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

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:wink:.

Cheers
MH

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Originally Posted by Metal Head

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

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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

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

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Originally Posted by Daddles

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

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Scooter ain't gonna like that! :rolleyes:

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

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Originally Posted by Groggy

Scooter ain't gonna like that! :rolleyes:

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So true! :D

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Originally Posted by Honorary Bloke

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

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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 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?:rolleyes:


.........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 ....

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Originally Posted by Daddles

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

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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?."

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Well done wood borer, my sentiments exactly!:2tsup:

But it's not a matter of knocking Bunnings or the expertise of their staff. I've found their staff to be pretty knowledgeable and the shops themselves to be good places to be. But like all major chains they are into that balance between good service and profitablity: and sometimes they get it wrong.

If you can't find someone in a Bunnings store to cut a length of rope, or tell you the price of something that is unmarked, and then you have to wait 10 minutes in a queue waiting to be served, then they've got that balance wrong.

I never blame the staff, who suffer from understaffing more than anyone, and then have to cop the abuse of customers on top of it. And I think that it is also important to note that this is not an anti-Bunnings thing in general, more a comparison of specific stores and management.

Personally I would love a job at Bunnings - part time to pick up some extra pocket money.

When I applied recently to my local store (not a warehouse type) they said they couldnt give me any part time work - only full time. They said they need more staff with hardware knowledge and experience to balance out the number of new team members.

Since then I have noticed that the full timers at the store always seem harried and stressed - so maybe I was lucky.

We really are a nation of knockers, aren't we. Some forum members rant about hardware stores, some forum members rant about other forum members.

On the positive side, Bunnings seems to be a good place to work. In general , staff seem happy and pleasant and quite sociable with each other. Bunnings does a good job as a hardware supermarket - large range, lots of shelves to look at, reasonable prices, pleasant checkout operators. As long as the expectations stay within these criteria I don't think a job there would be all that bad.

Bunnings do give their staff a discount on purchases, dont ask me how I know:U

I've got ...........

They stock GMC.....nuff said :p

G'day,

A while ago the local Bunnies at Bayswater were looking for full-time staff for their tool and plumbing dept', each with relevant experience either by way of a trade or hands-on experience.

Yes, Bunnings do give Team member discounts.
As Dai Sensei advised the discount is calculated on 50% of the gross margin on a particular item and is available to the imediate family of the team member.
Bunnings are a retailer, Australias 3rd largest, which also sells hardware and bulk Building supplies through Trade reps and designated Trade DC stores.
I work for Bunnings as a Trade Rep.

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Originally Posted by Eugowra

Yes, Bunnings do give Team member discounts.
As Dai Sensei advised the discount is calculated on 50% of the gross margin on a particular item and is available to the imediate family of the team member.

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Up to a maximum of 20% off the shelf price.


Very good mob to work for, you must enjoy people though as we are a very high volume retailer and you will encounter an, er, interesting cross section of humanity. :p

Team members are generally well looked after by the company.

Same as anywhere, we have good and bad people, the employment process is rigorous but some duds do get through.

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I have been told by a friend of a friend who works for them, that fulltime positions are generally filled by existing casual staff.

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Not necessarily, depends on the suitability of the people available.

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Originally Posted by scooter

Up to a maximum of 20% off the shelf price.

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I have wondered about that. I went with a friend who wanted to buy a cheap ladder. When he chose one and we went to the counter I asked if there was any discount available showing my trade card. The girl on the counter must have mistaken my trade card for a staff card and used her staff card to check - and there was a whopping discount - about 40% off! Great I thought but when it was processed on my card the discount was zip:(

I always wondered why some "trades" people would work at Bunnings rather than earn money doing their trade, but if you can get a decent discount on the stuff there, then it is probably worthwhile to put in a few hours here and there.

I only go to Bunnings for the sausages.....perfect as I can get my fangs around a sanger without actually having to go inside the place. :D

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Originally Posted by 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.

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I go there for the odd item as a convenience thing when I can't get it anywhere else. I think they do pretend to have specialists working for them though. Out front on the staff board (the one with all the staff faces and their specialties listed etc... above it on the board title it explicitly states... "Expert Advice" :q

It may be "Expert Advice" but often that advice is not correct.

I just hate when the "Expert Advice" involves telling some poor DIY newbie that a brad nailer will hold up his new wooden fence without a problem :doh:

it's a good place to work most of the time they do hire well great fun people to work with
if you are looking to get in you should do it fast they are doing all the hireing now for the peek season XMAS its just around the corner

full time around $18 a HR cas$20( ball park)

realy you can not think someone working flat out in the paints department has the time to learn all about pumbing but to bunnings credit they are trying to teach them

now this is just a personal feeling but l think the % of FLOOR worker that realy know thier stuff would be around 50% as long as you catch them in thier own department

thier is a lot of people that use bunnings as a outing took my dad down to his local one he was so happy just to walk around looking at all the diffrent thing and talk to someone about them and we didn't buy a thing :)

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread. I have submitted my CV to the local store today and I will wait and see if anything comes of it:rolleyes:.

Not the end of the World if it doesn't, as I joined a casual bank/agency today for work in the hospital field. There appears to be plenty around atm:2tsup:. However that 20% off the floor stock would be useful if I get the opportunity.

Cheers once again
MH