checking my signature the young lass gave me a funny look at seeing such a thick signature. I explained to her that they wouldn't allow me anything sharp where I lived. Blank stare, no smile, nothing. :shrug:

I was buying a USB extension cable.

The young shop assistant asked "How long do you want it?"

Naturally being me, I replied "Actually I want to keep it."

He looked at me with a blank stare, raised his voice slightly, obviously assuming I was deaf, and responded "I SAID - HOW LONG DO YOU WANT IT?"

Well at least I tried to inject some humor into his miserable day :2tsup:

Cheers

Doug

One of the businesses I work with has a team of attractive young lasses, one day there was a new girl on board, I was introduced and made some comment about her beautiful hair, one of the long established lasses leans over to her and says, "dont worry he's not a dirty old man just senile" I resemble that remark.
I enjoy flirting with them and think from their responses they enjoy it also, at least I'am harmless not like their hormone raging, pimple nosed little idiotic male friends.

When asked 'are you all right?', my usual answer is 'no, I'm half left'.
Get some funny looks sometimes.

Alan...

Bunnings assistant (BA): Need a hand"

Me: No thanks, got one on each arm

or

Put on shocked look on face and reply: I didn't know I'd lost one

or

No thanks, don't have a third arm

or

I think I would look strange with 3

BA: How you going?

Me: By car

BA (thinks hard for a come back): What sort?

Me: A reliable one

Coles checkout chick: Flyby's?

Me: Usually plane

All Dad jokes I see. Now I know why my kids groan when ever I tell a joke. :D

The sad part is, that I think they are funny...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rwbuild

Bunnings assistant (BA): Need a hand"

Me: No thanks, got one on each arm

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True Story...

Bunnings Assistant: Can I help you?

Me: Hi, I am looking for a 5/8" drill bit to make a hole in some mild steel.

Bunnings Assistant: Here, this will do it. (hands me a 5/8 wood auger bit and grins)

Me: Thanks heaps. (continues to look at the drill bits)

Bunnings Assistant: Can I help you with anything else?

Me: No thanks, thats all.

Bunnings Assistant: Have a nice day, let me know if you need anything else. (walks off)

Fast Forward two weeks......

Same Bunnings Assistant: Can I help you?

Me: (shaking head in despair) I seriously F*(k!#g doubt it.

Cheers

Doug

I'd have to agree with you there Doug, the intelligence of some of the staff there, certainly leaves a lot to be desired.
Quite often I go there, only cos the other half wants to get some weeds there, and wander in the tool section, more often than not, I help some of their customers, cos the staff don't know what or how to fix it. Sometimes I even send the customer to Mitre 10 as they have the item the customer is looking for.
Kryn

We call our local Mitre 10 the Mitre 5 - because it only ever has half what you want.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by doug3030

True Story...

Bunnings Assistant: Can I help you?

Me: Hi, I am looking for a 5/8" drill bit to make a hole in some mild steel.

Bunnings Assistant: Here, this will do it. (hands me a 5/8 wood auger bit and grins)

Me: Thanks heaps. (continues to look at the drill bits)

Bunnings Assistant: Can I help you with anything else?

Me: No thanks, thats all.

Bunnings Assistant: Have a nice day, let me know if you need anything else. (walks off)

---

I'm in Home Depot. (I was going to say similar to Bunnings but from your account I would say exactly the same.) A customer nearby says to the lack of help, "I need a 1" auger bit." Lack of help says, "We don't have nothing like that." I say, pointing, "Like those?" Lack of help disappears.

Lament: Why is it that the Bunnings of the world are just that, the Bunnings of the world?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rrich

Lament: Why is it that the Bunnings of the world are just that, the Bunnings of the world?

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Because they are Masters of nothing :rolleyes:

(For our international members, Masters is like Bunnings, is like Home Depot)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rwbuild

Because they are Masters of nothing :rolleyes:

(For our international members, Masters is like Bunnings, is like Home Depot)

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True wisdom!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rrich

Why is it that the Bunnings of the world are just that, the Bunnings of the world?

