The Essential Utensil

Rude, will only shop there if I have no other option.I enquired and fell in love with chairs out the front which were around $80 a chair and there was a was a lot in stock,(easily 50 to 80), I then came in the a week later to purchase 4 and the price was now 109.95 per chair. I began to ask if the lady could do something with the price as it was only a week ago. A older looking lady then gave me a lecture speaking over the top of lady that was serving me, stating fuel prices and limited stock in the country, and gave me the would I ask for a discount at a fuel station talk. So rude.I then tried explain I wanted to buy local but could not justify paying over $120 more than I could buy them on line, the older looking lady continued to be rude and said good luck it won’t happen.It has happened and saved enough to buy a table and have change for a nice family take out meal. Hate to say it sometimes supporting local retail misses out due to service and price increases (pricing themselves out of the market)Lovely house warming for my husband and I. Shame it wasn’t a local buy.

Absolutely fantastic place, the only thing better than the outstanding range of goods in the store is the customer service. Whilst we live in Wollongong, we travel 2-3 a times a year to see our friends in Albury and always drop into the Essential Utensil. We never leave the store empty handed. We had an issue with a high end pan recently and it was resolved brilliantly and swiftly, which is the ultimate sign of a great business. These guys deserve more than the mere maximum of 5 stars. Looking forward to our next visit!

A well stocked store with a wide range and good customer service. The disappointing aspect of this business is the retail pricing. Following my visit to this store my research on prices for the items purchased, suggested I was paying well above average. My visit was an impulse and I accept the pricing I was charged. However I will not purchase at this store again without undertaking a price check elsewhere.The no refund policy also reinforces why I will look around for what I want before returning to this store.

Very good. Items I wanted were on 1/2 price special, so that made it even better. Also had a glasses cleaner that I had been chasing for some time and it was inexpensive. A full 5 / 5 as far as I'm concerned. Great to walk in and get a pleasant help can I help you" then she actually knew wherewhat I wanted was and got the answer to my question. Great place & atmosphere

Great product range, particularly for cake decorating and baking. However, customers do not need to be persistently harassed by staff. If you say you don't require assistance, that's where the inquiry should stop. Having been pestered half a dozen times by the same staff member, on my last visit I left with nothing while attempting to purchase product for the wake of an immediate family member. Her excuse - Management want us to ask customers if they need help because we had bad feedback. Here's a suggestion - If someone says they don't need assistance, leave them alone.

Always love shopping here. Everything is quality utensils. Things I didn't even know I needed.

Great range and service. Huge range of knives from all the major brands. Pots, pans, cups, glasses, jars, bottles, spoons, corkscrews, vacume sealers, meat slicers, coffee machines, chef's clothing, thingamajigs you name it they've got it. A room solely dedicated to the fine art of cake decorating. I found the prompt customer service to be extremely nice and helpful, but I did not feel pressured to buy and I took my time to have a really good look. I will be back.

I purchased a high end pan incorrectly as the information given to me was for a ceramic cooktop (not induction). Upon receiving new information that the rental apartment cooktop is actually induction, I promptly organised someone else to return it for me on my behalf within 24hrs of purchase. She was told that there was no refund “change of mind”, only if the item was damaged. Upon questioning the store policy she was told and shown a small perspex sign from behind the counter with a no refunds policy, which was never explained to me at the time of purchase. She spoke to the manageress/owner and was told that the item is automatically re-ordered and cannot be altered. There was no compromise or understanding from management. She unhappily left the shop with a store credit. Management was unrelenting and degrading to the point of saying that the no refund policy is in place to “stop people from wasting the staff’s time”.

Came in last week and as soon as I walked in the door I was blown away with the amount of useful and unique products that fill the shop. I came into buy a few things but came out with a whole lot more. The staff were lovely and helped me throughout my shopping too which is a grate bonus !