Bunnings Warehouse is a household name in Australia, known as the go-to destination for all home improvement needs.

With numerous stores nationwide, the retailer sees thousands of customers pass through its aisles and parking lots each day.

One such customer was Carol, who visited a Bunnings location just before Christmas. Little did she know, her quick trip would lead to a month-long saga over a paint-covered car.

Carol and her husband visited their local Bunnings store in Chatswood, on Sydney's north shore.

As they were shopping, another customer accidentally drove over a can of black paint that had been dropped in the car park.

The can exploded, and paint splattered all over one side of Carol's vehicle, causing significant damage.

Carol’s car was vandalised with paint by another car after visiting a Bunnings Warehouse, but the store refused to pay damages for the vehicle. Images: 2GB

The incident has since remained unresolved. Carol claims that Bunnings has refused to take any responsibility or pay for the damage, arguing that the incident happened in a public car park.

Carol, however, believes that Bunnings should cover the bill for the damage, as there were no signs warning motorists to park at their own risk.

Carol's car is 17 years old and only covered by third-party insurance. So Carol contacted 2GB host Ben Fordham on 25 January seeking advice on what to do over the incident.

'It's not a public car park,' Carol told Fordham.

'It (the car) is a mess.’

'My husband was at Bunnings when he approached by a staff member at the time when it happened who said “We've got cleaning fluids upstairs.”'

‘But he told them, “No, you've got to sort it out.”'

Despite contacting Bunnings five times over the past month and speaking to two managers, Carol says the situation hasn’t progressed.

She also claims to have at least three witnesses who can corroborate their story.

'He's also been in twice and spoken to two of the managers but they haven't done anything,' Carol claimed.

'This was over a month ago—this was prior to Christmas.'

The incident has divided public opinion. Some believe Carol should report the incident to the police, while others think she should foot the bill herself.

A lawyer named Rod called into the 2GB radio show to say that Bunnings should be liable in the first instance.

'It's their responsibility to keep their car park safe and to mitigate risk to others,' he told Fordham.

'But and it's a big but, people who suffer loss or damage have an obligation to mitigate their loss.’

'So if Carol's husband was offered cleaning products right there and then by Bunnings and failed to do anything about it and wipe the paint off while it's still wet, then that's a significant problem for her.’

'She or he should have cleaned it off with cleaning products right there and there, and the entire damage could have been mitigated immediately.'

Bunnings confirmed the incident, stating that their team offered the customer cleaning materials for the car.

'As soon as our team became aware, they offered the customer cleaning materials to help them remove the paint,' Bunnings Regional Manager Alan Harvey said.

'While our team did everything they could to assist at the time, unfortunately actions of other customers shopping with us are often beyond our control.'

The incident serves as a reminder to all consumers to be aware of their rights and responsibilities when using car parks.

It also highlights the importance of having comprehensive car insurance, which can provide coverage in situations like this.

Key Takeaways

• A Bunnings customer, Carol, experienced paint damage to her car in the store's car park and demanded that Bunnings cover the repair costs.
• The incident has caused a debate among Australians regarding who should be responsible for the damage.
• Bunnings argues that the responsibility does not lie with them as the incident involved another customer in what they consider a public car park.
• A lawyer suggested on 2GB that while Bunnings should ensure safety in their car park, the refusal to use offered cleaning materials to mitigate the damage may affect Carol's claim.

What do you think, members? Should Bunnings be held responsible for the damage to Carol's car, or should she foot the bill herself? Let us know in the comments below.

 

[BillW41]

Bunnings Warehouse is a household name in Australia, known as the go-to destination for all home improvement needs.

With numerous stores nationwide, the retailer sees thousands of customers pass through its aisles and parking lots each day.

One such customer was Carol, who visited a Bunnings location just before Christmas. Little did she know, her quick trip would lead to a month-long saga over a paint-covered car.

Carol and her husband visited their local Bunnings store in Chatswood, on Sydney's north shore.

As they were shopping, another customer accidentally drove over a can of black paint that had been dropped in the car park.

The can exploded, and paint splattered all over one side of Carol's vehicle, causing significant damage.

View attachment 39990

Carol’s car was vandalised with paint by another car after visiting a Bunnings Warehouse, but the store refused to pay damages for the vehicle. Images: 2GB

The incident has since remained unresolved. Carol claims that Bunnings has refused to take any responsibility or pay for the damage, arguing that the incident happened in a public car park.

