Compare popular department stores including Big W, Target, Kmart, Harris Scarfe, Myer, and David Jones on their product range, deals & specials available, relative price, customer service, loyalty program, website usability, store layout, and overall satisfaction.
See our Ratings Methodology.
Big W topped Canstar Blue’s department stores ratings, with Aussies rating the retailer five stars for its product range, customer service, deals & specials available, loyalty program, store layout 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 (27%) 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 has surveyed more than 2,300 Australian consumers who’ve shopped from a department store in the last 12 months for their feedback on their experiences – good or bad. Respondents were asked to rate department stores/chains on important factors like customer service, store layout & website usability, deals available, comparative prices, product range, loyalty program and overall satisfaction. Retailers that received the minimum required survey sample size of 30 responses are featured in our results.
Big W was rated the best department store for overall satisfaction, beating other major retailers such as Myer, David Jones, and Kmart.
Here are the best department stores in Australia, as rated by consumers in Canstar Blue’s latest review:
Big W snagged the number one spot after being the only department store to achieve a five-star review for overall satisfaction, and also received top marks on factors including product range, customer service, deals and specials available, loyalty program, store layout, and overall satisfaction.
Target and Kmart followed behind on four stars for overall satisfaction, while ‘upmarket’ department stores like Harris Scarfe, Myer, and David Jones rounded up the results on three stars overall.
When it comes to price relative to other stores, Kmart was rated best. It got the same score for its loyalty program, alongside Target. Target and Harris Scarfe also impressed consumers with their website usability, with Target similarly seeing five stars for customer service. Harris Scarfe additionally collected five stars for special deals, as did David Jones when judged on its product range.
Big W stocks a wide selection of affordable ‘essentials’ spanning several categories, such as clothing, home appliances, cleaning products, technology and audio, health and beauty, stationery, arts and crafts, gaming, books, babies/kids, pets, and snacks (just to name a few).
If you don’t have time to shop in-store, Big W alternatively provides home delivery (including standard, two-day, and same-day delivery), in-store pickup, and direct to boot. The retailer also offers 90-day returns in case you change your mind.
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 consumers prefer more budget-friendly retailers after Big W replaced high-end retailer David Jones as Aussies’ top-rated department store. Target and Kmart also scored higher than Harris Scarfe, David Jones, and Myer when judged on overall satisfaction and on factors like price, customer service, and loyalty program; suggesting high-end isn’t always the way to go. 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 home & lifestyle journalist, Tahnee-Jae Lopez-Vito. She’s an expert on household appliances, grooming products and all things grocery and shopping. In addition to translating our expert research into consumer-friendly ratings reports, Tahnee spends her time helping consumers make better-informed purchase decisions on all manner of consumer goods and services, while highlighting the best deals and anything you need to be aware of.
Picture credit: Daria Nipot/Shutterstock.com
Canstar Blue surveyed more than 3,000 Australian adults across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from customers within the survey group who have purchased a product from a department store in the last 12 months – in this case, 2,319 people.
Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criteria.
Check out the past winner of Canstar Blue’s department store ratings:
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