Bunnings security announcement secret revealed by former employee

A former Bunnings employee has revealed the secret behind the methods and tactics they deter people from shoplifting.

A former Bunnings employee has lifted the lid on an innovative security measure used by the retailer to dissuade customers from shoplifting.

The Queenslander, who calls himself Relay, revealed in a recent TikTok video a code the company uses on its store PA systems.

When he began working at the hardware chain in 2002, Relay said staff would regularly make announcements over the loud speaker like: “security to section C”.

While oblivious customers might presume the call was alerting staff to a security situation, perhaps some pilfering, in “section C”, Relay revealed that such an area didn’t actually exist.

“The secret was that there was no ‘section C’, there was also most of the time, no security,” he said.

Relay revealed the true reason behind Bunnings’ security announcements. Picture: TikTok/relayscreations

The announcement references a made up store location. Picture: TikTok/relayscreations

“It was only meant to be a deterrent for shoplifters.”

Eventually the security announcement was added to the daily radio playlist, and would play incrementally throughout the day.

“We actually had the same announcements every day during the same songs, and you could predict them after you heard them for a while,” Relay said.

The ex Bunnings worker, who was employed by the chain from 2002 to 2007, added the system may not have been used nationwide, given his experience was limited to southeast Queensland.

Bunnings did not deny that an announcement of that type or purpose is made in stores. However, News.com.au understands it is not a broad Bunnings process or a direction given to all stores.

Bunnings’ security announcement is designed to act as a deterrent for shoplifters.

Relay also claimed that during the orientation period, new members were told the store would be “intentionally” and permanently short-staffed.

He claimed the tactic was one way the retailer was able to maintain its low prices.

Additionally, he said the store’s promise to beat a lower price by 10 per cent only ever applied once to each product.

“The first time the discount was claimed for one product an alert would go back to head office and they would lower the price,” he said.

“Even if it took a day to update the actual price tag, as soon as the computer was registering a lower price, they wouldn’t honour it.”

Bunnings Managing Director Mike Schneider rejected the price guarantee only applied to each product once.

“To clarify, our team honours our prices guarantee in a ‘no fuss’ manner on all eligible purchases, not just the first,” Mr Schneider said.

“Additionally, if we identify that we don’t have lowest price on a particular product we immediately introduce a temporary price reduction on the relevant product.

“Our lowest prices policy has always been at the core of what we do, and temporary price reductions are one of several business processes operating behind the scenes to ensure we continue to deliver on this policy for our customers.”

Relay also revealed staff were hired on the basis of their “interpersonal skills” rather than expert knowledge.

Originally published as Bunnings security announcement secret revealed by former employee