American Shopping

Patches_O’Houlihan

Devon is correct, remove tags etc because of the limits, but i have been 8 or 9 times now and never had a problem when i return.

Only thing i nearly came unstuck with was earlier this year. I was going to get the Canon 350D, i got slightly cheaper back in the UK and no worries about warrenty.

And yes, makes me feel sick too Devon......so so jealous. Roll on May!

PS oct/nov is a great time to go assuming you are going to Florida.

bobtastic

Don't forget to try Mountain Dew (a canned drink) and Lucky Charms (a breakfast cereal).

Secret_Lady

Another tip, if you take off the price tags (good idea), post most of your receipts home. Then if you are stopped, you only have receipts for approx. £145. I know someone who was and they had receipts in their purse and had to pay the duty, as well as being delayed and treated like a major criminal for a couple of hundred pounds over the allowance. A worse case scenario but easy to avoid.

I have travelled to the USA lots of times and always post receipts home for anything over the £ allowance but keep some receipts so that if stopped I look like a normal tourist which I am, however, I've never been stopped.

I always wanted to try root beer, I did and it tasted like liquid Germolene! I did not like it at all and before you ask, I've only ever used Germolene for cuts etc. I think it's the smell of root beer? Anyway give it a try, you may like it, a lot of people do.

sindy_2

Secret_Lady wrote:

Another tip, if you take off the price tags (good idea), post most of your receipts home. Then if you are stopped, you only have receipts for approx. £145. I know someone who was and they had receipts in their purse and had to pay the duty, as well as being delayed and treated like a major criminal for a couple of hundred pounds over the allowance. A worse case scenario but easy to avoid.

I have travelled to the USA lots of times and always post receipts home for anything over the £ allowance but keep some receipts so that if stopped I look like a normal tourist which I am, however, I've never been stopped.

I always wanted to try root beer, I did and it tasted like liquid Germolene! I did not like it at all and before you ask, I've only ever used Germolene for cuts etc. I think it's the smell of root beer? Anyway give it a try, you may like it, a lot of people do.

LOL Have to agree there! root bear is the most disgusting drink I have drunk!....I don't see the fascination at all!...all i can say is that the people who like it must have very clean and germ free stomachs!

But as for the shopping there it's amazing!....especially the 24 hour malls...I used to live there and remember buying a suede jacket and leather boots once for around 75 dollars!....equals to about 40 quid lol

devonpilgrim

I agree with secret lady, was going to suggest either binning receipts or posting them home but as I have only posted on MSE a couple of times I was not sure how close to the bone you could go! But it seems you can be as honest as you like - which is great!

Anyway, I always chuck out my receipts and take off tags but if it is obvious that I have purchased loads - like last time where we ended up having to buy a really tacky suitcase! - I keep receipts to the value of about £250.00 (covers me and OH!)

Have to agree with Patches as well though as we have been twice a year for the last five years to all different parts of the States and we have never been stopped but it does happen.

happy shopping:rotfl:

PeteMc

I'm a bit saddened with the number of posters advocating evading tax.

Would you walk into the local A&E and steal a defibrilator? Claim benefits that you are not entitled to? Same effect, depriving funds from the state.

It's not moneysaving, it's tax evasion or dishonesty or theft.

Even with VAT and duty paid it's still probably cheaper.

Anyway rant over and as the last poster pointed out you can be as honest as you like and that includes the opposing view.

madnis7

PeteMc wrote:

I'm a bit saddened with the number of posters advocating evading tax.

Would you walk into the local A&E and steal a defibrilator? Claim benefits that you are not entitled to? Same effect, depriving funds from the state.

It's not moneysaving, it's tax evasion or dishonesty or theft.

Even with VAT and duty paid it's still probably cheaper.

Anyway rant over and as the last poster pointed out you can be as honest as you like and that includes the opposing view.

Hmmm stealing a Defibrillator eh, that's not a bad idea.

The way I see it, we are forced into paying taxes for a lot services and crap most of us never use. The people who actually work hard and earn their money gets it taken off them so we can hand it to a load of people ho will never get jobs. I don't agree with the way the public purse is spent and therefore don't feel the same unbinding force to comply that you do. Comparing not paying tax on item with the money that we've already been taxed on to stealing life saving equipment in a hospital is like comparing not giving money to WWF to killing and skinning Panda's. Cause and effect are not the same thing. So while you are entitled to you opinion so am I and this is it.

Caramelapplebetty

I think we may have a different attitude to the tax if we didn't feel like we get ripped off in this country. Look at the elmo TMX, subject of a very long contentious thread on this site - £34.99 in UK - $39.99 (approx £22) in US. If we weren't charged as much for such items the Chancellor wouldn't get so much VAT - swings and roundabouts in my opinion.

gazhawkins

Some states eg Montana and Nevada do not have local sales tax (similar to UK VAT) on goods.

Could save you a fair packet if you happen to be visiting one of them. Other states have varying levels of sales tax - worth checking out before you go.

jayne26

i was told some states knock off sales tax if you are a tourist, you have to show your passport usually in large mall shops jc penny ect go to customer services and ask before major purchases