This was posted 5 years 4 months 4 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

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[VIC] Free Courtesy 2-Hour Trailer Hire with Any Product Purchase @ Bunnings, Vermont South

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Bunnings Vermont South only require you to purchase ANY item (I bought a $1.95 battery) to obtain their free 2 hour courtesy trailer.
Have done this without question on 3 occasions now at this store.


Description from Website

Trailers and vehicles

To get your new bulky products home, a courtesy trailer can be arranged free of charge for up to two hours. Bunnings also offer trailers for hire in 4 or 24 hour periods, to help you get jobs done around the home.

Bookings are not essential, but are recommended to ensure you don't miss out.

When organising a trailer, ute or van hire, please ensure you have a current driver's license and a valid credit card.

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closed Comments

  • +32

    Nice hack.
    Did you put the battery on the trailer? 😁

  • That's great, I thought it was only with bulky items.

    • +1

      It supposed to be for bulky items only but the lady staff member in the hireshop told me to just buy anything cheap and she will give me trailer for free. I actually went in and was going to pay for a 4hr hire but she told me to do it this way instead.

      • +6

        I’d dare say that lady will be reprimanded with all the details you have posted.

        • -7

          Fake news. If you want to be a dick buy a bag of concrete / piece of conduit and return it for a refund when you bring back the trailer. That should easily fit their definition of bulky

      • User name does not checkout

  • +27

    you got ripped off, you could have bought a washer for a couple of cents

    • +9

      … and return it for a refund 😇

    • +2

      Two words: Free boxes.

  • +1

    I usually do cheap plastic chair

    • +36

      Does your spouse know?

      • +3

        Only when looking at their stool.

        Bad dum tish… I'll see my own way out

      • Call it a science experiment

  • +72

    dick move, this is why they will not offer this for long.

    • +1

      This has been going on forever. I thought this was common knowledge here.

    • -7

      Such whinging.

      Bunnings have promoted the offer. If it’s becomes a problem you can bet bunnings will require a bulky purchase before they loan you the trailer. It will sort itself out.

      • A random lady in the hire shop is not "Bunnings".

    • +4

      Yep. Bought sleepers. No trailer available…

    • +2

      meh… very low cost advertising to have someone pay the petrol to haul around a banner on wheels

      win-win for all

      (their trailers can move a lot of dick, or so I have been told)

      • +1

        Only a chump considers the 'actual' monetary cost. The true cost is the lost business Bunnings incurs when people who buy stuff that requires a trailer doesn't have said trailer. All because 10 cheapskates have borrowed them after buying a sponge.

        • +4

          I think they're probably looking at it much differently.

          i.e. The trailers - at most stores anyway - sit there unused most of the time; offering their use so freely promotes customer goodwill; most people that 'really' need one don't know it's unavailable because battery-guy took it; and I'd imagine anyone that needs one for a 'real' reason can probably reserve it and their purchase and come back later that day/next morning.

          • @GregMonarch: Unused most of the time yes, but on a weekend they should be rationed appropriately.

  • +18

    I bought trailer tie-down straps.

    • Gold

    • but how did you tow it after tying it down

  • They've been doing this forever in WA at least.

  • +8

    Do they give you the hairy eye-ball when you return the trailer with bits of mulch still in it?

    • +35

      Dude, You were half an hour late on a 2 hour booking. That's not a smart arse move at all.

      • -6

        It was peak hour traffic and had to drive home and back and got stuck on the M4, I spent over $600 on cupboards, the point of the trailer is for courtesy hire to take your purchases home if they don’t fit in your car. I don’t think being 25min late to be exact because of traffic is enough to pay $35 considering I was using it to what it was intended and they could clearly see I did not live locally and the fact it was peak hour traffic.

        • +13

          And any of this is Bunning’s problem because? Plan your trip better next time.

          • -8

            @Randolph Duke: The fact remains it's just plain nasty to charge a late fee when no-one else wanted the trailer anyway. In fact if they did that to me I'd bring the whole lot back, demand a refund explaining I'm returning it solely because of the trailer late fee - and include the fact I'll be going to another Bunnings immediately after to buy the same products - even if it would cost me more to do it that way. (Actually thinking about it, I'd probably buy all the same stuff from the second Bunnings, then take THAT to store #1 on store #2's trailer for the refund - then return the trailer to store #2.)

            Either that or write a complaint to head office asking for an explaination why there are multiple different policies among stores when it's supposed to be a chain, not a franchise - and request compensation in the form of a gift card, given it would not have happened at another store.

            There's just no need, nor room - for this kind of strict nastiness in business today.

            • +13

              @GregMonarch: Talk about cutting your nose off to spite your face.

              So what happens to the next person who wants to hire a trailer, and you’ve not returned it in time? Bully to them? It’s not a free for all, you get the trailer for an allocated time, go over that time, you pay. If there’s no fee what incentive is there to return the trailer on time? How do you manage a hiring business if you never know when the stuff you’ve hired out is getting returned?

