I encounter a lot of you ozbargainers here. Ask away. Will strictly not provide proof / location of the store I work in. If this is a deterrent then I suggest you act accordingly.
I mainly work in tech. Just a casual too.
[AMA] I Work at Officeworks. AMA
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You might think that Officeworks sells a lot of tech where there certainly isn't enough markup to float the business alone. However Officeworks sells A LOT (No really, A LOT) of stationary, accessories and furniture products which are ordered in insanely massive quantities from manufacturers. Being able to buy multiple 40 foot containers at a time of 2mm thin exercise books or tiny USB drives means less overhead. Plus the speed at which they are sold means less money spent keeping them in stock.
I started at the Subi store in Perth when it was first built (they get the first intake of staff to stock the store and get it set up, was a real education) - then went to Melbourne to work in the head office in the buying department. Have been out of Coles Myer for a good 15 years now but it was a great job and great company to work for, and set me up in a good career
OW takes good care of its employees :) I'm glad things worked out for you.
What's up with every OW store playing pirated movies on the display laptops?
They must have been loaded by the team members. The laptops shouldn't really be showing anything other than the specs.
How do you know they're pirated?
Sure they're not trailers or samples?
Because they are playing them on WMP and you can see the folder with movies labeled 'Movie.BRRip.XViD.AC3-ETRG'
How do you date someone from Officeworks? As a true OzB I am only interested in the staff discount!
At least take me out for dinner? ;)
Grabs a few close to expiry or expired chocolate bars (near the register of almost every OW store) and gets you to pay for them so I can get the staff discount :P
How does the staff-accessible inventory compare to the public product availability online? Is it more complete, accurate and up-to-date, and is the online one not?
And are some employees a bit over their heads with certain products and technologies? (like talking about how a good computer needs to have an 'i7' processor or something) and are the customers sometimes more knowledgeable and they don't respect that?The stock indicator online will run off the same inventory system used in store however it's likely updated less frequently than the store's local system. This is probably one of the reasons why the website does not list exact stock counts.
If you're the type of person who studies, works or just has an interest in technology, you're probably often surrounded by other people who understand technology. However, as much as the world is changing, the vast majority of people don't know a lot about technology, except for the basics of their underutilised iPhones and iPads.
The same goes for employees in large retail stores like Officeworks. It's not possible to employ 50 (I might have had a large store) tech geniuses, so you'll run into the same sort of ratio you'll find in the real world. Out of 50 there might be 5 stars who know the answer to all reasonable and many unreasonable questions you might have, 5 more who can do a pretty good job, 10 who can answer half your questions and leave you unsure, and another 30 who know as much as the majority of customers asking the questions.
To answer your question, if you know enough to ask some technical questions, there's a fair chance that the person you're asking doesn't really know the answer. It's not hard to be more knowledgeable than a salesperson. An exceptionally knowledgeable technology salesperson is usually on track to a more lucrative career.
Thanks for the detailed answers!
Pretty much spot-on.
Nail, Hammer, Head right here "An exceptionally knowledgeable technology salesperson is usually on track to a more lucrative career."
Can I ask why Officeworks dumped the Flybuy system? many years ago we would be able to get Flybuy point + petrol voucher and suddenly they are all stopped.
However the Coles gift card are still able to be used. So it Officeworks still under Westfarmer?
Can I ask why Officeworks dumped the Flybuy system?
This is a question for upper management, not for the drones on the floor.
Officeworks is under Wesfarmers.
Hi Sy37,
Something on extended warranties again. I am planning to buy an iPad from OW and plan to buy the extended warranty with it. So does extended warranty cover an accidental screen smash? I have young kids who drop tablets often.
Thanks
Buy apple care. Or insurance. Or a life proof case.
D) All of the above?
oh so does apple care cover accidental damage?
AppleCare+ does for a service fee.
Last I checked, I don't think it applied to Apple products. Don't quote me on that though, it's just something I think I recall reading somewhere… in a galaxy… far… far……
should i do a AMA ex centrecom
Yes. Do centrecom employees get a staff discount ;)
I have noticed that many OW store products have a special bulk buy price tag.
Do staff have the ability to discount to apply a bulk buy discount [on non-bulk buy products - laptops] and if so by how much can they discount (percentage wise)?
No, they don't. Bulk buy discounts are only offered on select products nationwide.
