The Door Saga Continues...

So remember the saga with the door?

It is still going. Over the weekend we went to my local haunt, to enquire about the door. And once again, we were told it was still on backorder.

But, just to double check, the man went out to the back shed with us to check there were no doors. He glances, and says "Nope, no doors here". The husband spies a pile of them up the back, and asks about those ones.

What do you know, there, on the pile of 20 odd doors (no idea how you could miss a giant pile of doors, it was massive!), was a door with our name on it! With a stamp saying it was received a week after we ordered it! Morons!!!

Least I have my door now. Now, if only the husband wasn't away fishing, I could have it installed! And lesson learnt, from now on, if it's not in stock I am going elsewhere, clearly their ordering system sucks!

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Renovating Guide: Bunnings vs Mitre 10

Disclaimer: This post is entirely my own opinion. It is based purely on one incident at my local store, and should not be taken against other stores or corporations. If you have an issue with this post, please contact myself by leaving a comment at the end of this post.

It is a hot topic in our household of which is the better hardware store: Bunnings or Mitre10. I personally prefer Bunnings, as it has a larger range, is better priced, and 9 times out of 10 caters to my needs. The husband prefers our local Mitre10. There is knowledgeable staff, they are willing to order things in, and it is around the corner from home. Oh, and he likes that you can just drive in, and drive out. There is no boom gate and border security once leaving the timber section.

So, if Bunnings and Mitre10 were to have a child, it would be the perfect hardware store for us. Unfortunately, I cant see that happening any time soon.

Because Bunnings is a good hour away from home, and given that during a day which we are renovating we can go to the hardware store up to 10 times, we get majority of things at our local Mitre10.

When we renovated our bathroom the lovely staff at Mitre10 told us there was no difference between a Hume door and a Corinthian door, and that they were the exact same profile. It is a standard 4 panel door, which is very common, so I took this as gospel. This suited us, as we brought a Corinthian door for the office, but couldn't be bothered driving an hour to go and get another one for the bathroom. So we brought the Hume door.

BIG MISTAKE! It turns out that there is a slight difference between the two companies doors. The inner panel is a differnent shape. It took me a week to work it out, but I worked it out, and it pissed me off every day since 2006. (Mark 1 against Mitre10)

Luckily, as the husband didn't see the issue with having two slightly different doors, he had installed both upside down, and they had to be turned around when the kitchen was renovated. Which meant we had to order a new Corinthain door, as the Hume door had been sanded to fit in the old door frame, and looks silly in the new door frame. Awesome-sauce!

So we went to Mitre10, and were once again told they were the same. I pointed out to the man who told us this that he was infact incorrect, and there was a slight difference. His reply "oh, so you noticed that then. Best we order you a door". No 'sorry, I didnt realise' or anything. He knew all along they were different but was being lazy and selling me a door they had instock rather than order me a door! (Mark 2 against Mitre10).

I point out to the man that it would just be easier to go to Bunnings and get the door. He argues that it is fine for him to order it. I still say no. He pushes the issue and I give in. He tells me it will be a week to come in, and they will call us.

That was the first weekend in December. Three weeks have passed, so today I went to see them. I am told it won't be here until February at the earliest! (Mark 3 against Mitre10). I ask to cancel the order, as I could have picked one up in the 5 times that I have been to Bunnings since I ordered the door. No can do, once ordered it can't be cancelled (Mark 4 against Mitre10).

It is at this point I am starting to see a tinge of red. A very slight tinge, but I am cranky none the less.

And then, the woman who was standing besides the man who was serving me, who is known as being the most useless shop assistant, to the point where we hide from her and refuse to be served by her, tells me it is taking so long because Corinthian are custom making our door! (Mark 5 million against Mitre10). It is a standard 4 panel door. It is an off the shelf item, found in most new houses, that is so common that it might as well be sold at Woolies! They. Are. Not. Custom. Making. My. Door!

