Jurls Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 I don't blame you for being obsessed about a mattress! We spend a lot of time on our mattresses after all, I'm quite fussy myself. Definitely give those guys a call and let us know how you get on. They are manufacturers and apparently can custom make mattresses (presumably at vast expense) so you should have a few options fingers crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Parentinwaiting Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 I've seen Chinese made clothing available in M&S but better quality and cheaper than Chinese made clothing on sale in Oz. So the conclusion I draw is either buyers for Australian stores seeks out the cheapest and nastiest stuff and sell it at a ridiculously high margin (i.e. ripping peole off) or Australian stores are porly managed and need the high margins to stay in business. As I said in a different post, best to live a hybrid life here: enjoy the weather, better quality food (even if some is more expensive), open spaces and friendly people and eschew the TV/radio (watch stuff online), crappy daily newspapers (with articles ripped off the Times, Independent and Guardian) and buy your books/CDs/DVDs/clothing online. Hi Zman, I love your idea of living a hybrid life! And how right you are about the naff newspapers. I thought it was just me.... In Oz I read the UK papers on line and find them so much more interesting, varied and entertaining. And TV - I can't tell you how much I miss 'The Week' late on BBC1 on a Thursday night... Politics in Oz on the other hand, yawn. I'm glad also you feel think the stores rip off the consumers with their shoddy goods and sky high prices. :yes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Parentinwaiting Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 I'm cracking up thinking that we are typing these notes at not far short of Midnight - would think had better things to do!! Am off to my heavenly Vi-Spring and will be waving it (and my dog) a very sad goodbye when I go back to Sydney:-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Parentinwaiting Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 I'm cracking up thinking that we are typing these notes at not far short of Midnight - would think had better things to do!! Am off to my heavenly Vi-Spring and will be waving it (and my dog) a very sad goodbye when I go back to Sydney:-) Sorry - that last message for Jurls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurls Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 Sorry - that last message for Jurls Nah, it's 8:30am here! :biglaugh::biglaugh: Saw what you said about postage, yeah my Mum is onto it. She's always checking postage costs and looking for companies that ship out and best bargains etc. I think it motivates her. lol. She's very excited about John Lewis shipping out later in the year. I've only been back to the UK once briefly since 2004, so I guess I don't really know what it's like these days and don't know what I'm missing. My parents came out to visit for my wedding this year and were absolutely horrified at the price of food! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest36187 Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 RE: Postage: If you are sending anything back to UK, think very carefully. I know when we first got here we were caught out a couple of times. Bought pressys which costs more to post than to originally purchase! postage from Oz-UK is expensive but is faster than from UK-Oz! I do a lot of online shopping now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest brummie39 Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 We defiantley notice a difference here in our finances.. Food is just a rip off, and clothes are shoddy. People often say to me dont compare, but thats very hard not to do, when you know you can get it better. As for having a better life style, which you can, this is at a cost. So for normal people who are earning an average wage, it is tough here, and im afraid the life style does not out way the finacial loss. It is a daily stress for us as family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DaneD Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 which clothing brands do the posters on this thread buy? i usually buy the same brands in melbourne as i do in manchester, so the quality is the same. the prices in melbourne are higher, but a pair of levis in australia, uk or timbuktu will be the same quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Parentinwaiting Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 RE: Postage: If you are sending anything back to UK, think very carefully. I know when we first got here we were caught out a couple of times. Bought pressys which costs more to post than to originally purchase! postage from Oz-UK is expensive but is faster than from UK-Oz! I do a lot of online shopping now. You are all so right about postage. Small items are do-able but anything else don't bother! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DaneD Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 You are all so right about postage. Small items are do-able but anything else don't bother! my girlfriend sent me a bag of mini cherry ripes over to england. when i got them the packet was opened and there was 3 or 4 missing. i thought some cheeky bugger had nicked them, but it turned out that the weight of those minis would have added an extra $15 to the postage cost! