Bunnings v Masters

[Franco Cozzo]

This is like a Ford/Holden thread.

Everyone has drawn their line in the sand.

[Brazen]

Prefer Bunnings but Masters has much better value plants.

[You Yangs]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

This is like a Ford/Holden thread.

Everyone has drawn their line in the sand.

I'm going with Masters then, because they are BLUE

[tranquilized]

I absolutely loath these stores, the effect they're having on smaller businesses would be bad enough, made even worse by their tactics.

One example - a few years back when I was building my studio I needed numerals for each studio door. I bought some stainless steel looking numbers, 1 through 6, from Bunnings. All good. About 12 months later as I was finishing the build I needed numbers 7 to 11, so I head back into Bunnings to buy the same type. Standing at the numeral section I find ones that look similar, but the pack doesn't look familiar and they're more expensive than I remember. Then I spot a $2 clearance bin at the end of the isle, and in that was a packet I remembered instantly, the same brand numeral I bought a year earlier, but unfortunately not the numbers I needed. Anyway, I take a closer look. The pack in the clearance bin is manufactured by a Melbourne based company, the pack on the shelf in China. I take the Melbourne company details down and call them when I get home. Oh yeah he says, we were selling through Bunnings for years but then they took our product over to China to have it copied. The version they now sell is half as good, at a much higher price. Screw you local family run company! Bunnings need to make a few more cents on every stainless number they sell.

Around the same time I made the mistake of buying the odd power tool from Bunnings. I'd gone through the cheap brand stage and had decided to only buy quality stuff from now on. I bought a Makita hammer drill, orbital sander, and drop mitre saw over the years from Bunnings. All garbage. How can this be? Makita is a good brand! You know how they have that "we'll beat any competitors price" deal? Well the way they do that in the case of power tools is have brands like Makita make a line of tools specifically for Bunnings - you can't buy those particular models anywhere else. They're a touch cheaper than the equivalent Makita you'll find in Total Tools or wherever, but the quality is not even close. Now this isn't the case with every single tool, but the more common items like saws, sanders, drills etc, are all Bunnings specific, and rubbish no matter what the brand. Same goes for a lot of stuff like lawn mowers for example - don't buy a Victa from Bunnings!

Having said that, sometimes you just can't go past the sheer range they stock. I buy what I can from the local hardware joint, but every month or so I'll head into Bunnings to buy the little bits and pieces you just can't find anywhere else. Feels like supporting the devil though.

As for Masters, haven't been in there much, but agree they seem more homewares based, more fancy type fitout, confusing layout, not the best range.

[TheSneakiness]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

I use both, and where I am we have Bunnings literally right next door to masters.

I do like the ability of getting a maccas milkshake while I'm walking round masters though.

Same here. Prefer Bunnings though as it dated Masters quite badly when it opened about two weeks ago and actually took ALOT of business away from Masters.

[PepeLePew]

Bunnings drew lines in the sand for suppliers when Masters established and some significant brands just don't appear in Masters for that reason. It's a shame really. I've always found Bunnings a PITA to find anything...I never understand why a place with so many lines and hidey holes couldn't install touch screen tech to let people locate what they're looking for without having to try and find the hiding staff members or wander the aisles aimlessly (of course then they'd miss the impulse buys, right?)

[Giant Cranium]

bunnings ashfield had a fire drill at 2pm today. don't worry ill stand outside for 15mins on the clock.

[comagutsa]

haha in Perth where ever a masters went up Bunning would open right next to it a few months later.. I even saw a few bunnings move a km or 2 from down the road to be right next to masters haha

[nstg8a]

With work we send stock to Bunnings, masters, total tools, mitre 10 and home hardware amongst others.
All of them are better to deal with that Coles or woollies, despite their parent companies lol.
The supermarkets are laws unto themselves.

[Kieron]

Originally Posted by comagutsa

haha in Perth where ever a masters went up Bunning would open right next to it a few months later.. I even saw a few bunnings move a km or 2 from down the road to be right next to masters haha

That would be Edgewater>Joondalup? I believe the lease was up on the Edgewater store but from what i've been told, it was a 'strategic' move nevertheless.

[Adamz Ghia]

Masters won't fail. They're trying to crack a market that has been so dominated by one player for so long of course they will struggle early. But they are heavily backed and they'll get there. As a consumer we need them for competition.

[Trump]

I can't stand either and as such, I get my various bits and pieces from specialist stores.

Oh and Masters are toast, the US part of the operation wants out and fast. Don't ask how I know

[marty351]

Total Tools rulez!

[Bill M]

Of the two Masters has the better fasteners section by far, full width drawers with a huge offering of the Champion range so if you are into diy on cars this is the one.
Bill.