              Sense of entitlement here is incredible, particularly for a free service.

            • @GregMonarch: Nah you couldn't do that. It'd take longer than 2 hours and you'd be up for another $35 fee.

        • +5

          So you paid $35 for a 2.5 hour hire. That seems cheap.

  • +16

    This is why we can’t have nice things.

  • I’ve had many things delivered from Bunnings for $50, well worth it for bulk/oversize items. Tell them you want it on the front lawn on Friday afternoon, saves going to Bunnings Sat morning with hangover

  • +1

    I worked at Bunnings a couple years ago and the two hour courtesy trailer was a thing back then too.

  • +6

    Torn between upvoting for the ingenuity, or downvoting so less people see it and a genuinely good thing doesn't potentially get stopped over being OzBargained.

  • This has always been a thing, I've needed to use one to bring home extra long wooden planks that wouldn't fit in the car!

  • +9

    Suddenly OzMorals

  • This is beautiful Ozbargaining…

  • Want to upvote, but also, this is actually useful for people.
    Don't want it to get taken advantage of, and then have them take off the offer.
    Not going to downvote either, though… because it's your first post, and it's actually pretty cool to know about this.

  • +4

    What's the usual price. Belongs in forums

  • +11

    While this can be a deal, sorry no deal. Prone to be abused so negging this (no offence OP).
    Good on for those who actually require trolley with bulky items.

  • They only brought the receipt check in a few years ago, I used to just say I'm getting bags of mulch from the garden dept, now they need to copy receipt number

  • +10

    Buying something bulky, no problems. Buying something like a battery to abuse the system, no deal. Bad Karma.

    • +1

      The difference being that karma isn't real, whereas the free trailer loan is. ;-D

  • +4

    This is standard in any ACT store at least.
    If I need to do a tip run, I'll buy some long length 2x4 or some pvc pipe for about $10, get the 2h free trailer, go home drop off wood/pipe, load trailer with pre-prepared stuff out front, tip run, and then straight to Bunnings.

    Takes almost exactly 2 hours… and I never have to register a trailer here in the ACT- which is like $600 per year :(.
    And why hire for $50 when you can spend that at Bunnings instead?

    I used to live in VIC and I think trailer rego was free if I remember correctly.

    • If you like/use it so well, why neg the deal?

      • +7

        Because its not a deal. It's a stock standard offer/price that's been available for years.
        It's a popular offer, but it's no OzBargain because anyone can get it anytime they like. This is maybe a forum post or freebie… but it's no OzBargain.

        • +3

          Yeah, good point.

    • +1

      $600. DAMN!!! Vic trailer reg is just over $60 for my single axle.

      • +1

        I just re-checked my 'facts'… sorry. It's $300 for a smaller trailer and $1000 for a big trailer. You might save a couple bucks if its a really small single axle (goes on weight).

        $600 is the middle ground I guess (and if you have a heavy car trailer or caravan for instance it would be much more than that), but still its not cheap at all!

        If Bunnings gets rid of trailers, I'll have to get a mate in Vic to register a trailer for me ;).

      • Light trailers don't even need to be registered in Vic. From memory if it's <3.0m in length and <200kg empty and you're not using it for work no reg is required.

    • I have a 6x4 trailer in act and it's 89 a year to register. My larger car trailer costs 220 a year…. The rego in act is based off the tare not the gross weight

  • Abusing the good will/courtesy service should never be encouraged. In the end it's you who can't get a trailer when you really need it.

    • +2

      At the end of the day Bunnings offer it to encourage more sales. In order to get the trailer you MUST buy something.
      And without the trailer offer there's a good chance you'd never buy the item.
      Bunnings don't care for that reason. They already have the trailer there, the rego paid etc. It's good marketing and it works well for everyone.

    • +1

      Not sure if this case is really abusing or not. Sounds like Bunnings doesn't really care what you use the trailer for for two hours, as long as your a customer there is a bonus up to 2hrs free trailer hire, any longer you pay a fee.

      • +2

        Yep.

        I can see how some may see it as line ball regarding 'taking advantage'… but at the end of the day you aren't breaking any rules and you ARE buying stuff from them as a legitimate customer. Timber sheets and 4x2 is always handy to have to the garage for projects!

        Plus they are very on top regarding being late. I once got delayed 1/2 hour and was more than happy to pay the hire fee. I think it was $48.. which again is quite reasonable for a "4 hour hire". Their trailers are very well maintained and I've never had an issue.

  • Apparently there is a well known 'Bunnings Powerpass holder' (even advertised on his car) around the Box Hill area that uses the Bunnings trailers as his work trailers. Sometimes doesn't return them for days and never pays any fine.

  • I'd be interested to hear from Bunnings head office if they are happy with people using the trailer in this manner….

