Supermarket employee's response sparks backlash from customers: 'This is egregious'

In an age where technology is supposed to make our lives easier, it seems that not everyone is on board with the digital takeover, especially regarding shopping experiences.

This sentiment was echoed loudly by a disgruntled customer who recently voiced frustration over an encounter at Bunnings Warehouse, Australia's go-to destination for home improvement and outdoor living.


The customer's ordeal began with what should have been a simple shopping trip to their local Bunnings store.

They were on the hunt for three specific items but found themselves lost in the vast aisles of the hardware giant.

After a fruitless search from one end of the store to the other, they approached a staff member at the checkout in the garden centre for assistance.


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Frustration was expressed over downloading the Bunnings app for in-store item searches. Credit: Bunnings


To their dismay, the customer was advised to download the Bunnings app to locate the items.

The employee suggested asking another team member when they inquired about alternative ways to find what they needed without the app.

This response left the customer feeling exasperated and venting their frustration on social media, stating, 'I don't need a different app for every g****** store I visit. I just want to go to a store and find what I need, pay and leave.'


The customer's sentiment struck a chord with many, as they expressed their reluctance to be pushed into downloading yet another app, with the accompanying requests for personal details such as phone numbers and email addresses.

Social media chimed in with their own grievances about the proliferation of apps and the constant barrage of notifications that come with them.

One commenter lamented, 'The notifications are egregious. Every app on your phone will be sending you at least one useless spam every f****** day.'

Others shared their frustration with apps that seem to be nothing more than 'bloated website launchers' and the increasing dependency on smartphones for basic functions.

Bunnings Warehouse, owned by Wesfarmers and boasting 381 stores and over 53,000 employees as of 2022, introduced its Bunnings Product Finder app in 2020.

The app was designed to help customers navigate the large warehouses more efficiently during the COVID-19 pandemic.


While many customers found the app useful, and it has remained in use, it's clear that not everyone is keen on this digital solution.

In response to the outcry, a Bunnings spokesperson stated that customers have various options when searching for products in their stores.

They can speak to team members, use the product locator boards at the end of each aisle, or look up item locations on the Bunnings website or app.

At the Seniors Discount Club, we understand that while technology can be a boon, it's not always the preferred choice for everyone.

Businesses need to cater to all customers, including those who prefer traditional service methods.

We encourage our members to voice their preferences and seek assistance in the way that suits them best.


In other news, BIG W shoppers voiced frustration over removing in-store price scanners, forcing them to rely on the store's app.

One shopper shared their annoyance on social media, highlighting the inconvenience, especially for those less tech-savvy. You can read more about it here.
Key Takeaways
  • A shopper expressed frustration with the expectation of downloading the Bunnings Warehouse app to locate items in-store.
  • The customer's social media post resonated with others who dislike the overreliance on apps and sharing personal details for shopping.
  • Bunnings introduced the Product Finder app in 2020 to help customers during the Covid pandemic. Its utility has led to its continued use.
  • A Bunnings spokesperson highlighted that customers have multiple ways to find products, including asking team members, using location boards, the website, or the app.
Have you had a similar experience where you felt pressured to use technology in a way that didn't suit your needs? Do you miss the days of simple, straightforward customer service? Share your thoughts and experiences with us in the comments below. Let's discuss the balance between convenience and comfort in the digital age.
 

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what about woolies.not that i shop on line ,but if i decided to i would have to have a smart phone to say i am here when you arrive to pck up your products,instead of having a button you can push to let them know that you are there in the recieving area ,but no you must have a smart phone
Seriously, what about the poor bastards who don't have a bloody smart phone!! Sorry for the swear words but not everybody can: 1. afford to buy a smart phone and 2. afford the internet! Maybe the Government should issue everybody with a smart phone and free internet and be held responsible when hackers hack these phones!
 
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Reactions: SandyM
Big W and k mart removed their scanners to force the app download, then don't put prices on things to further the frustration, we need to boycott them for a week at a time to teach them a lesson.
Haven't noticed this where I live.........YET!!! What next....eh??
 
I do the same, but twice I have got there only to find there was no stock on the shelves.More fuel wasted
Oh, don't get me started on checking out websites before going to the actual store!! 9/10 times the websites are not kept up-to-date and when you arrive, and can't find your item, and search out a staff member, they all say, oh yeah, the websites are hardly ever kept up-to-date.......drrrrrr!!
 
