Thread: Bunnings - An observation

Yes. The actual extent of it can be driven by the individual manager, but it is all bean counter stuff - they think it is better to sell you 20 useless bits when all you want is one #2 Philips, and indeed , if they can sell you the big set they have a bigger profit.

But if they give you the ####'s & you find somewhere else that can sell you individual bits, or small packs of what you want instead of 90% rubbish & you start buying there instead, they will eventually loose out. What keeps them afloat & makes their plan survivable is 1) the way they club the little full service stores out of business & 2) the large number of people who just don't want to think & want instant gratification.

Lee Valley (Canada), Rockler (USA), Elraco (Au) are all on-line shops that will sell individual bits but you do have to wait. There is at least one surviving hardware store in the Sydney CBD, in York St behind the HCF offices that still sells single bits, even Pozidrive.

The more I read these Forum entries the more I am amazed that people seem to think Bunnings is the only place you can buy stuff. OK some areas may only have bunnies close to them but in the tin pot town of Tamworth we have a locally owned and operated building supply company who have taken them head on and succeeding! We are lucky too because we have bearing and bolt stores where you can buy just 1 or thousands. These stores are staffed by people who know their products and can advise you accordingly. I do go into the big B, but the bulk of my shopping I do at the other smaller concerns.
The vibe that I am getting from the Forum is "If Bunnings don't have it, it can't be got!" Don't be sucked into the "convenience-one stop shop" deal,
Look around your town and ask questions. You may be pleasantly surprised

Hi Fuzzie,
How about a Secondhand Pair, say from the local Sunday Market. There may even be some new ones there as well.
Just a thought.
Regards,
issatree.

There is no doubt that many a product can be sourced from within Aust. through specialist stores and both bricks and mortar and online. As a rule, I try to support these guys ahead of Bunnies and shopping overseas. It is true though that sometimes the range available and economy of buying overseas is just too compelling however, by shopping overseas we are affecting the local full service guys just as much (if not more) than shopping at Bunnies.

In short, lets at least consider the local guys. A good place to start is with the sponsors of this forum .

Incidently, I am a humble novice woodworker without any association with local suppliers and sponsors.

I tend to use place like Bolts and Industrial, Queensland engineering Supplies and so on.

Buinnies is okay for general hardware items but when it comes to something a bit specialised, forget it. I guess it all comes down to supply and demand. Luckily we have several good suppliers in Brisbane, Gold Coast and surrounding areas.

Try buying a spare part for the expensive piece of electrical gear you bought from Blunderings.Not a bloody chance as there's no profit in it!!

Spares? Ha!

Needed another blade for a folding garden saw that I bought at Bunnings.....No chance.
Eventually found a shop that would contact the supplier and order blades even though it was nothing to do with them.....very helpful......guess where my main source of new tools is now?

Bunnings used to be cheap until they cornered the market. My local hardware that I supported got run out of town by them.
I usually buy my bolts from mulling fasteners but while the wife was shopping I decided to over and have a look at bunnings to buy 6, 6mm nuts and bolts. It worked out something like $10 because I had to but packs of 4. I could get the same thing at mullings for around $2 to $3?
Dave