It is at this point I see a red flag waving, and tell this woman that it is a standard door, and that if she isn't in the know about our particular door, then to please refrain from commenting, as it was advise like hers (ie incorrect) that got us into this mess in the first place!

So, from now until we next renovate I am refusing to go to my local Mitre10. I don't care if I have to drive an hour each way for a packet of screws, I will either drive or go with out. But I will not be going back to Mitre10 in my town for some time! Bunnings wins!

So here is my renovating advise for today. Never trust what a store person tells you without checking the information yourself. Double check it. Triple check it if you must. And learn from my mistakes, if you think something is going to go screwey, go elsewhere!

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Another weekend spent renovating

Well, actually thats a lie, as it's only been one day. But ole Bronski has to go to work tormorrow in Melton (sucked in, having to work in the worst part of Melbourne), so it was today or nothing.

The slave driver I am chose today ;)

Now, the day started like this: we got up at 8.30, with plans to be at Mitre10 at 9 (they're only around the corner, so very handy) to get weatherboards and no more gaps. 9.30 we finally moved our bums from the couch. Got in ute. Flat battery, as brian left his fridge and fire radio going over night. Swear words were yelled. Generator removed from back of ute, battery charged.

Finally make it to Mitre10, get the stupid little boy who thinks he knows it all, when really he knows jack. I know more about building than he does (and i dont know much). He sells us overpriced weatherboards (mental note to self: shop around next time, they were $1.50/meter cheaper at Bunnings).

So now it's to start with removing old weatherboards, mainly because some fool cut the hole for the window too big, and no more gaps wasnt going to cut it this time. So off come the boards.

On go the boards. We get 2 boards from the top of the window and realize we are short. More expletives exchanged. Brian gets in the ute, tries to start it. Nothing. Battery still flat. I run and hide, as he is still holding his hammer, and i fear it going flying through the windscreen. Next door neighbor happens to drive by and gives him a tow start. Crisis averted.

Husband returns with weatherboards (now cursing buying a weatherboard house, so fricken expensive) and we continue. We get to the top of the window and Brian sends me to the shed to find the roll of stuff (so very descriptive). I presume he means the weatherstrip which is a giant roll of silver foil. Can't find it. Brian yells at me to open my eyes and have a boy (proper) look. Exchange expletives. He comes to look for it, still cant find it. Mark sarcastic remarks about having a proper look.

So off to Mitre 10 I go again. Seek our favorite store-man. He finds me what I want and promises to exchange it if boy doesn't want that stuff. Home again. husband impressed with my shopping abilities (yay me). Break for lunch (sausages with onion and sauce in bread, as i was sooking our Mitre10 doesn't do a BBQ like Bunnings does...cheap bastards!)

Come back after lunch, apply weather shield stuff (for those who don't know, it stops rain from getting under the boards when they are up against something like the top of a window). Am congratulated again on purchase, is 10 times better than the stuff we have somewhere. My step dad shows up, yet i still get told to get up a ladder. Now i don't have any issues with heights, but i can think of better places to be when the local morons keep driving by starting at my large rump up a ladder. Finish weatherboards off.

With my stepdad here, decide to install false ceiling, as he has better nailgun skills that i (pft, thats what they think). I get the job of walking the nail gun between them. Thrilling stuff. Ceiling finished.

Brian starts to pack up. Its 3.30. I crack the sulks and tell him to stop complaining to me about the mattress in the spare room, as he is the one who is stopping working. Retreat to couch and peruse Twitter. Sulking works, Brian continues working, he washes the weatherboards, and goes to no more gaps the gaps. Shit, knew we forgot something at Mitre10, and now they're shut. More expletives. Instead we rewire the switchboard so that the powerpoint in the hallway works (thank the lord, its only taken 3 years). Begin straightening the hallway wall. Eventually come to a hurdle and give up for the night.

And who said I don't know how to get people to do things I want them to??? Pin It