We never saw the product - but it seemed good value. We ordered a hamper for a friend's birthday. The Sydney website was easy to negotiate and the choices were great. So in the evening , from Perth, I placed an order that included a ribbon with a Happy 70th Birthday message on it. In the morning I realised my mistake - it should have read "75th" Birthday”. I tired ringing for an hour - on auto redial - but it was always engaged. So I checked with Telstra and they said nothing wrong with line - so I sent an email and just to be sure asked my daughter to send a fax from her office - all asking that Little Luxury phone me so that I could correct the error before they closed. I kept trying the phone on and off. I received no response .
Finally, at 1pm WST time the phone was not engaged – yippee – but ….it went to message bank – “We close at 3pm EST” it said. Later in the day I received an email to say my order was on the way.
The next morning I checked early Perth time and sure enough my emails had been responded to – Our phone was bust all day – we only have one line – we get 200 emails a day and faxes go to email and we cannot respond to them all. We have asked the freight carrier to return the parcel to sender – We will make another ribbon and ship it on Monday. “ Even though I had asked them to phone me – I would have accepted as it was and explain my mistake to my friend – I had received no call. I got through on the phone straight away today ….. and asked if they could please ask Startrack to reverse the RTS request and if that meant it couldn't be delivered we would [pick up and deliver ourselves. BUT Startrack (with their own problems – worse than Telstra for keeping you on hold) refused to release the parcel –saying that they had not received any instruction to reverse the RTS request. So we cancelled the order and bought our friend a gift which we delivered. We did receive a refund ( after two requests) minus the delivery fee. Oh well!

Approximate cost: $116

We have been going to this restaurant for at least 20 years - while the menu was the same and even some of the staff, the Italian chef has obviously left - the pizza we shared as starters was ok - three of our party of four had pasta which was enjoyed (although quite small helpings compared with the past). But the mushroom/chicken risotto was dreadful. It was semi-cooked rice with a tasteless creamy sauce poured over it with big lumps of dry chicken and some mushrooms. No Italian chef would have served that plateful and been proud to call it a risotto. Service was friendly but not efficient, forgetting requests for pepper, extra chillies and a special request for vegetables for the risotto. No "skinny" milk or decaf coffee available any more. We were glad we had our Entertainment Book vouchers, but were told that the new management was not accepting more than one and that was as a favour - It is still BYO. Email address for this business: [email protected] and website is: www.severino.com.au

Approximate cost: $29

Ros came recommended. We had a 70th Birthday party at our home on a Sunday for 34 people. Not only did she make everything herself, she was also available to finalise preparation in our home and brought two helpers with her to serve drinks and food. As well as innovative hot and cold food that everyone complimented us on, she made a wonderful chocolate, strawberries and cream torte and decorated it as a 70th Birthday cake. Her two young helpers were so delightful, efficient, friendly and polite. Our kitchen was as tidy when they left as when they arrived. What fitted in the dishwasher was neatly stacked and the rest all hand-washed. If you want great catering for a special occasion, ask Ros to email you her menus. The per person cost included the birthday cake, plates and serviettes. The helpers and her time were charged at a reasonable hourly rate.

Approximate cost: $22 per head

Nothing was too much trouble for Renae, who looked after us when be bought bedroom furniture from this store. We discovered our measurements were out when the furniture was delivered. We were given a store credit for the bedside tables even though they were part of a set; then assistance was given in choosing a different style that could be altered to fit and was in the same wood. A carpenter was suggested and when the work had been done, Renae personally delivered the bedside tables to our home. We had no trouble finding items to buy using the store credit from the huge range of lights and accessories available. If you appreciate caring service, so rare these days, we can certainly recommend this store.