About to go stateside - what to buy ?

dominatrix1

dominatrix1

dominatrix1

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10 Jan 2006
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Hi, Im about to go to the states and was just wondering if people could give me some tips as to what i could buy while im there that you cant get over here / or something i can buy there which is much cheaper then it is over here ?

thanks
 
What a vague thread.

Plumbing supplies, gasoline and new cars.

On a more serious note pretty much the only thing worth bringing back is clothing, which is often considerably cheaper there than it is here. Things like Ugg Boots for example - £200 here, $200 there.
 
Levis are always a good shout, can be had for $20-30 a pair in sales or outlets, the idea of paying 70 quid in the UK for them is pretty ridiculous :p As a rule at the very least you end up with direct USD:GBP prices so with sales etc on top you can get some excellent deals on clothes.

Some electronics can work out cheaper but you face things like warranty issues and $ signs on keyboards and suchlike :p
 
Macbooks and some camera lenses. Both have international warranty and the only difference with mackbooks is one or two keys at most. Obviously only worth it if you were planning on buying them in the first place...
 
neil_g said:
because customs arent as stupid as they look these days? ;)
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How exactly would customs know that any unpacked goods you have with you were purchased there?

We got an iPad Mini last time we were out. Saved about £80, not too bad. Unpacked it, brought back in hand luggage, job done.
 
postbox said:
They still wouldn't tax you for something you are wearing just because it looked new - only a fool would keep the packaging in their luggage. Besides, it was a gift from Cousin Hank.
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AJK said:
How exactly would customs know that any unpacked goods you have with you were purchased there?

We got an iPad Mini last time we were out. Saved about £80, not too bad. Unpacked it, brought back in hand luggage, job done.
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youve not heard of photographers getting stopped at customs on the suspicion of trying to import kit and wanting proof of prior purchase then?
 
Yeah it is unlikely you will get stung but on an unlucky day you can get pulled over in the green channel and if the guy is a Jobsworth or had a row with the Mrs, you will fold under professional questioning.
 
Go into an eat all you want diner & fill your suitcases with side salad, Win.
 
neil_g said:
youve not heard of photographers getting stopped at customs on the suspicion of trying to import kit and wanting proof of prior purchase then?
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Not at all, though I mainly know amateur photographers who travel rather than professionals. But perhaps this is more of a problem from/to certain destinations, or at certain airports? Or, I suspect, if you're openly carrying a particularly high value of goods, rather than a single new watch or piece of personal electronic equipment.

Efour said:
Yeah it is unlikely you will get stung but on an unlucky day you can get pulled over in the green channel and if the guy is a Jobsworth or had a row with the Mrs, you will fold under professional questioning.
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It worries me that customs wouldn't have anything better to do! I mean, if I bring back 10 new, boxed, top-of-the-range iPads, I agree I should be stopped. Definite avoidance going on there. A single piece or two of equipment, totalling around or just over the exemption value? Well, seems like a risk worth taking there; doesn't seem like there's a great deal of intent above and beyond trying to save a few quid.
 
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I don't think I have proof of purchase of many things I wear on my hols that I've genuinely bought in the UK - including that pair of new looking sunnies, watch, trainers, wallet, phone etc - who takes all their receipts abroad with them?
 
Something you want? I'm looking at a camera, going stateside in a few weeks I checked the price here and there.

Nearly £60 cheaper there! So I'll just wait a few weeks. And as Fox said, clothes. I plan on taking next to nothing with me and just buying new clothes.
 
Most stuff is more or less the same, especially with the awful exchenge rate at the moment. A few points -

Generally its the 'American' manufactured stuff/ brands that are much better value. Anything thats not is usually same price as here, so look to be buying Ralph Lauren, Levi's, Tommy Hilfigir, DKNY, cK.

Some electronics like Apple products, GoPro cameras, games consoles etc. are cheaper and perhaps worth buying if you reaaally want to.

Different states and cities have quite big fluctuations in price due to different taxes. I.e NY City is way more expensive than say most of Florida.

Dont just 'buy' stuff for the sake of buying stuff....its not 1980 anymore, we can pretty much buy everything we want from any country whilst sitting in our pants browsing the internet....Just enjoy your holiday! :p
 
MAPLE SYRUP

seriously, i brought 3 huge bottles back as its $2 there for a litre and its £5-6 for a 500ml bottle here.
 
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