mooncat

What does where it's made have to do with anything?

I was merely stating that I can't find a good shoe shop for kids here and made reference to a place I used to shop which sold good quality, well fitting leather shoes.

mooncat

Nice one, ta. Am planning a trip up to the big smoke before xmas so will check it out.

mr mover

Yes and they were all made in china , makes me laugh when you see the "usual suspects " on here whinging, about clothes cant buy M&S , clothes ETC , they are all made in the same place , Wake up and smell the roses ..............mm

ABCDiamond

We have bought Clarks kids school shoes in Kmart.


http://www.superbrands-brands.com/vo...and_clarke.htm

Graham and Maria

Bigger tubs of instant gravy granules - Im not pineing for Bisto just something in a bigger tub will do me.

Where are all the taxi ranks? there seems to be about 3 companies in Canberra so a night in the centre can be hastle come home time.

We also struggled finding a day to day coat for our 9 year old.

A little of topic but where are the Black pudding and pork pies sold at

This is just a point of view from the ACT though.

ABCDiamond

QLD : Brisbane, - Syd's pies, incorporating Highland Fling Products offers a diverse range of tasty Scottish and English goods, 4059 Pacific Highway, (corner Leawarra Drive) Loganholme QLD 4129. T: 07 3806 5062

Sources of British Food in Australia, but nothing listed in ACT, YET, though, sorry

OzSheila

Well they all be made in China but they definitely do not go thru the same "road testing". Can't recall a button ever coming off a men's business shirt from M&S; pity same can't be said about ones bought from Target etc.

A pair of DD jeans from Urban Angel (yes that highly thought after Aussie retailer of children's clothes!) ruined a whole load of clothes in the machine last week because I dared put them in a 30 degree wash. Now had those same jeans come from Next, M&S I can guarantee they would not have "run".

I have come to the conclusion that at the end of the production line in these Chinese factories there is a bin marked "Crap=Australia" and that is exactly what we end up with. The rest of the world would not accept the rubbish we do here!

Kooky.

I shopped in M&S in the UK and Singapore a couple of months ago; I thought I'd stock up on basic vests/singlets, t-shirts, etc. Most of them were such poor quality they were see-through.

IMO they've put their prices down (to compete with the likes of Primark, perhaps?) and their quality with them. Unless you buy their premium Autograph range, you might as well be in Bhs/Asda/etc.

Wendy

I have found some really good book exchanges near me. Bought my daughter a few second hand books for $1 last week, she thinks it's fab

But they will be the 'crap' ones they save just for Australia - all the good ones get shipped to the UK


Here in SA there are some deli type places, usually in shopping centres near the grocers or butchers. They usually look like they stock mostly Italian stuff as you will see Pasta, sauces, oil and that sort of thing. But they also have a small UK section in most of them, and you can get the odd jar of mint sauce, bisto, marmite etc. Most of them also sell Pork Pies.

Don't know if you have places like that in Canberra, but worth keeping a look out for them.

In the mostly 'pom' area's of SA they also sell them in Woolies Don't eat black pudding so have no idea about that I'm afraid.

Merseygirl

I have come to the conclusion that at the end of the production line in these Chinese factories there is a bin marked "Crap=Australia" and that is exactly what we end up with. The rest of the world would not accept the rubbish we do here!

So true!!

BadgeIsBack

I think in some areas that Chinese factories tool up to make similar stuff and the differences might be the quality control or overseeing.

I think the sun stuffs clothes.

When it comes to business shirts you can't buy from Target or Kmart - yes. I stay clear off the really cheap stuff and don't have issues. I do like to buy European, preferably English shirts for the cut not the quality, so go to David Jones sales - (Myer a bit ordinary) so I don't have to go hunting in specialist shops.

BadgeIsBack

It's the truth mate (about the lack of reading in some homes). Let it not be said that I don't levy criticism when it is due.

And Jond - yes - I'll take you up on your offer. I do know homes where there are books and pool...

Machiavelli

Myer sell Clarks kids shoes.

There's also a kids shoe shop in Chermside, (North of Brisbane), who sell Clarks. If they do not have the shoe that you want in the size that you need it they source them from other stores.

We've had no problems with the quality of shoes we've bought from this shop.

Mxxx

ABCDiamond

Compare the quality, but also compare the price...
M&S Business shirts start at about £20 from what I see at M&S

But at Target, you can buy business shirts from $15, that's £6.50 each.

I wouldn't expect the same quality, between M&S and Target.
Myers or DJ's may be a better place to compare, or the small specialist clothes shops who do quality clothing, at a higher price than Target.

The Clarkes shoes here, lasted long enough for my daughter to grow out of them each time, without them wearing out, so that's a good enough test for me to be happy with Clarkes. But Grosby are also just as good, and cheaper.

Fly Away

I agree. I think M&S stuff has seriously deteriorated over the last 2 years in the UK. I am constantly sewing buttons back on, sewing up hems etc on their stuff - even Autograph. I had one pair of linen trousers last summer which only lasted a couple of weeks before they literally fell apart and I took them back in disgust.

Their undrwear still seems as robust but they have changed the bra sizing somehow. It used to be that all bras in a certain size would fit. Now you have to try them on and swop and change cup/size to get a good fit. This sounds like a quality control issue too.

So for expats who have been away for a couple of years or more M&S may not be what you remember.