Bunnings DIY Helpline launched for people doing home renovations

The hardware giant has come up with a nifty solution with an all-too-familiar issue after hordes of customers experienced it in lockdown.

We’ve all been there — bought something online, had it arrive home, and then had no idea what to do with it.

It can be all the more stressful if what you’ve bought is for a home reno project, with one store offering a solution to the problem.

Bunnings has launched a DIY hotline number for customers in which they can get advice on how to do a home project, as well as information on store products like plants.

The hotline was set up after research conducted by the hardware chain found that one in three customers were shopping more online because of coronavirus, as well as a spike in people doing DIY projects at home to pass the time.

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Bunnings introduced the hotline in May after an upswing in home reno projects and customers ordering online.

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Bunnings national customer advocacy manager Steve Hoffman said that shopping online had become the “new normal” for many Australians now.

“For Aussies who are not as computer savvy, being stuck at home during this isolation

period can be difficult, so that’s why we launched a new telephone DIY Hotline during May

this year,” he said.

“Our DIY Hotline is managed by Bunnings team members that customers can call for

expert advice on a range of topics, including horticulture, plus order the materials they need

from Bunnings to undertake a DIY project and have them delivered to their front door.”

As well as home delivery, Bunnings also has a Drive and Collect option available which allows customers to pic up their items from the store’s car park.

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Many people are now buying projects for home improvement projects online.

The move comes as customers bought up big on home improvement products and gardening items when the pandemic first hit in March.

Plants, bags of soil, paint and face masks proved popular at the hardware giant which in response was forced to introduce temporary buying restrictions.

Customers were restricted to a maximum of four items per person for cleaning and storage products, gardens sprayers and batteries.

There was also a maximum of one item per customer for generators, gas bottles, respirators or face masks, fuel cans, methylated spirits and turpentine.

In a statement at the time Bunnings managing director Michael Schneider said the move was necessary to make sure no-one missed out.

“We’re seeing increased demand for some products and we want to be as fair as possible for customers,” he said.

The store also introduced a dedicated shopping hour for tradies and suspended its famous sausage sizzle as a precaution against coronavirus.