I have an Officeworks store less than 300m from my home, so it is very convenient, but almost everything they sell that i am interested in is way overpriced compare to local competition.
Why are they not remotely competitive to begin with?
example of my last price matched item…
RAZER NAGA EPIC CHROMA RGB RZ01-01230100-R3A1 $138 - Just about any computer shop price (also note the ACTUAL product code on the barcode on the box is that number, which can also be seen clearly on Razer's own product page in the photos)
http://www.computeralliance.com.au/parts?id=14080Officeworks price - $219
http://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/razer-rz-01…So, it seems ONLY Officeworks and Jb-hifi are calling this mouse a "Razer RZ-0195"
Where everyone else in the known universe is using the correct designation of "RZ01-01230100-R3A1"
When you google both numbers, even Razer's own website doesn't appear in the list for the rz-0195.I did in fact, get this price match, after asking exactly once and showing a printout from another store, clerk didn't even blink before processing my sale.
It just seems kinda dodgy to me, as they ARE the exact same product, Officeworks seem like they are deliberately trying to conceal the real product number and hoping people are stupid.
Why are they not remotely competitive to begin with?
Officeworks real competitors in technology are other major retailers like JB HiFi, Harvey Norman (and previously Dick Smith). Of them three, I would expect Officeworks to have the lowest price for any item since they have the "lowest price guarantee". That's what an average Joe and soccer mum would think as well.
So you're saying, why shouldn't Officeworks offer the cheapest price to begin with by matching the computer store? It's all part of pricing strategy. Using your example, there's a $81 difference for the same product between Officeworks and the computer store. They make $6.90 less for each price beat (5% less of $138) but $81 more if someone doesn't price beat (because they don't know about it or just don't care). It takes 1 normal price ($81 extra revenue) to nullify 12 price beats (12 x $6.90 less revenue). This means that they are confident that there are more people paying the normal price than price beating. Realistically I would say 9 people would pay the normal price but only 4 people price beat (as not too many people would shop around computer stores online).
From a business POV, they'd rather a few people getting it at $131.10 and the rest paying $219 than everyone paying $138. I would too.
It just seems kinda dodgy to me, as they ARE the exact same product, Officeworks seem like they are deliberately trying to conceal the real product number and hoping people are stupid.
I agree, they are physically the same product but I wouldn't say they are "deliberately trying to conceal the real product number". Like you said, JB Hi-Fi also has that part number, and so does Harvey Norman. Is it possible that all three retailers are conspiring together so that Officeworks can trick you? Unlikely.
I think it's more likely that the Australian supplier of Razer mouses simplified the part numbers for major retailers so that it's less confusing and not scare off consumers. I mean, RZ-0185 looks more friendly than RZ01-01230100-R3A1 right? What do all those extra digits mean anyway?
300m from your home? You should ask how much for home delivery.
Do you guys still pricematch with dicksmith? even though the online website doesnt show stock levels?
it's been answered in the previous page, but the short answer is no
All DS products are considered clearance or liquidated stock, as such we are unable to price match it.
I had this bad experience I want to share and may be get you to solve some of my doubts.
I was once price matching an item almost half price else where and the saving was nearly $200, a team member (just call him MEH) said he needed to ask his manager because the saving was too much. Later on he came back and said to me they actually had no stock left. I was like ummm ok, but I did not believe him.
Then I walked to the other side and talked to another member as if I just came in to the shop and asked if they still have stock for the item I want. He checked and said yes they had a few left (busted!). But then when he was walking to the back to get one for me, MEH somehow stopped him (or he just bumped into MEH I didn't know). I waited a little while and MEH came to me and said he searched but couldn't find it. I argued with him saying the other member said there was a few left according to the record but he said the record could be wrong.
To me what MEH said was not consistence as he was first saying there was no stock but then he said he could not find any.
———-Sorry hit enter too quick
I went out, not believing MEH, then back again to the same OW after an hour or so and made sure I didn't see MEH there this time. Luckily he wasn't around and I grabbed a third member, who looked like still green. I checked with him there was still stock, he walked to the back and a while later he came back with the item!! He did also call out his manager with him to confirm if they could do the price match and the manager said yes in front of us. I was happy but surely that was a big drama.I was puzzled was there any rule saying not to give price match because the saving is huge? Why everyone had to ask their manager if there is no rule?
