Page 538 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

536  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

SHOPPING IN AUSTRALIA

Australia has much to offer the visiting shopper food products are a major attraction, and a
beyond the standard tourist fare of koala bear wide range of reasonably priced world-class
purses and plastic boomerangs. The tourist goods is available. Australian contemporary
shops can be worth exploring, because stock design has a refreshing irreverence for conven-
can be of a high standard and include goods tion – look out for homewares and fashion in
not available in other countries. In each state the inner-city precincts. In country areas,
capital, especially Sydney (see pp136–9) and items made by local craftspeople make good
Melbourne (see pp410–13), there are precincts buys. Australia has a 10 per cent goods and
and open-air markets with a range of shops, services tax (GST) on the cost of most manufac-
stalls and cafés to explore. Wine and gourmet tured items (included in displayed prices).

customer relations officer
if you are unhappy with the
service you receive.

Essentially Australian
Aboriginal or indigenous art
is available for purchase from
community-owned or managed
galleries in the Northern
Territory and good specialist
galleries in the cities. Take the
time to discuss the work with
the painter or gallery staff:
spiritual and cultural meanings
are inextricably linked with
aesthetic properties, and the
painting or artifact that you
Browsers at a stall in Mindil Beach Sunset Markets, Darwin (see p276) choose will be all the more
valuable with a little knowledge.
Shopping Hours in smaller retailers. Payment by These artworks are by their
Standard weekday opening cash is the preferred method nature expensive, so do not be
times are 10am–5:30pm, for smaller traders keen to beguiled by cheaper imitations.
Monday to Friday. Late night avoid credit-card fees and may Australia produces 95 per cent
shopping is usually available on help to negotiate a lower price of the world’s opals. Their quality
Thursdays or Fridays, when for your goods. Asking for a varies greatly, so when
stores stay open until 9pm. discount is not uncommon, considering a purchase a little
Weekend hours vary greatly. particularly on big-ticket items research will go a long way.
Almost all stores are open in larger department and
Saturday and Sunday in city chain stores.
areas, while some in country
areas may close early on Rights and Refunds
Saturday and remain closed
on Sunday, although it varies The laws on consumer rights
widely. A few supermarkets in Australia vary slightly from
in city and suburban areas state to state. You are entitled
operate 24 hours. Bookshops to a refund or replacement if
and other specialist shops stay the goods are faulty, do not
open late – until around 10pm – meet the description or are not
in downtown areas. “fit for purpose”, even if the
item was discounted. If you
decide you don’t like an item,
How to Pay try to get a refund, but you will
Major credit cards are accepted may have to settle for a credit
by most stores, sometimes note or exchange. As a general
with a minimum purchase limit rule, the larger stores are more
and or a credit card surcharge, lenient – you can always ask Shoppers in London Court, Perth’s
between 1.5 and 3 per cent to speak to a manager or Tudor-style street (see p309).