What stuff is cheaper to buy in US compared to the UK?

martindow

redpete wrote: »

Amazon US claim that "For AmazonGlobal items, you won't be charged additional fees if the actual Import Fees exceed the Import Fees Deposit we estimated." - not certain that covers VAT as well.

Ebay have a similar Global Shipping Program which includes the VAT and duty here. The shipping cost is of course increased to cover this, but at least with GSP you know the complete cost before buying.

Kernow666

soon be the annual " you can buy it cheaper in the usa " features in the newspapers but they dont warrant paying for flights & hotels to go shopping

i have recently come back from the US and bought some converse & vans trainers for around £20-£25 a pair and levis for around £18 but i dont go just to save money

sillygoose

I always come back with Lego kits from Toysrus in the US as usually substantially cheaper.

Also Build-a-Bear merchandise from the brand store can be a lot cheaper for the younger kids. You find the stores in some malls.

Earlier in the year I bought some Elf-on-the-shelf toys back that you could only get here from people profiteering them on Ebay, some was like £10 in the US but people were Ebaying for £30-£60 as not sold here retail. I simply ordered online to a Walmart store near where I was staying for a click and collect and popped in to pick them up.

christaitfife

Things are generally cheaper in the US for two main reasons:
1. Tax
2. Economies of scale

The US has lower rates of tax but funds less social expenditure. By this I mean everything from medical care to benefits to social services (parks, subsidised buses, social services etc.). You really notice the gulf in funding if you have to visit the DMV or need help from the IRS.

The US has a massive population which commonly use large retailers (Walmart, Target, Costco etc.) which operate large 'access by car' outlets that serve many people from a very large catchment area. In the UK there has been a move from high streets to retail parks but there is still much of a mix. More smaller stores servicing an area covered by one mega-store costs more.

I lived in the US for a few years and as true as it is that you can buy more with your money, by the time I added on insurance, vehicle costs and the many charges for 'everything' (from parking to tipping to charges for banking) I found out that most goods worked out to equate to be the same as what they cost here - there you paid the difference in lots of 'bits'.... if that makes sense?

The grass isn't always greener on the other side!

macman

You could always holiday in Detroit, detached houses there start at about $1,000 to purchase...but may require some renovation. And if you are renting it, out you may require a persuasive rent collector.

ferf1223

silvercar wrote: »

Certain medicines/ vitamins are cheaper in the US.

we always stock up on headache tablets and cold tablets...the cold tablets over here are generally useless, I have found. The WalMart own brand of Tylenol severe cold and flu is amazing...we refer to them as 'the magic yellow pills'.

Kernow666

low & behold the sun newspaper ran there annual things are cheaper in the USA story yesterday
where they get the prices from though
Levi jeans in the UK £75 - US price £45 ?

John259

Kernow666 wrote: »

where they get the prices from though?

Walmart?
http://www.walmart.com/search/?query=levi+jeans

User3890

I'm in the US at the moment and to me generally things are not cheaper. I'll have a closer look on my last 2 days when I'll be doing some shopping but so far no difference except the odd item eg I brought pack of sharpies pens which seemed cheaper. I'd say more expensive.

Footlong veggie delight subway £4.30. U.K. Price?

But I'm in California so everything is plus 8.1% sales tax.

EssexExile

User3890 wrote: »

Footlong veggie delight subway £4.30. U.K. Price?

£5.00 here.