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!
Man if that's the case I might buy a mechanical keyboard here! My old one is good but it doesn't have RGB (yes, I'm part of the reason why the gaming peripheral industry is now a rainbow)
jv
She's in the US?
she?
Jv is a she, despite her display picture
always though of jv to be a lot like this guy: http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/sites/ito/files/troll.png
i guess its now just the same with maybe slightly bigger tittys
Attachments for KitchenAid Stand Mixer
I never get too attached to kitchen mixers
Hot Cheetos
Yes Yes Yes.
I wish we could freely buy these here like our free American borthers.
I thought it would be disgusting when I first saw it, but the molten goodness of Cheetos is quite the flavor.
Stop back through Columbia for the best deal on headphones
Is this a reference to something?
FYI it isn't Columbia, it is Colombia. Next time get your facts straight before making a joke.
Ok fail on my part in several ways, any chance I could get away with claiming I was talking about Columbia University?
A pair of discounted Maui Jim? They never go on sale here.
Sweet, always wanted to get a nice pair of sunnies without paying $300+
Cosmetics, like MAC, and perfumes.
I'm told there are amazing discounts on cosmetics in the US but I have no idea what to buy. Not that I would use cosmetics either way
Walk around a drugstore and you will find a hundred things you could buy at a fraction of the price here. They are like a mix up between a Priceline, a 7-11 and a mini-Big W. Also do Walmart. Outlet malls.
Over the counter drugs are so cheap there. Generally speaking you will get a bottle of 100 for less of the price of a pack of 12 here. Sleeping aids are good to pick up (1st gen antihistamines).
Fortunately, being young and healthy means I find no real use for any drugs. But I've been in Walmart once and had a sensory overload with the range of products and the sheer size of the store.
Cosmetics are way cheaper too, and skin products. My sister knows about all the standard prices of these things and was thrilled about what they had in drug stores in the states. Grab some brand name moisturisers, etc. Depending on what you or your friends/family use.
I asked my sister if she wanted anything cosmetics wise, but she reckons I'd break them on the way back to Australia
No faith in you!
I've never managed to break a cosmetics item in travel. If it's glass, wrap it in some socks. If it's plastic, just put it inside a plastic bag in case it bursts. Stuff like mascara or lipstick is very unlikely to break.
Also note I was able to send a big box full of clothes back via USPS for around $40.
more info?
USPS is their post office.
yeah i get that - but how so cheap? was it super light? everytime i've tried it's been US$200+
Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.
I will look into this, thanks for the heads up!
Apple watch
They're really expensive tho. Apple has really made true the notion "Time is money"
Target over there is supposed to be amazing too.
I've heard. All these video game deals there and at best buy are making me want to bring them over but I don't want to return from the holiday and just play video games haha
WD easystore 8TB from bestbuy :)
I bought a 2tb portable for much the same price as in Aus, I think I need to wait for a sale.
OP, anything particular you are looking for? I find branded goods from Nordstrom and Bloomindale are much cheaper.
I'm looking for good quality, but still nice looking jeans. Other than that, anything that would be nice to wear as I don't have much of a wardrobe back home.
If fashion is your game then you can't go wrong with Nordstrom and Bloomingdale then.
Thanks for the recommendations! :)
Twinkies!
I had one, and while it's not to my taste I completely understand why people love them. Basically two pieces of sponge cake with cream squeezed between then the whole thing is deepfried.
Yeah they're a guilty pleasure. Sort of weird mock cream. Mind you I bet if I ate more than a few I'd dislike them.
WOOW! They look soooooo nice but honestly they are just so out of my price range
Get those 5hr energy shots. They are amazingggg
White lines on a mirror?
Maybe it's because of my long hair but people continually approach me to sell weed and/or cocaine. I've had someone even chase after me saying "Don't do this to me, you know you like weed, you're one of us!"
Ahh neat, I saw a lot of people drinking these during the ball drop in times square
@Michael15286: how small is the ball? I thought it'd be so much bigger than it actually was. I was quite disappointed 😂
@slimdealin: It was tiny, but to be fair it's also very high up. That said the main fun of it was the people, celebrations concert and countdown :)
@Michael15286: We didn't hang around in NYC for the celebrations. We spent Christmas in Vegas and New Year's camped in Death Valley. It was so peaceful. I did try and get fireworks at Armagosa before we left Nevada but they didn't end up showing up before we left.
@slimdealin: aww sad to hear but wow death valley for new years is an interesting choice. Were there many other people out there with you guys?
@Michael15286: we were on a free campsite (we hired an Escape Campervan) and I think there were 3 other sites in use there. Which in a 10 campsite area, it was virtually empty. No loud partying or anything. No hot weather either, winter is a perfect time to see Death Valley.
