Shopping question

[Caroline NZ]

Haha Jade, my husband loves the tools section in Sears too ( he wasn't allowed to buy any though, however he did come home with a couple of small car parts from elsewhere)

 

[Caroline NZ]

Jacs - we went to South Coast Plaza (Costa Mesa) which was huge. It was about 20 mins from Disneyland by car.

 

[Saskiwi]

I would like to experience a normal American Mall. A shopping complex (not necessarily outlets stores) with lots of different shops in it. Which one do you all recommend? We will be going to the disney outlet store while we're there too.

I'm guessing you have a car while you're there? The Brea Mall is not too far away and is a big, typical US Mall: Nordstrom, Macys, Sears etc - all the big brands are there. Its on the 57 Orange Freeway

 

[shushh]

Thanks everyone for the helpful info, and PIO for typing all that detail! I was wondering how well the Australian costco measured up to the ones in the US.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I would like to experience a normal American Mall. A shopping complex (not necessarily outlets stores) with lots of different shops in it. Which one do you all recommend? We will be going to the disney outlet store while we're there too.

SoCo...or South Coast Plaza is huge and has lots of high end shops. I love it! I vote for a visit there, like Caroline NZ has.
I keep meaning to go to Fashion Island, which is the other high end mall but have not managed to find the time to make it down there yet.

Main Place Mall, is about 5 -10 minutes away from Anaheim. It is run by Westfield. This is the closest mall to DLR.

I would google all 3 and see which shops appeal to you. If you have a car, getting to any of them will not be an issue.

If you are in the Hollywood area and are mobile with car, then consider shopping at Century City. The alternative is to head to the Farmer's Market, where the Grove (mall) is.

 

[HappyFingers]

So if i find the following that im looking for

size 15 hockey roller blades
7xl hockey pant/s and shirt/s
xxxl kneeguards and elbow guards
and possibly even some torso padding
(because when they slap that ball into you despite having a box on, if it gets you in the thigh it hurts like crazy)

all of that stuff will be quite bulky and do you think it would be cheaper to just fill a suitcase (prolly get some gear for my son and daughter as well) and pay the extra suitcase surcharge to get it all home on the plane

or

put it in a big box and mail it back

?????????????????

and why isnt donald moving he has been in that spot for ages now
hes playing with me

 

[skiingfast]

I hope I wasn't rude!! I asked the guy if they would price match, and he said no problems, and went to his computer and checked the other advertised price. In fact, the only reason I asked was that I overheard the previous customer doing the same.

skiingfast, where is a good place to buy tools? DH is after some tools for work. He went a little crazy in Sears last trip.

I guess it depends. But how will you get tools back anyway? They are hearvy to load a suitcase with.

Sears is good, and Kmart has some too, since it's now owned by Sears. They both sell the Craftsman line. But for these it's much better to buy when they have sales, so they can be hit or miss with the timing of your trip. The hand tools are gaurenteed for life, not sure if you break it how you will get them back to a Sears to exchange.

Home Depot and Lowes can be great too. They are big home materails stors. Light bulbs, pipe, lumber, sinks, paint...... They have a good selections of power tools. However can you plug a tool made for the US in in Oz?

If you want off brand tools, not something I use because they are either cheap or hard to replace. You can try to find a Harbor Freight Tools or Nothern Tool Supply. They won't be in every town like Sears of Lowes but are around. They sell everything. Welders, drill presses, air compressors. Some good brands some not. But there hand tools are crappy.

For woodworking, Rockler Woodworking or Woodcraft, they are mostly by internet but have some stores.

 

[skiingfast]

I hope I wasn't rude!! I asked the guy if they would price match, and he said no problems, and went to his computer and checked the other advertised price. In fact, the only reason I asked was that I overheard the previous customer doing the same.

Simply asking if they price match is fine. Walmart does, but if you ask in Walmart you probably have a %5 chance that they will be able to help you because customer service is not their prioirty. If you say that in Best Buy they will help you right away because someone in a blue shirt is going to ask to help you every 3 meters.

But if you go up and say this Camera is $289 how about $140? If you haggle in that manner, like you would in Kenya or Peru, your whole country is being made fun of when you leave.

 

[skiingfast]

Well hockey gear I want is about 7xl hockey pants and shirt
Hockey gear has to be very loose fitting lol
Xxxl kneepads, elbow pads, size 15 hockey skates, and hopefully a really bling helmet for a really big head, all this stuff you just can't get in aus in my size as the market is to small and I don't want to order online without trying the stuff on.

Like I mentioned you can try those stores above, they are easy to find. But seeing that you are going to Florida is a problem. More hockey players in the tiny population of Minnesota than the much more populated Florida. If you don't mind use might try to find a Play it Again Sports. Otherwise look in a phone book for a hockey shop. You best bet would be to go somewhere around Tampa Bay, because they have an NHL hockey team there so more local interest.

The camera I just want a wide angle lense for my Sony camcorder

That will be tricky, you might have to find a sony camera dealer. If it was me I would buy it on Amazon.com because it's very particular.

And clothes for the kids

Try those stores I mentioned. Better clothes than Walmart, cheaper than Nordstroms. Also try Old Navy, in most any mall and some shopping centers, they have somewhat trendy styles.

And prolly some boxes of chocolates and treats

You might stop in a super market for this.

 

[skiingfast]

I would like to experience a normal American Mall. A shopping complex (not necessarily outlets stores) with lots of different shops in it. Which one do you all recommend? We will be going to the disney outlet store while we're there too.

