Eastland Shopping Centre — Attraction in Melbourne

As a man of precision, intellect, and an insatiable need for logical consistency, I find Eastland Shopping Centre to be a mostly commendable establishment, boasting an array of retail and culinary delights that satisfy my diverse consumer needs. However, as my eidetic memory serves, perfection remains an elusive concept hence, the deduction of one star. But we shall get to that.

First and foremost, Coles within Eastland deserves a notable mention for its consistently rewarding half-price deals. Like a well-executed scientific experiment, every visit yielded predictable, quantifiable joy, an experience I rarely expect from the chaos that is grocery shopping. The availability of my preferred native food items ensures that my meticulously calculated dietary requirements remain uncompromised.

Additionally, the diversity of products available within the shopping centre is an undeniable testament to its retail efficiency. From makeup to various other essentials, the selection is vast enough to accommodate even the most particular of shoppers (and if I say that, it carries weight). The ability to procure such items without resorting to online shopping, where delivery incompetence is rampant, is a rare blessing.

Furthermore, the entertainment sector of Eastland Shopping Centre is an indisputable success. The cinema provides a gratifying visual and auditory experience, though, of course, I always ensure I attend screenings at optimal times to avoid the lamentable presence of loud chewers and serial whisperers (if I wanted an audio commentary, I would request one).

The food court is, at minimum, a functional hub of gastronomic sustenance, and at best, an arena of enjoyable culinary selections. Whether it is a strategically planned meal or a spontaneous indulgence in gelato, I have seldom faced disappointment in this domain. I have derived great pleasure from indulging in the ice-cold delight that is gelato, a treat that, unlike many other aspects of this world, does not offend my sensibilities.

And now, we arrive at the reason this establishment is denied its rightful place among the pantheon of perfection. Despite all its admirable qualities, Eastland Shopping Centre fails in one critical aspect:

A brief yet unacceptable queue at Coles, or an inconsiderate human obstacle impeding my efficient movement through the premises? The mere fact that I, a man of unparalleled intellect, must make do with minor inconveniences is an affront to reason itself. If the multiverse theory holds, there exists a universe where Eastland meets my every expectation. Sadly, this is not that universe.

Until such time that Eastland engineers a system wherein my every visit is met with bespoke perfection, it shall remain at four stars. A commendable place? Certainly. A beacon of flawless execution? Not quite. But hope remains. I shall return, and they shall have another chance to achieve...

✅ Connected to Ringwood station via outdoor walkway ✅ Catered towards suburban families. Lots of family friendly stores for your back to school gear, play centers like Timezone, Cinema, BigW, Target, Myer, large Coles and Woolies ✅ 1st 3 hours free parking. ✅ Very spacious walking areas. You could maneuver wheelchairs and mobility aids easily. A great place to get your step counts. Lots of walking from one end to the other. ✅ Tenants appear to be more budget friendly than what is offered at Chadstone (reject shop). Surprised to see a lot of tradie centric shops as well - hi vis clothing, steel cap boots etc. ✅ Waterman co-working space occupying the 3rd floor. ✅ Large 24/7 Anytime Fitness and GoodLife gym on the 3rd floor. ✅ Outdoor dining area with mid range dining options that connects to the train station.

❌ Lack of toilets. Not sure if this was due to lack of signage or planning. The toilets looked poorly maintain as well. Some had missing toilet seat covers and puddles of questionable liquid around the toilet seat. ❌ Asian grocer is mid. Limited options and expensive. Definitely need more ethnic stores. ❌ Planning of the grocery shopping area could be better. ❌ Confusing layout which means getting lost frequently for non locals. Not a good place to come if you're looking for something specific and you don't know where to go. Didn't see any directories or human concierge stations. ❌❌❌❌ This is the worst part - everything closes at 5pm except on Thursdays when it...

I rang customer service on Thursday to see if they had a mobility scooter available. After I was hung up on twice, a female answered and said I could not reserve one, I just had to get there and see if one was available. Given I am disabled and cannot walk very far at all, this was not ideal but we drove there. The customer service desk has been moved from near the car park, to the centre of the shops, so to get a scooter they have to drive it to me. She said they couldn’t do that because they were busy, ya know! They may be busy but that is no reason to be rude or dismissive to customers. I rang again when we were close to get help with directions. I was hung up on 5 times and never did get an answer. We were in a huge queue to get into the centre, perfectly understandable for this time of year but worried about not being able to get a scooter, we decided to head for Doncaster. We had a whole different experience there. The customer service lady was very happy to help. Tracey said they have 3 concierge desks, each with scooters and gave us clear directions. A vast difference to the rude person in Eastland who didn’t want to know. We will go to Doncaster in future. Eastland missed out on our huge spending spree, which wouldn’t affect them much but if more people let them know how unhelpful their staff is, maybe they will make it easier for...