I have always found Bunnings staff to be knowledgeable, friendly and most helpful. Maybe the customer approach could be the key to this sorry, sad saga
Mmmm, yeah maybe, but it could be a particular store!! Personally, the staff, well 99% of them, at my Bunnings Store, Parafield, SA, are always sooooo helpful!!!!!!! :love:
 
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Reactions: SandyM and Bridgit
My association with the local Bunnings has not been very pleasant over the years. I enjoy every other store I go to but the next closet one is 60km away.
They may be good for plants and general items but stock items in hardware, tools etc is nogo.
Empty shelves are a constant issue.
Even though I check stock availability and if it shows in stock I write down the isle and shelf numbers it doesn't help much. Sure I can locate where the item should be but zero stock has the same result. As a staff member for help they just say they havent got any and not to really go by their website. One item recently showed 10mm washers in stock. Actually when aI asked about the empty box and the girl looked them up she said there was a minus 300 stock level.
My feeling on this useless store is If I come home with 50% of the items on my list then I have had a win.
Very likely their stock is floating around out there waiting to unloaded off a ship like everything else these days!
 
I don't mind apps on my phone but my husband refuses to use them. He shops at Bunnings frequently and so far found the store assistants at our local store, very willing and helpful. Come the day they tell him he needs to download the app., watch out. His objection and I agree, is the reason they are getting you to use the app. It's so they can track your purchases or even "window shopping", and use that data to target you with ads as well as other businesses. It's become ubiquitous these days. I hope it doesn't come to the time where there are no shop assistants so you either wander around aimlessly or give in and download their app.
 
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Reactions: SandyM
Not heard of apps at our Bunnings and I always ask a staff member when I need assistance.
 
We were in Bunnings yesterday, couldn't find the item we were looking for. We asked a staff member and she immediately got out her phone and looked it up for us, only to find they had none in stock or at the next nearest store. We don't need the item urgently so were happy to wait until it comes in. Always found Bunnings staff most helpful, obviously the person complaining was feeling very tired and grumpy having walked all round the store.
 
The staff member on the checkout at Bunnings should have announced on their public address system that help was needed at checkout number.....or directed the customer to the entrance staff were. I can't remember if they have a customer service desk or not.
 
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Reactions: DLHM
Surely,, Bunnings as well as other large stores should have a list of inter-phone numbers for each department at the check-out counter. Customers approaching the check-out for help would then get the help they need by the person at check-out phoning the Department and asking for someone to help. It seems logical to me.
 
Sister in law asked why I don’t have what’sApp on my phone. I said I don’t need it and was then told I could send my photos instantly to my children when travelling. I don’t use my phone for photography, I use my trusty and very good camera, and when I return from a trip I download my photos to computer. Problem solved. She couldn’t understand why I don’t do that WhatsApp thing. And I don’t understand what is so important and urgent to send holiday photos back home immediately they are taken.

I’m not like so many these days who think everything has to be done in an instant. I enjoy my holiday time instead of spending it sending photos back home as soon as possible. What’s the urgency?

Back to the topic - many of Bunnings staff have phones with apps which they can look up when asked where a certain item is. We have never had a problem with their staff and more often than not the staff member will take us to the actual location instead of just telling us it is in aisle such and such.
 
This makes me so angry. People, businesses in particular, should learn that NOT EVERYONE HAS A MOBILE PHONE. I wish they'd never been invented. They have caused nothing but trouble. To many hundreds in this country they are just a useless piece of junk because we can't recieve a signal or WE ARE DEAF. Enough is enough . They call this progress but I believe we have gone completely backwards. By the way, what good is a QR Code? I noticed on a box of soft drinks that every can wins BUT YOU NEED A QR CODE. I suppose that's one way of keeping the number of winners down. By the way, yesterday I was looking for a book at a 2nd hand bookstore. They wanted your details but wouldn't accept my info because I had "an invalid phone number". Funny about that I HAVE A LANDLINE.
If I didn't have kids and grandkids, I'd be back on the landline tootsweat!
 
Another fuss about nothing.🙄

There's nothing wrong with the Bunnings app. Works well all the time. 👍
The same with the other 405 on my phone. 🙂
 
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Reactions: SandyM
When QR codes were mandatory, I always doubted that the photo we were supposed to be taking was as innocent as we were told.
Yes they lied to us yet again. In the Sunday Mail of 12th January 2025, it mentions that as soon as you take the image of the QR code, malware can be downloaded on to your phone and in an instant, all your passwords and all your details are stolen.
One of the latest is that Scammers used fake Australia Post QR codes to target sellers on social media’s Marketplace, aiming to steal personal information.
Hence I am going to continue to do what I have always done. I refuse to use QR codes. I have managed to live my life without them so I will continue to do so.
Why are we shocked at any of this??
Bunnings customer service or finding anyone, anywhere at Bunnings is a magical myth.At least at my local store, can't find a b..y thing or a b...y person willing to help
 

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