Was Denied to Pick Empty Cardboard Boxes @ Bunnings

ash79 on 16/10/2019 - 22:49
Last edited 16/10/2019 - 23:34

You might have seen lot of empty boxes kept behind the billing counter in different Bunnings stores. At-least they usually are in my local store. I have been picking up couple of boxes randomly for personal use from the local Bunnings store without any issues in the past. Today, when I was in need of 2 small boxes and conveniently approached my local Bunnings to find suitable empty boxes, to my surprise, the lady at the entrance approached me and spoke to me politely that I am not allowed to pick any boxes from there as those boxes are being sold by Bunnings and not allowed for anyone to simply pick up. However on my request she allowed me to take a couple.

I visited Bunnings only couple of times in last 6 months, I am not aware if they changed any rules around it or they started charging for the empty boxes. It has been always allowed to pick those empty boxes without any issues before. Does anyone experienced same or it was just that lady staff and my bad timing ?

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Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 16/10/2019 - 23:00
    +3

    I find at bunnings, dan murpheys, spud shed etc, you need to ask. Each time they may say something like we need them for our customers, or you can take up to six.
    They're not rubbish or they wouldn't be stacked on shelving taking up considerable floor space.

    We usually assume they're there for us to have, but they actually aren't.

    We could go out by shopping centre bins and maybe grab some that are destined for the trash, but I'd still ask.

  • [Deactivated] on 16/10/2019 - 23:04
    -1

    Go to local transfer station. Wait for someone with a cardbox to dispose. Ask for said cardboard.

    Done.

    • [Deactivated] on 16/10/2019 - 23:11
      +2

      Do you mean the rubbish tip?

      • phbk on 16/10/2019 - 23:33
        +9

        Wash your mouth out with soap. There are no such things as rubbish tips any more.

        All items are sent to transfer stations where they are carefully cleaned and sorted before being stored under a fine layer of earth awaiting someone to work out what we do with all this cr@p.

        • [Deactivated] on 17/10/2019 - 11:00

          Some places are actual tips but the ones I have gone to only does transfer, ie. Nothing is incinerated or buried on site. It gets transfered to the bigger sites.

  • phbk on 16/10/2019 - 23:22
    +2

    Cardboard box probably has a barcode on it. Scan it on the self serve checkout and see what it's worth. If it says $150 demand to see the manager, if it says can't find item …. demand to see manager. At that point they will probably let you leave with said box under your arm and not ask any more questions.

    • ash79 on 16/10/2019 - 23:32

      Haha .. Good point though :)

  • Flying Ace on 16/10/2019 - 23:35
    +3

    Our local Bunnings has a huge cage at the front door with hundreds of boxes for people to take, I thought this was the norm at most stores?

    • ash79 on 16/10/2019 - 23:37

      I assumed the same before I went to pick up couple of them

      • CBrads4 on 18/10/2019 - 08:05

        Part of the restriction is because rather than plastic bags, Bunnings uses those boxes for customers to carry their goods out of the store. On weekends I've seen those box areas become almost empty. They probably try and stop people taking boxes without buying anything so that there's still boxes left for the customers towards the end of the weekend.

  • [Deactivated] on 16/10/2019 - 23:36
    +1

    Buy a nut and washer for 8c each.

    • [Deactivated] on 17/10/2019 - 01:14
      +3

      Then return it for a refund.

      • ash79 on 17/10/2019 - 07:14
        +1

        True OzBargain spirit

    • bobbified on 17/10/2019 - 13:12
      +1

      You'd want to get a 7c one and pay with cash so it gets rounded down to 5c.

  • vikvance on 17/10/2019 - 00:04
    +2

    The boxes are actually intended for customers.

    Bunnings don't give out any free shopping bags, and the idea is that a customer either buys or brings a reusable bag. Or, if a customer still wants a 'free' option which doesn't involve buying a bag, then they grab one of the cardboard boxes and use those to take away their purchases.

  • WookieMonster on 17/10/2019 - 01:48
    +3

    I think it depends on who is at the front entrance.

    I picked up six or seven large boxes at my local Bunnings a couple of months ago for a friend who was moving places. Before I took any boxes, I asked the lady at the front entrance if I could take some, and she explained they're only supposed to be given to customers making purchases, but she also said "there's so many boxes there, feel free to take some with you. I'm not too bothered." It probably helped that I was at a Bunnings that doesn't really get that busy…

    So yeah, I always ask before I take any boxes.

  • whooah1979 on 17/10/2019 - 05:11
    +3

    The boxes are free for paying customers.

  • twww on 17/10/2019 - 05:20

    Oh man…a few days ago I saw a guy struggling to carry a heap of empty boxes at my local Bunnings. Obviously they were happy to accommodate his request…

  • pyramid on 17/10/2019 - 05:25

    Try local chemist warehouse…

    • brad1-8tsi on 17/10/2019 - 07:38

      Or tyre places. Alloy wheels come in good size boxes.

      Also, a shout-out on your local facebook market place usually gets some moving boxes for free.

  • dscott85 on 17/10/2019 - 07:40
    +8

    Rather misleading post title… You helped yourself to boxes meant for paying customers, were politely told they were for customers & were still able to take several anyway after the shop attendant reminded you of such. Hardly denied. If it was me I would have denied you for the simple reason that you did not have the grace to ask before helping yourself, common courtesy costs nothing.

  • EmployeeEmCKay @ Bunnings Warehouse on 17/10/2019 - 08:17
    +8

    There is no official policy around cardboard boxes as far as I know. At our store their availability depends on which day it is. On the weekends the box bay gets decimated by paying customers and rightly so. On Monday there really isn’t many until stock begins to get unpacked mid morning. Our priority is to our customers. We do sell moving boxes fairly cheaply but you will be allowed to take free boxes from the box bay if there are enough available for everyone.

    Put yourself in the shoes of the regular customer who needs those boxes to put their goods in to take home after paying for them. Be polite and ask the people greeter at the front of the store or give the service desk a quick call and ask if there are boxes available to take. It would make our job easier and you would not be disappointed.

    • ash79 on 17/10/2019 - 09:54

      Good Insight. Thanks Mk81.
      I was under assumption that those boxes are making their way to landfill from there.

  • [Deactivated] on 17/10/2019 - 11:01

    The other place I go for cardboard (I use a lot to make stuff) is white goods warehouses. Practically endless supply.

  • JoeQuimby23 on 17/10/2019 - 12:16
    +2

    I've always assumed the boxes were there for customers to put their purchases in rather then people coming and taking them without buying anything

  • HardlyCharly on 17/10/2019 - 12:22

    They rightly should be for paying customers only.

  • yellowfever on 17/10/2019 - 23:00

    Of numerous Melb Bunnings I've shopped at, the boxes are always very small sizes. Rather pointless. If an item is already small what's the point using a small box.
    They hardly provide medium to larger boxes.
    I've been a genuine shopper and on almost all occasions the small boxes were impractical.

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