On 16 July 2009 I visited the Bunnings Warehouse, Lake Road, Port Macquarie NSW to enquire about an advertised position of Department Manager.

The obvious place to enquire was the Service Desk where I was met with smiles and offers of help, that was until I advised the young lady that I wanted details about the advertised position.

Her response caught me completely, and what’s more the smile and helpfulness rapidly disappeared. “Why would you want that job, it is just soooooooo stressful”.

So the job is stressful is it? What a wonderful representation of the company that pays her wages. If the job is sooooo stressful then why are you still there?

By her own admission she stated that jobs at Bunnings are obviously soooooooo stressful!!! Where is her loyalty to her company? I am pleased she works for Bunnings because if she was my employee and spoke to a customer in that tone she would be dismissed instantly.

What a wonderful introduction to the world according to Bunnings.

It was an absolutely wonderful PR exercise, well done Bunnings.

I was eventually referred to another young lady who I was informed was a Department Manager. Once again I was greeted with smiles and offering all the appearances of wanting to assist. That was until I explained the reason of my visit.

Her tone changed completely also, and so began what I considered to be an interrogation that would have done the Gestapo proud.

She tried to intimidate me by describing how much was involved in the position and how I would have to fit into the Bunnings “team”. Really, I would have to fit into the team irrespective of my qualifications. It really was beginning to sound like an adult version of MacDonalds. The exception being they are taking to adults not some pimply faced 15 year old kid. (No offence intended to all pimply faced kids).

The interrogation continued by being asked if I was a local, well it was obvious that I wasn’t however I did explain that I owned a house and other real estate in the town and I intended to move to Port Macquarie in the near future.

I was then asked as to my qualifications, I advised the young lady of my qualifications and her response was simply, “Well with all your qualifications why don’t you just go back to Sydney and get a job?

Up until that point in time I always considered that every Australian had the right of freedom to live and work where ever they pleased. Apparently not, it appears now that approval has to be sought and approved by some arrogant, self opinionated check-out chick who is employed at Bunnings.

Mine is NOT an isolated case as I have found out. How do you get a job at Bunnings??? Is it jobs for the boys???

To anyone considering seeking employment at Bunnings I wish you well.

I am interested in hearing direct about other Bunnings horror stories.

robbo1945@hotmail.com

also people who have to take a step every time the queue moves so they’re right up your back, and if you edge forward a bit to get away from them, they edge forward too! again, i always stand stilll when it’s nearly my turn, just to prove that squashing up to people doesn’t get you served any faster!
oo that was a nice release!

Ooh, I thought of another one, similar to the first type of bus pusher – people who are waiting outside a lecture theatre, and when the lecture ends, just stream into the lecture theatre, completely disregarding the fact that other people are trying to get out. Idiots.

p.s. Lady, after your antics at the airport waiting to board the plane to see Mr Smaggle on Friday night – I feel the need to express that you were not so cool about not being at the front of the line … ; )

Or another one is those bakeries that dont actually have lines, everyone just hovers around like flies? I hate the people who think im gonna buy 200 loaves of bread and they have to push in front of me to be served first. Arrggh!! Just crazy..!

I went to the optician – who went for major back-coverage by referring me to the eye hospital DESPITE me asking was it worth getting a regular eyetest before I had my appointment with him.

In his big retail outlet.

Went further downhill as various ‘helpful’ members of staff tried to guide me into the designer spex section with my ‘ooh this should help you with eye fatigue’ prescription.

Hated every frame in the shop – if I’m advised that ‘they’re all buying this kind’ it will totally guarantee that I won’t be.

I’m going to buy me something fantastic on eBay and have them reglazed.

Ahhhhh ….

I actually had this experience at Bunnings recently. There were about six young employees standing around doing nothing. One was playing with an inflatable hammer. It took me 10 minutes to be seen at the checkout because there was only this one chick on a register. And I’m sure the latter had her measure in terms of personality and intelligence.

Ahhhhh….. I feel a little better now… Just.