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Because we the consumer want everything cheap and convenient, and to achieve that the Bunnings of the world hire the cheapest possible staff and supply (in general) the cheapest possible product. We are getting exactly what we want (or maybe just exactly what we deserve).

If you want service, advice and the best possible product, don't shop at the Bunnings of the world.

There are very few good hardware stores big, small or medium-sized. I used to work near one, and they closed down the moment Bunnings moved in down the road.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vernonv

If you want service, advice and the best possible product, don't shop at the Bunnings of the world.

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To put this tirade in perspective, today I went to my Bunnings store in Nunawading and I wanted an extendable shower curtain rail that did not require screws to fix in the shower to hang a bath mat on. Not knowing if they had it and where in the store I asked the guy on the door and he immediately told me the isle and where they were.

This is not the only time but often the staff go out of their way to help me if I want something unusual and always with a smile.

A happy Bunnings customer.:2tsup:


Peter.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sturdee

I went to my Bunnings store in Nunawading and I wanted an extendable shower curtain rail that did not require screws to fix in the shower to hang a bath mat on. Not knowing if they had it and where in the store I asked the guy on the door and he immediately told me the isle and where they were.

---

My local Bunnings had a worker who was brilliant. He knew where everything was in the store. No mater what it was you wanted he could tellyou which aisle number, how many bays in, which shelf and the position on the shelf. I used to seek him out for help whenever I was looking for anything.

I had not seen him for a fair while when I saw him in a shopping centre. He resigned from Bunnings because they were taking him to task over his work performance. I reassured him that as far as I was concerned he was the best employee they had at any store I had ever been in.

He has no regrets about leaving Bunnings. He is now working for another company for commission and was making three times what he was getting from Bunnings and his client base was still growing.

To me he was the best asset that Bunnings had and they gave him such a hard time he left and has not looked back. There are only two others at my local Bunings who seem to know anything and they are both casuals on limited hours.

I am happy to buy from bunnings for a lot of items as the prices are pretty good but oftentimes I am better off going elsewhere, where the staff know their products. Unfortunately these places are struggling to survive against the onslaught of the bunnings/masters juggernaut.

Doug

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sturdee

... tirade ...

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Tirade? ... hardly. :rolleyes:

To put your "tirade" into perspective - I walk into my local hardware store and get greeted by name (I'm NOT a tradie and would be lucky to go into there once or twice a month) and they ask me what I am after and always get directed to what I want. They have staff that know their products (and not just were they are located) and can answer most technical questions with ease.

Sorry but it doesn't even compare to the Bunnings "experience".

I like Bunnings for price & for range. :2tsup:

There are some things you can't get there, HH&BW is one of them but I can live with that.

Bit sad to see the direction this thread has taken.

I put it here as a lighthearted humorous experience I had had and thought others might find equally amusing.

Perhaps it may be time to lock it down and start a new thread on the +'s and -'s of the big box stores.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vernonv

Tirade? ... hardly. :rolleyes:

To put your "tirade" into perspective - I walk into my local hardware store and get greeted by name (I'm NOT a tradie and would be lucky to go into there once or twice a month) and they ask me what I am after and always get directed to what I want. They have staff that know their products (and not just were they are located) and can answer most technical questions with ease.

Sorry but it doesn't even compare to the Bunnings "experience".

---

Perhaps, but how does this and your previous post (as well as numerous others) relate to the subject of this thread, see the OPs response above.

So much negativity and not even on topic.:no:

I even had to delete part of one post that was downright libellous!:~

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Big Shed

Perhaps, but how does this and your previous post (as well as numerous others) relate to the subject of this thread

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I didn't change the subject of the thread, I merely followed it's path.

I hope you also chastise everyone else that followed (i.e. posted "off topic") in this changing thread.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vernonv

I didn't change the subject of the thread, I merely followed it's path.

I hope you also chastise everyone else that followed this changing thread.

---

I thought I did

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Big Shed

Perhaps, but how does this and your previous post (as well as numerous others) relate to the subject of this thread, see the OPs response above.

