I was looking for a hula hoop for fitness and came across Coola Hoops (hulahoops.com.au) with its very helpful website. Not wanting to pay for postage, I visited The Singing Whale (retail store for Coola Hoops) and met the extremely helpful and knowledgeable lady who runs the place.

She helped me pick out exactly the right hoop for my size and what I wanted it for. She offered to let me try one of her own hoops and was very patient with my questions. Excellent customer service and a quality product. Highly recommended!

Approximate cost: $36

Having recently moved to Richmond and trying to find really authentic Malaysian/Singapore food, we were delighted to discover Sambal Kampung. On our first order, we just called up from home without a menu and had one e-mailed to us almost immediately. We got the full restaurant menu and ordered entrees and mains - ready in 15 minutes!!

This was no fluke as we got the same excellent service for our 2nd order.

The curry laksa is outstanding. We've ordered the Loh Bak, beef rendang and roti chennai also, all really authentic and most delicious. We will definitely keep ordering (pick-up) from this establishment and be trying different items from the extensive menu.

Approximate cost: $10

I started using this establishment over a year ago while living near the Kew Tram Depot, then have continued using it after moving further away in Richmond.

We get all our business shirts and drycleaning done by Amy, who runs the place. She is unfailingly polite and friendly, very efficient with drycleaning and mending. Our items are always ready when she says they will be. The charges are reasonable also. Amy appears to take pride in her business - we once had some dark marks on the inside of a french cuff and she was most apologetic and ensured that never happened again.

We get silk ties, formal dresses, work suits etc all done here and most likely won't go anywhere else.

I have 3 cats that all have very different needs, all of which I try to meet from this one business. Their website is good and gives notification of stock levels at each branch. The variety of products supplied is very wide but seem to cater mainly for dogs, their larger customer base, which is a shame. Their staff, particularly Debbie, are always helpful and friendly. I've given them a "Good but not WOW" rating as there are many alternative avenues online with better prices, but as far as their "bricks & mortar" competitors go, this place is very good.

My favourite Vietnamese restaurant in Melbourne - freshest ingredients prepared in authentic style, unbelievably fast food service (even when the restaurant is totally packed, which is very often indeed), friendly and efficient waiting staff and the owners are always happy and cheerful. The food is consistently good, regardless of when we visit.

The new decor is clean and welcoming, and even has noise-absorbing panels on the walls to dampen the cheerful sound of happy diners. Check out the amazing original vaulted ceiling!

Approximate cost: $18

Bought & used a Stardeals Groupon voucher for "1-Hour Full-Body Relaxation Massage, Soothing Facial PLUS Indulgent Manicure" (quoted from voucher). Great price at $69 but very disappointed.

The massage was the highlight - the therapist found the tight muscle spots on my upper back and teased them away. However, in spite of being asked for very firm pressure, it was "firm relaxation" at best. On the plus side, the therapist managed to avoid the usual problems with loud footsteps by being barefoot, which was a great idea. The massage table was almost brand new but the face holder was very poorly masked, which means it won't look new for long! The towels used for the body were TINY and didn't provide sufficient modesty. At least they provided a wrap-around sheath in addition to the towels.

The "indulgent manicure" was an outright joke - very minimal shaping, single coat of polish (i.e. NO basecoat or topcoat). That's right, that was the entire "indulgent manicure". No cuticle trimming, no moisturiser, nothing. And there was red polish slopped on my cuticles. Had this done this morning and it is already chipped & flaking 12 hours later. The therapist was probably let down by the fact there was no strong light provided for her to work on my nails, but that still doesn't excuse the absence of a proper base or top coat for nail polish. At least they used OPI.

The facial was very average - the therapist did not tell me about the products being used and left what appeared to be exfoliation granules everywhere on my face & neck. I know because I applied an SPF cream just before leaving and found the residue!

Nowhere to put your clothes when undressing for the massage - no chair, no hanger, no table.

Reception consisted of a busy woman on the telephone (who barely looked up) and a grim-faced man who took my details and brusquely waved me towards my therapist. The room was also unheated and overall unwelcoming. When I left the room, there was NO-ONE in the reception area. I almost left the establishment without getting my advertised $20 voucher, and in fact only got ONE, not the advertised TWO vouchers (I neglected to check this).

While it was supposed to be great value, it was appalling advertising for what appeared to be a new sideline to the hair salon. I will NOT be returning.

Approximate cost: $69