Thread: How well do you know your job?

I think this is a problem across the board. I worked in hardware Stores during Highschool and UNI and learnt alot about the things I sold. Problem is these days is they young people they are employing in stores like Bunnings, M10, Supercheap etc will make **** up if they dont know something as opposed to asking.

I had a young bloke at M10 give someone wall plugs and chipboard screws to fix a Clothes Drier Bracket to a plasterboard wall so he could hang his drier.

There should be some form of training to work in these stores, enough to at least know the products. I refuse to go to supercheap auto in bathurst, the staff know nothing and if you want them to look up parts you might aswell go outside and squeeze blood out of a stone. REPCO and Auto1 might cost a bit more but the staff there know what they are on about.

Midas are suspension, exhausts, brakes and minor servicing. Not surprised he didn't know. I'm sure they could fit tyres, but it's not their speciality.

Originally Posted by Ace

I think this is a problem across the board. I worked in hardware Stores during Highschool and UNI and learnt alot about the things I sold. Problem is these days is they young people they are employing in stores like Bunnings, M10, Supercheap etc will make **** up if they dont know something as opposed to asking.

I had a young bloke at M10 give someone wall plugs and chipboard screws to fix a Clothes Drier Bracket to a plasterboard wall so he could hang his drier.

There should be some form of training to work in these stores, enough to at least know the products. I refuse to go to supercheap auto in bathurst, the staff know nothing and if you want them to look up parts you might aswell go outside and squeeze blood out of a stone. REPCO and Auto1 might cost a bit more but the staff there know what they are on about.

True, many of the full time staff at Repco are tradesmen.

One of my pet peeves is the salesperson reading the information on the packaging back to you after being asked a question about the product.

Originally Posted by mark2

True, many of the full time staff at Repco are tradesmen.

One of my pet peeves is the salesperson reading the information on the packaging back to you after being asked a question about the product.

Places like bunnings and supercheap auto arent meant to be places where you can go for expert help. Its a big help yourself supermarket, staff are there to help you find things. Some of the staff are in the know but many are no different to a shelf packer at woolies. Im fortunate enough to know what i want when i go into a hardware store or a car parts shop, but others are not, and they are the sort of shops that require expert advise so people get things right the first time.

I highly doubt supercheap would pay for a new engine after you put rust prevention solution into your fuel as per directed by a staff member like the example given above. Some of this stupid advice can really cost people money.

Several things strike me from all this. 1/. The staff at SupaCheap didn't have what you wanted but gave you good service. 2/. The tyre fitter couldn't answer your question but also gave you good service and 3/. If you need a tread depth gauge to know if your tyres are any good or not I reckon you need new tyres.
As to Bunnings I've found their staff to be good with a core of ex-tradeys to answer any serious questions.

Deano

I must say, the staff at my local Bunnings are brilliant.

They know their stuff well enough for me to be able to go in there & say "This is what I want to achieve" They can then usually give me a starting point, and show me exactly which bits i need.

But I hear what you are saying about Not so Supercheap etc. But having a Repco across the road from work, comes in very handy too.

1) Tread depth guage - A useless version of a Vernier.. Good for nothing else.. Get a vernier if you're so in need - it will be more useful and can measure all manner of items..

2) Why would one bother with such a guage? Wear bars are moulded into tyres.. If your down to them - you definitely need new tyres.

3) Minimum legal for a tyre may be 'legal' but sure isnt safe in the wet...
Try to plan to replace them a bit before they get that low.


Definition - "Tyre Fitter" - A job where the person needs to know how to:
remove tyre from vehicle safely
remove tyre safely
inspect rim for visual damage
fit new tyre safely
balance new tyre
refit tyre to vehicle safely

There is NO requirement to know state / national regs for legal...

That is the responsibility of the service guy selling/recommending the product.

Originally Posted by Basil135

I must say, the staff at my local Bunnings are brilliant.

They know their stuff well enough for me to be able to go in there & say "This is what I want to achieve" They can then usually give me a starting point, and show me exactly which bits i need.

But I hear what you are saying about Not so Supercheap etc. But having a Repco across the road from work, comes in very handy too.

There are some good sales people at bunnings and some know their stuff well. But you only need a few that have no training or cant be bothered asking for help from a staff member who does to make life hard for customers. I am lucky enough to know my way around a hardware store and know what most things do. But if i do need help and I ask I get annoyed when the sales persons feeds me **** when they dont know the answer. I dont mind waiting 5 minutes whilst they go and ask someone who does, thats how I learnt my way around a hardware store. not only do I learn something but so do they. Same applies for supercheap etc.

In this case Supercheap is not to blame, as above their service was good, they went beyond the call of duty to help the OP by taking them next door, they didnt have to do that.