Carol, however, believes that Bunnings should cover the bill for the damage, as there were no signs warning motorists to park at their own risk.

Carol's car is 17 years old and only covered by third-party insurance. So Carol contacted 2GB host Ben Fordham on 25 January seeking advice on what to do over the incident.

'It's not a public car park,' Carol told Fordham.

'It (the car) is a mess.’

'My husband was at Bunnings when he approached by a staff member at the time when it happened who said “We've got cleaning fluids upstairs.”'

‘But he told them, “No, you've got to sort it out.”'

Despite contacting Bunnings five times over the past month and speaking to two managers, Carol says the situation hasn’t progressed.

She also claims to have at least three witnesses who can corroborate their story.

'He's also been in twice and spoken to two of the managers but they haven't done anything,' Carol claimed.

'This was over a month ago—this was prior to Christmas.'

The incident has divided public opinion. Some believe Carol should report the incident to the police, while others think she should foot the bill herself.

A lawyer named Rod called into the 2GB radio show to say that Bunnings should be liable in the first instance.

'It's their responsibility to keep their car park safe and to mitigate risk to others,' he told Fordham.

'But and it's a big but, people who suffer loss or damage have an obligation to mitigate their loss.’

'So if Carol's husband was offered cleaning products right there and then by Bunnings and failed to do anything about it and wipe the paint off while it's still wet, then that's a significant problem for her.’

'She or he should have cleaned it off with cleaning products right there and there, and the entire damage could have been mitigated immediately.'

Bunnings confirmed the incident, stating that their team offered the customer cleaning materials for the car.

'As soon as our team became aware, they offered the customer cleaning materials to help them remove the paint,' Bunnings Regional Manager Alan Harvey said.

'While our team did everything they could to assist at the time, unfortunately actions of other customers shopping with us are often beyond our control.'

The incident serves as a reminder to all consumers to be aware of their rights and responsibilities when using car parks.

It also highlights the importance of having comprehensive car insurance, which can provide coverage in situations like this.

Key Takeaways

• A Bunnings customer, Carol, experienced paint damage to her car in the store's car park and demanded that Bunnings cover the repair costs.
• The incident has caused a debate among Australians regarding who should be responsible for the damage.
• Bunnings argues that the responsibility does not lie with them as the incident involved another customer in what they consider a public car park.
• A lawyer suggested on 2GB that while Bunnings should ensure safety in their car park, the refusal to use offered cleaning materials to mitigate the damage may affect Carol's claim.

What do you think, members? Should Bunnings be held responsible for the damage to Carol's car, or should she foot the bill herself? Let us know in the comments below.

Were the cleaning materials offered free of cost? That was the least Bunnings could have done. Has any thought been given to identifying the vehicle that ran over the paint tin with a view to claiming damages against the driver?

 

[Cheezil]

Aaahhh the court of public opinion on social media! What would happen 30yrs ago in a situation like this without 5000 public opinions?

Wondering what the cleaning product offered actually was? If it removes wet paint, how does it not remove dry paint- perhaps that was what the husband was thinking?

 

[JustJane]

Bunnings Warehouse is a household name in Australia, known as the go-to destination for all home improvement needs.

With numerous stores nationwide, the retailer sees thousands of customers pass through its aisles and parking lots each day.

One such customer was Carol, who visited a Bunnings location just before Christmas. Little did she know, her quick trip would lead to a month-long saga over a paint-covered car.

Carol and her husband visited their local Bunnings store in Chatswood, on Sydney's north shore.

As they were shopping, another customer accidentally drove over a can of black paint that had been dropped in the car park.

The can exploded, and paint splattered all over one side of Carol's vehicle, causing significant damage.

View attachment 39990

Carol’s car was vandalised with paint by another car after visiting a Bunnings Warehouse, but the store refused to pay damages for the vehicle. Images: 2GB

The incident has since remained unresolved. Carol claims that Bunnings has refused to take any responsibility or pay for the damage, arguing that the incident happened in a public car park.

Carol, however, believes that Bunnings should cover the bill for the damage, as there were no signs warning motorists to park at their own risk.

Carol's car is 17 years old and only covered by third-party insurance. So Carol contacted 2GB host Ben Fordham on 25 January seeking advice on what to do over the incident.

'It's not a public car park,' Carol told Fordham.

