Your ‘must buys’ and stock ups when visiting the US

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#3102283 10-Jul-2023 15:57

bendud:

I'm in Texas in September and the youngest only really want bottles of Prime brought back. Madness...

Apparently one of the "flavours" (if you can call them that) has a vast quantity of caffiene which children should avoid. Get him/her the other flavour...

MikeAqua

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#3102285 10-Jul-2023 16:07

Fishing tackle, consumables and reels

Woodworking consumables (sandpaper etc)

Power tools (skins only)

Clothes

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neb

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#3102337 10-Jul-2023 17:39

networkn:
As a foodie, I'll typically buy up stuff I can't easily buy here,

You mean bland tasteless pap, cheese from a spray can, fruit where, if blindfolded, you literally have no idea what it is you're being fed apart from a guess based on texture, biscuits and whatnot containing 500% of your daily recommended intake of sugar, that sort of stuff? What food could you possibly want to bring in from the US? I usually take food over to the US (seriously!) so I know I'm getting something that has at least some flavour and some nutritional value.

Handle9

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#3102367 10-Jul-2023 19:59

neb:
networkn:
As a foodie, I'll typically buy up stuff I can't easily buy here,

You mean bland tasteless pap, cheese from a spray can, fruit where, if blindfolded, you literally have no idea what it is you're being fed apart from a guess based on texture, biscuits and whatnot containing 500% of your daily recommended intake of sugar, that sort of stuff? What food could you possibly want to bring in from the US? I usually take food over to the US (seriously!) so I know I'm getting something that has at least some flavour and some nutritional value.

If you can’t find great food in the US you need to try harder. There’s a full range from what you’ve described to some of the best gourmet food around.

networkn

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#3102372 10-Jul-2023 20:08

neb:
networkn:

As a foodie, I'll typically buy up stuff I can't easily buy here,

You mean bland tasteless pap, cheese from a spray can, fruit where, if blindfolded, you literally have no idea what it is you're being fed apart from a guess based on texture, biscuits and whatnot containing 500% of your daily recommended intake of sugar, that sort of stuff? What food could you possibly want to bring in from the US? I usually take food over to the US (seriously!) so I know I'm getting something that has at least some flavour and some nutritional value.

Your 'comment' seems typical of someone who only has been to the US and hung out in Anaheim or similarly touristy locations. The US has and makes some of the best food around anywhere. It's like anywhere else, you can eat crap, or you can eat fantastic, fresh, amazing food. To boot it's pretty inexpensive to eat well there too, though like anywhere you can spend whatever you want on food in both extremes. Honestly, expand your horizons.

Supermarkets there put our supermarkets to shame, in selection, variety, quality AND price.

Please tell me what you take with you to the US that you'd be allowed to take on a plane, allowed to take off the plane, that tastes better than what you could eat IN the USA?

sir1963

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#3102423 10-Jul-2023 20:57

surfisup1000:

I don't believe shoes are a fraction of the cost. In fact, like-for-like high-end shoes of quality main brands, I didn't think there was a huge difference in price between NZ and the US.

The shoes we bought in both the UK and the USA outlasted anything we have bought in New Zealand.

sir1963

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#3102431 10-Jul-2023 21:02

Brunzy: Ross dress 4 less
Marshall’s
TJMaxx
Basically, all the same store, all of the name brands, clothes, shoes, etc at a fraction of the price you would pay here, and of course a lot more to choose from.
San Francisco has had major shops close due to the theft etc.
Home Depot if you are after any power tools.

Last time we were in the USA we went to Walmart and were impressed how cheap the clothing was and how good the quality was.

The other thing I liked is the shirts are about 2 inches longer in the body than NZ ones for the same size

I have T-Shirts from Disney / Apple / NASA that are 10 years old and still look good.

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#3102433 10-Jul-2023 21:09

sir1963:

Last time we were in the USA we went to Walmart and were impressed how cheap the clothing was and how good the quality was.

The other thing I liked is the shirts are about 2 inches longer in the body than NZ ones for the same size

I have T-Shirts from Disney / Apple / NASA that are 10 years old and still look good.

This is why we buy clothing in the USA. Esp kids clothes, they last forever, look great and cost so little compared to NZ.

neb

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#3102436 10-Jul-2023 21:14

Handle9: If you can’t find great food in the US you need to try harder. There’s a full range from what you’ve described to some of the best gourmet food around.

