Hey guys,
After recent visa and esta issues, I finally made it in America, Chicago city to be precise.
Can you please recommend things to buy here that are expensive or hard to fine in Australia. I will be here for the next 3weeks.
Off topic if you all think life in Australia is hard, try living here, cost of living is crazy expensive. Their healthcare system is really bad. We have easy going life in Australia.
Buy a Stilletto smooth face 16oz TITANIUM Hammer, see: https://www.acmetools.com/stiletto-16-oz-titanium-smooth-fac…? irclickid=V9Vx2I2O5xyPULPV9MTt03XtUkF1RVXNPUfWQc0&irgwc=1&utm_campaign=PriceSpider&utm_channel=Affiliates&utm_source=impact&utm_medium=affiliate
I would have to scream that song every time I use it!
Chicago = foodie heaven. Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we may die.
lived in chiago for almost 2 years back in the mid 2000's for work. Even back then it was a hard place to live, good places to live and horrible places to even walk around without being mugged ro robbed even in downtown. It is a wonderful city to stay on a holiday during the summer, enjoy the time.
Pontiac GTO for me.
Like others have said try the Outlets. Ross can be awesome as can be Marshalls.
Some brands we spend lots on here, can be markedly cheaper in comparison there.
Be mindful of your luggage allowance coming back though - little point buying stuff cheaper if you get stung with excess luggage charges bringing back.
Airlines are gouging as it is so if they can sting U for luggage they absolutely will.
Closest Premium Outlet is in Aurora and that's an hour drive from Chicago with zero public transport options. Highly do not recommend going there on a weekend too, thousands of people and no parking space, unless you go very early or very late.
If you’re keen on getting into golf, find some second hand golf club shops. They have some amazing range and prices, even after conversion.
Jealous of their options.
Trader Joe's - Hot and Sweet Jalapeños.
A couple of jars for me also, if you can fit them in. 😊
Yeah, go USA to visit their Aldi. Smart move.
The OP is already in the USA - reading comprehension problem?
Or just a dumb comment?
Yes, you definitely have comprehension problems.
Guns, weed and hookers
Bullet proof vest
See's Dark Molasses Chips
Don’t call 911 🤷♂️. one of my friends had done it and was left with a big fat bill 😂.
—-
For us&a i’d say try their bbq meats and authentic food. for electronics don’t bother
Just don't try bringing back any meat into Australia.
Gold. 90% American Eagle coins attract GST here, so they're 10% cheaper in the USA.
Spray on cheese in a can. Room temperature stable. Only thing is I recommend buying this at the end of your trip, as the TSA will open your luggage to check on every flight. I wonder how I know…
When you get change, have a look at the dimes, quarters, and half dollars you get. Any coin dated 1964 or earlier is 90% silver. It's easy to tell them apart from more modern coins, as 1965 onwards have a brown stripe on the side.
Melatonin. Super cheap in the USA and available without prescription.
But most of all, enjoy your time in the USA. Don't worry about saving a few dollars by bringing stuff back.
melatonin is available here without prescription but if i remember correctly its bad for your cerebral cortex if you abuse it (i forget why)
Though you'd get pinged for GST on the way back if they scanned your bag and found it full of gold coins.
A lot of American whiskey is near impossible to get here
I'd recommend looking around while you're there and grabbing it. (If you're a whisky fan)
Twinkie
deep dish pizza pretty hard to find in Oz, buy that.
absolutely… the original Chicago deep crust at Giordano's
Seeing as the US has a consumerist history going back much further than Australia it might be worth heading in to some antique stores/op shops to see if you can find any cool vintage gear you'd be unable to find in Aus
Maybe worthwhile in Hamptons, but elsewhere it's just a waste of time.
Fair enough, thank you for correcting my ignorance and possibly saving the OP some time
Different strokes for different folks.
If you want a 1980s Disney lunchbox or some Dotcom retro merch the Hamptons wouldn’t be the destination.
Not a whole lot, once you add on sales tax most things are cheaper here
Marojuana
Mmm Kay?
MAGA hats
Pringles
Hidden valley ranch, crest teeth whitening strips and Ralph Lauren outlet items.
Head to the outlets. You cangrab yourself good sales …. From sneakers to handbags. Gap pretty cheap.
Different outlets got differents stuffs
And Takis….
word of advice… keep loose change in your pocket. if you get mugged, give the money and keep walking. speaking from experience.
stay away from the university of Chicago and the big hospital near the uni areas ( i think north Chicago , not sure). too much ghetto there
how can i forget… the original Chicago deep crust pizzas at Giordano's
the famous cinnamon scrolls at Ann Sather Restaurant/cafe. they are to kill for
Fluke
why buy? just walk into shops, take your stuff and leave. ensure total is less than $900
why less than $900? what's the law?
