This is good place to go if you are a woman after an inexpensive handbag. I have bought my wife a…read morecouple of handbags as gifts here and she has been happy with them. The only downside is that they are not great quality and don't tend to last. But they are good to look at and for about $40 I got her a bag that was very pleasing on the eye. Similar bags would cost well over a hundred bucks at Farmers though they would probably last longer. They also do good deals on wallets for both men and women. To go with her bag, I got a nice wallet with room for all your cards that only cost $20. I'd like to think there will come a day when I have written a bestseller and can buy my wife a Guess Bag costing hundreds of dollars. In the meantime, I'll make do with Strandbags.

I have a soft spot for Strandbags as I used to work for one of the stores in West Auckland a while…read moreback. Because of this I know personally that the store really puts an emphasis on customer service and product quality. When I was on staff I would always be going to product education seminars, where the staff would learn all about the product. But I particularly like this store, as it has such an expansive range of bags, wallets and travel accessories on offer. Their massive range is because their store is quite massive, which means they get a great turn around of new products on a regular basis. The layout of the store also makes it easy to look for the exact bag you are after, with the handbags and travel cases organised in order of used materials, design, and price range. I have purchased many bags from here over the years, because I know that they are durable and not too expensive, and of course because they have a stylish selection of products.

One of my favorite shops, an iconic NZ ladies fashion brand…read more Max has a very good VIP rewards program: $50 voucher for every $500 spent ($1 = 1 point). Points accumulate for a year & any unused points revert to zero at the end of the year (June 30). Spend $2000 in a calendar year and get upgraded to VIP Gold status, where your points never expire & occasionally get invited to special events.

Definitely my favourite junk shop. It's not the biggest junk shop, but they change their stock so…read moremuch you are always finding new things. They have a great collection of make up, clothes, kids' toys, hair accessories, household items, I could go on, really. Everything is organised and has its place, and the owners always say hi when you walk in, and they're always there behind the counter watching some good old TV. It's not always the tidiest with people leaving things in the aisles and kids playing with stuff while their parents shop, but it kind of works since the owners seem so laid back. They'll always go searching for things if you can't find anything either. I come and have a look here every weekend just to see what's new.

This florist is amazing! I ordered flowers off their website from Florida, and they were…read moredelivered, fresh and beautiful, literally 2 hours later. I highly recommend!

I ordered a large bouquet of flowers from the U.S. for my aunt who lives in Auckland. The flowers…read morearrived in a timely fashion, were very fresh, and most importantly, she loved them! When I called to place the order, the assistant made placing the order very easy. I highly recommend them!

If you are after a Stihl product and live around Whenuapai, then chances are you have popped in…read morehere. As with any approved Stihl dealer, these guys know their products inside and out and can provide all of the assistance you will need pre and post purchase. If you are just moving into the area having purchased a lifestyle block, then you will also be popping in to price up the ride-on mowers, a couple of which sit outside the store frontage. If you don't have a ride-on then they have the regular lawnmowers and can definitely tackle any repair and maintenance jobs. This is your good old fashioned lawnmower and chainsaw fix it shop, pick up all of the accessories you'd need and if you are after a new model then ask the friendly store owner or assistant.

I have purchased products from this shop and had my machinery serviced by Jim and his young…read moreman,They know their machines,they are pleasant and helpful,they are very reasonable in their charges but are happy to provide good advice. Excellent to deal with. jennifer G

First Scene was my first point of call recently to help deck me out for my first trip to the famous…read moreArt Deco Fesitval in Napier. I did however head to the First Scene on 334a Rosebank Road, Avondale, not this one closer to the city. The Rosebank Road location has a props department, accessories you can buy, and loads and loads of clothes to hire. The lovely Miranda was our special helper (finding attire for four of us), she has worked for the company for well over a decade in several departments and is totally the go-to person! If you can't find what you want at First Scene, you are unlikely to find it anywhere in Auckland.

First Scene is New Zealand's biggest prop and costume hire company and is the first and only place…read moreyou ever need to go to get a great costume, complete with appropriate accessories, face paint and shoes. You can find everything from nurse and soldier outfits, to Mariachi costumes, Big Bird bodysuits to Seashell mermaid bustiers - First Scene is the one stop shop to a brilliant outfit and a good time! It is also possible to hire larger props such as statues, marquees and the like, be it for a themed party or to dress the set of a film. The staff are a heap of fun and love getting involved in sorting you out with the perfect get up. Prices are also pretty reasonable, with the amount depending on how intense the garments you're hiring are. One word of warning - avoid parking in the carpark. It's very small and the angles of the parks are not particularly car friendly. When possible, park on the street or around the block - save yourself the aggravation and embarrassment!

I drove across Auckland on a Saturday to meet some friends, visit the Mall, look around the shops,…read morehave lunch, watch a movie and have dinner and in return I got a parking fine. No wonder the Mall was over half empty, when this is how they treat their customers.

King pow Thai prawn salad is all lettuce, bean sprouts and carrots very disappointed. The prawns…read morewere sliced down the middle to make it look like more. Not worth $9.50. Service was ok, a young boy with no smile.