Possibly if I'd caught the train into NYC, but I never found anything that wasn't just 50 shades of meh where I was (north of White Plains). And it shouldn't require a quest just to get decent food.

sir1963

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#3102438 10-Jul-2023 21:21

firefuze:

Keen to hear what others deem a ‘must buy’ or stock up on when visiting the US.

Electronics, unique snacks or food items, clothing or collectibles? I don’t really know what opportunities id be passing up so want to make the most of it while I’m there. Already looking at a couple Apple products (not a huge difference) and stock up on all the different M&M favours! (not for me) and a few Keto foods I can’t get here. Will be in the San Fransisco area.

You could go to Apple, I have been to their old campus store twice. First time they had a great collection of stuff, 2nd time was meh, looked again and I will not bother.

We are going that way next year Aug/October sometime for 3 or so weeks, I ma taking the family + some grandkids (9 of us)

We will be booking 2-3 extra bags for the trip back, its FAR cheaper to do that before hand than turn up with excess baggage.

Lots of clothing for nieces / nephews / kids etc too and a lot will get bought at Disney I am sure.

We will be doing San Franciso though not for long apparently its gone down hill a lot since we were last there. Some want to do Alcatraz, been there done that. Pier 39 is OK and some of the tourist trap places in the Chinese area have good quality "tourist" clothing.

Oh and do a Big Bus tour as well as the cable cars (Good "drivers" can make it a fun trip)

We will be doing Vegas for 4-5 days

We will be doing Disney ... granddad on the kids rides with the grandkids...lol

I want to go to the La Brea tar pits.

And if things work out we may do a 5 day cruise to Mexico.

But if I can I will see what tooling I can snag for my Metal Lathe as well as some nice electronics test kit / desoldering iron / etc. Some imperial tools eg 3/16 that sort of thing for Nut runners, Excelite if I can find them.

sir1963

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#3102447 10-Jul-2023 21:28

neb:
Handle9: If you can’t find great food in the US you need to try harder. There’s a full range from what you’ve described to some of the best gourmet food around.
Possibly if I'd caught the train into NYC, but I never found anything that wasn't just 50 shades of meh where I was (north of White Plains). And it shouldn't require a quest just to get decent food.

"Friendly's" ....went there for breakfast while I was in Newtown Connecticut...I think they had Maple syrup on top of Maple Syrup.... everything there was so sickly sweet.

eracode

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#3102455 10-Jul-2023 21:47

@firefuze If you have access to a car, google Premium Outlets for locations in California - and go there for cheap brand-name clothing, shoes, etc. We have been to many of these in the US over the years and always worth the effort - and fun.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

Dial111

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#3102462 10-Jul-2023 22:05

I’ve traveled to the US nearly 2 dozen times, mostly for work, LA, Vegas, New York, Florida, the Midwest, Texas, the Carolinas and recently California in June but Man I dunno where cheap is for you guys but, Los Angeles is significantly dearer than Auckland. It made me appreciate how far my money goes back here than in LA

Anyway to answer the OP, I always go to Nordstrom as they stock Fear Of God clothing which is so hard to get here and when you can it’s almost 3-4 times the retail.

Mexican spices and hot sauces, also Papi Tacos in Santa Monica, best burritos and Tacos.

I usually pick up sneakers when I’m there, they’re not cheap by any stretch of the imagination but far better options to pick from.

Target and Walmart reminded me of The Warehouse and Kmart so I only go if I need something in a hurry.

Ross DFL is good though.

Going back for SEMA, thanks work!

Handle9

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#3102480 11-Jul-2023 00:34

neb:
Handle9: If you can’t find great food in the US you need to try harder. There’s a full range from what you’ve described to some of the best gourmet food around.
Possibly if I'd caught the train into NYC, but I never found anything that wasn't just 50 shades of meh where I was (north of White Plains). And it shouldn't require a quest just to get decent food.

There's a whole foods in White Plains. They will have produce at least as good if not better than anything you'll get in NZ.

sen8or

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#3102491 11-Jul-2023 08:06

We were in Vegas recently for 5 days -

Highly recommend the Mob Museum tour, add in a couple of experiences in the museum too (speak easy to try their moonshine and we did a forensics experience), really enjoyable.

Night time viewing of the Bellagio fountain and Bellagio's has a botanical garden inside thats quite spectacular

Grand Canyon West (don't bother with the skywalk, que for hours to walk on a glass balcony) and Hoover dam (can cover both in a day comfortably)

Re-do wedding vows with Elvis

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