[Req] Off to America - suggestions on Bargains to pick up there?

gar

Hi I am off to New York for a week and seen as the dollar is not great at the mo I thought I might take advantage of this

Any suggestions on what I could get? Already have MP3 player and half decent digital camera...

Input appreciated.

Sorry if this is the wrong place

Gar

Creamy Goodness

not a gadget or anything but razor blades, they are cheap as penny sweets over there. ok, well slight hyperbole there but they are cheap.

mad m

Well if you see a shop called "ROSS-Dress for less" go in and have a look..Got some bargains in there.

dingding

A good watch.

some makes have no discount while others are over half the price over there.

Would have seen good prices for citizen eco-drive watches and Tag Heuer watches.

Get an idea of prices before you go.

majiktripp

If you goto Ground Zero, turn around and you'll see Century 21 department store,good bargains on clothes etc but a complete mess inside because its so busy! Also compared to here, Macy's are quite competitive too.
Runners/Trainers are dirt cheap so stock up on the fancy goods! Just remove the tags and burn yer receipts, remember coming through customs on the way home you had all those runners (and other clothes,gear etc) with you going to America right!
Also! goto Woodbury Common from Port Authority bus terminal, its a $40 ticket to get there as its an hour and a bit away but outlet stores save you a fortune!

milltown

It may not be of interest but, Nintendo DS!
€150 here vs. $129 over there (< €100). Pick up a USB or mains charger for €7 or €8. With the dollah as it is now I'd be picking up a spare too.
Also, again depending on taste, Gap outlet stores are great. I find most outlets have last year's stuff that they couldn't sell (possibly because of the lurid pinks and lime greens, no?) but the Gap stuff tends to be innocuous enough that you'd be hard pushed to tell how up to date it is.

Before making impulse purchases, remember that for electrical goods it may need more than just a plug adaptor, due to the different voltages and frequencies used over there. Extra warning for camcorders and the like; they use NTSC as their video standard, while we use PAL.

Mr E

If going to Macys, go to the visitor center and say you're a visitor from outside the country! They'll give you a discount voucher (20-25% I think) towards all your purchases.

Enjoy! (I'm jealous!)

dingding

Sometimes you can get better value in shops that have sales on than in the outlet stores.

The stuff tends to be better in the shops than the outlets and gap / bananna republic etc... may have good sales in some of their stores.



enjoy.

mad m

TmB wrote:

If going to Macys, go to the visitor center and say you're a visitor from outside the country! They'll give you a discount voucher (20-25% I think) towards all your purchases.

Enjoy! (I'm jealous!)

Yup,very true and handy but the card won't do for perfumes and the like.

6ix

I'd suggest Jersey Gardens instead of Woodbury common. Same stores, but NO tax to be paid. New Yorkers advised us to go there, and it's a good spot to pick up stuff in the outlet stores.

acquiescefc

peanut butter M&Ms. Cant beat em!

majiktripp

Macy's visitor card gives you 11% off on top of any sale items etc so it is definately worth getting as it more a less knocks the New York sales tax off an items you do buy there.
Jersey Gardens is alright, I found Woodbury had a better slection of stores and its prices were a bit better (even with the NY tax)
If you want Jersey Gardens,goto Port Authority and get the New Jersey Transit bus from Building 2,you can buy tickets from Windows 1-10 in the terminal (its bout $30 return for 2 people).

banchang

Find your nearest Steve & Barrys, & go there - you will not believe the quality for the prices charged. We cleaned out S&B San Diego a month ago !

They also carry the new Starbury (Stefon Marbury) line of basketball boots at USD15 a pair.

http://www.steveandbarrys.com/

madmoe

Apparently the iPhone hasd been hacked so it can be used on any network and not just AT&T so I'd be getting one of those if I was over. For the music player alone it would be just too cool to resist.

M

kiwijbob

I hear guns are great value over there

Loomis

Spandex. All spandex!

