Shopping in the US - first timer

[el_rooto]

b & h in NYC are fantastic. Not always the cheapest but great value and the stock distribution is awesome to see.

 

[mole]

Totally agree about B&H, my husband is an ex professional photographer and that place is like heaven to him. He has a lot of Nikon gear and lenses in particular are a lot cheaper there, he purchased one a couple of months ago US$1550 which still retails in Australia for A$2600. That store is such a well oiled machine, the way they have the conveyor belts going and your purchases ready at the counter! He usually heads there for an hour or two and I head to Macy's!

 

[Pooch]

Bloomingdale's (53rd and Lexington) also have an 'out of towners' card ... just head up to the mezzanine level and show your drivers licence ... their cards are only valid for one day (Macy's are 4 weeks) but you can get one every day ... and if you spend a mere $150 or so in one day they'll even give you a free "little brown bag" key ring

 

[Happy Dude]

Just got to MAD after 9 days in Iraqi Kurdistan. Visit there if you are keen to witness the emergence of tourism in an emerging country (will break away from from the troublesome south someday). Must like kebabs and grilled meats though.

Many thanks to all for the replies here. Very helpful and thorough. I've got some planning to do!! Will report back with results....

 

[Keith009]

Didn't see this thread till now!

US is a shopper's dream. Pity you aren't going to Philly. PA has no sales tax. There's an enormous shopping mall outside Philly in a suburb called King of Prussia. Has just about everything under one roof!

Did you buy anything online on Cyber Monday? Monday after Black Friday - when all the online stores go on sale. Personally I prefer the crowds as shopping is an experience in itself.

I agree re upmarket outlet stores - you get the major designer brands at insanely cheap prices there if you don't mind last season's stuff. Come to think of it, even full priced luxury items are heaps cheaper compared to what we pay in Australia. I refresh my wardrobes, get my new season manbags, and load up on hair stuff whenever I'm in the US.

You can also shop tax-free at Macy's upon presentation of passport, though I'm not sure if this is only in CA.

 

[11sjw]

Oh, and go to Macy's on 34th Street (Herald Square) and go to the Visitors Center on one of the upstairs floors and show them your passport. As an overseas visitor, Macy's will give you a card that gives you 10% off all purchases in any Macy's department store anywhere in the US!

Just have to reiterate this. I've even had the 10% off on sale items. Wish I was able to go do it tomorrow! Enjoy.

 

[Pollywaffle]

Re: department store discounts* in NYC.

You can also get visitor discount vouchers at Lord & Taylor (my fave dept store) and Bloomingdales as well.

You can get a 10% voucher at Saks but you need to apply for one of their store cards. It's worth it if you plan to spend big.

* Note that all stores have some exclusions to the discounts.

 

[blueflamenco]

Re: department store discounts* in NYC.

You can also get visitor discount vouchers at Lord & Taylor (my fave dept store) and Bloomingdales as well.

You can get a 10% voucher at Saks but you need to apply for one of their store cards. It's worth it if you plan to spend big.

* Note that all stores have some exclusions to the discounts.

I don't think that this is available to international visitors without a US address and social..

 

[Pollywaffle]

I don't think that this is available to international visitors without a US address and social..

Things may have changed but I got mine in 2008. I live in Aust and have no US address or social security number.

It's worth asking if someone is really interested.

 

[drron]

Mrsdrron has asked many a time and been knocked back-you must have been lucky.
There is however a Saks outlet frequent shopper card-Off Fifth which you can join online for free but gives you 5% discount at the outlets not the stores.
Now on one occasion we had a sympathetic assistant who gave us discount coupons because we couldn't get the card.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Didn't see this thread till now!

US is a shopper's dream. Pity you aren't going to Philly. PA has no sales tax. There's an enormous shopping mall outside Philly in a suburb called King of Prussia. Has just about everything under one roof!