So much negativity and not even on topic.http://d1r5wj36adg1sk.cloudfront.net...smilies/no.gif

I even had to delete part of one post that was downright libellous!http://d1r5wj36adg1sk.cloudfront.net...lies/anoyd.gif

---

And for the record I didn't "chastise" anyone, if I did you would know about it.

I merely added my observations to those of the OP.

But if it makes you feel better:

Everyone else that followed this changing thread, consider yourself chastised.

Feel better now?:rolleyes:

Well, you only quoted me and you referred to me specifically, so I took it as being directed at me ... but whatever.

Let's un-knot some knickers and move on. :D

Some staff will tell you where to go down to the bay and shelf for that must have item.
Other staff it will be "what" or "what is that".

I will give you a few examples.

Where would I find a star post driver?
Assistant "what is that?"

eg 2 Where would I find cleats?
Assistant "What are they for?"
Me "To tie ropes."
Assistant "Try down with ropes."
I did and could not find them, they were however located with out door blinds. (Which is what I wanted the cleats for.)

eg 3
I asked the assistant if they had "hook hinges" for awning windows. I have not been able to locate them on the stores internet site.
The assistant was able to tell me the aisle, the bay and the shelf and the box labeled "Hook Hinges."
Success.

Now where does this thread go?

On my first day of work (16) I was sent to the hardware store for a long weight (wait), staff in the shop must have know I was coming in, as I was told "that they were out the back and someone was getting one". An hour and a half later they told me "must have sold the last one":doh:
It was only after I got back that I woke up as to what was going on:doh:
Kryn

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore

On my first day of work (16) I was sent to the hardware store for a long weight (wait), staff in the shop must have know I was coming in, as I was told "that they were out the back and someone was getting one". An hour and a half later they told me "must have sold the last one":doh:
It was only after I got back that I woke up as to what was going on:doh:
Kryn

---

I joined the army when I was 17 back in 1977, I finished up on kitchen duty after a couple of weeks and the cooks picked out the youngest and most gullible one of the recruits on duty that day and sent him to the Catering Officer's store to get a pilot light.

So anyway, I arrived at the Catering Officer's store and knocked on the door, The Catering Officer, a crusty old Warrant Officer came out and placed his hand on my shoulder in a condescending manner and said "sorry son, they have all gone out."

At least when I realized that I had been had, I could tell from the Catering Officer's response that I was not the first and certainly would not be the last.

Cheers

Doug

"Big box" hardware doesn't operate on person to person interactions: they are incidental. They operate on data analysis: what do people buy, in what quantities, at what times of the week, month or year? What can they be induced to buy, how can more units of the desirable product be shifted (I used to work in marketing and logistics in a bike company)? However, a small hardware that I used to frequent when I worked near it, kept bits and pieces that I ordered, fairly infrequently (bulk 3wt spindle oil, etc.) that me and I think about 2 other customers bought, but that would have been a pain, pre-internet, but maybe even today, to order in terms of inconvenient lead times, etc. Bunnings/Masters/Mitre 6 (our local one gets 6/10 on a good day - all the -es of the big store, and few of the +es of smaller stores)? You can go and whistle, if you want what they don't stock. It's not 'economic' to stock them. But, I remember fondly the first business, and seek to avoid those in the second category.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Well Bunnings at least has a special order service. I have used it a few times and they have handled my special order very efficiently and promptly, even ringing me when the item arrived (almost unheard of for any business in this day and age).

But as said previously, let's keep this thread on topic, you have made your opinion of Bunnings known before and I had to remove part of what you said, see here.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Big Shed

Perhaps, but how does this and your previous post (as well as numerous others) relate to the subject of this thread, see the OPs response above.

So much negativity and not even on topic.http://d1r5wj36adg1sk.cloudfront.net...smilies/no.gif

I even had to delete part of one post that was downright libellous!http://d1r5wj36adg1sk.cloudfront.net...lies/anoyd.gif

---

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Big Shed

Well Bunnings at least has a special order service.

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Must have picked that up that "service" from the small hardware stores that have been doing that for many, many decades.

But yes, lets not take this off topic ....