I'm returning to Perth from a visit in US (New York specifically) and I have an almost empty suitcase returning home.
What American only/hard to get outside items should I bring back? I'm thinking iconic foods or snacks, unique clothing or electronics which are cheaper here.
Any and all ideas are welcome!
I second this! Also got some great Sweet Tea flavoured vodka! The variety is fantastic over there
Jr Mints.
It's chocolate, it's peppermint, it's delicious.
.
.
.
It's very refreshing…………
I've heard of them but I've never even seen them in store
I got a box from Coles the other week as that store has a sort of 'international' candy section… they were alright…
And you can drop them into surgical patients
…
(Seinfeld)
How did this message get through the ox bargain spam filter?
I got them as a gift and I can say they're much better than Spam :P
But the intense hammy taste took over the nuts after a while.
Hawaiian Host are awesome though. About $4 US a box.
I found american tobacco the best, from the many countries i have visited,
can't say the same about their food though.
Oh, I can't comment on it since I haven't tried American not Australian tobacco, but that will make a good gift for a few friends of mine! Will have to check import laws on that one though.
"If you are aged 18 years or over you can bring 50 cigarettes or 50 grams of cigars or tobacco products duty-free into Australia with you. All tobacco products in accompanied baggage are included in this category, regardless of where or how they were purchased."
At a maximum of two packs, barely worth the effort.
They finally closed the 50 sticks loophole for cigars.
What a pity.
Full length Indian headdress. Pointy toe cowboy boots. Katy Perry.
I've really wanted to get some cowboy boots but I can't find good quality ones for any less than $300. And I'm not sure if I want to spend that much.
As for Katy Perry, if I try to bring her in a suitcase, I'm gonna hear her roar
Lol seems a good way to get a free trip to guantunamo, kidnapping people.
For me, probably, as sad as this is, it would be 'candy' bars. So many movies I've seen and they've been eating a chocolate bar that I can't get here.
Beyond that, I'd choose things that would remind me of my trip but are not things that I'd just put away and never use again. For instance, as weird as this is, I'd try and find a hand tool or similar, maybe a set square or tape measure that I can really only get from over there, so I can remember my trip, a mug would be the other thing I'd choose probably.
I wouldn't choose novelty things, but that's just me, as I guess I just don't see the point and end up throwing them away. :/
Candy bars aren't sad! Thinking about it they're definitely an American icon. Definitely gonna bring back some Twinkies now :)
Also nice idea on the practical souveniers, I'm just not a practical person so I don't know what I'd get.
Try one before you use your luggage space.
They may not suit your palette.
Most brands you've heard of will be cheaper in the states. Just hit up a supermarket (wholefoods, trader joes etc), a pharmacy (Walgreens etc) and an outlet mall. Designer clothes and accessories will be cheaper. I usually buy drugs from the pharmacy such as melatonin and pain killers. Supermarket will be for biscuits/sweets/packaged food like grits (NOT chocolate, disgusting).
Ahh thanks, I've not been to an outlet mall yet, but I've heard of things going for ridiculously cheap there. Thankfully I don't need any drugs but I guess I can ask family of they need anything brought over.
And I agree with you for their chocolate, it can be pretty terrible!
If you go to Woodbury Premium Outlets, I can bet your bag will be chokka blocka.
I'll have to look for up a Woodbury Premium Outlet then, thanks!
On the complete opposite end, I was amazed at the range they have in their dollar stores. It's basically discount coles/officeworks in there.
Clothing. I often buy enough stuff so that I don't have to shop locally for 4 years. Calvin Klein jeans for $17, Hurley and Aeropostale t-shirts for $12, bought a Porsche Design man bag half price last time too……
Where were you getting those prices? I haven't seen stuff that cheap except for during sales, and during those times it's ridiculously packed.
Alcohol if you drink, it's a lot cheaper over there. A bottle of vodka which costs $37 over here is only $10 or so over there.
