What should i buy whilst in USA?

che_97 on 08/06/2013 - 18:04

I will be in the USA (la/miami/nyc) next month and i was thinking about things that i could buy.
I am really only interested in things with huge discrepancies between Aus and USA.
Eg i was looking at a ps Vita but i have seen it cheaper here than there so im not all that interested any more.

I have quite a lot of luggage allowance so i was also thinking about things that have stupid shipping ( small items where shipping kills the deal)

Clothes was another option, as brand name clothes are cheaper

any other ideas?

i like video games/gadgets, home theatre stuff if that helps

Thanks

Travel

Comments

  • Gina Rinehart on 09/06/2013 - 01:51

    You could always take advantage of the cheap alcohol and use the 2.2(2.25?) litre allowance upon coming back to Australia. If you're going to buy it here anyway, may as well get it for half price over there (or even less sometimes).

    Clothes are quite cheap over there, I hear you can get a really good pair of jeans for ridiculously less than you can here (like Levi's, etc). I don't know much about it all though as I haven't visited the US.

    On a side note, you could buy adobe creative suite :P

  • PlasticSpaceman on 09/06/2013 - 13:30
    +1

    A Neato? Can get the XV-11 for US$219 (http://www.walmart.com/ip/Neato-XV-11-Robotic-All-Floor-Vacu…). Looking at AUD$580 here (http://aurobo.com.au/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=24&pr…). Can have them sent over through the likes of aimtofind (eg http://www.aimtofind.com/neato-robotics-xv-12-robotic-all-fl… - different price but will pricematch) or buyhappier (http://www.buyhappier.com/neato-xv-12-automatic-vacuum-clean…). Note that there are all sorts of different model numbers, but for the most part they are exactly the same other than colour and accessories. Anyhow, would save yourself maybe US$80 in shipping….. so perhaps get two so you have spare parts, or sell one on eBay… ;-)

    • squeeb on 09/06/2013 - 14:47

      How good are they?

      • PlasticSpaceman on 09/06/2013 - 17:40

        They seem to have a pretty good reputation. Most who have them think the roombas and their like are more toys. There have been some issues with them that make you think a warranty would be good, but most issues also seem to have fixes. Ask me again in about a week - I bought an XV-21 from aimtofind few hours ago… ;-)

      • PlasticSpaceman on 15/06/2013 - 16:44

        OK - arrived on Friday…. just cleaned the ground floor - mainly floorboards with some carpet including a woolly shaggy thing. Does sound a bit like a jet engine starting up, but it's actually not too loud - it's quieter than a normal vacuum cleaner. Stopped halfway, recharged itself, then did the rest. Not good enough to throw away the manual vac, and didn't go everywhere, but good enough to mean definitely won't need to vacuum anywhere near as much myself if I set it up to run on a regular basis. Only lightly tapped some furniture whilst running, as opposed to the random bumping 'bots out there, and filled the bin. Also just found out was running a slightly older revision of firmware, so have updated and may do an even better job next time it runs. Overall impressed with it & definite recommend. Would hesitate spending $800 on it, but is worth $400.

    • che_97 on 10/06/2013 - 21:47

      thanks for the suggestion. i'll look into it

  • MITM on 10/06/2013 - 22:19

    Hard shell suitcases to bring all your shopping home in.
    Guessing you won't take much from home, maybe just enough for carry on, till you get to the shops.

    • che_97 on 10/06/2013 - 23:12

      so funny that you mention this. i'm lucky enough to have been lent one large hardshell. im putting a smaller suitcase inside the big one. we are allowed 2 24kg pieces each ( me and my gf) so i have all this allowance and nothing to fill it with. i guess its a nice problem to have :)

      • altomic on 11/06/2013 - 03:43

        luggage allowance - recently went to KL/Sing/HK with mrs altomic. took 19 kgs over. returned with 39kgs.

        it adds up sooooo quicklly.

  • rmamila on 11/06/2013 - 09:58

    Almost everything is cheaper over there. I have only experience living in Atlanta, GA and Columbus, OH. When I moved here in 2008 even the LCD TV's here are easily 3 times more expensive. Same for other electronics. However now price difference must be low for most electronics.
    Still branded cloths, shoes, Sunnies, etc are much cheaper over there. The Nike shoes I bought from there is closer to 4 times in here.
    The other thing is that, if you can find specials or even a retail shop showing the banner "Sale" or "Discounted" they will be genuinely discounted prices and normally damn cheap for us. It took long time for me to adjust my brain to accept the "Closing down sale" and "Discounted" banners in here after moving here.
    I could still remember a closing down sale banner I saw at a place in Oakleigh for my first 3 years in here. Once I went to the place to check the prices and found that there were ridiculous. Hope they managed to close it down after 3 years. It can be the same shop operating there even now but just without the banner. Sales can be that genuine in here.
    Once I heard about a $500 cash back on a Acer laptop from HN. I took a printout of it from HN web site before leaving work on Friday. Went to the store on Saturday morning. The new listed price was exactly 500 more from the normal price. I had to argue with the store manager for a long time before I bought it for the price they had listed on their web site previous night.
    If you manage to find any specials in US they will be genuine. Specially the Thanks giving sale over there.. prices are dirt cheap. In here they just have many banners and more sales on the day. You have to shop a week after to see the real price.

