Welly primarily - where do you buy your designer goods now that David Jones is gone?

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lchiu7

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#298851 21-Jul-2022 14:12

Now that David Jones has gone, for those who like to buy designer goods (perhaps GZ members is not the appropriate demographic :-) ) I wonder where do buy your designer goods now. Auckland has Smith and Caughey and a smaller DJ in the Westfield Newmarket and ChCh has Ballantynes.

We had Kirks for ages and I really looked forward to DJ coming but it appears it could not make it work. Talk was it was slow to embrace online (perhaps thinking their customers prefer brick and mortar) customer service (especially in the cosmetic area and this was reported to me - I have no first hand knowledge) was poor and in general customer service was not good.

I think if you are going to spend premium money then you want to be treated like a valued customer, have the sales person go the extra mile etc. By way of comparison, now not having any choice, I went to Farmers to buy some sweaters and was pleased by the service provided by the sales person. She helped with colour choices, sizes and pointed out sales items to me I had missed.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

Geektastic

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#2944804 21-Jul-2022 14:53

I think one of the biggest issues that faces all retailers in central Wellington is the parking. WCC seem intent on removing as much as possible and introducing charges for the weekends/evenings that were free was a masterstroke of foolishness.

Why would you bother driving into the CBD to shop now?

The only stuff that I buy that falls into this category really is RM Williams. However they have moved away from their heritage and into the fashion stream, which has exactly zero interest to someone whose mufti has been jeans and tee shirts for the last 40 years...!

Their shops are now usually staffed by 20=something young ladies who seem to believe they are working in a cowboy themed version of Gucci and RMW have dropped so many of the things they used to make that were special so I have moved to ordering my boots online when I want new ones, since I know what size and width I need.

mattwnz

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#2944812 21-Jul-2022 15:04

Geektastic:

I think one of the biggest issues that faces all retailers in central Wellington is the parking. WCC seem intent on removing as much as possible and introducing charges for the weekends/evenings that were free was a masterstroke of foolishness.

Why would you bother driving into the CBD to shop now?

The only stuff that I buy that falls into this category really is RM Williams. However they have moved away from their heritage and into the fashion stream, which has exactly zero interest to someone whose mufti has been jeans and tee shirts for the last 40 years...!

Their shops are now usually staffed by 20=something young ladies who seem to believe they are working in a cowboy themed version of Gucci and RMW have dropped so many of the things they used to make that were special so I have moved to ordering my boots online when I want new ones, since I know what size and width I need.

Pretty much this. The removal of free weekend parking was a major thing that has put me off. If you know anything abut the history of the old Kirks building, when they did the rebuild in the 80's they actually built it to be used as offices in the future by reducing floor heights and having lots of columns, because they suspected that retail in it wouldn't last. That way they could fit more floors plus a car park at the top.

lchiu7

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#2944852 21-Jul-2022 16:49

mattwnz:

Geektastic:

I think one of the biggest issues that faces all retailers in central Wellington is the parking. WCC seem intent on removing as much as possible and introducing charges for the weekends/evenings that were free was a masterstroke of foolishness.

Why would you bother driving into the CBD to shop now?

The only stuff that I buy that falls into this category really is RM Williams. However they have moved away from their heritage and into the fashion stream, which has exactly zero interest to someone whose mufti has been jeans and tee shirts for the last 40 years...!

Their shops are now usually staffed by 20=something young ladies who seem to believe they are working in a cowboy themed version of Gucci and RMW have dropped so many of the things they used to make that were special so I have moved to ordering my boots online when I want new ones, since I know what size and width I need.

Pretty much this. The removal of free weekend parking was a major thing that has put me off. If you know anything abut the history of the old Kirks building, when they did the rebuild in the 80's they actually built it to be used as offices in the future by reducing floor heights and having lots of columns, because they suspected that retail in it wouldn't last. That way they could fit more floors plus a car park at the top.

I used to work in that building so understand. The counci's attitude towards parking is really car-unfriendly and now they want to make the Golden Mile pedestrian only so where do you drive/park?

But aside from that olther stores are still surviving. Vance Vivian has always been up market men clothing and is still there. Patridge Jewellers who sell watches which cost as much as some cars survive so there is still a market for up-market retail. I agree most stuff you can get online but I do like going into stores to browse. And for anyway, parking is not an issue since during the week I bus to work.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

Geektastic

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#2945540 23-Jul-2022 09:13

Partridges is boutique. If you want a Patek in NZ then that’s where you have to go: it doesn’t really matter where they are (although they also have stores in Auckland and Queenstown).

Vance Vivian sells nice stuff as long as your sizing is between skinny drainpipe and fat Telegraph pole!

Being built for comfort rather than speed, I don’t think I’ve found a single item in there in 16 years that would fit.

lchiu7

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#2945557 23-Jul-2022 11:42

Geektastic: Partridges is boutique. If you want a Patek in NZ then that’s where you have to go: it doesn’t really matter where they are (although they also have stores in Auckland and Queenstown).

Vance Vivian sells nice stuff as long as your sizing is between skinny drainpipe and fat Telegraph pole!

Being built for comfort rather than speed, I don’t think I’ve found a single item in there in 16 years that would fit.

I have bought ties from that fit okay :-)

They must have clientele since they are still there, even under Covid conditions.

WyleECoyoteNZ

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#2945650 23-Jul-2022 16:20

lchiu7:

Now that David Jones has gone, for those who like to buy designer goods (perhaps GZ members is not the appropriate demographic :-) ) I wonder where do buy your designer goods now. Auckland has Smith and Caughey and a smaller DJ in the Westfield Newmarket and ChCh has Ballantynes.

We had Kirks for ages and I really looked forward to DJ coming but it appears it could not make it work. Talk was it was slow to embrace online (perhaps thinking their customers prefer brick and mortar) customer service (especially in the cosmetic area and this was reported to me - I have no first hand knowledge) was poor and in general customer service was not good.

I think if you are going to spend premium money then you want to be treated like a valued customer, have the sales person go the extra mile etc. By way of comparison, now not having any choice, I went to Farmers to buy some sweaters and was pleased by the service provided by the sales person. She helped with colour choices, sizes and pointed out sales items to me I had missed.

Farmers, especially Lambton Quay has most definitely moved on from what it was a few years ago. That applies to most of the Farmers stores.

The problem I had with DJ's in Wellington, is it felt almost like it was trying to be a high end Vodka bar with all internal walls being mirrored, it was awful.

Then having to walk through all the cosmetic's etc, after weaving through it all, to get to menswear.