Reviews by homeowner

This review is for Fresco Market, North Hobart TAS

verified email - 29 Aug 2012

Range of fruit and veg is good, the quality is OK. Also have groceries, some meat, and some pre-prepared salads etc.
Not usually my first choice to shop, but will drop in sometimes to see what they have.

This review is for Fresh Fruit Market, Hobart TAS

verified email - 29 Aug 2012

Great range of fruit and vegies, and a huge range of specialist, gourmet groceries and goodies.
Large store, lots of room to move about.
I don't shop here regularly, but usually drop in if I'm in Salamanca.

This review is for A1 Fruit Market, Glenorchy TAS

verified email - 29 Aug 2012

Have a good range of fruit and veg, and also some grocery lines that can be useful.
They advertise well, so always know what's on special this week.
I often drop in when in Glenorchy to see what they've got.

This review is for The Little Watch Shop, Hobart TAS

verified email - 29 Aug 2012

Literally a hole in the wall business, always get my watch batteries replaced here, and a couple of times, minor repairs.
They always quick, always friendly, and always cheaper than anywhere else.

Approximate cost: $12.00

This review is for EziBuy, Abbotsford VIC

verified email - 28 Aug 2012

I use EziBuy (or EziSpend, as my friend and I refer to it!) quite a bit.
Back when they were only a mail order company, their catalogues were a temptation that you loved to flick through, but knew you really shouldn't. Now they're online, they're potentially quite deadly (to the budget, that is)!
They have a good range of clothing, in several distinct lines - you know which are the casual, basic lines and which are the more expensive lines.
The basic lines - Capture, Emerge and Essential - have good, everyday, easy wearing clothes at very reasonable prices.
You have to be prepared to wait a week or so (you can pay more for express delivery) and pay $10 extra for postage.
If you need to return items because they're the wrong size or anything that's not actually a fault with the clothes, you also have to pay for the return postage. I can understand this - one of the reason you can choose for returning an item is, "I bought several in different sizes/colours intending to return some", so they obviously have a LOT of change-of-mind returns. If you're not sure about the size, it can be easier and cheaper to purchase a couple of sizes and return the ones that don't fit.
If you purchase online, look to see if the item you're buying has user reviews - these can be really useful in determining the size, quality etc eg "This item is quite true to size" or "Buy a size smaller than you think, it's very roomy" or "The coloured jeans have more stretch than the denim ones".
On one occasion I loved an item so much I bought a second pair - and they were far too small. Same item, same size, purchased a month apart. When I called to explain this, I received return postage (and postage on the replacement, a size larger) free.
They do seem to have some issues with consistent sizing, one of the most common comments in reviews is that people have bought the same item twice or in different colours, only to find the sizes differ.
They also seem to have trouble keeping their favourite items untouched without tweaking them - often you go back to your favourite jacket etc to discover that this season the "classic favourite" has been altered just slightly.......and you're no longer sure if the size will be the same or not. If you're buying something on sale, or grabbing another of something, factoring in an extra $20 in case you have to exchange it may be enough to put you off buying it.
They have the option of using PayPal, which I think is really important for online shopping these days, I use it almost exclusively where it's offered.
I buy the womenswear, I have bought from their Christmas ornament catalogue once, only to find the item was cheap and tacky, and I returned it.
My friend buys quite a lot of bed linen and is happy with it, although I've never tried it.
Overall, while it won't replace buying clothes in person, it's a great option to have, and once you're familiar with their items, you find it easier to shop. It's also exciting receiving that package in the mail! And I still open the catalogue with every intention of throwing it straight into the recycling bin, only to find myself flicking through it with a nice cup of coffee………..:-)

This review is for HOED Mystery Shopper, St Leonards NSW

verified email - 28 Aug 2012

I signed with HOED last year, have completed a few mystery shops for them.
I live in Hobart, and the available assignments aren't huge in number, I've gotten about as much work as I expected from them.
You get a good description of what's involved before you commit to taking on an assignment, and the fee is about what I'd expect.
I'm happy with the company. I'd like to get a bit more work, but Hobart is a small place.

