Is Bunnings overcharging you? Controversy erupts over 'ridiculous' price discrepancies on the same item at different locations!
By
VanessaC
- Replies 12
Discount superstores like Bunnings have made shopping on a budget easier and more convenient for many Australians.
After all, their mission is to ensure everyone can benefit from their selection of products at a low cost.
But their transparency and commitment to low prices has recently come into question, all thanks to an eagle-eyed shopper.
A Bunnings customer in Gladstone, regional Queensland, recently experienced first-hand a huge discrepancy in the hardware chain's pricing strategies, with some customers apparently being exposed to much higher prices for the same product than others.
Sharing his infuriating experience online, the customer said he wanted to purchase a Lifetime 6-foot Craftsman Picnic Table for his backyard but was shocked to find that, despite the fact that the product was being advertised at the same price in the same store, it had a massive $100 price difference between the in-store price and the online price.
'A fold-out table I want is [posted] online as $199 and my local store won't give it to me for any less than $299,' he said.
As of writing, the price for the item at the Gladstone Bunnings is still listed as $299. The discrepancy is also evident when changing store locations.
This led the customer to point out that Bunnings, known for its price-match guarantee, ‘[doesn’t] even price match [itself]’.
Many also agreed that the price difference was ‘ridiculous’ but also pointed out that the costs may be due to the transportation of goods to regional areas.
The customer was admittedly unaware of the difference in pricing between metro and rural stores.
However, according to Bunnings, the difference in pricing between different outlets was due to the store's proximity to competitors, rather than location.
'Our temporary price reductions occur at either a local, state or national level, depending on where our competitors operate and whether they’re offering the same product only in-store, or online as well,' Bunnings Director of Merchandise Jen Tucker said.
In other words, the discounted prices at other stores were actually still a result of the Bunnings price-matching strategy, rather than differences in regional or rural pricing.
Bunnings would usually lower their price by 10 per cent if they find a competitor selling the same item nearby.
This means that shoppers in all parts of Australia can have access to the same store products at the best available price—if they're willing to shop around and take advantage of the price policy.
Similar to Bunnings, many other major retailers are known to offer price matching.
Some of the stores that offer price matching include Kmart, Flight Centre, and The Good Guys.
You can read more about the different stores that offer price matching here!
Have you experienced a similar price discrepancy while shopping online and in-store at Bunnings (or any other store) before? Share your experience with us in the comments below!
After all, their mission is to ensure everyone can benefit from their selection of products at a low cost.
But their transparency and commitment to low prices has recently come into question, all thanks to an eagle-eyed shopper.
A Bunnings customer in Gladstone, regional Queensland, recently experienced first-hand a huge discrepancy in the hardware chain's pricing strategies, with some customers apparently being exposed to much higher prices for the same product than others.
Sharing his infuriating experience online, the customer said he wanted to purchase a Lifetime 6-foot Craftsman Picnic Table for his backyard but was shocked to find that, despite the fact that the product was being advertised at the same price in the same store, it had a massive $100 price difference between the in-store price and the online price.
'A fold-out table I want is [posted] online as $199 and my local store won't give it to me for any less than $299,' he said.
As of writing, the price for the item at the Gladstone Bunnings is still listed as $299. The discrepancy is also evident when changing store locations.
This led the customer to point out that Bunnings, known for its price-match guarantee, ‘[doesn’t] even price match [itself]’.
Many also agreed that the price difference was ‘ridiculous’ but also pointed out that the costs may be due to the transportation of goods to regional areas.
The customer was admittedly unaware of the difference in pricing between metro and rural stores.
However, according to Bunnings, the difference in pricing between different outlets was due to the store's proximity to competitors, rather than location.
'Our temporary price reductions occur at either a local, state or national level, depending on where our competitors operate and whether they’re offering the same product only in-store, or online as well,' Bunnings Director of Merchandise Jen Tucker said.
In other words, the discounted prices at other stores were actually still a result of the Bunnings price-matching strategy, rather than differences in regional or rural pricing.
Bunnings would usually lower their price by 10 per cent if they find a competitor selling the same item nearby.
This means that shoppers in all parts of Australia can have access to the same store products at the best available price—if they're willing to shop around and take advantage of the price policy.
Similar to Bunnings, many other major retailers are known to offer price matching.
Some of the stores that offer price matching include Kmart, Flight Centre, and The Good Guys.
You can read more about the different stores that offer price matching here!
Key Takeaways
- A disgruntled customer pointed out a pricing discrepancy of a picnic table at Bunnings, it was $100 less online compared to the same item in the Gladstone, Queensland store.
- Bunnings explained the price difference was due to the store's proximity to a competitor, allowing them to reduce the price in certain locations to match the competitor's offerings.
- Jen Tucker, Bunnings Director of Merchandise, clarified that temporary price reductions occur at either a local, state, or national level, depending on where their competitors operate.
- Bunnings offers a price guarantee, promising to beat a competitor's price by 10% if a customer finds the same item cheaper elsewhere.