Myer Ranked Australia's Favourite Department Store

Canstar's survey places Myer first ahead of Harris Scarfe and David Jones as the retailer posts a record loss.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Retail

Isometric editorial illustration of empty wooden display shelves with folded textiles and an open cardboard shipping container in muted oxblood, teal, and mustard tones. — Myer was named Australia's favourite department store in a Canstar survey, ahead of Harris Scarfe and David Jones, as the retailer reported a $276.5 million statutory loss. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you feel department stores still deliver good value and service for your money?

Myer has been named Australia's favourite department store in a Canstar survey, beating Harris Scarfe, which won the previous three years, while David Jones placed third. The result comes as Myer reported a statutory net loss of $276.5 million for the 2025-26 financial year.

Why it matters

The survey highlights shoppers' priorities of product range, layout and customer service even as department store operators shrink their footprints and shift towards online sales. Consumer expert Eden Radford said service has been slipping, with over one-third of consumers feeling it has declined.

Myer's $276.5 million statutory net loss for 2025-26 is the second-largest in its 126-year history, while it operates 56 stores across Australia. The Canstar survey does not disclose its sample size, and the extraction does not say whether further closures are planned.

The players

Myer

Australian department store chain that topped the Canstar survey and reported a $276.5 million loss for 2025-26.

Canstar

Australian consumer research firm whose annual satisfaction survey ranked the department stores.

David Jones

Long-established Australian department store operator that placed third and received emergency funding.

The details

Canstar rated department stores on overall satisfaction, product range, layout, customer service, value for money and checkout experience. Myer has reduced the size of some remaining stores as it focuses on building online sales.

January: Myer closed its Roselands store and ended its 17-year partnership with Mecca.
April 2020: Spotlight Group bought Harris Scarfe out of administration.
Late October: David Jones received $10 million in emergency funding from a senior lender.
30 October: David Jones missed its deadline to file accounts with ASIC.

Market Landscape

Myer's Canstar win, after Harris Scarfe's three consecutive years at the top, follows Spotlight Group's 2020 rescue of Harris Scarfe out of administration. The result underlines how department store rankings have shifted as traditional chains shrink their store networks.

Shoppers choosing where to buy can weigh Canstar's ratings for product range and checkout against the reduced store footprints. Those prioritising customer service may find it has slipped, according to Canstar's findings.

The takeaway

Department store satisfaction rests most on product range and layout, so shoppers can judge a store by those qualities before assuming a ranking reflects service. Checking store locations before travelling is also worthwhile, given recent closures.