Heading there on a work trip next week. Will be looking for the odd bargain?
What goods are significantly cheaper in the US at the mo?
droodle on 18/09/2017 - 12:13
Comments
Have you been living under a ro?
That was terr
Not re it was not
Airline Flights to Guam or North of South Korea.
Everything…..
Pretty much everything. Electronics, most clothing lines, jewelery; anything imported into Australia.
Tax, tarrifs and gst are awesome ay? On top of income tax; once we purchase an item we may be as lucky to be taxed over 70%. Fair go!!!
While I understand you are sharing the popular sentiment, it isn't especially true for many items.
I don't think there are any items except cigarettes and alcohol that have very high tax in Australia, certainly none at 70%. Almost all tariffs have been removed, and 10% GST isn't especially high globally.
Bear in mind the US has sales taxes in a lot of places, and a tourist can't often get access to the most sharply priced items (e.g. claiming cashback on tech stuff).And, of course, the taxes pay for things like public transport and health care that are expensive or missing in the US.
Our healthcare is maimed each year while welfare spend remains roughly the same or increases (as a percentage of nation tax income).
Pbs drugs are constantly on the rise while people kick a stink about drug testing the qelfare crowd…
Both these examples are prime reasons why the US has issues.
They spend close to double what our total health spend is as %GDP, and fail to provide adequate care for 1/3rd of their people.
Their drug prices are absurdly high because it is the law their that they have to pay RRP for Medicaid/Medicare drugs.It frustrates me that people make posts where their comments are not even internally consistent.
We are letting medicare slide in terms of spending and what it covers to keep our welfare well funded.
Our drug prices are rising while many services are being struck off the bulk billing list. As a result many clinics are converting to private; but at least people will still get their "fair go" with sum free guvment money right?
@eggmaster:
I'm not a medical industry person, but I wasn't aware that any items that were covered by Medicare are no longer covered. Can you list any examples?GP bulk billing is at a reasonably high rate, but the federal coalition government has frozen bulk billing rebates for some time, so many doctors are considering ceasing bulk billing for GP services. I'm not sure what "but at least people will still get their "fair go" with sum free guvment money right" means.
Considering your concerns around the highest rate of income tax, it is a little disingenuous to also demand bulk billing for services as an equity issue.
What gets taxed at 70%?
Say you have income taxed at ~49%; the highest incoem tax rate.
Add another ~3% for medicare levy.
Now try buy say a pair of jeans or a new laptop. (Literally any brand name); observe the gst 10%; plus tarifs and import that make up the american/australian delta. (Many jeans say which are 200aud + in au are only 100 aud in america). Realising another 50% taxation on the sub 50% of the income that is left gives a net 70%+ taxation total.
No wonder people go for grey imports.
I'm not so sure I agree 100% with your policework there Lou
@eggmaster:
Sure, I'll bite because your figures are so sloppy.
Your income tax is progressive, if you are at the start of the 45% tax bracket (not 49%) you pay 30.1% in tax on your $180,000 income. Add another 2% for medicare levy or $3600.
Even if you earn $1m per annum, your tax paid is only 44.3% inc the medicare levy.
Source:
https://www.ato.gov.au/rates/individual-income-tax-rates/Assuming you are really paid $1m p.a. and you buy a pair of Levi's.
The tariff, I think, is 0%. Although I may be reading it incorrectly and it is 5%:
Source:
https://www.border.gov.au/Busi/cargo-support-trade-and-goods…The GST is levied on the sale price at 10%.
So if the jeans are $100, the max tariff and GST is $15. If you earn $180,000 total tax including income, tariff and GST on the $100 purchase is 47%. If you earn $1m, total is 59.3%.I can't make allowance if you can't buy jeans for less than double the cost in America, I presume you are too busy earning your $1m+ income to make it worthwhile to shop around.
Clothes as you can shop reverse season offers the best bang for buck.
Some electronics, especially specialist stuff that isn't readily available outside the US.
I actually think most things can be had here for competitive prices if you bargain hunt.Heaps of brand name things you wouldn't even think of. The USA hasnt embraced no name Chinese crap the way we have. Their brand name products are often the same price as our no name store brands.
- Zippos are $10 at Walmart, good luck getting them under $50 here.
- Leatherman pocket tools are waaay cheaper. The Wingman is about $35 at home depot, $100+ here.
- Anything to do with the camping or outdoors seems to be way cheaper and better quality.
- Any sort of name brand clothes might be half the price. Levis are about $50, whereas they're $120+ here.
- Silly things like phone chargers, USB cables, etc are much cheaper for brands. Whereas JB might charge $30 for a microUSB cable the same thing will be $10.
- Tools are much cheaper. Stanley, Estwing, etc are much cheaper.
- Stihl/Husquavarna saws are maybe 60% of the price. Accessories are much cheaper.You can get Levi's at Costco here for like $40
Limited sizes and styles though. Levis has several ranges of quality. I guarantee that Costco Levis are not the same as ones in most other stores.
Limes are like $1/kg
Big bunch of cilantro for $1Here it's bloody $1 for just one tiny ass lime, and herbs are a few bucks for a measly amount
For those wondering, cilantro = coriander.
I suggest signing up for a free trial of Amazon Prime and have goods delivered to your hotel.
Is it possible to do that? I've always thought about it but thought it might be an issue for them in terms of security. I'm guessing it's only doable once you have checked in and can be assured your package will arrive before departure.
Yes agree with this! Ordered a whole variety of mason jars and lids while I was over there. Complimentary next day delivery with Amazon Prime was incredible. Got the ANZ travel rewards card just for this trip and it was brilliant.
Bitcoin
I always go into a Ross's Dress for Less, some serious clothing bargains there but you can't be guaranteed what you'll find
Alcohol is much cheaper even in local Walmarts and drug stores than it is duty free in Australia, same with cigs
This!!
'Ross' is awesome! also Marshall's i think is the same sort of store (if you see any)
These are like discount on-top of discount store - where they sell name brands like Tommy and Ralph for less than a quarter of what we pay here.The only tip i have is don't 'over buy' for your needs, otherwise you'll end up with a spare closest full of unopened and new clothes that wont fit your size anymore… :(
Walmart for booze
At 80c / USD that makes all the US prices at least 25% more for us. There isnt much of a saving really
Shoes!! designers brands clothes etc. iPhone too.
But foreign exchange might offset the difference in some cases.It really depends where you are going in the States however most states will have outlet malls for almost all major brands.
Labor day weekend just finished there so you may find some places still carrying overhang stock.
There is a chain called Mills outlets
http://www.simon.com/mall/ontario-mills
You can also search here
https://www.outletbound.com/outlet-malls
Items usualy heavily discounted compared to here include
- clothes - fashion and everyday wear
- software eg Acrobat is significantly cheaper than here
- sports equipment - tennis racquets, skis (when on sale they drop them as much as 70-80% to make way for new stock)
- some electrical (but beware of voltage as USA runs 120v)
- iPhones and iPadsIt's really all about timing because when things really go on sale the prices are a steal!
Of more interest may be clothes or electronics that you can't buy here or are only USA market items. So if you're looking for something unique you'll find it somewhere in the States! For example if you're a mickey mouse fan you will find clothes or t-shirts there that you can't buy here. (Simple example).
And use paypal or your credit card to rack up points. It is safer than carrying a stack of cash!
Guns,meth
never seen someone use mo as moment