'It (the car) is a mess.’

'My husband was at Bunnings when he approached by a staff member at the time when it happened who said “We've got cleaning fluids upstairs.”'

‘But he told them, “No, you've got to sort it out.”'

Despite contacting Bunnings five times over the past month and speaking to two managers, Carol says the situation hasn’t progressed.

She also claims to have at least three witnesses who can corroborate their story.

'He's also been in twice and spoken to two of the managers but they haven't done anything,' Carol claimed.

'This was over a month ago—this was prior to Christmas.'

The incident has divided public opinion. Some believe Carol should report the incident to the police, while others think she should foot the bill herself.

A lawyer named Rod called into the 2GB radio show to say that Bunnings should be liable in the first instance.

'It's their responsibility to keep their car park safe and to mitigate risk to others,' he told Fordham.

'But and it's a big but, people who suffer loss or damage have an obligation to mitigate their loss.’

'So if Carol's husband was offered cleaning products right there and then by Bunnings and failed to do anything about it and wipe the paint off while it's still wet, then that's a significant problem for her.’

'She or he should have cleaned it off with cleaning products right there and there, and the entire damage could have been mitigated immediately.'

Bunnings confirmed the incident, stating that their team offered the customer cleaning materials for the car.

'As soon as our team became aware, they offered the customer cleaning materials to help them remove the paint,' Bunnings Regional Manager Alan Harvey said.

'While our team did everything they could to assist at the time, unfortunately actions of other customers shopping with us are often beyond our control.'

The incident serves as a reminder to all consumers to be aware of their rights and responsibilities when using car parks.

It also highlights the importance of having comprehensive car insurance, which can provide coverage in situations like this.

Key Takeaways

• A Bunnings customer, Carol, experienced paint damage to her car in the store's car park and demanded that Bunnings cover the repair costs.
• The incident has caused a debate among Australians regarding who should be responsible for the damage.
• Bunnings argues that the responsibility does not lie with them as the incident involved another customer in what they consider a public car park.
• A lawyer suggested on 2GB that while Bunnings should ensure safety in their car park, the refusal to use offered cleaning materials to mitigate the damage may affect Carol's claim.

What do you think, members? Should Bunnings be held responsible for the damage to Carol's car, or should she foot the bill herself? Let us know in the comments below.

I won’t offer any opinion on who is to responsible for fixing this problem, because I’m happy to admit I don’t know. However underneath a photo of the damage to Carol’s car it says

Bunnings Warehouse is a household name in Australia, known as the go-to destination for all home improvement needs.

With numerous stores nationwide, the retailer sees thousands of customers pass through its aisles and parking lots each day.

One such customer was Carol, who visited a Bunnings location just before Christmas. Little did she know, her quick trip would lead to a month-long saga over a paint-covered car.

Carol and her husband visited their local Bunnings store in Chatswood, on Sydney's north shore.

As they were shopping, another customer accidentally drove over a can of black paint that had been dropped in the car park.

The can exploded, and paint splattered all over one side of Carol's vehicle, causing significant damage.

View attachment 39990

Carol’s car was vandalised with paint by another car after visiting a Bunnings Warehouse, but the store refused to pay damages for the vehicle. Images: 2GB

The incident has since remained unresolved. Carol claims that Bunnings has refused to take any responsibility or pay for the damage, arguing that the incident happened in a public car park.

Carol, however, believes that Bunnings should cover the bill for the damage, as there were no signs warning motorists to park at their own risk.

Carol's car is 17 years old and only covered by third-party insurance. So Carol contacted 2GB host Ben Fordham on 25 January seeking advice on what to do over the incident.

'It's not a public car park,' Carol told Fordham.

'It (the car) is a mess.’

'My husband was at Bunnings when he approached by a staff member at the time when it happened who said “We've got cleaning fluids upstairs.”'

‘But he told them, “No, you've got to sort it out.”'

Despite contacting Bunnings five times over the past month and speaking to two managers, Carol says the situation hasn’t progressed.

She also claims to have at least three witnesses who can corroborate their story.

'He's also been in twice and spoken to two of the managers but they haven't done anything,' Carol claimed.

'This was over a month ago—this was prior to Christmas.'

The incident has divided public opinion. Some believe Carol should report the incident to the police, while others think she should foot the bill herself.

A lawyer named Rod called into the 2GB radio show to say that Bunnings should be liable in the first instance.

