Wal-Mart, how many?

[Rifleman1776]

This Yank would like to know how many Wal-Mart stores you have in Australia. Mainly, are they in every little town like we have here? Or are they few and in larger cities only.
Specificially, is there one in or near Port Macquarie?

[Groggy]

Wal-Mart is not in Australia (yet).

[Rifleman1776]

Wal-Mart is not in Australia (yet).

Thank you for the prompt reply.
That is pretty amazing.
Having a WM is a mixed blessing. Won't get into that discussion.
My son and his family are moving to Australia for a year on locum tenens program. We want to give them gift cards for since they are trying to limit how much to carry when they go in a few weeks.

[NCArcher]

Give them a pre paid VISA. They can use that anywhere.

[underfoot]

Specificially, is there one in or near Port Macquarie?

Nope, no walmarts in Port Macquarie, however there are quite a few locally owned small businesses that can supply your son with everything he should need to be comfortable in this lovely east coast town. (thus keeping the money local)

I understand this is not always the case in towns in the states where walmart has moved in

[acmegridley]

Only Costco in Melbourne if you feel homesick

[Papa]

This Yank would like to know how many Wal-Mart stores you have in Australia. Mainly, are they in every little town like we have here? Or are they few and in larger cities only.
Specificially, is there one in or near Port Macquarie?

Damn, you can't go anywhere without running into an Arkie!

Where in Arkansas? We are in NW Arkansas, about nine miles
from the Wal Mart general office.

Wal Mart is a way of life here. Our dollars stay here!

[Sparhawk]

Also gift cards usually don't transfer between countries. If you are talking about furniture, tv etc you could get a Harvey Norman or Good Guys gift card, although I'm not sure of store locations in Port Macquarie.

[Rifleman1776]

Damn, you can't go anywhere without running into an Arkie!

Where in Arkansas? We are in NW Arkansas, about nine miles
from the Wal Mart general office.

Wal Mart is a way of life here. Our dollars stay here!

Papa
We live in Mountain Home. Our daughter lives in Fayetteville. Howdy, y'all!

[ian]

My son and his family are moving to Australia for a year on locum tenens program. We want to give them gift cards for since they are trying to limit how much to carry when they go in a few weeks.

My wife has a friend who recently "went home" to Boston from Sydney.

Shipping a cubic metre of stuff back to the States surface was not that expensive
(a cubic metre is about 35 cubic feet)
maybe, rather than a gift card, pay for some shipping?
also, compared to buying everything new in Australia -- where prices are possibly up to 5 times what you'd pay in WalMart, air freight might be quite economical.


main things to remember is that Port Macquarie doesn't get all that cold so winter coats are probably unnecessary
and electrical stuff --
leave the TV and the like at home
Australia is a different region to the States so US DVDs wont play in an Australian DVD player unless you hack the player

[Scorp]

Hey Gunslinger,
If your kids are doing an exchange posting, presumably they will be swapping all the house, car etc,etc, so the best thing you could give them was a credit card or a few thousand Yanqui Dollars to exchange witrh the natives.
At the risk of being insulting, a reasonable idea of the geography and history of the country would be a very desirable accomplishment, and an ability to bite their tongues would be a gift beyond price.
Port Macquarie is NOT the hub of the universe, and it is a fair distance from anywhere that is.
Just take us as you find us, and enjoy the ride.

Oh, and what sort of locum is he/she???

[Rifleman1776]

Hey Gunslinger,
If your kids are doing an exchange posting, presumably they will be swapping all the house, car etc,etc, so the best thing you could give them was a credit card or a few thousand Yanqui Dollars to exchange witrh the natives.
At the risk of being insulting, a reasonable idea of the geography and history of the country would be a very desirable accomplishment, and an ability to bite their tongues would be a gift beyond price.
Port Macquarie is NOT the hub of the universe, and it is a fair distance from anywhere that is.
Just take us as you find us, and enjoy the ride.

Oh, and what sort of locum is he/she???

Scorp, they are both doctors but only my son will be working.
As to being diplomatic, they are seasoned travelers. I'm sure they know how to behave. Thanks for the tips.

[BobL]

Wal Mart is a way of life here. Our dollars stay here!

Hummm . . . . last time I looked at the stuff sold at walmarts - it was pretty obvious a fair slice of the money was not staying in the US.

[hughie]

Well, as seasoned travelers, all should be well. As stated take us as you find us and a good sense of humour is a must.
Australians will take '' the '' out of just about anything and everything if theres a good laugh to be had. Can be a bit daunting for the uninitiated

Shipping by sea is the way to go,slow but very cost effective. For the important, gotta have stuff use air, but do it via a consolidator, any other way will be too expensive

[Rifleman1776]

Hummm . . . . last time I looked at the stuff sold at walmarts - it was pretty obvious a fair slice of the money was not staying in the US.

That is a huge sore point for almost everything in America. I'm not wanting to get into things political since I'm an outsider here but knowing almost everything in our household is made in China is not a happy feeling. This is especially true withour unemployment rate very high. Illegals pouring in from Mexico, and elsewhere makes it much worse.
However, Wal-Mart does have good quality control. With few exceptions, I have no qualms with the merchandise they sell. They are a huge, very huge, employer and generous with donations to worthy causes.