Dick Smith (Murray Street Mall, Perth WA)

Shop 110, 166-170 Murray Stret Mall

Perth Western Australia 6000

(08) 9218 8074

Website

Hours:

   Mon- Thu: 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM

    Fri: 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM

    Sat 9:00- 5:00 PM

    Sun: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM

This Dick Smith retailer is one of my favourite stops in the CBD to cater for my tech and gadget needs and replacements, which are quite needy. This small shop is located above the Woollies Supermarket and by the Red Dot Store, metres away form Myers and David Jones, a killer location that makes it a must stop is you work in Northbridge or happen to pass by.  

This shop is really small, with little space between aisles. Certainly, you won't find the variety of products and brands you find in the big store in the William St store. You don't come to this shop for fancy stuff, that is for sure. However, the shop caters for everything that is advertised in their catalogues, which is what attracts me to Dick Smith 99% of the times. They also have a good part of the shop devoted to those areas with  boring thingies that we all need: cables, switch boards, batteries, USBs, adaptors, gadgets sleeves, and other ugly trifle for your everyday needs. I find their selection of TV, laptops and phones decent for such a small shop.

I visit this shop more often that I would like to recognise. My experience has always been that it is  easier to find items from the catalogue here than in other shops, where a larger affluence of customers exhausts their stocks faster. It has happened to me several times going to the big store on William St, and being redirected here to find the last items of "whatever" available.

The staff have been hit and miss. I have found terrific guys,  who have advised me greatly when trying to purchase things, helping me to save a lot of money by just giving me the right advice. Other staff members, on the contrary, have ignored me, patronised me, being rude to me and misinformed me. The good thing is the staff changes a lot, so most of the time the people you find behind the counter are friendly and professional. Still, how much costs saying good morning or smiling to a customer? Am I from another planet?

The shop is usually quiet, but quite hectic at lunch time, with little staff to attend to so many people.

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Godfreys (North Perth, Perth Australia)

Shop 387, Corner Fitzgerald St. & Alma St.
North Perth Western Australia 6006
Phone: (08) 9228 4662
Website
Hours 
     Mon - Fri     9:00am - 5:00pm
     Sat     9:00am - 4:00pm
     Sun     11:00am - 5:00pm

Godfreys North Perth has a decent selection of personal and commercial vacuums (bagful, bagless, suction, steam, washers) from good vacuum brands, and vacuum  spare parts and cleaning products.  

I entered this place on a Sunday morning, just because it was open, it is in the North Perth Plaza area and, most importantly, my old vacuum had broken in the middle of my vacuuming! The building and shop are not appealing, ugly looking, and run down. However, after my visit, I really recommend this place.
 
I wasn't looking for a good looking dreamy Dyson (sigh), but for an affordable and good quality small vacuum. A lady called Yolanda made my visit fast and good. She was very matter of fact, she asked me about my budget, size of apartment, use of the vacuum, and what I wanted it for. Then, she pointed to three items that would fit my criteria. I tried two on a carpet there. It took me 10 minutes to buy my new rocket-pocket affordable good-branded vacuum, perfect for me and my apartment. Yolanda also went out her way to help me with the delivery of the vacuum as it was a bit bulky for me to carry. 

GOOD
Good selection of vacuum brands and spare partsGood prices, sales and discounts
Open every day of the week
Knowledgeable caring  staff
They sell spare parts
They do repairs!

SO-SO
The shop is run down and ugly looking
The selection of budget bagless vacuums was small for a place that specialises in vacuums!

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Fiji Airways (Australian branch)

Fiji Airways Sydney

Level 5 280 Pitt Street
Sydney NSW 2000     

Phone: 1800 230150

Mon - Fri: 09:00AM to 05:00PM
Email 

Website

Photo courtesy of  Desktop

I have used Fiji Airways twice in my last holiday from/to Australia and my experience has been very positive. Fiji Airways might not be the best airline in the world, but they are not OK for such a small country! 

The outbound flight was overnight, and the plane was one of those older ones with ceiling drop TVs and small seats. Nothing to complain, as this happens often with many overnight flights from humble international airlines.

My return flight took place during the day, and the plane was a modern one, with more spacious seats, individual TVs, and a good entertainment program - as good as any good airline.