'It's their responsibility to keep their car park safe and to mitigate risk to others,' he told Fordham.

'But and it's a big but, people who suffer loss or damage have an obligation to mitigate their loss.’

'So if Carol's husband was offered cleaning products right there and then by Bunnings and failed to do anything about it and wipe the paint off while it's still wet, then that's a significant problem for her.’

'She or he should have cleaned it off with cleaning products right there and there, and the entire damage could have been mitigated immediately.'

Bunnings confirmed the incident, stating that their team offered the customer cleaning materials for the car.

'As soon as our team became aware, they offered the customer cleaning materials to help them remove the paint,' Bunnings Regional Manager Alan Harvey said.

'While our team did everything they could to assist at the time, unfortunately actions of other customers shopping with us are often beyond our control.'

The incident serves as a reminder to all consumers to be aware of their rights and responsibilities when using car parks.

It also highlights the importance of having comprehensive car insurance, which can provide coverage in situations like this.

Key Takeaways

• A Bunnings customer, Carol, experienced paint damage to her car in the store's car park and demanded that Bunnings cover the repair costs.
• The incident has caused a debate among Australians regarding who should be responsible for the damage.
• Bunnings argues that the responsibility does not lie with them as the incident involved another customer in what they consider a public car park.
• A lawyer suggested on 2GB that while Bunnings should ensure safety in their car park, the refusal to use offered cleaning materials to mitigate the damage may affect Carol's claim.

What do you think, members? Should Bunnings be held responsible for the damage to Carol's car, or should she foot the bill herself? Let us know in the comments below.

 

[JKD]

Surely a sane person would have immediately accepted the cleaning fluid and removed the paint while wet. Accidents happen and it wasn't deliberate. If you risk no insurance then you have to deal with the consequences.

 

[JJ1942]

I won’t offer any opinion on who is to responsible for fixing this problem, because I’m happy to admit I don’t know. However underneath a photo of the damage to Carol’s car it says "Carol’s car was vandalised with paint by another car". Eh? Vandalism: n. action involving DELIBERATE destruction of or damage to public or private property. The article clearly states that the other car accidentally ran over the can of paint - how is that vandalism? Some people seem to love to feel outraged and articles like this feed that. I feel sorry for Carol and her husband, but why didn't they clean the black paint off when offered the means to do so? If the cleaning agent took off the original paint as well as the splattered paint, then I feel they might have a case against Bunnings.

 

[MIC.M.]

Bunnings Warehouse is a household name in Australia, known as the go-to destination for all home improvement needs.

With numerous stores nationwide, the retailer sees thousands of customers pass through its aisles and parking lots each day.

One such customer was Carol, who visited a Bunnings location just before Christmas. Little did she know, her quick trip would lead to a month-long saga over a paint-covered car.

Carol and her husband visited their local Bunnings store in Chatswood, on Sydney's north shore.

As they were shopping, another customer accidentally drove over a can of black paint that had been dropped in the car park.

The can exploded, and paint splattered all over one side of Carol's vehicle, causing significant damage.

View attachment 39990

Carol’s car was vandalised with paint by another car after visiting a Bunnings Warehouse, but the store refused to pay damages for the vehicle. Images: 2GB

The incident has since remained unresolved. Carol claims that Bunnings has refused to take any responsibility or pay for the damage, arguing that the incident happened in a public car park.

Carol, however, believes that Bunnings should cover the bill for the damage, as there were no signs warning motorists to park at their own risk.

Carol's car is 17 years old and only covered by third-party insurance. So Carol contacted 2GB host Ben Fordham on 25 January seeking advice on what to do over the incident.

'It's not a public car park,' Carol told Fordham.

'It (the car) is a mess.’

'My husband was at Bunnings when he approached by a staff member at the time when it happened who said “We've got cleaning fluids upstairs.”'

‘But he told them, “No, you've got to sort it out.”'

Despite contacting Bunnings five times over the past month and speaking to two managers, Carol says the situation hasn’t progressed.

She also claims to have at least three witnesses who can corroborate their story.

'He's also been in twice and spoken to two of the managers but they haven't done anything,' Carol claimed.

'This was over a month ago—this was prior to Christmas.'

The incident has divided public opinion. Some believe Carol should report the incident to the police, while others think she should foot the bill herself.

A lawyer named Rod called into the 2GB radio show to say that Bunnings should be liable in the first instance.

