David Jones

Maybe I’m too loyal to Myers and a bit biased, but I have been trying to give DJs a go. However, you keep letting me down David Jones (you know you’re in trouble when I use your full name).
Good products (maybe a bit too expensive), nice décor and atmosphere, great loos, lots of Australian designers, awful service. Last time I went to buy lingerie I was the only person in the department and four staff members were gossiping. I wasn’t assisted in the fitting rooms and it was just a bad experience. I have received similar service in the women’s clothing department.
If DJs wants to position itself as an upmarket department store, it doesn’t need upmarket customer service, just friendly service, actually just service would be an improvement.
Just a quick note, I realise everyone who works there are not guilty of ignoring customers, I met an amazing lady in the bedding department with exceptional service. Actually, she is hired by the bed company, not DJs… never mind.

DJ’s: an endangered species from the mono-​lithic period where shopping for couture pieces and spending 3 hours on a Sunday in one air-​conditioned department store was «a done thing.»
Lost in the wilderness, this department store has quickly dwindled in life and breadth of product thanks to encroaching online shopping and competitive, low cost, reasonable quality department stores capturing their consumers.
You can still find the rare brand name watch, pair of shoes on sale or makeup in store at a fair price and I love still wandering through the powder puff girls and clouds of perfume on the ground floor (where else can you get such an experience). However, the range, value and poor internal workings of the place mean that it is becoming a forgotten species.
This DJs in particular has lost its way, shutting down their fine dining food court and imported produce section and putting on about 1 staff member for every 100 customers so you can never find a damn sales person when you need one (or they have no interest in serving you). Displays are cluttered and floors have been crammed with so many brands you can get in their original outlets or stores that the quality and health of the David Jones «premium brand department store» is lost.
The only way I can see this species being brought back from near extinction is to re-​instate and connect a fine dining food court to DJ’s, add in fancy change rooms, high quality service, cut half their range so high end brands (that you can’t get anywhere else) are available to touch and feel and completely refit the place to feel like one of those luxe shopping centres you get in Harrods, Dubai or HK. I hope to see the «day of old» department store return, but first it has to lift it’s game.

David Jones is the place to go to find things you cannot locate elsewhere. However the service is below par and lacklustre. The Ladies toilets are a stand out feature of this place. I have turned to shopping online instead as then I do not have to contend with the lack of customer service.

I love shopping at DJ’s. It’s now the only major store that has that somewhat luxurious feeling you used to get when walking in to John Martins.
The staff here have always been so helpful to me, even getting shoes express delivered from an interstate store in time for my 21^st many moons ago.
The slogan is true. There is no other store like it.

I worked for David Jones a while ago; it was a good experience. My review is not in anyway reflective of my work there — only that I have insight into how often staff are given training.
I have no idea how David Jones received so many positive reviews —
— they are losing all of the good labels they had; shopping there feels generic.
— the customer service is AWFUL, staff are constantly having private and personal conversations on the sales floor. I’m fine with staff chatting and enjoying their job, but hearing two women discuss where they are putting their mothers in regards to aged care? Go for dinner, call each other after work, have that conversation on your lunch break. I’ve been made to wait while staff finish off inter department calls, on several occasions (like every time I’m shopping there). I can verify 100% that they do have hold buttons. But just in general, staff are just plain rude, you can tell they hate their jobs.
David Jones definitely needs to pick up it’s game.

I’ve been a loyal David Jones customers over the years and while there are parts that I love, there are also parts that aren’t so good.
I love the fact that you can find almost everything you need or want in one location. This is especially useful in shopping with my partner (who hates shopping with a vengence), who will refuse to go into more than one or two shops. The concessions are neat, orderly (unlike in Myers) and well laid out. Food Glorious Food stocks almost any imported food you could want, and is a chilled out place to get a bite to eat for lunch or indulge in one of their amazing cakes. It should be mentioned that the bathroom facilities in DJs are well maintained, spacious and regularly cleaned.
Customer service here is a mixed bag. Some sales assistants are more than happy to help you (I generally find that these are the SAs which belong to a concession), where as some are grouchy and a pain to deal with. I should mention that I have had some of my worst customer service experiences here. These days, DJs is very stingy of their hiring of SAs, which can be very frustrating when trying to make a purchase.
I also think that the lighting in the changing rooms is pretty unflattering! Who wants to buy something when the lighting makes you look way worse than you actually do!
Nevetheless, DJs is my first port of call on any shopping trip because of their massive range of brands. They have also finally launched their new online store which is easy to navigate and provides prompt shipping (my only gripe is that shipping should be free, not $ 10).

Found Valrhona chocolate. Yoo hoo…
Kids loved the Magic Cave.