While outlet stores often sound like a good idea, they rarely are. They tend to not offer any deals at all. Same prices as the same product in a Macy's or Saks.

I have a relative who works for a large clothing company. I asked if they have outlet stores. It is on the campus with the main headquarters and only open to the employees. They have a couple outlet stores nearby but it's the same case as I wrote above. No deals, same things as sold in other stores. This is a company with many brands. They are in my closet and probably yours too.

Malls can be nice in hot or cold weather as you can spend hours inside. But malls are dying out so expect some vacancies. Prices are usually high in malls. I would only shop at them for the anchor stores.

 

[WAMUMOF4]

So if i find the following that im looking for

size 15 hockey roller blades
7xl hockey pant/s and shirt/s
xxxl kneeguards and elbow guards
and possibly even some torso padding
(because when they slap that ball into you despite having a box on, if it gets you in the thigh it hurts like crazy)

all of that stuff will be quite bulky and do you think it would be cheaper to just fill a suitcase (prolly get some gear for my son and daughter as well) and pay the extra suitcase surcharge to get it all home on the plane

or

put it in a big box and mail it back

?????????????????

and why isnt donald moving he has been in that spot for ages now
hes playing with me

last year other aussies were telling us it is now cheaper to pay for the extra suitcase they said postage had doubled form the year before when they were there, not really sure what works out best with 6 of us we get 12 suitcases to bring back

 

[Jade+3]

Haha Jade, my husband loves the tools section in Sears too ( he wasn't allowed to buy any though, however he did come home with a couple of small car parts from elsewhere)

DH is definitely paying me back for all the clothing stores I make him wander around.

I guess it depends. But how will you get tools back anyway? They are hearvy to load a suitcase with.

Sears is good, and Kmart has some too, since it's now owned by Sears. They both sell the Craftsman line. But for these it's much better to buy when they have sales, so they can be hit or miss with the timing of your trip. The hand tools are gaurenteed for life, not sure if you break it how you will get them back to a Sears to exchange.

Home Depot and Lowes can be great too. They are big home materails stors. Light bulbs, pipe, lumber, sinks, paint...... They have a good selections of power tools. However can you plug a tool made for the US in in Oz?

If you want off brand tools, not something I use because they are either cheap or hard to replace. You can try to find a Harbor Freight Tools or Nothern Tool Supply. They won't be in every town like Sears of Lowes but are around. They sell everything. Welders, drill presses, air compressors. Some good brands some not. But there hand tools are crappy.

For woodworking, Rockler Woodworking or Woodcraft, they are mostly by internet but have some stores.

Thank you for fantastic information. To be honest I have no idea what he is after. I know he likes the Craftsman stuff. Last time he brought this infrared thermometer thing. He likes his gadgets for work. There is a Lowes under construction in the next suburb from us (though I think it will be called Masters). It is one of the first stores in Australia.

 

[HappyFingers]

its very disapointing to find out that size 13 is the biggest inline hockey skate you can get

dont all them big footed african americans play hockey

i may and i mean i may fit into a 13 but we will have to try some on and find out i guess

and whats up with Donald
he aint moving
ive been checking and he has pulled in for a cuppa or something because he hasnt moved in a week

half way through yet another week of nightshift

 

[dabecs]

I haven't read all the replies yet (but will!) so sorry if this has already been said..

You can cancel your Costco membership at any time and get a full refund, so if you really want to you can buy the membership and go shopping then cancel it and get your money back

 

[Travel Mum]

All going well (hoping we've saved enough), we do hope to do a fair bit of shopping while in Orlando. We presume we will be going home with more checked bags than we arrive with To those of you who have shopped similarly on your trips, did you buy extra suitcases over there as you needed them, or did you travel up with a suitcase packed within a suitcase?

We will need to buy at least one new suitcase before we leave but just wondering if we buy more here or over there.

 

[queenie82]

its very disapointing to find out that size 13 is the biggest inline hockey skate you can get

dont all them big footed african americans play hockey

i may and i mean i may fit into a 13 but we will have to try some on and find out i guess

and whats up with Donald
he aint moving
ive been checking and he has pulled in for a cuppa or something because he hasnt moved in a week

half way through yet another week of nightshift

errr....Ice Hockey is a White man's game
I watch it enough to know....GO BOSTON!!!!!!!

You could ring somewhere like the Ducks store (Honda Centre) and ask them??? They might have big footed players?? But I'm guessing they might be custom made and hence $$$

 

[skiingfast]

errr....Ice Hockey is a White man's game
I watch it enough to know....GO BOSTON!!!!!!!

You could ring somewhere like the Ducks store (Honda Centre) and ask them??? They might have big footed players?? But I'm guessing they might be custom made and hence $$$

If going to DL, a great store is down Katella. I haven't been personally but it's on the internet. I think Hockey World or Hockey Giant. It says it has an address on Katella, east of the parks.

 

[WAMUMOF4]

All going well (hoping we've saved enough), we do hope to do a fair bit of shopping while in Orlando. We presume we will be going home with more checked bags than we arrive with To those of you who have shopped similarly on your trips, did you buy extra suitcases over there as you needed them, or did you travel up with a suitcase packed within a suitcase?

We will need to buy at least one new suitcase before we leave but just wondering if we buy more here or over there.

We did both packed suitcases inside each other and still needed to buy more over there We got much better quality suitcases over there for a lot less than what they cost here