'It's their responsibility to keep their car park safe and to mitigate risk to others,' he told Fordham.

'But and it's a big but, people who suffer loss or damage have an obligation to mitigate their loss.’

'So if Carol's husband was offered cleaning products right there and then by Bunnings and failed to do anything about it and wipe the paint off while it's still wet, then that's a significant problem for her.’

'She or he should have cleaned it off with cleaning products right there and there, and the entire damage could have been mitigated immediately.'

Bunnings confirmed the incident, stating that their team offered the customer cleaning materials for the car.

'As soon as our team became aware, they offered the customer cleaning materials to help them remove the paint,' Bunnings Regional Manager Alan Harvey said.

'While our team did everything they could to assist at the time, unfortunately actions of other customers shopping with us are often beyond our control.'

The incident serves as a reminder to all consumers to be aware of their rights and responsibilities when using car parks.

It also highlights the importance of having comprehensive car insurance, which can provide coverage in situations like this.

Key Takeaways

• A Bunnings customer, Carol, experienced paint damage to her car in the store's car park and demanded that Bunnings cover the repair costs.
• The incident has caused a debate among Australians regarding who should be responsible for the damage.
• Bunnings argues that the responsibility does not lie with them as the incident involved another customer in what they consider a public car park.
• A lawyer suggested on 2GB that while Bunnings should ensure safety in their car park, the refusal to use offered cleaning materials to mitigate the damage may affect Carol's claim.

What do you think, members? Should Bunnings be held responsible for the damage to Carol's car, or should she foot the bill herself? Let us know in the comments below.

One question I would ask.
Does Bunnings lock the car park at night.
If they do, it's a private car park.
If it doesn't, I would say it's a public car park.
Sadly there is no good will nowadays.
Yes Bunnings offered cleaning products BUT it would have been a gesture of good will if they could have cleaned it for the driver.

 

[Gandalph]

Carol and her husband made the choice not to have comprehensive insurance for their car so they carry the risk. If this unfortunate accident had occured while they were driving down the road would they expect the Council or the Government to pay up?
Saying the car was "vandalised" is a bit over the top but sadly typical of SDC reporting where hyperbole is the order of the day.

 

[marni]

If the driver of the other car ran into their car instead they would not be talking to Bunnings about damages. This is the same. Why was the driver of the car who caused the damage allowed to drive off without exchange of information? Then you could get a legal decision from your insurance company.

 

[mylittletibbies]

One question I would ask.
Does Bunnings lock the car park at night.
If they do, it's a private car park.
If it doesn't, I would say it's a public car park.
Sadly there is no good will nowadays.
Yes Bunnings offered cleaning products BUT it would have been a gesture of good will if they could have cleaned it for the driver.

I have lived in quite a lot of different places and visited many different Bunnings stores, none of their carparks are locked at night.
The car is 17 years old, for heaven's sake, and they didn't think it worth insuring, but they expect Bunnings to do what exactly???Perhaps give the car a new paint job!! Get real.
They could have accepted Bunnings offer, cleaned the car and gone on their way. I don't see any reason why Bunnings should have had to clean it for them. As far as goodwill is concerned, that would not be a good move. In a court of law that could be construed as accepting responsibility.
If somebody backs into you or scratches your car in any carpark it is not the shopping centres responsibility. If the culprit has disappeared then you have to claim it on your own insurance.
If you haven't bothered to insure your car that's your problem.
Not Bunnings circus,not their monkeys.
I think these people are a pair of grifters, perhaps they think Bunnings should buy them a new car.

 

[Suzanne rose]

One question I would ask.
Does Bunnings lock the car park at night.
If they do, it's a private car park.
If it doesn't, I would say it's a public car park.
Sadly there is no good will nowadays.
Yes Bunnings offered cleaning products BUT it would have been a gesture of good will if they could have cleaned it for the driver.

Yes they do

 

[Geoff R]

Bunnings Warehouse is a household name in Australia, known as the go-to destination for all home improvement needs.

With numerous stores nationwide, the retailer sees thousands of customers pass through its aisles and parking lots each day.

One such customer was Carol, who visited a Bunnings location just before Christmas. Little did she know, her quick trip would lead to a month-long saga over a paint-covered car.

Carol and her husband visited their local Bunnings store in Chatswood, on Sydney's north shore.

As they were shopping, another customer accidentally drove over a can of black paint that had been dropped in the car park.