I'll bring back as much as I can legally since it'll make for some good presents!
2.25 litres per adult is the limit.
Packet cake mixes - the Funfetti one is great :D
I've tried the pancakes here and honestly am not too much of a fan. Generally too spongey. But I'll give the Funfetti ones a go too, thank you :)
Bring back any of the Kardashian's
I'd prefer my life to remain drama free
Pretzel m&ms and clothes from American Eagle!
Pretzels - check
American Eagle - bald and free I'll have a look through their stuff
Big brand name shoes
I could imagine Trump saying "We have the biggest shoes.. The biggest shoes from the biggest brand names in the biggest stores. And we'll run the biggest discounts with the biggest sales. The biiiigest."
Statue of Liberty
She may be the symbol of freedom, but I doubt she's free
I will pay you $100 for two of these. As a detailing hobbyist, I've been impatiently waiting to get my hands on a tub.
Can't you use a mail forwarding address?
Looked into that a year ago. Too many fees and too much headache. I then though it'd be better to buy $150 USD worth from autogeek.net and get free international shipping but that was too much (6 tubs) when I would probably go through 1 tub/year
That should work out, the only problem is I'm not sure if it would arrive before my flight. Next day and 2 day shipping only counts business days
That would include postage to NSW 2176. Let me know if you do end up buying. Cheers.
Will let you know soon man! :)
I'm still sorting out whether I'll be back for Australia day or not
Clothes and booze. Lived in Canada for 4 years that was the only thing worth driving down to get, the rest… meh
A better sense of appreciation for the country you live in
It's astounding how so many of the things many Australians, I included, take for granted that even other western nations do not have. Healthcare, infrastructure and financial hardship support come to mind for me.
Infrastructure? Really?
You'd be surprised at how many potholes American roads have and how long they go unfilled. Also the lack of public toilets or facilities of any kind in the big cities (apart from Washington D.C.)
Infrastructure maintenance is a huge problem in the USA. They love making new roads, bridges etc and get the media hype and ribbon cutting photo ops. But almost all of it gets neglected after that.
@Michael15286: I gather you don't drive around Sydney much… I lived in the US for years (California) and Sydney roads got nuthin' on their roads
@educalifa: Sydney was truly a shock for me. Living in Perth, I thought our endless roadworks and occasional dodgy sidings meant we had bad roads, understandably too since we're less dense and so have less people per km of road.
One day I decided to do the drive around Australia. Thought it was a bit odd South Australian roads were a bit bumpier, but I reasoned more traffic passed on it and it had a similar population (and hence budget) as WA.
Melbourne had great roads.. So long as you were in the city. But roads could definitely get shoddy, especially out in the suburbs.
But when I got to Sydney. Wow. The first true, honest pothole I had ever seen, and it was on a freeway on ramp to boot. I was amazed such a busy road could ever have a pot hole, let alone such a big one.
Edit: :TL; DR Sydney has the worst roads in the country
@Michael15286: Don't you appreciate the width of their roads, width of driving lanes, expanse of unlimited free parking and horizontal malls with less parking troubles? Parallel parking isn't a compulsion there in most of the cities - there are parking bays literally everywhere, even on road-sides.
@virhlpool: Are you talking about Sydney or LA? Because I do love the massive roads in LA and the big parking bays. But I really don't like their drivers. At least in California, I've found many drivers view traffic rules more as guidelines as to actual laws. Straddling two lanes, tailgating and cutting people off, no indicators(serious it's like 1/10 drivers who indicate) consistently going through red lights. It makes for a hectic experience as both driver, passenger and pedestrian.
@Michael15286: I am talking about roads and parking in the US in generally. Almost everywhere in the US.
Heard of Nordic/ Scandinavian countries? Just sayin'. I appreciate what we got though but not to be ignorant.
Is there sales tax on clothes in New York?
There is no sales tax on an item of clothing or footwear that costs less than $110. An item of clothing or footwear that costs $110 or more is subject to the full 8.875% tax rate.
