Australian Gift Card

June 27, 2008 3:33 PM

How do I acquire a gift card to an Austrailian home-goods retailer for a friend who is moving there?

My friend is getting married and will soon be moving to Australia. Because it is so expensive to ship things there, she doesn't want anything material, but I would really like to give her a gift.

I thought it would be nice to give a gift card to a store in Australia that sells home things (dishes, etc.) that I know they will need, so that they can choose something when they get there.

However, I know nothing about the Australian retail landscape. Please recommend a nice store that would sell a gift card to me, paying from here in the U.S. My budget is between $50 and $100.

posted by mai to shopping (10 comments total)

https://www.giftvouchers.com offer delivery of a gift voucher by email which as far as I can see is the best that can be done.

The major retailers I checked only offer delivery within Australia.
posted by onya at 4:00 PM on June 27, 2008

Okay, this is COMPLETELY and TERRIFYINGLY coincidental, because I was in PRECISELY the same situation myself a month ago. And I mean EXACTLY -- friend, getting married, moving to Australia, wanted a gift card, I lived in US, that was the budget...I actually spent a good ten seconds looking at your name wondering "did I somehow ask this and it not post until now?"

...Sorry. Freakout over.

What I ultimately ended up doing was getting a gift certificate to an Australian based online site, called Wishlist -- they had a nice range of stuff, and I could get a certificate for whatever amount I wanted. They didn't send a card, I just printed the certificate off my screen. Not just housewares -- which gives your friend some more flexibillity, too. Someone suggested another site - -I'll see if I can find it, but this is what I ended up doing.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:29 PM on June 27, 2008

You could look into a visa pre-pay card. As I understand it, it can be used as a credit card pretty much anywhere in the world.

Other than that, though, I really don't know what to offer. As far as I'm aware, most of the major retailers that offer gift cards offer them at point of sale.
posted by ysabet at 4:35 PM on June 27, 2008

Whereabouts in Australia is she moving to? What you're really looking for is a gift card for Myer or David Jones, but if neither of them have stores in the place she is going that wouldn't be much use (although they are in most capital cities and some regional ones). If I was in Australia at the moment (I'm not) I'd offer to go into Myer or DJ's and get you one that could be shipped by International Express Post (get to you in a few days), so that you could have something tangible to give her. Maybe there's someone else here that could do that for you.
posted by Tawita at 4:56 PM on June 27, 2008

These are the folk you want. Myer and David Jones sell everything and can be on the pricey side. Freedom is vaguely like a more upmarket Ikea (don't think they do flatpacks though)with stock to suit all price ranges. Have a look at the site. They do gift cards and they're a good store for homewares.

If you want an Australian to do something in person for you like Tawita suggested, I could help. Email me if you like.
posted by taff at 5:52 PM on June 27, 2008

Coles Myer Gift Cards cover a dizzying array of shops oz-side, and should cover your friend for whatever she's after.
posted by Mil at 9:14 PM on June 27, 2008

...but as above you'd need someone to go in, grab it, and post it. Also happy to help, email in profile.
posted by Mil at 9:16 PM on June 27, 2008

Ebay.com.au has a few Myer and David Jones ones. The Westfield ones are for a chain of shopping centres but confirm they are in the city your friends are moving to.
posted by cwhitfcd at 4:39 AM on June 28, 2008

David Jones was the one I was trying to think of aside from Wishlist (thanks to those who suggested it).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:32 AM on June 28, 2008

Believe it or not Australia is a vast country and even the state capitals are far apart. While we don't have the population of the US and therefore fewer retail outlets there is still a dazzling array. Most offer vouchers so really that's not the issue - we need to know which city and whether your friends have a particular style or taste. Prices are in the same ball park as the US (maybe a bit more expensive but the US and Oz dollars are nearing parity!) so its Myer, David Jones or something more specialist. You could just give them cash!
posted by dodialog at 6:00 AM on June 28, 2008