The can exploded, and paint splattered all over one side of Carol's vehicle, causing significant damage.

View attachment 39990

Carol’s car was vandalised with paint by another car after visiting a Bunnings Warehouse, but the store refused to pay damages for the vehicle. Images: 2GB

The incident has since remained unresolved. Carol claims that Bunnings has refused to take any responsibility or pay for the damage, arguing that the incident happened in a public car park.

Carol, however, believes that Bunnings should cover the bill for the damage, as there were no signs warning motorists to park at their own risk.

Carol's car is 17 years old and only covered by third-party insurance. So Carol contacted 2GB host Ben Fordham on 25 January seeking advice on what to do over the incident.

'It's not a public car park,' Carol told Fordham.

'It (the car) is a mess.’

'My husband was at Bunnings when he approached by a staff member at the time when it happened who said “We've got cleaning fluids upstairs.”'

‘But he told them, “No, you've got to sort it out.”'

Despite contacting Bunnings five times over the past month and speaking to two managers, Carol says the situation hasn’t progressed.

She also claims to have at least three witnesses who can corroborate their story.

'He's also been in twice and spoken to two of the managers but they haven't done anything,' Carol claimed.

'This was over a month ago—this was prior to Christmas.'

The incident has divided public opinion. Some believe Carol should report the incident to the police, while others think she should foot the bill herself.

A lawyer named Rod called into the 2GB radio show to say that Bunnings should be liable in the first instance.

'It's their responsibility to keep their car park safe and to mitigate risk to others,' he told Fordham.

'But and it's a big but, people who suffer loss or damage have an obligation to mitigate their loss.’

'So if Carol's husband was offered cleaning products right there and then by Bunnings and failed to do anything about it and wipe the paint off while it's still wet, then that's a significant problem for her.’

'She or he should have cleaned it off with cleaning products right there and there, and the entire damage could have been mitigated immediately.'

Bunnings confirmed the incident, stating that their team offered the customer cleaning materials for the car.

'As soon as our team became aware, they offered the customer cleaning materials to help them remove the paint,' Bunnings Regional Manager Alan Harvey said.

'While our team did everything they could to assist at the time, unfortunately actions of other customers shopping with us are often beyond our control.'

The incident serves as a reminder to all consumers to be aware of their rights and responsibilities when using car parks.

It also highlights the importance of having comprehensive car insurance, which can provide coverage in situations like this.

Key Takeaways

• A Bunnings customer, Carol, experienced paint damage to her car in the store's car park and demanded that Bunnings cover the repair costs.
• The incident has caused a debate among Australians regarding who should be responsible for the damage.
• Bunnings argues that the responsibility does not lie with them as the incident involved another customer in what they consider a public car park.
• A lawyer suggested on 2GB that while Bunnings should ensure safety in their car park, the refusal to use offered cleaning materials to mitigate the damage may affect Carol's claim.

What do you think, members? Should Bunnings be held responsible for the damage to Carol's car, or should she foot the bill herself? Let us know in the comments below.

 

[mylittletibbies]

Yes they do

Not here in WA they don't.

 

[Clancieblue]

Aaahhh the court of public opinion on social media! What would happen 30yrs ago in a situation like this without 5000 public opinions?

Wondering what the cleaning product offered actually was? If it removes wet paint, how does it not remove dry paint- perhaps that was what the husband was thinking?

Yes, I agree, and also was the staff member offering the cleaner qualified to know that this would not cause further damage. Also, how on earth do you drop a can of paint and not know. Or did it get put down and forgotten?

 

[Geoff R]

Bunnings are liable. The situation is similar to damage being caused to a vehicle by another vehicle in a carpark. The carpark may have signs saying they are not responsible but legally they are. The signs are intended to 'put you off' Put your claim in writing.

 

[Suzanne rose]

I have gone to alot of bunnings stores in Sydney and the carparks in all are on their property and most under the building carparks.
Bunnings should take responsibility including looking at their cameras to see who the driver was that ran over the paint can.

It goes back further than that , the person who dropped the paint can in the beginning should have notified bunnings so it could be cleaned up.

 

[Pippy Oshea]

Bunnings Warehouse is a household name in Australia, known as the go-to destination for all home improvement needs.

With numerous stores nationwide, the retailer sees thousands of customers pass through its aisles and parking lots each day.