[neptune blue]

I like the bunnings shopping experience. Its a little noisy and a little messy and I know the brands. Some of the masters staff don't have great product knowledge and its all a bit to neat and tidy for me. Having said that I did by a BBQ last year from there that was on sale , reduced by 50% and its a ripper. Also their outdoor furniture pricing is way cheaper than bunnings and the quality looks good

[GTPete]

Check the web before buying anything costly from Bunnings or Masters. Was looking for a garage bench, toolbox and cabinets. Found comparable quality gear on the net for 1/3 less then either Bunnings or Masters.

[pottery beige]

i'm only in it for the saturday sausage

[Shonky.]

and then he gets up and goes to the hardware store.......

[flightstrike]

Masters in Cairns opened up while I was still living there.
I went in on three occasions to buy $50-100 worth of equipment and was never successful. They had no option other than the self serve, and it was constantly saying "Approval needed". After the attendant did their magic (after waiting) , they'd walk away, I'd swipe the next item, same thing. So I just dropped everything and walked out.

If you can't provide efficient/ friendly customer service, you don't get my money.

[LG17]

Originally Posted by flightstrike

Masters in Cairns opened up while I was still living there.
I went in on three occasions to buy $50-100 worth of equipment and was never successful. They had no option other than the self serve, and it was constantly saying "Approval needed". After the attendant did their magic (after waiting) , they'd walk away, I'd swipe the next item, same thing. So I just dropped everything and walked out.

If you can't provide efficient/ friendly customer service, you don't get my money.

Lucky you didn't go into the original Bunnings then!
It's the absolute worst one I've ever been in.

[nuthin' fancy]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

With work we send stock to Bunnings, masters, total tools, mitre 10 and home hardware amongst others.
All of them are better to deal with that Coles or woollies, despite their parent companies lol.
The supermarkets are laws unto themselves.

Masters V Bunnings is a Woolworths V Coles discussion. They are both bad corporate citizens who don't care what wreckage they leave in their wake.

I would love to see these large businesses forced to plainly advertise "Coles" (or) "First Choice Liquor" or "Bunnings" a Westfarmers Group company and "Safeway" or "Woolworths" or "Masters" or "Dan Murphy's" A Woolworths Group company.

The only thing they offer is minimum wage jobs for broken down tradies.

[marty351]

[QUOTE=
The only thing they offer is minimum wage jobs for broken down tradies.[/QUOTE]

And retired people who are either bored or lost their savings to some dodgy scheme.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by Adamz Ghia

Masters won't fail. They're trying to crack a market that has been so dominated by one player for so long of course they will struggle early. But they are heavily backed and they'll get there. As a consumer we need them for competition.

Heavily backed your right. I can garrantee you I know where the money is coming from to. The biggest link in the ownership chain and it's showing. And the other side of it wants out and have for a little while.

[aussiblue]

Masters is closer, Bunnings is bigger and slightly cheaper, my closest totals tools has limited stock (so I go to their online site to order), I sometimes go to Mitre 10 Kelmscott or Myaree Hardware (which is an old fashioned store with things others don't have) and Subiaco Restoration is my favourite source for quality home reno things (doors, window frames, mouldings, bathroom fittings, architectural etc) and then there is ebay.

[vztrt]

Masters getting a revamp.

http://www.theage.com.au/business/wo...28-gj9x16.html

[Olbucko]

I cringe at the "deep and sincere" greeting from the greeter when I walk into Bunnings, sometime they are even older and sillier than me. Why don't they spend the money on employing more people to help you find things instead.

I had Masters supply and lay carpets for me, their service was very prompt and professional.

I prefer to deal with my local Mitre 10, it has been established and owned by the same family for 80 years, has grown from a tiny store to a large store covering nearly a whole block, and is now owned and managed by the grandson of the original owner. He is on first name terms with most of his customers and will go out of his way to help them. Recently I asked him for a price on a hot water service, he was able to better Masters price by $100

I won't shop at Masters or Bunnings unless my Wife drags me there.

[Shonky.]

Old mate at the door is to stop you pinching stuff, he ain't going nowhere

[marty351]

Originally Posted by Shonky.

Old mate at the door is to stop you pinching stuff, he ain't going nowhere

With stamp in hand!

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by Olbucko

I had Masters supply and lay carpets for me, their service was very prompt and professional.

Ahh carpets!

I had a rental in Cowra and Bathurst and did a tidy up before selling that included carpet installed by Bunnings.

They did Bathurst first. Removed old carpet and did a good job.

Then I arranged my house in Cowra to be done. Agreed to the carpet and they did the work. Went out afterwards to inspect to find the old carpet and underlay under the carport....

I called the local Bunnings and was told that it was standard practice to leave the old carpet on site and removal was extra....

After a few choice words the carpet was promptly removed for 'free'.....

Bet they saw the Sydney mailing address and thought I would never find out!

[Burnout]

Shouldn't knock those businesses for employing older workers. They are some the few employers who seem to offer the older workers a means to a living. The numbers of over 45's out of work is in double digits.
You should critisise them for loads of other perceptions however.