Advice on online shopping

[alias_sqbr]

So I have belatedly realised that the only way I'm going to get any shopping done is online. But it's all a bit overwhelming and I was hoping for some advice.

I'm looking for places which are as many as possible of:

• geeky
  
• cool/unique
  
• Sell a range of stuff
  
• value for money
  
• don't charge (much) for postage to Australia
  
• ethical
  
• local (eg west Australian or at least Australian)
  
• support small businesses or individuals
  

The good thing about Perth businesses is I can if necessary decide on stuff online and get Cam to pick it up.

Fight the capitalist oligarchy with your credit card!:
Environment House So local I may try walking there one day :)
Oxfam has misc gifty things and Oxfam Unwrapped is cute
new internationalist shop found via google, seems similar to Oxfam

Books:
The Book Depository FREE SHIPPING
Amazon The evil empire but they do sell a lot of different stuff
King Comics
Also, most of the local bookshops seem to have their catalogues online which lets me check to see if they have stuff.

Clothing and cool stuff
ThinkGeek
Threadless
RedBubble
Etsy To be honest I find it rather overwhelming but should try poking about

People I know:
Tina
Angie
Leece

Jewelry supplies:
A rather overwhelming list of Aussie bead suppliers

I'm very dubious about shoes, clothes, and hats since I am oddly shaped and tend to have to try a lot of stuff on before I find anything that fits.

Comments

[vegetus.livejournal.com]

New Internationalist stuff is mega awesome.

http://crueltyfreeshop.com.au/ has lots of vegan things. But they also have lots of gluten/dairy/soy free things too which you might not be able to get locally. Based in Sydney.

http://www.allergyblock.com.au/ Based in Melbourne. Has lots of products for people who are intollerant/allergic to a whole bunch of things.

http://www.northernsun.com/ Based in the US. Been producing activist gear since the 70s. You name a lefty cause and they have heaps of stuff about it. I've ordered from them before and they are quite good.

I also have some friends starting up a clothing/crafting company called Ethic Asthetic but they haven't got their website running yet.

[alias_sqbr]

Oh those are great, thanks. Mmm. Dairy free chocolate praline.

[vegetus.livejournal.com]

Speaking of which...

http://www.constantcraving.com.au/

[alias_sqbr]

Heh. Given that the only person I buy much chocolate for who doesn't eat dairy is me, and I am TRYING to lose weight you may not be doing me a favour with that link :D

[sonictail.livejournal.com]

WEBCOMICS! They are the gift that keep on giving. Topatoco are excellent. Also have you considered buying gifts for people on steam?

[alias_sqbr]

Those are both very good suggestions, I'd forgotten Topatoco and hadn't thought of Steam.

[edible-hat.livejournal.com]

http://www.bnaked.net/ is an eco-friendly shop run by friends of my brother. They do mostly recycled stuff (e.g. pencil cases made from old tyres)

[alias_sqbr]

That's some nice stuff. No information on shipping though that I could see.

[edible-hat.livejournal.com]

yeah they've only just set it up... I don't think they've worked out exactly what they're doing yet. A lot of the stuff on there you can get from todae.com.au

[alias_sqbr]

Cool, thanks.

[fe2h2o.livejournal.com]

You should also try http://bookdepository.com/ (rather than .co.uk). I haven't used them, but they're apparently part of the same company—but various books are cheaper from them than the other. I haven't used them personally (I have the .co.uk one... I was really happy with them, although it did seem odd to get all 15 books I ordered in one hit arriving individually over about a week!), but the friend who used them ended up ordering from both sites, because it was more cost-effective...

[alias_sqbr]

Huh, ok, thanks, I'll keep that in mind.

[emma-in-oz.livejournal.com]

Go Etsy!

http://www.indie.com.au/

http://www.madeit.com.au/index.asp

[alias_sqbr]

Oh they have some pretty stuff, thanks.

[stephiepenguin.livejournal.com]

I have had a good experience purchasing from NIT (http://www.nit.com.au/shop/Default.asp?c=253457). A little bit different from your requests but potentially something you would be interested in.

[alias_sqbr]

Absolutely, thanks.

[lauredhel.livejournal.com]

If you're looking for presents for young children (and a few other things, like beads and menstrual pads and hand-dyed yarn and quilting supplies and keyfobs and such) - check out Ozebaby (http://www.ozebaby.com.au/allstores.php), all woman-owned Australian cottage/crafting businesses.

[alias_sqbr]

Our internet is being shaped for the next few days and so the site won't load, but that sounds cool and I'll have to check it out.

[mexicanjewlizrd.livejournal.com]

Dealextreme.com
has everything you want, plus free shipping for everything, no matter the size or weight of the order.

[alias_sqbr]

See my reply to lauredhel above :)