Bargains / must buys while in the USA

[horseman]

From Walmart. cough soup, and the green bottle gold bond talc powder. Both great products.

 

[ellen10]

We will leaving for New York in 2 weeks! Woohoo!
Hoping to find some bargains.
We will be there for 6 weeks. The last 2 hiring a car and driving throughout New England finishing in Boston.
So maybe some shopping along the way.

 

[get me outta here]

If you go into a Walmart and are in the medicines aisle, look out for anti-histamines - generic 'Loratadine', the ingredients are exactly the same as Claratyne. And, 'Pixsters' (little brushes that replace toothpicks), that my dentist recommends, generically called G-U-M.

 

[Milboo]

I always bring back Benedryl - being little pink anti histamine tablets that are good for knocking you out!

Also I stock up on NyQuil for cold and flu night time. Also great for a good night sleep - good to the point that they took out the relevant ingredients and created a new product called ZzzQuil.

Melatonin is good to grab - but stick to the 3mg.

I have bought back a KitchenAid stand mixer before! Even with postage it was less than 1/2 price (had a step down transformer already).

 

[Mumfreqflyer]

Alcohol is really cheap at Walmart as well. $18 for a 1L bottle of jacks (from Vegas so taxes different).

Also a visit to Walmart is definitely an eye opener!!!

On our visit to Vegas last year we actually found the south outlet mall to be better than the north one. But can't hurt to go to both.

Macy's is amazing and very cheap for clothes vs here. I always stock up on heaps while over there every 2 years.

 

[Steady]

Alcohol is really cheap at Walmart as well. $18 for a 1L bottle of jacks (from Vegas so taxes different).

I haven't had jacks in years - $18 a bottle is cheap.

The antihistamines would be useful - one family member uses Claratyne for hay fever and I think they are something like $1- tablet here.

How is luggage priced? The family could do with a couple of new cases and I am sure they will be able to fill them...

 

[Austff]

If buying products online , look for shops in states with no sales tax .
Some cities charge extra sales tax on top of state sales tax so it pays to do some research .

 

[snabbu]

I don't remember the last time I went clothes shopping in Australia, other than receiving gifts for birthdays / xmas pretty much my entire wardrobe comes from LOTFAP.

Most certainly isn't as good value today as it was a year or so ago with our dollar above parity, but still it's the place to shop.

 

[get me outta here]

snabbu, yes agree, a bit of intensive shopping in the US saves hours and days of looking When at home.

Re suit cases, there is a range of shops that sell heavily reduced brand names on everything from undies to cases. Some smart shoppers know that often what is seen in outlet stores are is not necessarily the top of that labels merchandise, but stuff made esp for the outlets. This can be the case for the really overpriced things like expensive over priced handbags.

But, back to cases, you can find Samsonite etc etc in Burlington (Coat Factory), Ross Dress for Less (in LAS) and maybe others can remind me of the other stores in the places you are going. Those cases are often around $60-80. You could juggle taking almost no luggage and buying it there, if those stores are available to you.

 

[Denali]

My husband is a jersey and Tshirt ho, we never come back from anywhere without him buying at least 6 and his record is 60. Its a common joke among his friends.

When in the US, guitars for hubby. He got a Les Paul at the Gibson factory and a Strat at the Fender factory. Hes after a Gretsh now (next visit, back to Fender).

Im not much of a shopper but I admit to loving Walmart, especially the baking stuff (Wilton) and pans, choc crocks ect.

 

[earlyriser]

We will leaving for New York in 2 weeks! Woohoo!
Hoping to find some bargains.
We will be there for 6 weeks. The last 2 hiring a car and driving throughout New England finishing in Boston.
So maybe some shopping along the way.

New Hampshire is tax free! Also there is a outlet mall in Maine that has some good outdoor clothing type stores if that is your thing. Enjoy!

 

[get me outta here]

Just remembered, in LAS in south end mall, I got good stuff in the Columbia outlet.

KMart has good teenagers clothes too for very good prices, esp when reduced.

As mentioned, get the out going summer clothes for our incoming summer, reduced.

 

[Denali]

I forgot about Columbia, we did a shop in Seattle and save a lot of money. Didn't get to REI this time, we're not even outdoors type people but when I go to those shops, I start thinking I can hike the Kokoda track! Then I come to my senses and find a donut shop....

 

[chelzmalee]

Ladies, stock up on drugstore makeup and skincare if you use it. Usually 70% cheaper than here. You should see how much I bring home

 

[Denali]

Will say, 1st trip to NY = Tiffanys. And not to snoop like most other people, actually buy something.

 

[blackcat20]

Will say, 1st trip to NY = Tiffanys. And not to snoop like most other people, actually buy something.

It's my favourite Tiffanys store to buy from. They even tucked a little note in my bag wishing me a happy birthday the first time (had told them I was spending birthday money).

 

[Denali]

It's my favourite Tiffanys store to buy from. ......

My husband says, when I point out T stores in other countries, once you have been to 5th Avenue Tiffanys in NY, there is no reason to go to any other Tiffanys in the world...... which means no shopping for you, Denali!

 

[legroom]

Peculiar to my interests but the best (antique) pen fairs on earth are in the USA and I have been known to time my conferences with the pen fairs & skip my conference day to attend them [collecting SCs along the way].

There is simply no equivalent downunder. Period !

 

[cove]

Go look at raise.com for US gift cards.
Camarillo has the best outlet mall and is about 75 minutes north of LAX. It is called Camarillo Premium Outlet Mall.
Get a Citibank debit card by going Citibank.com.au/plus
I love Costco, Macy's , Tiffany ,San Diego Wine Company , Ruth's Chris Steakhouse ,Scott's Seafood,Maggianos and In N Out .

 

[Travelqueen]

I see OTC pain killers have been mentioned a few times - are they a similar strength to those in oz but cheaper or stronger and cheaper?

You said you have teenage daughters, as do I, so I'm sure your girls use them a lot .....

A few years ago I bought huge bottle of paradol, and nurofen. I couldn't believe how cheap they were, and we are still using them now. Saved so much in comparison to buying here.

Check the ingredients eg, panadol may have a few different names in USA, but it is still paracetamol 500mgs you are looking for.

Not sure where you are staying in San Diego, but we stay at Hilton Bayfront. It's great position, and can often get a good price there.

There are some outlet malls around San Diego, however, others will know better than me, but I think the Las Vegas taxes are less than Califorina.

Glad my question on sunglasses got you thinking....

Have a great trip.

TQ

ps.....with your daughters, you will need every bit of your luggage allowance!! Enjoy