Munter.com.au

On the weekend I went to a new style of shopping experience for Melburnians at the Docklands . It is a large US company with a warehouse that boasts shopping for subscribers only . The theory is  that due to membership revenue they are able to provide a vast range of products at a cheaper  cost to their customers . To gain entry you must have a current membership card or join at the entrance to gain entry .

Being stopped at the door I was informed I could not just look but had to join which I duly did by completing forms and having photo taken . I then proceeded into the barn like store with no map ( they don’t have one  ) no aisle numbers and no guide at front of shop as to indicate where things are . The belief is that shoppers will career around with over sized trolleys simply finding things as they go .When I enquired as to the location of a WII Fit I was told I would need to ask the red vested helper . I counted two of these in the whole shop . WII Fit were to be found in the clothing section I was duly informed . After a period of time largely avoiding kamikaze trolleys and children playing unsupervised in the PC section I decided to leave . Oversize packs of imported frozen blueberries, overpriced Calvin Klein designer undies and non competitively priced  48 packs of toilet  roll do not do it for me . I’ m all for bulk purchase but the saving  has to be sizable to make it a viable option. The shop displays seemed to promise over sized everything with matching over inflated prices . It was like shopping for giants .   Many shoppers passed me with large metal trolleys which they seemed to be hanging onto like some sort of life support system .

Woolworths , Coles, Aldi , IGA et al can relax. This membership only exclusive club can keep its products  , deals , warehouse and trolly’s. We may be a long way from the companys home  but that doesn’t  mean we will accept inferior imported products , no customer service and largely inflated prices to participate in the  subscription for members only shopping experience .

Savvy shoppers in Melbourne town will find this subscription based shopping service wanting . Especially when the newness of the venue and the novelty of store exclusive items wears off and the benefits  to members appears to be negligible . Many will do as I did and gain a full refund of membership before departing the barn like building and even the offer of   free parking in the docklands will not attract the most astute shopper.

bulk packs of everything