Was there any incentive for a team member to hide the stock? Can team members buy items using their discount on top of the price matched amount? I feel bad to think MEH might try to put aside the stocks when he knew from me he could earn a few hundreds if he buy all the stocks and resell them later on on gumtree.
I was puzzled was there any rule saying not to give price match because the saving is huge? Why everyone had to ask their manager if there is no rule?
There's no rule in refusing a price match if the difference is huge. However, I guess some team members feel more comfortable confirming with their manager in case they get questioned about it later on; or the store manager requires them to do so. Depends on the store.
Was there any incentive for a team member to hide the stock? Can team members buy items using their discount on top of the price matched amount?
You cannot apply staff discount on top of a price-beaten item.
Adding onto ronnknee, if the price match amount is high, the team member will require a manager's logon regardless, so he would have to double check with his manager anyway.
Now as for the stock issue, I do understand the frustration but also understand that its equally frustrating for us as well. The computerized system tracks stock levels however its only accurate + or - approx 5 (depending on the product). So if the fella's pulled a little hand held iTouch or PDT and looked it up, it may say it has 3 in stock, but this includes faulty returns or display models. As such it's completely possible that while it's telling the poor sod that there's "a few in stock", there may not be any at all. He is, however, at fault for not knowing this and telling you that there is. With low readings, I will commonly reply "The computer (or whatever device I'm using) is telling me there is, but they sometimes get it wrong. Let me double check it for you and I'll be back.".
Also, stock storage locations do change from time to time and if you accidentally grabbed someone from the wrong department, he may not have known where that stock is meant to kept and linked "not finding it" with it "not being there".
I am not defending your experience as it was definitely poorly handled and that member should be spoken to, but I have also experienced the above and many times, it's not out of malicious intent, just lack of familiarity or training. Also electronic stock levels suck.
Are all OW company owned or Franschised?
All owned by Wesfarmers.
Thanks,
It did seem at one stage that the managers discretion varied from store to store, particularly on price matching.
Any comments/thoughts on this https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/3604528/redir
I'm not sure about that so I've chosen not to answer.
Wow theres a thing now for ask me anything (AMA) lol sigh
Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck?
? Just cant believe theres an abbreviation for everything these days lol
Great post. I didn't get through everything. But it is interesting to see peoples questions. I'd be interested to see one for our side of the business and peoples opinions.
Personally, the Officeworks close to me is absolutely terrible to get anything from. On the rare occasion I do go there (usually for an adaptor, charger/cable, toner etc) they are always out of stock for what you need. Just looking through the tech isles there are so many empty spaces where stock used to be and is always the same every time I go there.
On the other hand, I find the online ordering/delivery very convenient. So my question, do you see a strong future in physical stores and face to face customer service with OW? Or do you see OW in the future opening less stores and taking a more online (eBay, Kogan etc) model?
Well it's going to have to open less stores as time goes, it's impossible to sustain the same rate of expansion (this is true for any store).
However, taking this into account, I do think there will be a strong future in face to face customer service and physical stores, and not just online ordering. Some products are only available in store. Exchanges / refunds are easier processed in store. Price beats are easier (most of the time) processed in store. Furniture items / chair shopping is much easier in store. Being able to try out the laptops, have a feel etc is a much more intuitive experience in store etc. Lots of transactions are also quite small where delivery fees would otherwise constitute a large portion of the total transaction cost. Most people also end up changing their minds in store for something better.
Both online and in-store have well defined benefits and disadvantages. What makes OW unique imo is that both of these are equally compelling. In some stores, there isn't much of a strong reason to shop in-store. In OW, this is not the case
Good reply thanks.
What are your thoughts on Officeworks providing a 3D printing service? Do you think that's on the cards in the future?
can OW price match on a product that they only sell online? if so, what's the process involved? buy first then email/call for refund of difference + 5%?
edit: here's the policy
^ The Lowest Price Guarantee can only be redeemed in store, by fax or by calling 1300 OFFICE (633 423)
When an item goes on clearance… does it get a further price reduction if no one shows interest in the item. If so how many times?
I've seen clearance items drop in price 2-3 times, that's probably the most you'll get. Not sure what happens to them if they're not sold.
Remember Officeworks isn't just about the products - the printing section (which I work in) rakes in huge amount of money.