  • +12

    Buying a battery, then going to the service desk and asking to hire the trailer for free because of it. How on earth can one do this with a straight face?

    • +5

      A battery is definitely pushing it!

      It's supposed to be for items that WON'T fit in the car!

  • +2

    This is not a deal or special offer. Bunnings have always offered this. This is just abusing a service they provide.

    Next someone will be posting about their free timber cutting service…

    • -1

      Get your facts straight - the free service is for "large or bulky items" not for simply buying anything

      • No, that is Bunnings’ intent in offering the courtesy trailer. It’s never had any conditions or terms on what is considered ‘bulky’

    • They have a free timber cutting service!? My partner works at Bunnings & I never knew about any of this!

      • +1

        Yep. You can get it done in the timber yard. Again it’s free within reason, ie you can get them to do a few lengths to exact measures, but they aren’t going to cut the timber for your house.

        • You nearly always have to wait a while though.

          • @UFO: Agree. It’s not staffed typically at mine. You need to get your timber and then find someone to do it for you.

  • +18

    I am a TM at a very busy Bunnings here in Sydney. We have a decent sized fleet of trailers but genuine customers are missing out on using them because of customers that don’t really require them, use them for a different purpose than taking their purchases home or not returning them on time. Please rethink using courtesy trailers in a not so courteous way.

    • +1

      Agreed. But unless you get the wording perfectly, neg gets removed,no chance for revision.

      This is not a deal or special offer. Bunnings have always offered this. This is just abusing a service they provide.

      Next someone will be posting about their free timber cutting service…

  • -2

    Too many goodie good shoes in the world worried about people gaining advantage with loopholes.

    Isn't it quite simple for the biz to change the rules of free hire ?

    in the meantime let the party continue :)

    • +10

      goodie good shoes

      All this time I thought the saying was Goody Two-Shoes

  • +2

    Hm… Have to keep this mind. What a good way to ensure no DNA is found in your car boot!

  • +8

    Been a thing at my local Bunnings from the start, but the heads-up for those unaware is worthy of a comments post.

    You lost me by adding the bragg about your blatant rorting though. That and being happy to possibly/probably shaft their genuine-need customers.
    "sorry sir, you will have to wait a few hours or come back another time to take your stuff home, Secretsquirrel, is busy moving a AA battery!"

    Nice attitude bro!

    • -1

      I'm of the view that Bunnings is aware of customers using the service for other needs eg moving house . The are happy to provide a community service and giving something back . If not why does the service still exist with same rules . It has been offered for a long time now .

      Too bad I don't have a tow bar !

  • I'm sure Bunnings know that people will buy smaller items for the hire. At the end of the day Bunnings would surely make some money in someone driving around in that ute with their signage all over it to start with. That person will recommend to their family and friends, more advertising, word of mouth..

    I dont think Bunnings are really loosing money over a 2hr hire per person. Especially when they make millions & the customer will need to pay for fuel. They're simply getting people into their stores which is working for them! And plenty of people would come in too & use it for the bulkier items. Its even got me thinking, what do I need to buy? Hahaha

    Everyone chill.

  • +3

    This is why we can't have nice things. I'm giving it a neg because it isn't a deal, nor a "special price", but mostly because it's a dick move.

    • Seems to me that people willing and have the balls to do dick moves leave their opposition behind . So bring it on baby lol :)

  • I don't get it. This is something Bunnings have always offered.

    • -1

      Exactly.. which is why it’s not a bargain. The Mods have just fallen asleep on this one….

  • +3

    I once went to do the right thing and hire a trailer from Bunnings, the guy in the hire shop said don't waste your money - go and buy the cheapest thing you can find and I'll give it to you for free. So I did.

    • +1

      That's how I learned about it years ago!

      A staff member suggested I buy some big items instead of hiring a trailer for $50.
      Been doing it ever since.

  • And like rapacious locusts this too will be ozbargained out of existence. This is why we lose freedoms and goodwill towards each other. Pay it forward and have a moral compass. Not everything has to be exploited. A courtesy [trailer] is to be reciprocated not exploited. Think of your fellow man, stop being a furtive rodent and get some Jordon Peterson into ya https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjnvtRgpg6g and have a neg.

  • thanks for getting someone at bunnings in trouble…

  • Is this only for trailers or can I hire a ute/van using this process?

  • I got a courtesy trailer in WA, and there was no short time limit.
    I only needed two hours, but he said I could keep it overnight if I wanted.

  • what are their rates for a whole day? btw we are lucky here and allowed drive with a car trailer without doing another driving test and getting another class added like in the EU you have to do a driving test again and get B+E category added. I think some Aussie drivers certainly should be made to take another practical test to tow a car trailer.

  • any update on this?
    Just tried at my local store in Melbourne and they said no, and said is has to be bulky item that requires trailer for transport

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