Discount & General Merchandise Catalogue This Week in Australia

Three very different shops under one label

Discount and general merchandise is the catch-all drawer of Australian retail. Here it holds a warehouse club, a variety chain and a direct-response gadget seller, and they have almost nothing in common except that each puts out a catalogue.

Costco warehouses are wholesale cash-and-carry: you need a membership, you buy in bulk, and its catalogue is a short list of featured lines rather than a full range. The Reject Shop is discount variety, the place for homewares, party gear, stationery and seasonal bits that you pick up on the way past. Innovations catalogue is general merchandise, with a gadget-and-gift catalogue that has grown from its TV and mail-order roots, and right now it is in a closing-down sale.

How people actually use these catalogues

The queries Australians type tell the story. For Costco they ask for the catalogue this week, the specials this week, the opening hours and what a membership costs. For The Reject Shop it is the latest catalogue, plus seasonal versions: Easter, Christmas, even Halloween costumes.

That is the real difference from the weekly shop. Supermarket specials are about this Wednesday. A variety-store catalogue is closer to a planning tool: you look at it before a birthday, a school holiday or a long weekend and decide what you will need. AdsSOS collects the scans, so you can compare what each retailer is pushing without visiting three websites.

Costco: the one with a door fee

Costco is the odd one out because you must be a member before you walk in. The official membership page lists Gold Star at $65 a year and Executive at $130 a year. Payment is by cash, debit, Visa, Mastercard or Apple Pay, which matters if you are used to putting everything on a different card. Returns are generous for a store: Costco says it will refund for change of mind at any time, with a list of exceptions you should read before buying anything unusual.

There are 15 warehouses in Australia as of Time Out's February 2026 count, so for many people this is a planned trip, not a pop-in. That is why opening hours come up so often in searches. Hours can shift around public holidays, and they differ by state and warehouse, so check the warehouse page for your location rather than relying on a general rule.

The Reject Shop: ownership change, same shopping habit

The Reject Shop was acquired by the Canadian discount retailer Dollarama, a deal reported as completed in July 2025. Press coverage since then has talked about stores moving to the Dollarama name, so you may see both names in the next while. For shoppers, the practical points come from the retailer's own homepage: returns within 28 days, with proof of purchase needed for in-store returns, and Afterpay accepted at the till.

Its catalogues follow the calendar. Easter, Halloween and Christmas editions show up in searches because that is when people want costumes, decorations and wrapping in one cheap trip.

Innovations: read the notices before you order

This is the one to approach with care. Direct Group Pty Ltd, based at Frenchs Forest in New South Wales, runs Innovations and has a Closing Down Sale on. The retailer says it intends to close on 15 November, or earlier if stock sells out. During the sale, dispatch is temporarily 5 to 10 days. Returns need the item in original condition and packaging, the refund excludes delivery, and the phone number given is 1300 303 303. There is also a 110% credit note option valid for three years, though with a business winding down you should weigh up whether a credit note is something you would actually use.

Trade press, including Ragtrader, has reported on the closure. Treat any catalogue you find as a record of what was offered, and confirm on the Innovations site that an item is still available before you plan around it.

Your rights, whichever shop you pick

Store return policies are one thing, and the Australian Consumer Law is another. Consumer Affairs Victoria explains that a shop generally does not have to refund you just because you changed your mind, though many choose to. Faulty goods, items that do not match their description or that are not fit for purpose are covered by consumer guarantees no matter what the in-store sign says. That is a useful lens here: Costco and The Reject Shop offer voluntary change-of-mind terms on top of your rights, while a closing-down sale is exactly when you want to read the fine print.

Savings tactics that hold up

• Do the membership sums for Costco honestly. A $65 fee only makes sense if you will use the bulk lines and the other member benefits often enough.
• Use The Reject Shop's seasonal catalogues as a shopping list, then buy once, not in three small trips.
• Keep your receipt. The Reject Shop needs proof of purchase for in-store returns, and Innovations wants original packaging.
• Before queuing at a warehouse, check the hours for your site, particularly around public holidays.

Where to go next

If your list is more about food, the supermarkets hub covers the weekly specials cycle in more depth. For a wider look at what is on this week across the country, head to the Australia catalogues page, and then jump into the store pages above for the latest scans.