I think Kristy is onto something. She’s right about how low our expectations have become in regards to service, and whilst this place is good by today’s standards, it’s still really only average, if you know my meaning.
It’s an interesting place to browse. The food hall bit is extremely so. But then that’s all I’m ever really prepared to do here — browse. The prices are just outrageous. I completely understand how someone might pay a premium for a premium product, but the difference between the average product and the premium in quality these days isn’t really that massive, and yet the price difference is absolutely stupendous. I suppose this place provides a service for those with far more money than sense.
They do price match, yes, but the ticketed prices are a turn off right there. I don’t even bother to ask, these days. In fact, I’m sure it will only be a matter of time before the conditions of entry include a full credit history check.
When all is said and done, it’s alright. Just don’t go if you get excited when you manage to get a box of cheezels at half price.

Not my cup of tea, but if you’re doing DJ’s, do it right and go to the city store. The suburban stores are low on staff and getting a little shabby.
My main reason for writing this however, is to let everyone know of the great washroom facilities. If you’re down Rundle Mall and Unilocal calls, go into Food Glorious Food (or DJ’s ground floor), take the lift to the third, make a right and another right at small electrical. Voila! Easily accesable, off the beaten track toilets maintained to a high standard.

Wow, I’m really going to go against the tide of popular opinion here but I just have to say it … David Jones just ain’t what it used to be!
While the service is ok and the products are alright, I think it’s a sad indictment on what we see as good service these days when we expect dodgy service and are almost surprised when we don’t receive it. I will admit the service is better than what you’ll get in many places but I have a couple of really bad DJ’s experiences. I have stood in the electrical department for longer than 30 minutes on two separate occasions waiting for someone to take my money so I could take home a new plasma tv. One guy approached me and told me he didn’t deal with the particular brand I was after so he’d get someone else to help me. No-​one came!
A tip for you … David Jones will price match so don’t be fooled by the fact they seem more expensive than other places. They are as keen to make a sale as the next guy. Apologies for being a negative Nora but I just felt this page needed some balance.

Seriously, what’s not to love about David Jones.
Location, stores, food, retailers, cafes, newsagency, you can find anything in here really.
I’m pretty sure if I was locked in DJs for a week I would survive off sushi, cookies, T-​bar and then snuggle up in Bed Bath and Table.
The staff at DJs always provide impeccable customer service, all with a smile.
I can’t post this without commenting on Food Glorious Food — glorious indeed. They have peanut butter M&Ms, enough to get five stars. They also have Reeses Pieces, Hersheys, and other imported brands.
The sushi place here is also fantastic — the rolls are gigantic! Money well spent.
All I can say is, if you’re looking for food, clothes, birthday cards, bus tickets, an ATM, anything really, come to DJs — where it’s at!

The David Jones Food Hall… sigh…aka Food Glorious Food, aka Foodie Heaven. I don’t know who actually shops here for their weekly groceries — $ 99 a kilo cheeses, Chris Jarmer seafood that must have been hand-​caught and filleted by royalty, chocolates at $ 120 a kilo. Whoever you are keeping this place in business, I want to come and live with you. I’m more of a looker than a buyer, but that’s still good times. Expect everything to cost way more than you imagine before checking the price and you’ll make it out intact and without grey hair. They have alot of imported products here that would be very hard to find elsewhere, especially from the US. You’ll be able to enjoy the sights and scents and even afford the odd thing, but if you’re prone to food jealousy perhaps don’t shop here. As a Chrissy bonus I noticed you can get Moet for only $ 70 a pop — woohoo! In a nutshell — behold food glory!

13/​12/​2011
I’m still spellbound by the amount of information, knowledge, physical effort and friendly smile of the David Jones customer service attendant this morning.
Not only was the service at David Jones Womenswear level absolutely perfect in every way, shape, and form, but from the second I approached the escalator, the service was phenomenal. She asked me concise questions so to narrow the specific target of a product. She initially directed me to the racks displaying the cute theme of Alyson Hannigan designed dresses, then moved me to the colourful Collette Dinnigan dresses. She even told me to touch the dresses and said, «Have a feel of the material. It’s so soft, isn’t it?» It was my first time in a womenswear section, so all I could do was nod my head blankly and agree. The desired dress, scarf, shoes, and hat were all pinpointed very quickly — even before new customers arrived — which nearly made me buying her suggested whole outfit from head to toe, before I regained my self-​control! The price range can vary here… but if you ask or look around, there are absolutely incredible hidden deals lurking around somewhere. The entire floor tour felt like I was visiting a new town. She was willing to take me up and down to different floors, sections, racks and pieces! Extraordinarily impressive, and perhaps the best service I have EVER received in Adelaide so far!
Moreover, the servers (yes — more than one attended!) would approach us and ask us if we were okay and found what we were looking for. Very supportive and helpful. They were all fantastic! It was like they were part of a secret David Jones army of wonderful salespeople.
The overall efficiency of service would give any other business in Adelaide an absolute run for its money. There is not enough space to describe how great this particular customer service attendant was at her job in helping me. So if you’re looking for great deals in women’s fashion, this is definitely the first place to go.