Now I am going to nit pick here QF009 ! My son lived in Philly for a year so the King of Prussia was one of my favorite shopping centres and it is under SEVERAL rooves
I liked the Nordstrom Rack which was one of the shops dotted around the edge of the car park, and Dr.ron has trouble getting me out of a Crate and Barrel ( and despite its name it is not a wine shop !)

You will find a shopping centre like this in any major city - just do a bit a research on the area you are visiting - because shopping in america is FANTASTIC.

 

[drron]

Rooves?Hmm.Better not say any more.

 

[Keith009]

Now I am going to nit pick here QF009 ! My son lived in Philly for a year so the King of Prussia was one of my favorite shopping centres and it is under SEVERAL rooves

There are large malls in every city but KoP is something else! We only have a smallish Westfield here in SF, along with the major boutiques and dept stores around Union Square. And Valley Fair and Santana Row are decent places for killing time whenever I go down to San Jose, though they recently lost the Hermes store.

Here on the west coast the closest equivalent to KoP would be South Coast Plaza down in Orange County, conveniently near my hairdresser in the US (haven't found anyone in SF who's just as good, and it's already a huge concession getting someone other than my hairdresser back in Melbourne of the past 8 years touch my hair!). They have more stock and the service is heaps better than the stores around Union Square. But of course, can't beat the zero sales tax in PA. It's 9.25% over here in CA. Luckily one of my co-workers happens to be from KoP and has been rather obliging with 'special orders' whenever she goes home to visit family.

Ooh Crate&Barrel... surely you weren't shopping for furniture? :shock: Must cost heaps to ship everything back... They do have some very nice cutlery selections and some of the Alessi stuff they carry can be cheaper than the Alessi stores themselves.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Rooves?Hmm.Better not say any more.

thats the tasmanian way they spell roofs

 

[Pollywaffle]

Now I am going to nit pick here QF009 ! My son lived in Philly for a year so the King of Prussia was one of my favorite shopping centres and it is under SEVERAL rooves
I liked the Nordstrom Rack which was one of the shops dotted around the edge of the car park, and Dr.ron has trouble getting me out of a Crate and Barrel ( and despite its name it is not a wine shop !)

You will find a shopping centre like this in any major city - just do a bit a research on the area you are visiting - because shopping in america is FANTASTIC.

I am tempted to wipe a few days off NYC just to visit this mall! I do love shopping in the US.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Bump !
I'll be visiting both Las Vegas and NY and plan on visiting Woodbury Commons in NY.
Are the Premium Outlets ( North and South) in Las Vegas worth visiting?
I only have a couple of days there but I'm not much into Casinos

 

[AV8]

Bump !
I'll be visiting both Las Vegas and NY and plan on visiting Woodbury Commons in NY.
Are the Premium Outlets ( North and South) in Las Vegas worth visiting?
I only have a couple of days there but I'm not much into Casinos

Premium Outlet North is my pick of the 2 outlets - Macy's amd Fashion Show Mall would cover everything else on a quick visit.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Premium Outlet North is my pick of the 2 outlets - Macy's amd Fashion Show Mall would cover everything else on a quick visit.

Thankyou, I'll add the North outlets to my list
Was thinking of hiring a car to load all the booty in. I'll also buy a suitcase to fly across to JFK as I will be beginning my trip carry-on

 

[cove]

Princess Fiona the shopping in Las Vegas is pretty good but there are some pretty good shows on (other than Mondays).
Are you driving to Los Angeles as you could buy more if you did that?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Princess Fiona the shopping in Las Vegas is pretty good but there are some pretty good shows on (other than Mondays).
Are you driving to Los Angeles as you could buy more if you did that?

No cove, I am flying there as I will be exhausted from my trip to Puerto Rico
Pretty sure my status and F fare will be fine for the luggage.
After this stopover I have a week in New York, will fill up at Woodbury Commons and fly home via DFW.
Which show should I go to?