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Does anyone know what happens to items that have been used such as tools etc that have been returned to Bunnings? Do they just throw them out?
What Happens to Bunnings Returned Items?
LPeetiez on 09/12/2022 - 19:19
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Staff get to buy them at cheapie rates normally at the cost of a few dollars first in the back office, similar to the clearance stickers you see. Depends on the condition of the item as well.
Short Bunnings. Everyone go buy something and then return
They made $2 billion profit last year, dwarfing by a large margin all the other Wesfarmer brands. That would be a lot of returns.
So if a member of staff wants something at a really good price they get someone to buy one then return it, then the staff member gets to buy it cheap.
If it's been returned unused, then it won't be discounted like that.
Those super cheap staff deals sold at ~90% off are for things that are in a condition where they can't be resold to a normal customer while also being unable to be sent back to the manufacturer to be credited back to the store. The thing is, items that satisfy this condition are usually not meant to be returned in the first place and would only be done so due to some extraneous circumstance (eg. a customer throwing a hissy fit to the manager for buying and using a cheap ozito mower for their 1000m^2 buffalo lawn which obviously isn't designed for that use).
It's not like you can have a mate buy a brand new Makita drill kit and bring it back the next day so that a staff member can buy it for half price.
definitely have seen returns repackaged & sold as new on shelf….often with missing parts!
Electrical aren't resold. Put on a trolley and sold to staff. Other things are repacked if possible and put back on the shelf.
I bought a power board that had been used. It had a $5 discount but was poorly re-packaged, scrunched up and half sticking out of the packet. I was surprised that they put it back on the shelf. However, it was the only one with a 3m lead and I needed it that day so I took the risk. Something was loose and rattling around inside and the power surge light did not come on. It went straight back.
Faulty items are removed from the store by reps /merchandisers, never resold or repackaged.
Items that are faulty are returned back to the suppliers for a credit. Occasionally there may be items returned that are deemed customer satisfaction returns. They are either written off and disposed of, used as displays or occasionally offered for sale to team at a discounted price but definitely not anywhere near cost price.
If it's obviously not faulty it goes back on the shelf with a clearance sticker. Lots of people have no idea how to use the stuff they're purchasing. Some of the stuff you see is pretty amusing.
If it's under $30, bulky or missing parts, it goes in the dumpster.
Otherwise it gets sent to a returns centre in Victoria, where they independently assess whether the fault is covered under warranty and the store will be credited by the manufacturer. Some of these may find their way back to the manufacturer for quality control but most is probably chucked out.
Officeworks puts it back on the shelf with 5% off for a change of mind return.
Have you been watching those ‘I bought a pallet of returns and this is what we got’ videos?
i work at a dc…anything that leaves the dc or during the pick pack process becomes damage either goes straight into the bin if it cant be salvage to be resold, anything that is salvageable with minor defects like rip packaging missing part goes to a franchise out in the sticks aka countryside to stop employees from going to the store to pick up a discount; franchises thats good at clearing out damage goods usually get first preference of damage stock…the expensive products or anything useful the managers of these franchises usually get first dibs anything before the public gets any good damage stock bargains
ps. u cant dumpster dump at work or else u get charge for theft even if the product is damage to the point it cant be used…
I found an article that explains pretty much what happens https://www.afr.com/companies/retail/what-really-happens-to-…
Short answer, it goes to the tip. Long answer, it sometimes goes to resellers who package it back and sell as refurbished. Anecdotally sometimes stores actually restock their shelves with unopened items (change of mind returns).