This review is for Next Byte, Hobart TAS

verified email - 28 Aug 2012

Hobart has no Apple store, so while it's actually a reseller just like Dick Smith and JB Hi Fi, Next Byte is the closest thing to an "official" Apple store in the state.
Their advice is always as expected.
Recently I booked my laptop in to have some new software installed, and found their idea of a quote to be fairly elastic - on the two occasions I contacted them, and on subsequently taking the computer in, I was given three different prices. Whilst actually booking it in, the sales person asked his colleague what to classify it as, and she tossed out several suggestions, along with the service prices - $49, $89 - my head was ping-ponging back and forth between them, thinking, "If you're so blase about the price difference, feel free to charge me the cheapest one!" When I actually said this to them, they both laughed, and picked the one with the most expensive service charge. When I queried it, I was told that's their standard service charge, we charge by the hour or part thereof - as if I hadn't just borne witness to the way they calculate their "standard service charge"!
As I didn't really have any choice but to use them, I had to cough up, but was unimpressed.

This review is for ZeroThree, Brighton VIC

verified email - 28 Aug 2012

ZeroThree is an authorised Apple Mac reseller offering that rarest of beasts in the computer world - trade-ins!
I wanted to replace my large desktop computer with a smaller laptop - only problem, it was only 3 years old, and cost quite a lot of money.
I couldn't justify giving it away, or purchasing a new one and hoping to maybe sell the old one privately (as suggested by the local Next Byte store).
ZeroThree to the Rescue! I Googled "Apple trade in Australia" and up popped their name.
I emailed them a description of my computer, and they gave me a guesstimate of it's value, dependent on actually seeing it.
I could then purchase my new laptop secure in the knowledge of how much I was going to receive back.
To sweeten the deal, I was able to get an ex-demo model at quite a lot less than it's retail price, and it's only "used" in the sense it's been used instore, not secondhand from another customer.
It came with a warranty (I was able to register it with Apple, which is important), full lifetime support (which Apple definitely doesn't offer) and the latest Apple OS and software already installed.
I was then able to transfer the data from my old machine at my leisure., ensuring it was up and working properly, before erasing the old hard drive and shipping it back - I then received my trade-in amount.
ZeroThree offer slightly cheaper retail prices on their new Macs than other resellers, so even with the cost of shipping (not expensive, under $40 each way) it's still cheaper to buy from them. They trade Australia wide - I live in Tasmania, and I've seen testimonials on their site from WA, so distance isn't a problem. They sell all Apple products, iPads, laptops, desktops.
I'm very happy with how quick and easy the whole process was, I'll definitely be making my future purchases from them, and I'd happily recommend them to anybody looking to buy an Apple Mac product.

This review is for Valhalla Icecream, Moonah TAS

verified email - 23 Aug 2012

One of Tassie's best exports. My absolute favourite ice cream, so creamy and rich, and so many flavours to choose from. Always my choice for a real treat.

The store is small, but has seating. I've never tried anything else here except the ice cream!

The ice cream is a little on the expensive side, in comparison with the big brands like Peters etc, but the quality makes it worth every cent, and it's about the same as other brands of premium, "boutique" ice creams.

1 litre tub is about $8, I think - I generally buy it when it's on special for $7.

This review is for Video City, New Town TAS

verified email - 23 Aug 2012

Video City are a real local (Tassie) success story. The New Town store has a huge range of movies, box sets and games, both for hire, and for purchase.
I always check here when I'm looking to buy a new dvd, they often have the best price around.
Hire prices are reasonable, even new releases you get for a minimum of 2 nights - no losing your money when you couldn't watch the movie on the night you hired, for whatever unplanned reason - you still have tomorrow night! Even better, if you do return it after only 1 night, you get a discount!
They have a great range of munchies - chocolate, chips etc, and best of all, my favourite Valhalla ice cream! Also sell the daily newspaper, which is great when you're returning your movie the next morning. Even more useful that the New Town store is right across from Hill St Grocer - kill two birds with one stone.
This is the only video store I know where you pay on return of the movie, not on hiring. Great when you decide to drop in on the spur of the moment, and might not have much cash with you.
Best of all, I know I'm supporting a Tassie business.