Outstanding customer service from the lady working here. Unlike a lot of other discount stores,…read morethings were kept in a very orderly way, even though they were short on space. There were a tonne of options for travellers.

Another gem for craft enthusiasts, and anyone happy to poke around. A great number of good stock at…read morediscounted prices. The staff are helpful, and pleasant. I have been coming here for a long time. Their home decor and thoughtful gift lines are wonderful, if you are content to take your time. Storage, stationary and seasonal lines do change occasionally, basically their is good. Good place to explore, and discover more, of what you suddenly, think you must have? Enter at your own risk, and enjoy!

This along with the newly opened Stacks (Myer center) may be the only traditional dollar stores…read moreleft in the city. The Japanese $2.80 shops are squeezing them out. RS has a decent variety of goods and the quality is fine for this sorry of thing. You won't find a container whose lid doesn't fit or a hair barrette that works once. Here are some of the sections on offer: gift wrap n cards, art & stationery, bags/suitcases, containers, decor, candles/oils, frames and pictures, gardening, pets, laundry/linen, car, kitchen, clothes, beauty, phone/PC accessories, candy, tinned food...

I'm not really sure if I should be offended with the name "THE REJECT SHOP"…read more...does it make me a reject if I want to buy everything in its vicinity? ...But judging from the number of people wedged in on a weekday I am not the only reject who relies on this store. This place has saved my butt on numerous occasions, from awkward lunch date fiascos to that time the batteries in my boombox died. This store has everything you could ever possibly need in life. Novelty tins in shape of currency, oodles of stationary, leather belts, cheap candy, garden hoses, office chairs, perfume, speakers, DVD cabinets, small motorized helicopters, solar garden lights, clothing of all kinds, shortbreads, santa suits, blackboards, pottery wheels, diaries, beach tents, boogie boards, miniature drum kits AND a family pool. If you are ever in the city and feel a strong urge for a mini sewing machine or perhaps a rug in the shape of lassie I strongly recommend you give the Reject Shop a gander.

Marcia's on Montague is the sort of place that will make budding cooks absolutely salivate. The…read morefirst time I walked into the orange building on West End's Montague Road I was slightly overwhelmed by the huge amount of beautiful dinnerware and giftware on display. I wasn't after anything specific and the first showrooms mix of baby gifts, handbags, dinner sets and cutlery left me a bit adrift. My state of confusion was only heightened when I noticed there were two more showrooms to go. Without the price mark-ups that you find in most department stores, you are sure to leave with a lot of value for your money (and probably a few extra purchases that you just couldn't resist). So with a range and value that is to be admired Marcia's really is a great place to find a house warming, wedding present or that little something your own kitchen is missing.

Walk through the first room at Marcia's which tends to be more giftware than kitchenware and make…read morehaste to the "back room" where all your kitchen gadgetry desires may be fulfilled. If you're not a cook, you'll leave Marcia's with grand desires to be (possibly with various pieces of kitchen paraphernalia under your arm that will help you become a better baker / cook / tea brewer). At the very least, Marcia's offers competitive pricing that isn't as good as online but isn't as expensive as other retailers. I popped in here recently to get silver scoops for an upcoming event, other hospitality wholesalers had quoted $11.95 per scoop. I picked them up at Marcia's for $2.95. BAM!

It had been quite a while between visits to Jamieson's and it showed. They've extended the showroom…read moreand now have an extra space to show not only their mad styling skills but their range of beautiful linen bed covers, furniture and prints. The effort put in to style and carefully select the products sold in Jamieson's is evident. It's a place to invest in a lifestyle - from the clothes you wear, the bag you carry and the linen you lay your head on each night. Every piece compliments it's shelf mate and their collections would suit anyone from the Bohemian Chic lover in your life to the Hampton's fan wanting a pop of colour in their cushion collection. Similarly, whether you're looking to spend a little or a lot - there's pieces to match most budgets. That said, this isn't a $20 for a throw rug kind of store. Purchases made here are less of the impulse kind and more of the deliberate and considered for a while kind. Still - it's worth the stroll through for inspiration and to find something worth saving your pennies for!

