Bursons - where do they fit?

[ronwest]

Bursons have recently opened a store not far from me.

I've heard of them but I don't know anytjong about them or where they fit in terms of quality of items - particularly tools/spare parts.

In my mind, I have in descending order Repco/Autobarn/Supercheap in terms of quality.

I'm not after a debate about my perceptions but if we use my guide above, where do Bursons fit?

[ratter]

Equal with repco

[brycieboy]

id put bursons infront of repco... at my local stores they seem to know more than the repco guys

[irlewy86]

I'm pretty sure they brought out Coventry's auto parts in Brisbane

[gtxb67]

it depends on the people working there, but my local burson's are probably better than my local repco

[LUXO_8]

yeah i'd put them in front of repco as well....

[Powdered Toast Man]

I'd also put them above Repco. Generally the Bursons staff know their stuff more and the tend to stock a much more comprehensive range.

[RG]

Bursons is aimed directly at workshops and the like yet still sell to the general public. I've always found them to know their stuff and they don't sell the cheap rubbish gear.

[Boza]

Most of the time i notice that they are are cheaper than repco too

[Mr Hardware]

I'm pretty sure they brought out Coventry's auto parts in Brisbane

correct.

Bursons is aimed directly at workshops and the like yet still sell to the general public. I've always found them to know their stuff and they don't sell the cheap rubbish gear.

correct.

[charles_wif_xf]

I'd also put Bursons above Repco. Cheaper than Repco, stock more product and a better range too.

[GUTLES]

We deal with Bursons @ work over Repco, cheaper, faster delivery & better staff..

[Silver Ghia]

Originally Posted by charles_wif_xf

Cheaper than Repco, stock more product and a better range too.

Not necessarily, as far as product range is concerned.
Depends who you get at the counter at our store here. But the Repco here have new people who seem like amateurs. Last time I lost patience after the phone rang and grabbed the book, found the part within a minute while the guy answered the phone, then pointed saying I wanted that. They had one while Bursons didnt.
For normal stuff however, first port of call is Supercheep.

[Auslandau]

Bursons seem to be better than Repco, in staff and service & product. Many workshops use them and if you open an account, the discounts are great and delivery within a couple of hours. Compared to Supercheap and Autobarn ... ?well you can't really.



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[LUXO_8]

another thing with bursons....you only have to ask for trade price, and you'll get it.....without question most of the time

[BlackLS]

Bursons is great. Cheaper than Repco, better range of products and the people actually know what they're selling.

[TUF_302]

Id also put burson at the top, very professional outfit indeed, i get all parts for my cars from there

[prydey]

we don't have a bursons in adelaide but my folks live in bris and i've made a few trips to the bursons at browns plains and am yet to pay sticker price, without even asking for a discount. very friendly and offer good advice. wish we had them here.

we have motor traders and coventry's here but they seem totally different.

[notty1978]

In Dubbo bursons have taken over Auto 1 same guys same Products

[Pete from Port]

Good brake parts too. Burson front BA discs & pads...104000 klm machined discs still 1mm above limit no significant shudder either, good prices.

[mik]

Originally Posted by bnsuteau

id put bursons infront of repco... at my local stores they seem to know more than the repco guys

same here, bursons is nearly always cheaper i have found.

[blackers10]

bursons did buy out coventry auto parts QLD.. and made all their warehouse staff redundant(including my self grrr)
they use ACTUAL parts interpreters not 13yo's who worry more about clearasil than what your asking for...

[Hitman]

As an ex-Repco 2ic and Manager, I'd say Bursons are better aswell. There is alot of guys in Repco that have been in the industry for 20+ years and they are the guys that know their stuff, however, when head office decided that Repco would be a 7 day a week operation we were told to hire 15-16 year olds to man the counters on the weekends, and unfortunately most of the DIY people come in on weekends and get the pimplefaced no-nothing. I know that everyone has to start somewhere and build their product knowledge, but most of the experienced people are leaving through frustration at H.O because of lack of support and crap wages. (as a 2ic I was taking home $942 a FORTNIGHT!)

[ronwest]

Originally Posted by Hitman

we were told to hire 15-16 year olds to man the counters on the weekends, and unfortunately most of the DIY people come in on weekends and get the pimplefaced no-nothing.

I'm chasing a particular tool and this morning I rang our local Repco three times. Three times it rang out.
I figured it must have been closed so I headed up to a friend of a friends workshop on the off chance that he was there (and may have had the tool).

As I approached Repco I noticed they were open so called in. There was a guy at the counter in front of me who was attempting to buy a radiator hose.
We were the only two customers.

So I politely waited whilst Repco's male teenager 'A' and female teenager 'B' tried to work out which hose it was. Fair enough.

After a few minutes in which the phone had rung twice and was ignored, as was I, I left.

I've been buying stuff off Repco since 1968 (large $$'s in the 60's and 70's) but they have now lost me.

I'm happy to give the bits and pieces I do to Bursons so I'm glad to read here that they are rated equal to, or better than Repco.

edit: clarity

[Hitman]

Originally Posted by ronwest

I'm chasing a particular tool and this morning I rang our local Repco three times. Three times it rang out.
I figured it must have been closed so I headed up to a friend of a friends workshop on the off chance that he was there (and may have had the tool).

As I approached Repco I noticed they were open so called in. There was a guy at the counter in front of me who was attempting to buy a radiator hose.
We were the only two customers.

So I politely waited whilst male teenager 'A' and female teenager 'B' tried to work out which hose it was. Fair enough.

After a few minutes in which the phone had rung twice and was ignored, as was I, I left.

I've been buying stuff off Repco since 1968 (large $$'s in the 60's and 70's) but they have now lost me.

I'm happy to give the bits and pieces I do to Bursons so I'm glad to read here that they are rated equal to, or better than Repco.

And that is the problem, Repco is saving money by hiring teenagers, and losing money by ummm....hiring teenagers :

[DoreSlamR]

Hmmm Bursons need to get their butts over to WA

Repco, Super cheap and even Auto 1 are quite useless.

[blackers10]

have you ever used Coventrys DoreSlamR ??
i doubt they will sell out to Bursons over there.. as its where Coventrys head office/was born

[DoreSlamR]

There's no coventrys near me and the nearest isn't open on weekends.

Makes it tough!

The auto 1 near me is probably the best, the guys who work in there have half a clue but they have no stock.

[ronwest]

As a final follow up from me, I rang the local Bursons this morning.

The guy knew the bit I wanted but didn't have it in stock. No problem to order it but as an option he gave me the area Snap-On guy's mobile number.

I called the Snap-On guy and he's happy to pull the bit (it's a "spline" bit or "three square" bit) out of a kit and he will replenish the kit later.
He'll call me in the morning and I'll meet him in the industrial park about 10 mins away.

Bit different to Repco who I couldn't even talk to either on the phone or in-store.

Burson-Snap On: 1
Repco: 0

[TUF_302]

Also if you are in the automotive trade you will recieve a nice discount on most items!