DavidT

Trying to set up a list of shops that would be usefull for all the different household effects, from crockery to dishwashers.
This could be usefull for all new migrants for when they arrive.

I myself am keen to know of the bargain shops you get to hear about just after you have paid over the odds for something.
Aiming for Brisbane, somewhere aroung Redcliffe 25km ish, so should be able to get some good choices, can anyone help build a list to save a few of us newly arriving migrant a few $

I will start with the list of for all of us with www.goodguys.co.au

podgypossum

I have found Kmart very good for buying cheap kitchen items just to set you up when you arrive. They do such a huge range of other stuff too... from clothes to furniture. Dont expect top quality, but for starting out you cant beat it really

podgypossum

Bunnings is the place for all things DIY and gardening. Very much like B&Q

DavidT

Thanks, a good start PP. I loved kmart when i first went to Florida in 93, bought shed loads of stuff. Even spare parts for my lawnmower at a fraction of the uk price.

podgypossum

Target is another one along the Kmart lines but doesnt have as much of a range.

In Adelaide, we dont have Ikea but i know they have it in Melbourne and Sydney. There is another shop quite similar to Ikea that we do have called Freedom furniture.

podgypossum

Here are some of the websites

www.freedom.com.au

www.kmart.com.au

www.target.com.au

www.bunnings.com.au

itsasecret

IKEA

cherry6

Link is wrong for the good guys, its

www.goodguys.com.au

migrantoz

saw the goodguys website and the products(televisions and vacuum cleaners) I looked at looked very expensive to me. It does say "Pay less for cash", presumably the prices are lower if you turn up with the readies.

podgypossum

yes they do knock a fair bit off if you haggle with them and we even got a free 5yr extra warranty thrown in..not htat these things are ever worth the paper they are written on in my experience.
We bought several items from them including TV, and smaller electrical goods.

anya4oz

The list sounds very useful - keep up the good work!

However, I wonder if anyone can add details about (yes, I am a terrible vain girl) ladies' *clothes* shops?

Many of those helpful books for would-be immigrants tell us that 'clothes in Oz are not such good quality as we are used to in the UK'. In the 'New life down under' the other week, one of the women said how much she missed M&S, & how you could not buy decent (?!) knickers in Perth!! We are Melbourne-bound, which I think is better for shopping, but I'm still worried about having to wear hubby's Y-fronts once my containerload of M&S knicks wears out....

As a self-confessed retail therapist, I know I am emigrating to the wrong country, but, kind Ladies (& Drag Queens) lurking in the Forum, can you recommend any good shops? (as a guide, fave shops in UK are M&S, John Lewis, Wallis, East, Monsoon, Gap, Laura Ashley, Next. I'm UK 14/16 so not supermodel spec.).

Also I'm sure hubby would like to know what you guys think of the Oz mens' wear shops...

Anya

S Oldfield

heard bunnings is a bit pricey

cherry6

Anya,
I have spent time in Perth, where I am also returning. I cant comment on Melbourne, but I found Perth very poor for clothing. In the city itself there is some trendy boutique type stores, but all the shopping malls contain the same formula of shops, and the clothing ones are pretty crappy. I remember last time I went people coming up to me asking me where I had got my/my kids clothes from, and when I said UK they were saying that there was nowhere in WA doing different clothing, that the best stuff was in the eastern states. So you might be luckier than me

Mr&MrsPom

For your information Ikea is in Perth, we have a friend who works there.

earlswood

There's also Ikea in Brisbane.

Felt a right idiot last year when we visited and were talking to some locals about this brill store we have in UK called "Ikea."
and hoped there might be something similar in OZ.
Reply was "no worries mate, got one of those down the road!