I love all of the pieces in this adorable little shop however, after just experiencing the owner I…read moream not so pleased any longer (the other staff are fantastic though). I went to return a necklace that I was not happy with and she gave me attitude and said 'I am not happy to give you a refund for the necklace because I don't see anything wrong with it so I will give you a store credit'. Don't get me wrong, that is absolutely fine, I would have preferred a refund but it's ok, BUT I definitely did not need the attitude. I approached her with a smile and a friendly 'hi I just want to return this necklace the clasp keeps opening'. Conveniently when the owner tried opening it herself she really struggled, but the bottom line is, hey your customer isn't happy, so lets keep the peace and keep her coming back by just giving her a friendly transaction of a store credit. I feel as though because I was a lot younger than her she just walked all over me. There was just no need for it. I am so disappointed, I understand her frustration because she obviously thought I was making it up that the clasp was faulty but there is not need to make a fuss. So, from a younger person who has spent years in retail and customer service, to an older more mature woman. Be kind to your customers, because bad feedback travels a lot further than positive :-)

Oh, Cue, how I love thee. Made in Australia, Fabric from Europe. You pay for that kind of quality…read morebut it's not out of this world expensive, which I appreciate. Their "Cue in the City" branch I am not as much a big fan of (it's cheaper but also cheaper quality) so I prefer Cue itself. They do go through seasons of being awesome and then seasons of being crappy, but when they are on, they are on fire. And they do have sales pretty frequently, so keep your eyes open. I have purchased some truly beautiful items from here which have lasted for years so I definitely recommend. I have been in this particular store several times and the staff have always been great. Not too pushy but happy to give advice/options if asked. And willing to see if another store has the right size.

Would I shop here on the daily? Unlikely. But when you need cheap jars to act as vases at an event,…read morepaper squares to use as photo backdrops or cheap garden supplies, The Reject Shop does, as the three stars say, A-OK. It's reliable and affordable. There's ample parking in either Brookside Shopping Centre or just out front. Don't dwell on the fact of what it is, just embrace that it sometimes has what you'll want and without breaking the bank.

This op shop is the other must-do-weekly-on-day-off essential. It's a well organised, roomy store…read morewith plentiful designer labels in good condition, great shoes, good selection of linen and furniture; and the stock turns over quickly. They have a loyalty system, so ask for a card. When it's filled you get $$ equal to 10% of what you spent on your card. They will keep your card under the desk too (if you ask) so you don't need to remember to bring it. Parking can be tricky, but it's worth walking a block or two :)

The Vinnies Store in Newstead is the cream of the crop in terms of bargain, thrift & op shops. The…read morefriendly volunteers here tell me that all the best donations from the city usually end up at their store and are price much more cheaply than their West End and Annerley counterparts. I love bargains. What's even more exciting is when you find designer brands in an op shop. More frequently than most, Vinnies Newstead is one place that seems to always come up with gems for everyone. The fact that my friends are always asking where I bought many of the cool clothes I get from here almost guarantees that I'll be back here in no time and lets not forget... it's all for a great cause!

I LOVE this shop, it has literally something for everyone. It's bigger than the Daiso in the city…read moreand tucked away at the back is one of the best value dinnerware sections I've seen in a long time. The store is always neat, clean and tidy and stocked very well. The craft sections has some delightful little packets of oragami paper, different craft items and cute pencil cases for something a little different. For those of us girls who like to keep their beauty on the "edge" there are some quirky Japanese beauty routines for, you guessed it, $2.80. The lolly/sweet and drink section has some great things to try. For me however the winning sections would have to be the storage aisle and dinnerware. The storage aisle has lots of small, medium and large containers perfect for travel, organising beauty or bathrooms or any tiny nickknacks. The dinnerware has lots of tiny plates, bowls and cups.of all descriptions and I have to admit that I've used a couple of these to decorate my dressing table. If you go in with a sense of fun and no expectations you will never know what you will find. Cute, kitsch, cheap and cheerful give it a try.

Lots of things! Cheap!…read more House and home, office, school, even fishing hooks. You can get most anything in Daiso, and everything is the same price. $2.80. Hooray! It can be pretty expensive to shop here because it all adds up pretty darn quick, and logic dictates that some of the items just aren't worth $2.80, while others are worth more. It averages out in the end, but you need to be careful not to buy what you don't need, and shop around too, because you aren't necessarily always getting a bargain, but buy the right things and you're on a winner. A downside is a lot of the packaging information is in Japanese, so you're never quite sure what the item is. An upside is the Engrish. Always a joy! Still, check it out, it's bright and cheerful and you just might find what you're looking for.