One such customer was Carol, who visited a Bunnings location just before Christmas. Little did she know, her quick trip would lead to a month-long saga over a paint-covered car.

Carol and her husband visited their local Bunnings store in Chatswood, on Sydney's north shore.

As they were shopping, another customer accidentally drove over a can of black paint that had been dropped in the car park.

The can exploded, and paint splattered all over one side of Carol's vehicle, causing significant damage.

View attachment 39990

Carol’s car was vandalised with paint by another car after visiting a Bunnings Warehouse, but the store refused to pay damages for the vehicle. Images: 2GB

The incident has since remained unresolved. Carol claims that Bunnings has refused to take any responsibility or pay for the damage, arguing that the incident happened in a public car park.

Carol, however, believes that Bunnings should cover the bill for the damage, as there were no signs warning motorists to park at their own risk.

Carol's car is 17 years old and only covered by third-party insurance. So Carol contacted 2GB host Ben Fordham on 25 January seeking advice on what to do over the incident.

'It's not a public car park,' Carol told Fordham.

'It (the car) is a mess.’

'My husband was at Bunnings when he approached by a staff member at the time when it happened who said “We've got cleaning fluids upstairs.”'

‘But he told them, “No, you've got to sort it out.”'

Despite contacting Bunnings five times over the past month and speaking to two managers, Carol says the situation hasn’t progressed.

She also claims to have at least three witnesses who can corroborate their story.

'He's also been in twice and spoken to two of the managers but they haven't done anything,' Carol claimed.

'This was over a month ago—this was prior to Christmas.'

The incident has divided public opinion. Some believe Carol should report the incident to the police, while others think she should foot the bill herself.

A lawyer named Rod called into the 2GB radio show to say that Bunnings should be liable in the first instance.

'It's their responsibility to keep their car park safe and to mitigate risk to others,' he told Fordham.

'But and it's a big but, people who suffer loss or damage have an obligation to mitigate their loss.’

'So if Carol's husband was offered cleaning products right there and then by Bunnings and failed to do anything about it and wipe the paint off while it's still wet, then that's a significant problem for her.’

'She or he should have cleaned it off with cleaning products right there and there, and the entire damage could have been mitigated immediately.'

Bunnings confirmed the incident, stating that their team offered the customer cleaning materials for the car.

'As soon as our team became aware, they offered the customer cleaning materials to help them remove the paint,' Bunnings Regional Manager Alan Harvey said.

'While our team did everything they could to assist at the time, unfortunately actions of other customers shopping with us are often beyond our control.'

The incident serves as a reminder to all consumers to be aware of their rights and responsibilities when using car parks.

It also highlights the importance of having comprehensive car insurance, which can provide coverage in situations like this.

Key Takeaways

• A Bunnings customer, Carol, experienced paint damage to her car in the store's car park and demanded that Bunnings cover the repair costs.
• The incident has caused a debate among Australians regarding who should be responsible for the damage.
• Bunnings argues that the responsibility does not lie with them as the incident involved another customer in what they consider a public car park.
• A lawyer suggested on 2GB that while Bunnings should ensure safety in their car park, the refusal to use offered cleaning materials to mitigate the damage may affect Carol's claim.

What do you think, members? Should Bunnings be held responsible for the damage to Carol's car, or should she foot the bill herself? Let us know in the comments below.

This works for Carols situation. Simply spray mr muscle ( costic type

 

[Pippy Oshea]

This works for Carols situation. Simply spray mr muscle ( costic type

) wait 20 minutes then wipe with a rag soaked in a brown vinegar. This works for graffiti

 

[Suzanne rose]

Not here in WA they don't.

Even the outdoor carparks they close the gate . The out door ones after they close you can still walk in just not drive your car

 

[mylittletibbies]

Bunnings are liable. The situation is similar to damage being caused to a vehicle by another vehicle in a carpark. The carpark may have signs saying they are not responsible but legally they are. The signs are intended to 'put you off' Put your claim in writing.

Bunnings are liable. The situation is similar to damage being caused to a vehicle by another vehicle in a carpark. The carpark may have signs saying they are not responsible but legally they are. The signs are intended to 'put you off' Put your claim in writing.

That is ridiculous,I recently backed into someone in a carpark.If that was
true there is no way my insurance
company would have paid, they know every loophole and don't pay for anything they don't have to.
Where did you get your law degree, in a weetie box.