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest36187 Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Clothes wise.....I have bought from a variety of places. Suzanne grae, rock mans, katies, millers, myers, David jones, Colorado.....I buy whatever fits and is right. I've even bought cheap t shirts from kmart for work....if they last a few months for a few dollars it's ok by me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Parentinwaiting Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 We defiantley notice a difference here in our finances.. Food is just a rip off, and clothes are shoddy. People often say to me dont compare, but thats very hard not to do, when you know you can get it better. As for having a better life style, which you can, this is at a cost. So for normal people who are earning an average wage, it is tough here, and im afraid the life style does not out way the finacial loss. It is a daily stress for us as family. Brummie, I completely empathise with every word. My daugthers' - both earning and both in fairly good jobs so fortunate - they tell me to stop comparing too. But I find it hard when to all intents and purposes although the exchange rate is under $1.48, every time I spend a dollar the cost of living means it is the same as spending a £. In fact sometimes things are so expensive it seems like £1 works out to 50-75 cents - and I do not exagerrate. Yes life style is great in Oz and we should be grateful to have acheived the dream that so many aspire to. When I complain that life is harder than expected I do think I'm being the classic 'Whinging Pom' as said right at the start. But those coming here will find it a shock. Brits Emmigrating now will find it the worst time to do so in decades. In 2005 my brother went to Perth. He found a sizeable detached house in Perth 4B 2 B and pool,in a nice area of Perth in a quiet Close. It was in poor condition but he being a builder has done a top makeover on it. When he left the dollar was around $2.60 to the £ and he paid around $450k for the place. Today he would get $900k+ for it so he has done exceptionally well. Now fast forward to today, June 2011. UK property lowest value in years, £ doesn't even get you $1.50. Sydney one of the most expensive cities in world and a decent 2 bed (1 bath) apartment on the Northern Beaches (yes I know it's particularly expensive there) will be at least $500k and could easily be much more. Once you looked forward to getting a property in Oz better than you had in UK, now it will be to a lower standard. Must stop moaning, it really is time I built that bridge my girls keep telling me to and went over it!!!!!!!!!!!!:biggrin: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Hiya, loads of great bedding in the John Lewis Clearance, I bought some for all of us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verulam Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 The Aussies are finding it hard too..well some of them. My Mother in Law is a pensioner and rents her home over there...her rent has doubled in the last few years, now paying $460 a fortnight for a 3 bed 1 bath home...nothing fancy just an old aussie house. Shes having to go to the Housing trust for help as there are no houses available under that price that are not in either a rough area or are really old. Such a shame as she has been in the house for ages. As for mattresses!!! I HATE my UK mattress with a passion. Never have a bad back until I go to bed! It cost a fair whack too here in the UK. Its a Slumberland Memory Foam and it cant be turned over either..just spun around. I'd love a decent nights sleep LOL:SLEEP: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paisleylass Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 I'm taking our mattress 'cos it's newish, but it can be replaced in Australia as long as Ikea sell them - it's a latex topped one (Hjelmas), comfiest thing I've ever slept on. Can't be turned but I don't care, it's firm enough, yet the topper makes it like sleeping on a marshmallow! Clothing is my only other concern, apart from branded stuff and I don't really wear international brands. I plan to buy online if I really can't find stuff I like in Oz, but I do like to try on before buying! That said, I've been happy with most online buys. I like a lot of American stuff like Old Navy so am just as likely to buy from there as the UK. I've already stocked up on some warm weather stuff that rarely gets worn here, and will buy more in the sales ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabo Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Even the prices on Graysonline are going up! Jeez, I had to pay $70 for a case of 12 Barossa Cab Sav this week - that's almost SIX BUCKS a bottle. £3! Anyway, shelf stackers get $20 an hour here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish.01 Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Some of you on this thread might benefit from this list I did a while ago. Many of the local stores are Qld based but other states would have equivalents ....click on link to go to store website...if they ask for a postcode for store pricing just put in 4000 for brisbane cbd. Note there is also a bunch of online only stores that compete with these bricks and mortar stores and you can play one against the other sometimes. Also note that haggling is expected so the list price is rarely what people pay especially in appliances. Bedroom Furniture Discount - Large shops; More than one state Super AMart Ikea Fantastic Discount - Bedding specialists; More than one state; Some just do ensembles. Fortywinks Makin Mattresses Sleepys The Sleeping Giant BedShed Beds R Us Captain Snooze Discount - Local state based chains (Mainly Qld); Most states have plenty of these Furniture Galore SleepZone (Apollo) Dial A Bed Beds Plus Eureka Street Aussie Living Bali At Home Mid range Harvey Norman Domayne Freedom Myer David Jones Far Pavilions (Qld) Higher End - A few examples; These tend to be one off stores in flash inner city suburbs Inspirations Dare Gallery Bedding but not beds: Adairs Pillowtalk Lounge Room Furniture Discount - Large shops; More than one state Super AMart Ikea Fantastic