The Bunnings Mascot Translator Service

I know I don't blog often, but I felt I should blog this given the large amount of the O'keefe family blog that is donated to Bunnings Mascot. Today, I had my very own Bunnings Mascot experience...

Acutally, my experience started about four-six weeks ago when one of my drivers suggested that we needed a shed to store the extra bus seats in at the garage so he didn't have to come up to the office all the time, and I didn't have to come into work early to let him in.* So, after taking some measurements with my driver, working out the size, how much the organisation could afford and viewing the Bunnings catelogy online, I wandered down to the local Bunnings, at Mascot, to order said shed.

(*note in the story. I work in community transport, for all you who didn't already know, and we have a wheelchair accessible bus. This means that three seats at the back of the bus come out so a wheelchair can fit in. Being the inner city, our garage where this bus lives is about a five minute drive from our office, and we have no lockable storage space down there. So when the seats come out, someone has to let the driver into the office to drop them off at about 8am in the morning before the day starts.)

So needless to say, busty girl at Bunnings looking at sheds went down a treat. When I finally found someone who actually worked in the shed section, the real fun started...

Cat: "Are you Chris, the guy responsible for ourdoor fixtures?"
Chris, the shed guy: "Yeah?"
Cat: "Those guys smoking inside by the outdoor plant section said you look after sheds"
Chris, the shed guy: "So?"
Cat: "Well, I need to buy a shed."
Chris, the shed guy: "Buying a shed's not easy. You need to do more than just pick a colour."
Cat: "Yeah, well..."
Chris, the shed guy: "Yeah, you got to measure your space, what you want to put in it, where it's going to sit, what weather conditions it will have to withstand. You know, maybe you should bring your boyfriend down, and then well talk."
Cat: "Yeah - well, I don't have a boyfriend so you'll have to deal with me. I want a Tidymate 52, 1059x679 for my 2000x900 space which is $349 delivered and I don't care what colour but I believe zinc's the cheapest so that will do."
Chris, the shed guy (looking a little scared): "Ok - I'll take you over to orders"

So yeah - Bunnings Mascot not in my good books from the start. But I filled out the paper work, making it really clear this was a business so delivery was only able to be done in business hours, I explained that the office and the garage (where delivery would take place) WERE NOT THE SAME PLACE, left my phone number and paid. Today, I got the phone call to say the shed had arrrived.

Cat: Community Transport, Catherine speaking.
Asian Female: Hello?
Cat: Hello, Catherine speaking.
Asian Female: Hello?
Cat: Yes?
Asian Female: I wish to speak.
Cat: Who is this?
Asian Female: I Bunnings. You shed.

Cat takes a moment to pause on this sentance. Then realises this is the call to say the shed has arrived and to arrange delivery. Eventually, after confirming the address... (Cnr Dowling St and Cowper Wharf Rd. Woolloomooloo. W-O-O-L-L-O-O-M-O-O-L-O-O. No, not Wollongong, Woolloomooloo. City - Sydney, yes, city, yes Woolloomooloo. Near water. No, no number, it's the car park. Yes, car park C-A-R-P-A-R-K... yes, where car stays. The entrance is opposite the Shell Service station. No, no bell. Call on approach. Telephone when coming. Yes, telephone. We talk. We talk when shed comes. No - no mobile. Only land line. Land line. Phone with cord, no mobile. F%^K, where's the phone number of the Eastern Sydney Multicultural Translator Service!)...

I established the shed was to be released to transport this afternoon, and would arrive soon. 6pm tomorrow in fact. (No - business hours only. No - we business. Yes, you business, we business too. No deliver 5pm. No, no deliver 7am. Between 9am and 4.30pm. Yes, we do business time. Business time only. Driver ring. Ok. Bye....)

I have no idea when the shed is actually arriving. But I'll be sure to keep you all informed.

I hate Bunnings Mascot.

Cat xoxox