@slimdealin: wow that sounds like something quite special and nice! I regret not renting a car and visiting the rest of California while I was there
Whatever tan solution Trump uses. Plus you'll look like the OzBargain orange. Win win.
If I do find it, I'll offer it up for the Ozbargain raffle
Most/many things will be cheaper there.
- Fashion Items (clothes, bags, shoes, cosmetics, etc.)
- Food Items that you might not be able to get here (do note: costco here does sell a fair bit of them)
- Cameras/Camera Gear, at the right shop you'll get a good price (B&H)
- Browse Amazon online and you can get some things delivered too.
Enjoy your trip!
Thank you for all the tips and your words! :)
I do admit I've been stingy with the prestigious restaurants but I really should visit a few more of them. And even if Costco has them, it doesn't matter since Perth doesn't have one yet
Obama, may be he can do a stint here if he can't there.
I'm kicking myself because I was in the same city as him while he was giving a speech. I found out after the fact unfortunately
Freedom
Thankfully the US doesn't export it's "freedom" to Australia, like they did in Vietnam and Iraq
eat some american BBQ like ribs and wings! its fairly pricey in australia :(
They're still pretty pricey here (NYC). Like $25 USD pricey. But I guess here's pretty authentic compared to in Australia
Exotic weed seeds
Blueberry Kush.
White Widow.
Mango Haze…
And a Pax Era and some Oil Pods. http://www.thecannabist.co/2017/10/17/pax-vaporizers-era-vap…
I'm very unsure on the legalities of bringing in seeds, especially weed seeds. But cool suggestion, thanks !
Bacon. Sam's Club sells shelf stable bacon for ~$10 for 72 slices (roughly equal to four pounds raw). We've brought in 20 packs before (yes, we declare we're bringing food in).
Kool-Aid packets
Grape jam/jelly
Pop-tarts
Hidden Valley Ranch packs (it's a dry mix)
Semi-sweet chocolate chips
A1 steak sauce (optionally Heinz 57 steak sauce)
Electronics. Realise that there's often a difference between phone models in the US vs rest of the world, so check that before buying.
Really kool suggestions!
I'm not the biggest fan of their grape jelly but have bought some Jif peanut butter and one of those grape jelly/peanut butter swirl mixes.
I'll be sure to grab some ranch packs (never thought about the dry mix stuff), semisweet chocolate chips (best for pancakes) and that steak sauce!
You brought in 40kg of bacon?
I heard that the branded polos, shoes are cheap in us. Not sure
They are "cheap" like $25-$35 USD but that's still not exactly cheap for me
True
I wouldn’t spend much for a brand name. That was a general thoughts in our office.
Well thanks for asking your office :)
Gorilla glue. it's expensive here compared to USA.
If it breaks open in my luggage, it's be a sticky situation. But I'll bring a few tubes back, it's ridiculously useful stuff.
yeah it's a great glue! :)
Bud Light?
I thought everyone was joking but it really does taste like water. Not worth it at all
I really want to try one but they dont sell them here though :(
As someone who hates the taste of beer this sounds like a plus to me lol. Are there any similar tasting beers in Aus?
I haven't tasted any like that in Australia, personally, but I'm sure someone else has
Budweiser.. Miller Light.
OTC natural supps that are allowed in oz but cannot be purchased here.
Melatonin- Natiral Sleep Aid (any pharmacy or Walmart)
Yohombine - Powerful natural fat loss (pharmacy or health food shops)
ok so I Googled Yohombine because I had never heard of it. And the first thing that comes up is…"What is the use of yohimbe? Treats erectile dysfunction"
I also found the following on an Australian website:
Is Yohimbine Legal?
No - Despite the fact it is permitted by some bodybuilding organisations and able to be bought and sold in the US and UK, Yohimbine is subject to import and sales restrictions in Australia and many other countries, including New Zealand and Canada.
Very interesting substance. That said if there's any import restrictions, I'd rather not try it. Otherwise I'll be one of those guys who clogs up the customs line
Pick up some shirts from the Supreme store on Fairfax Ave in LA, you can flip them on eBay for a decent profit. They cost around $90USD retail and you'll easily net around $160 on eBay. The more prominent the Supreme logo the better.
Ahhh damn, that would have been nice to know before I left LA :p
Will keep in mind for the future to fund my next trip haha
There's also a store in New York if that helps. Two of them actually.
Nice, I'll go and have a browse! :)
If you can buy a second hand American made PRS from Manny's in NYC, you'll be able to sell it at a tidy profit - they are hideously expensive here (and could potentially pay for the majority of your trip) …
They're pretty expensive over here too, but I'll check the prices of PRS's in Australia before writing it off. Thanks for the suggestion!
PRS ?
Looked at Logitech Bluetooth keyboard with backlight - $60-$70 difference - I was surprised.