Harris Scarfe topped Canstar Blue’s department stores ratings, with Aussies rating the retailer five stars for its checkout experience, website & store layout, deals & specials and overall satisfaction.
Whether you prefer shopping for cheap and cheerful everyday essentials or want to score deals on big-name brands − department stores always seem to be a go-to. In fact, nearly a third of people we surveyed (28%) typically visit the same department store with price and convenience always front of mind. Conversely, Aussies now have more choice than ever when it comes to where they can spend their hard-earned cash because brick-and-mortar shops are forced to compete with online stores for retail spending. Competition tends to drive prices down, which is good news for us shoppers! If you’re still unsure where to head for your next shopping trip, we’re here to offer some guidance.
Canstar Blue surveyed 2,378 Australians for their feedback on the department store(s) they’ve visited and purchased a product from in the last six months.
Respondents rate their satisfaction with their department store(s) from zero to ten, where zero is extremely dissatisfied and ten is extremely satisfied. Brand satisfaction was rated by respondents on the following criteria:
The winning brand is the one that receives the highest Overall satisfaction rating once all the scores from the Overall satisfaction criteria are combined and averaged.
Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included, so not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The brands rated in this survey are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.
1. Harris Scarfe
2. Big W
3. Kmart
4. Myer
5. David Jones
6. Target
Harris Scarfe wrapped up a win with five stars for checkout experience, website & store layout, deals & specials available and overall satisfaction. Big W scored some big wins, with five-star reviews for checkout experience, website & store layout, variety & range and for its loyalty program.
Kmart enjoyed five stars for value for money, and shared five stars with Myer and David Jones for variety & range. Additionally, David Jones streaked ahead to also claim a win for checkout experience and customer service.
Find more detailed information on our ratings methodology.
Harris Scarfe is an Australian department store, offering a huge range of homeware, kitchenware, electrical appliances and clothing. Compared to other big name department store brands, Harris Scarfe has fewer retail locations, with 52 stores across South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, so you’ll have to be lucky to be able to shop in store. If you live outside these states, you’ll be happy to know the department store has a strong e-commerce presence, and you can shop their range from the comfort of your couch anytime you like.
Premium and upmarket department stores are a great one-stop shop for sales on big brands and luxury goods but keep in mind they’re not always the best for consumers looking to score real value. Our survey results certainly show an interesting split between high-end and budget department stores. Our latest ratings suggest that although Harris Scarfe won, the majority of consumers prefer more budget-friendly retailers, after Big W and Kmart scored above high-end retailers David Jones and Myer as Aussies’ top-rated department stores. Budget store Target did sit at the bottom of the ratings, with three stars for value for money, variety & range and deals & specials, suggesting that while shoppers appreciate low prices, they also want choice, variety and a consistently attractive deal as well. Wherever you decide to shop, make sure to compare retailers and prices online to score the best deals.
This report was written by Canstar Blue’s Content Producer Luciana Lawe Davies. She writes about streaming, appliances and consumer products and services. Luciana enjoys bringing readers the best in what’s on TV and at the shops, including the best deals and latest reviews.
Picture credit: Daria Nipot/Shutterstock.com
Here is the past winner of Canstar Blue’s department store ratings:
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