    • che_97 on 11/06/2013 - 15:06

      Thank very much for your opinion. i have been thinking about some electronic gadgets. but i have seen on amazon and some other deal site that the price difference isn't what it used to be. my thinking is that if i can buy it here for a similar price +- 20% i'd prefer to buy it here ( faster shipping). but thanks again for your input, much appreciated.

  • altomic on 11/06/2013 - 12:50

    if you want a skateboard/snowboard then get it there. we get gouged in aus big time.

    • che_97 on 11/06/2013 - 15:06

      thanks but snow/skateboards aren't really my hobbies. good to know though

  • andy19363 on 11/06/2013 - 15:31
    -1

    If you need to ask on a public forum "what should I buy?", then you clearly don't need anything….
    Put the money in your super, pay a bit off the mortgage, (or start saving for one), or give it to charity.

    • che_97 on 11/06/2013 - 15:35

      you make a great point andy19363. i agree with you. i'm not looking at blowing all my cash on stupid stuff. however i'll be on holiday and i am trying to inform myself of some things to by that might be more worthwhile in the USA rather than AUS. truth be told i am very grateful for all that i have and don't need much. i like to buy nice things, last time i went to hong kong i bought my ps3 ( jan 2007) and i was so happy because i was one of the first in aus to have one. i know its lame but i still have it and often think about how great of a purchase it was for me. i was hoping to buy something like that.

  • MITM on 11/06/2013 - 22:23

    Cuban cigars while in Miami.

  • Cattaby on 12/06/2013 - 16:32
    +1

    I just got back from a month long trip in the US =)

    Honestly, things weren't as cheap as I thought they'd be (although still less than Australia). Clothes in general were cheaper (especially shoes and active wear - if you're a runner you should definitely stock up on adorable sportswear!)

    Food and alcohol is priced well below Australian costs and you'll get a lot more for the equivalent money's worth as well. American junk food also makes a great gift to bring back to people. If you find a Trader Joe's, our default gift for our friends was Trader Joe's Speculoos Cookie Butter (http://www.amazon.com/Trader-Joes-Speculoos-Cookie-Butter/dp…) as it pretty much summed up America :)

    To get your best bang for buck you're better off ordering online (from Amazon, CoolStuffInc etc) and then having it shipped to your American address. We went over expecting to find cheap video and board games and left quite disappointed in 1. the selection and 2. the pricing. Guess I was just too used to online prices.

    Probably not relevant to you, but what I also did was back a few Kickstarter projects with the aim of them being delivered to my sister's place in America so I could bring them back with me (as the international shipping on them can be ridiculous). However the timing of this didn't quite work out for me unfortunately…

  • Justinryran15 on 12/06/2013 - 23:31
    +1

    Basketball jerseys are must-buy for me. Depends on your interest though

  • branners on 16/06/2013 - 15:52

    My 2 cents worth…
    Many things in the USA are cheaper, especially if you plan.
    Electronics are only marginally so. In the past I have usually upgraded laptops and saved a fair bit, but the costs are nearly the same now. But, if you plan properly, and you can shop in the states with no sales tax (DE, MT, NH) you can make savings. Be careful to get units with universal power usage and international warranties.
    Clothes, much cheaper. Bear in mind, the USA is a season ahead of us, so if you are in the States in say July-August, you will find summer stuff on sale, just as Spring is coming here. Also, some major stores (like Macy's) offer international visitors a 10% discount card, and that applies on top of any Sale discounts. Jast ask for directions at the first counter you come to. I have bought some bargains; shoes (Timberlands, $190 here for $33!), jeans (Levis $30 in the factory story in SF), a $600 overcoat for $85.
    Factory outlets; well worth a full day if shopping is a priority. Look for Premium Outlets; they are all over the US and near major cities (LA, NYC, Vegas has 2!) In fact, plan to visit them early in your trip and take your stuff across in old crappy suitcases and buy new ones!
    Makeup; my wife routinely buys a couple of years' worth, it is up to 70% cheaper than here and if you spend big, they tend to chuck in a lot of extras.
    Food is cheap but it seems REALLY cheap, until you factor in things like Sales Tax and a 15% tip, so a $15 meal really costs $20. Also watch out for things like discounted set-price meals; I once ordered a $9 pasta in Little Italy and when I added a bread roll and a class of house red, that added $16 to the bill.

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