Nice info, it matches what I've heard other people here say
Bring back Donald Trump so that he can make Australia great again!
Cheese in a tube.
Yep, cheese in a can is a fascinating, if slightly disturbing, product. Not stocked in Australia so it's a good item to bring back. Room temp stable, so you'll find it next to the crackers section.
One thing to note however, the cans will cause your luggage to be opened by the TSA to inspect them. I had 4 calling cards left by the TSA in my suitcase, but nothing went missing and the suitcases all arrived on time on USA domestic and international flights.
I will definitely bring back a few cans of the stuff, it's sooo weird but kinda tasty
Shop at a Ross Store
Ross Dress for Less is about more — more stores, more brands, and more fashions for the family and home at 20-60% off department stores prices every day.
+1 for this. This is the store that made me have to pay more for extra luggage weight haha!
True that, and also TJ Max.. much cheaper and with more variety as compared to their cousin TK Max here. TJ Max would be a direct competitor for 'Ross - Dress for Less' actually, I reckon.
I reckon TJ Max sits above Ross
Coco. ;)
Bring Trump back with you . Lets make Austraya Great Again !!!
Memories
Spend your money on experiences you will remember the rest of your life
Thanks, memories are truly priceless. Thankfully I can take as many as I like back to Australia. No restrictions on memories.. yet
Although some things you are not alowed to think/do in the first place in USA
Thinking of Disney and Universal Studio parks.. Orlando!
Microsoft visual studio, or any ms software. It's double the price here.
I mean its not like you can buy those online or anything
Maybe he was talking about an 80 8nch Surface Hub worth $40,000 in Oz
While I've seen a few of these surface studio and hubs here at some very cool prices, they're still both too much for my budget and too big for my suitcase
any ms software
Clothes and shoes.
Picked up 3 pairs of Reeboks for $99.
Various assortments of business attire and polo shirts.
Did a lot of my shopping at the outlet malls in Las Vegas.
Quick search on google found similar ones around NYC.
Check out www.jerseygardens.com, New Jersey also has lower sales tax.
Thanks for doing the research for me haha! I always wanted to go to Jersey but everyone in NYC is pretty critical of that part of town.
Probably only critical cause it's not part of New York. You should be able to get a bus from the Port Authority in NY to Jersey Gardens from memory.
Good luck!
Haha I thought it was just a joke but there's a decent amount of rivalry for basically the same city across the river. But thank you :)
Well, if you're going to NY chances are you'll be landing at Newark which is NJ anyway ;)
Haha I did land at Newark, but I'll be leaving JFK. Like a real New Yorker :p
Southern Comfort 100 Proof - not overly sweet like regular SC.
Grapenuts breakfast cereal.
Grapenuts breakfast cereal sounds sweet!
American Bikies
American Bikies have got nothing on Chopper Read!
Those stupid red MAGA hat.
Will grab one as a part of american history ahah! Also saw a massive pro/anti trump rally today. Really fun to watch as an outsider
Just dont wear the maga hat and go to the wrong rally :)
Hahaha don't worry about that, I'm not gonna get involved with any political sides while I'm here
Surprised at the number of people saying chocolate.
American chocolate is vomit inducing.
I disagree. I was going to say Seattle chocolates are really good. I find them a bit expensive, but really really good.
I'll have to grab some when and if I go to Seattle!
You can find them in whole foods supermarket
Any specific brand from Seattle?
Also, are Lindt chocolates any cheaper there?
Totally agree, generally speaking it's absolute shite. Someone told me it's because they can classify their products chocolate with a much lower % of Cocoa. I find the after taste similar to vomit.
I was pretty disappointed with Hershey's chocolate, but there are a few things which taste decent. Generally the chocolates which have other things inside them can taste ok.
Bought Hawaiian moonshine when we were in Hawaii. I'd save you're duty free for something nicer. It's basically relabeled metho.
The bottle looks cool