The crew were lovely, smiley and helpful, although a bit distracted at times.

The food was dreadful both ways, with most things over-sugared, over-fatty, far from healthy.

The departure from Nadi was delayed for more than half an hour due to administrative paperwork! It was during the Christmas period, I guess many staff at the airport were on holidays, so that might be the reason. However, now that I think about it, and the only thing that comes to my mind is "Fiji Time" :D. It might not put it on your face if you have time-tight connecting flights on arrival and you have to change terminals.

They wanted customers to provide feedback before leaving the last flight, and the crew passed offering feedback forms. This puts a lot of pressure on customers, who might not be happy with the flight and/or the crew. Also, filling a form is the last thing you want to do on a flight when you are on holidays!

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
= They need to reinvent their menu. That is a necessity. Also, it says a lot about an airline.

= They could easily offer electronic feedback forms. Include them in the entertainment menu, in flight information section. This system would collect more feedback, and more honest, from customers than the one now offered.

= Oh, just feeling a bit fanciful today, but the uniforms need of a revamp, too! Fiji is such a colourful exuberant beautiful country, that the uniforms somewhat do not reflect that to me :O.

I would not hesitate flying with Fiji Airways again.
"Fiji Time" got under mi skin, and even over it. Bulla Vinaka!

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Darling Nail Salon (Perth WA)

Photo courtesy of Carillon Website

Carillon City
Shop M13B
207 Murray St
Perth Western Australia 6000
(08) 9486 1777

Opening Hours:
    Mon - Thur 9:00am - 5:30pm;
    Fri 9:00am - 9:00pm,
    Sat 9:00am - 5:00pm;
    Sun 12:00pm - 5:00pm

Darling Nail Salon is located just by Llama Espresso, on the ground level in the Carillon City. The salon is quite large, with 7 awesome looking massage-chairs for pedicure, very comfortable, and six tables for manicures, all of them double, plus the dry-off stand. The salon is always clean and well kept, tastefully decorate, and it has an air of brand new that I really like. 

I have been several times to this salon, every time without appointment, just walked in, and I have always been attended to extremely well and got a great service. Unlike other places around, they have never skipped steps in my pedicure, and I have left with my feet looking splendid, better than after visiting more reputed salons that have the "de-luxe" attached to the treatment. They use OPI polishes, which are my favourite brand.

The main downsides of the places are: 1/ They don't focus much on the massage. This is never a problem to me, as I prefer them to invest their time in my feet that in providing a mediocre or bad massage to my legs. 2/ Like most salons in Perth, you can find the selection of colours a bit limited, and some of them a bit dry and thick. 3/ I have seen some mani-pedi done at the same time, which looks greats in the movies, but is a bit too much for the person having it done. Perhaps they were in a hurry and asked for that? 

Their pricing is standard for nail treatments in Perth. 

Service is matter of fact, still courteous. If they aren't flooded with visitors, they really spend a lot of time with your feet and do things with care.

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Crystal Eyes (North Perth, Perth WA)

Photo courtesy of Crystal Eyes Website

430 Fitzgerald St
North Perth Western Australia 6006
(08) 9328 2944
Website

Formerly located on Beaufort St, Crystal Eyes is a family owned and operated optometry currently located on Fitzgerald St, just in front of North Perth Plaza, and beside the Red Cross Op Shop. 

There is nothing flashy about this business: small entry, corner location, no window display, small shop, but this is a lovely welcoming business that treats customers with attention and friendliness, and does what it supposed to do without pushing you into buying or ignoring you while you are inside.

The young guys who run the shop do a terrific job at getting your eyes tested, your glasses done, fitted and adjusted, and at fixing and repairing anything that your old glasses might need. Usually, repairs are done on the spot, fast, and at terrific prices.

Pricing of the frames are usually high, with a mix of Australian and European brands, available. They have a stylish mix of colours and styles, but, to be fair, I have found nothing funky here.The edgy shape of the shop might trick your eyes as it looks like the frames on display are very few, but there are many more in the drawers and around the corner. 

Most glasses are ready in a day. However, some transition and special lenses are made interstate and you might have to wait for 10 working days to get them back. They will SMS when you have them ready, though.

I think they do not  sell sunnies, unless they are prescription's, but I am not completely sure!

