I recently read this great article about Bunnings' pricing strategy.
I love/d Bunnings, but less now that I'm more aware of how I am being duped.
I'm curious to know if anyone can regularly get better prices than Bunnings anywhere else.
A more relevant question though might be whether most people actually have an alternative hardware store - arguably Bunnings has destroyed all the competition.
I'm curious to know if anyone can regularly get better prices than Bunnings anywhere else
my understanding with bunnings and Masters (when they were around) getting around this was to offer brands and or items (specifically item numbers or models) that were made exclusively for them, so they couldn't technically match or be pricematched as a particular model would only turn up in one retailer. May well be wrong here though.
At any rate I'm off to read that article posted. Cheers!
Nothing new there.
Another tactic they employ is to get the goods manufacturer that sells model BX593 to make them an identical product but called model BX594.
That way they don't have to price match and sell BX594 for more than other stores selling BX593.
Or they may ask the goods manufacturer to make them a product BX592, which is similar to BX593 but cheaper with less features or lesser specs. To the public they don't realise the difference and buy BX592. The retail price of BX592 and BX593 (available elsewhere) are the same, but BX592 is an inferior product.
I buy general stuff from Bunnings with the exception of:
- Powertools, cheaper and more range elsewhere.
- Paint, cheaper and more range elsewhere.
- Plumbing supplies, general odd stuff is priced ok, specialist plumbing hardware or supplies can be 3-4 times more expensive than specialist plumbing suppliers.
Bunnings is good if you need a lot of various item, convenient and easy to refund.
Edit. Doh, didn't read carwashhair's comments above.
Where's your preferred retailer for tools?
VEK Tools are cheap and have good packages.
Even Total Tools can be cheaper than Bunnings, plus you get better advice.
I've also bought tools from a small independent store- Huntingdale Power Tools in Melbourne. They are cheaper and it's good to support small family owned businesses.
Note they are all power tools, I can't comment on the hand tools.
Though you explained it better and with more detail, JB1. And I like your tips on what to buy (and the exceptions!)
Similar to matresses…
These are tactics that every (or most more likely) medium to large retailer uses.
Most people - including myself - are bamboozled by these tactics and believe they are getting a good price when they are paying higher than average prices through the way they arrange the store, the numbers used on signage and I'm sure many other factor. Even worse it doesn't matter if you know about what is happening, the effects occur still.
Supermarkets successfully manipulate me like this. I worked this out when just out of idle curiosity I started restricting my grocery shopping to only items that are published on Ozbargain and was shocked when I cut my grocery bills by roughly %50. I thought I was a savvy supermarket shopper like an idiot :D
The only defenses against these manipulations is having a deep working knowledge of prices which is possible with practice. However no one at all has the time to do this for everything they buy.
I'm sure there a more than a few here on Ozbargain who have the time for this ;) (not me either)
Bunnings are dodgey as. Their beat it by 5% marketing scheme is a scam! What they do is get the manufacturers like Ryobi, Pope, etc to create unique model/part numbers so they are unique to them only, so if you try and price match the same product, they will knock you back because the model numbers don't match. Eg a drill might have the serial of ABC1234S and the same one in a competitors store will be ABC1234. I bought a Ryobi combo and was never able to find it on Amazon, Google or anywhere as it made specifically for them. I have a friend who worked for one of those manufacturers and he said the same thing. Their catalogues are not even specials but just what they have in their range. Just take a look at most products on pricehipster, you'll see a flat line and never any price drops.
Also don't get me started on their BS orange big price tags as they are NOT on special, they just make you think that they are.
This is why Google is our friend. Before I buy anything substantial I Google prices and reviews to determine the pricing and quality. (This also includes checking OxBargain). Also, I frequently take out my phone when I'm shopping and Google the prices, and reviews, whilst standing there. Also, if you are looking at getting something you won't use very often ring around your friends and see if they will loan you one. Give them a nice bottle of red, or something, in return. We all have stuff we don't use often, and would be happy to lend out to others.
In my case Bunnings is within walking distance so I'm not going to travel much further to buy something relatively cheap, but I will for something worthwhile.
This also includes checking OxBargain
I am in need of an Oxen. What deals have you seen?
Damn, my typing is getting worse. Still, I'm trying to steer you in the right direction.
OxBargain
for all your budget beast-of-burden needs!
Nothing new here, I'll often find something I want from Bunnings and then go to my local Home Hardware, who will normally get me something comparable for a similar (often better price). I generally only go to Bunnings because they let me take my dog in there, and we can wander around looking at power tools :D
Oh, and the sausage sizzle… That said, Stratco sausage sizzles > Bunnings.
I prefer the Mitre10 that is the same distance as the closest Bunnings.
It has nothing to do with it being a Mitre10, it's the service.
They typically price match Bunnings, which is made easier by Bunnings having webpage pricing.