Nyquill stock up
Northface puffer jacket or vest
Smartfood®
Off topic if you all think life in Australia is hard, try living here, cost of living is crazy expensive.
That's because you are on AUD income, spending in USD. Who is to be blamed? Forex rate. On a separate note, ask people earning in USD and everything is relatively much cheaper for them in the US compared to our cost of living in Australia even for local income.
where? in ohio? or in SoCal?
That's incorrect. I though Australia is really expensive until I moved to Europe, that's where you understand how cheap Australia is.
There's some things that are cheaper in US but overall Australia is more affordable country.
You don't needs to work hard to realise how wrong you are. Just go to the websites i.e. Amazon US, grocery stores, etc and you will know who is cheaper. Salary's absolute numbers being nearly the same for most white collar jobs (e.g. $100k USD vs $100k AUD), their prices are much cheaper since we pay the prices converted in AUD (and even more in most cases). Price differences in gadgets, houses, holidays, cars, travel etc is a whole different discussion.
OK buddy, I take you think your theoretical knowledge is way superior to my practical experience. Not going to ruin your dream.
But average salary in both countries is the same, around A$90K here vs US$59K over there. And our wages include healthcare. Perhaps not that straightforward.
true
Bud light.
Trump cap
I have codes for Factor75 free meal kits / box if you're trying to save on eating (requires a residential address for delivery).
Levi jeans with the shorter leg length.
Specifically; 36x29
Let me know when I can pick them up.
Thanks.
Anything you would have bought in Australia but is cheaper in USA.
Such as?
It was more advice to not buy things for the sake of buying it because it's cheaper (rescind my OzBargain badge now if need be!) and to buy something you were already going to get anyway.
So you thought the op is extremely dumb?
I have notice their stuff are more expensive comparing to Australia.
I suspect cost of living is about the same in Sydney as Chicago. Food and alcohol at grocery stores is bound to be cheaper in the latter.
It takes time in a new place to take advantage of specials, cheaper outlets, reward systems etc.
CORN POPS
Deep dish pizza
Fat people things.
Just got back from USA, visited Costco, was very surprised at the lack of fat people.
Are you sure you were in the USA?
Yeah, went to Costco in Tuscon and San Fran.
As I mentioned above, was surprised
you live in australia. it is not that different.
Stormtrooper armour
Considering the current exchange rate and prices don't include sales tax and is added at checkout in the USA, plus warranty concerns, there's not much really worth buying over there at this stage that you can't get here.
Just enjoy the trip.
Chocolate.
/s
I found just walking around any WalMart (not sure the closest to central Chicago) was a whole load of 'geez that's cheap' wanna buys - I last picked up a cheap phone and colorful sunglasses - electronics tend to be 110V so not a match
Don't bother. Go to Argentina for a good exchange rate.
Good deals on at the moment in the US for the Mossberg 590
Should be sufficient for most situations in Australia
You can just take stuff as long it's under $1000. All free!
Make sure it's not a concealed carry state first.
You don't have to worry about getting shot outside of schools.
Levi jeans.
RIGID and Milwaukee tools …not sure if you can pack 18v batteries though
Analon cookware (from Macy’s)
Keen sandals
Large department stores like Macys you can show your passport and not pay sales tax on purchases.
Lou Malnati's deep dish pizza
If you get lost on the way there just follow any firetruck you see
Portillo's
Oh, a Leatherman maybe?
Apparently a Wave+ is $20 off at the moment, making it $99.95 USD on the Leatherman US website or Walmart. They are $264.95 AUD on the Leatherman AU website…but you can apparently get them for closer to $200 at other retailers here.
I paid $159 AUD for my Wave+ here.
Great leatherman, assuming you can get it cheaper than the RRP on the website in the US it would be a steal.
True, I just realised I paid $150 for mine, so $100 USD or under would be a good deal I suppose.
Some snap on shiny blingy teeth grills! Isn't that a thing over there? Ha!
Edit: Grillz!
Onewheel Pint.
Right to repair issues
Bourbon County Brand Stout variants. You won't find them here anymore.
Health insurance.
Fooood. Eataly, twin anchors, maestros, the crab place…,
NyQuil
Guns. Lots of guns.
I forbid anyone in my family to go to the USA, my cousin lives there and he keeps saying if it wasn't for his high paying job he would left a long time ago. The country is a mess with crime wave happening every so constant. And the rich and poor gap is so much more worse than Australia. He has 2 guns in the house for that exact reason
Weed gummies