Discount - Local state based chains (Mainly Qld); Most states have plenty of these Furniture Galore Eureka Street Aussie Living Bali At Home Mid range Oz Design Nick Scali Harvey Norman Domayne Freedom Dare Gallery Myer David Jones Far Pavilions (Qld) Higher End - A few examples; These tend to be one off stores in flash inner city suburbs Ambrose Charcoal Interiors Inspirations King Furniture Appliances Discount - Large shops; More than one state Bing Lee The Good Guys Betta Electrical Retravision KMart BigW Harris Scarfe Mid range and above - Large shops; More than one state Clive Peeters Harvey Norman Myer David Jones Brisbane Appliance Sales (Qld) Largest inventory is usually with Harvey Norman, Clive Peeters, The Good Guys....then usually the superstore versions of Retravision, Betta Electrical, Bing Lee...then dept stores like Myers, David Jones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paisleylass Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Oooh, I like the look of Bali At Home! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrspotatohead Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 [quote name= Bottom line everything is so much dearer in Oz even given the cost of a container you will save on what you would pay in Oz for often quite inferior goods. I bought my Sealy King size bed in australia 6 years ago and shipped it to the UK 5 years ago. Its still a great bed. Cost a good bit of money...but you get what you pay for. I turn the mattress regularly...it has a pillow top on both sides of the mattress. If you are looking for good sheets in Australia, there is only one shop I would ever use. Adairs. Its expensive, but its fantastic quality and still goes through the wash just fine and looks great. Sportswear...get yourself to a DFO and you'll see bigger discounts. As for wool clothing, I do agree that acrylic is much more readily available, but its nasty. For good wool clothing you'd need to go to Myer or DJ's. I'm from Sydney and used to have a Fitness First Membership for $65 a month including use of the pool. Might have gone up a bit now, but worth a shot! As for bikes etc...get yourself to kmart in july and layby for christmas...you dont notice the cost when you pay in small chunks. I MISS LAYBY SO MUCH! :twitcy: Also if your in Sydney, get yourself to Birkenhead point for big discounts on designer clothing. There is also a Scottish Shop!!!! :cute: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amanda74 Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 I'm taking our mattress 'cos it's newish, but it can be replaced in Australia as long as Ikea sell them - it's a latex topped one (Hjelmas), comfiest thing I've ever slept on. Can't be turned but I don't care, it's firm enough, yet the topper makes it like sleeping on a marshmallow! Clothing is my only other concern, apart from branded stuff and I don't really wear international brands. I plan to buy online if I really can't find stuff I like in Oz, but I do like to try on before buying! That said, I've been happy with most online buys. I like a lot of American stuff like Old Navy so am just as likely to buy from there as the UK. I've already stocked up on some warm weather stuff that rarely gets worn here, and will buy more in the sales ) Hiya, Next deliver to Australia.......happy days, although their online catalogue is geared to British seasons. I was in Zara in Glasgow last weekend and the shop assistant told me that they have opened stores in Melbourne and Sydney. Looks like I'll be kitted out from Next and Zara until I suss out decent Aussie clothes shops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 Hiya, Next deliver to Australia.......happy days, although their online catalogue is geared to British seasons. I was in Zara in Glasgow last weekend and the shop assistant told me that they have opened stores in Melbourne and Sydney. Looks like I'll be kitted out from Next and Zara until I suss out decent Aussie clothes shops. Oh my, this has made me do happy, I was planning on buying everything before I left.... S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest daisysmith Posted July 16, 2011 Share Posted July 16, 2011 Our shippers are packing us up at the end of August, we have about 1500 cu ft of belongings. We have found it will be cheaper to bring everything over in a 40ft container than to sell a load of stuff for a 20ft container and then re-buying in Oz. We have a super king bed, do they do bedding in that size? Would you recommend we buy a few new beddings sets in the UK and ship them over? Cheers Claire Hello there, thanks for the post. We're going to Canberra in the next couple of months but we still can't decide if it's good idea to ship our furniture. Can you tell us how much they've quoted you for 20ft & 40ft container? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bushwhacker Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 It depends on how much stuff you're putting in the container, not just the volume of the container. We had quotes from £5,500 to £7000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
claireg Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 Hi daisy, we are paying £8k for our 40ft but £2k of that is getting off the isle of man, so I would say if you are already in mainland uk then expect to be quoted around £6k.I think for the 20ft the total was around £6k. Cheers Claire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest siamsusie Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 Ex Scotland - Southampton - Tasmania for a 20ft cost me 3,900 pounds, which was fully inclusive. Packing insurance, quarantine etc I have seen other members barter and receive approx the same price. My removalists were Crown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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