Service has always been terrific.

They have Hycaps payments available, and they deal with most private health insurance providers.

They need to improve their website and include their opening hours in it. 

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Cockburn Central Train Station (Jandakot, Perth WA)

Cockburn Central Train Station is a two-platform  train station in Jandakot served by the Mandurah Train Line. The station is sandwiched between the Kwinana Freeway on the left side, and the Success Park 'n' Ride bus Station on the right side.

The Station is well designed and organized, practical, clean, and comfortable for commuters: There is a spacious seating area on the ground and a lift and an escalator to access the exit on the upper floor. You can use your legs, if you want, because there is a normal staircase, as well.

The Cockburn Train Station has almost anything that you would like to have or you might need to use in a small train station: electronic information panels, written timetable, written info about ticket prices, multi-rider recharge machines, ticket machines, money exchange machine (one of those to you put a banknote and you get that amount in coins), a public telephone (yes, they still exist!), and, at the end of the covered passage, there is an EFPTOS machine and a coffee machine, as well as the public toilets. There is a security booth on the upper floor (hurrah!) and another one, on the ground level.

The covered passage on the right side, while exiting, leads to the Bus Station's two platforms, as well as to a small shopping area across the road. The Cockburn Gateway Shopping Centre is a few hundred metres further down; you can take bus 527, which takes you right there.

The toilets are the only downside of the place - small, ugly-looking, run down and kept just OK. They need an overhaul.
  
The Buses connect the station with Hammond Park, Murdoch Station, Fremantle Station, and other areas in the Success-Jandakot area. 

MIND -  Cockburn, is pronounced "Cohbarn".

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BROTHER (Menora, Perth WA) = CLOSED

300 Walcott Street
Menora Western Australia 6050
(08) 9272 5787
Hours:
      Mon - Fri: 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
      Sat: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
      Sun: 8:30 am - 1:30 pm
 
Under new management, BROTHER is a decent unpretentious well-priced café away from the buzz of Beaufort street.

There is nothing flashy or new vogue about BROTHER. The place is small, with comfortable indoor and alfresco areas. The ambience is a bit mismatched and uninspired, still welcoming, the main decoration being the photos for sale on the walls; the woody corner on the right upon entrance is, on the contrary, truly charming, and it is a pity that the whole place is not like that. 

Brother's coffee is very good. I am not a fan of Toby State beans in general, but they do a great job with them here, and the coffee is well-prepared, smooth and creamy.  Mugs available!

Their food is a mix of Australian favourites with a emphasis on Mediterranean dishes for lunch. I love their specials, which are the ones that bring me back to Brother. I loved their White Wine Seafood Linguine, which were not only tasty, but full of chunky pieces of seafood. Their old-style home-made bowl pies were absolutely tasty and filling, although a bit soggy. Their Feta and Spinach Ravioli were also lovely. On the contrary, I found their Peas & Scallop Risotto bland. Serving sizes vary depending on the dishes.  

They have also have a nice selection of cookies, cake slices and muffins baked on the house, sometimes still warm when you order, like the strawberry friand in the photo.

The service has always been terrific regarding friendliness, speed, modifications and adjustments of the menu. All the staff and the young couple of owners are truly welcoming, humble, honest and hard-working.

The place attracts a varied group of people from all ages, families included, but mostly quiet people looking for a place where you can eat and talk at the same time without having to yell. They have several copies of the daily newspaper available for customers, which is always a big tick in my list.

One of the main downsides of the place is their limited opening hours during the weekend, days that usually bring more customers to any restaurant. I have gone on a Saturday and the kitchen was closed at 2.30pm, and 1pm on a Sunday, so I went and spent my money elsewhere. They open the whole week, and it is understandable, but perhaps closing another day of the week and having extended hours during the weekends might pay off.

MIND - They are starting to open in the evenings for dinners some days of the weekend.

BONUS - Free WIFI.

FIX IT - Last time I was there, the knob lock of the toilet self-opened. My bottom is sacred. Yelp!  

ACTIVATE IT - The former website is no longer operational. Their Facebook account has been untouched or very quiet for months. They could easily post here the specials of the week or extra info about events, change in opening times, hours when the kitchen closes and so on. 

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