If you wear runners buy a ton of them. I haven't bought a pair of runners in Ireland in the last 7 years. I've been to the states 5 times in that time and buy 2/3 pairs on average each time. What would cost me 130 euro here I get there for 50-70 euro. Same goes for shoes.
Suits also. It's like 130 euro just for the jacket here and that's not going for an uppety brand name. You'll get the lot for that price in America. My mother bought herself a few suits for work the last time she went and she got a full suit for the price of the skirt over here. Even if you don't wear suits a lot it's something that's always good to have round for weddings etc.
To be honest we could all list pretty much anything you mention. Basically get whatever you're into cause no matter what it is it's cheaper. I buy dozens of DVD's each time I go and even if you don't have a multiregion player at home you can buy a player over there for 30 dollars which is ridiculous considering we pay that and more for the bloody movies over here.
*mini rant over*

gazzer

Ive been to Jersey Gardens a couple of times and have always gotten great stuff there.. Got a fantastic Calvin Klein suit there last time for only $200.

Steve and Barrys is a f**king great shop.. The quality of the clothes are brilliant. Last time I was in Jersey Gardens there was a Steve and Barrys shop there and everything in it was $5.99... Some of the T-Shirts they sell are really funny.

gazzer

If you are looking to buy any CD's or DVDs go to this place http://www.discorama.com. I have bought so much stuff in that store over my last 3 visits to New York. There is 3 stores located in Manhattan.. Not very big shops but they have tons of stuff... New Release CD's are usually $9 and New Release DVD's are usually $15. Last time I was there (Dec 06) they were selling a 60GB Creative Zen M for $280.. They are about 400 euro here

digitally-yours

a Nikon D200 camera

With 18-200 Vr lens

thats will be at the top of my list

You are saving about 40 to 50% easily !


Enjoy your self !!!

all the best

rgiller

Woodbury Commons is a lot better than Jersey Gardens. Plus in Woodbury, showing your bus ticket to the guys at the information centre gets you a book of vouchers to spend in all the shops.

If you can get to a Walmart, there's one in White Plains just north of Manhattan, the electronics are ridiculous

Grawns

Crest Whitestrips Dental Whitening System - Not available in Ireland ( as far as I know)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/B000067E30/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_top/104-2529105-8363953?ie=UTF8&n=3760901&s=hpc#customerReviews


Am off to the states in November and these are supposed to be the business. can't be bothered paying a fortune for gleaming gnashers. You should be able to pick them up in any drugstore.

sweetie

Check out American Eagle and Urban Outfitters for clothing. Much better than Gap and Banana Republic imho. Also Pac-sun (Queens Arcade and Jersey Gardens) are good for jeans, 2 for 60$ when I was over in july.

banchang

Buy a laptop

I bought one for my son, a fantastic widescreen HP. Worked out with the weak dollar at Eur700. 2MB RAM, entertainment laptop with all the bells & whistles. Badabing.:)

For all electronics shop only at
http://www.bestbuy.com/

- see the store locator. I have compared them all & these are the cheapest & best

brophy

I too am heading over to New York in December. Deffo going to head to one of the outlets but which one? Read the comments about Jersey Gardens having no tax but is the quality of clothes better?

Also since there is 6 of us going was going to rent a SUV and drive to which ever one. With the bus costing $30/40 depending on which outlet you are going to. Also the fact you are on the bus coming back with a heap of bags. The SUV for the day would cost us 115euro.

So what do you guys reckon anyone ever rented a vehicle for going to the outlet? I have driven in America a few times for a couple of weeks at a time but never in New York.

MarkR

The New York Mega Thread is worth a look for you. I'm thinking of going over for a long weekend with the mrs at the start of December.

I rented a car in Florida last time I was there. NYC traffic is supposed to be a bit mental. Plus added expense of parking in hotels is something to check.

brophy

Was only going to use the vehicle for the trip to the outlets and drop it back the next day. So would only have it one day. So no parking charges well one night but if we get back early enough i will drop it back to the rental place.

rubadub

Ring/email your hotel in advance. Tell them you are going there on business and are expecting to recieve a few packages and ask if it is ok if they are delivered to the hotel, ask how they should be addressed. Then shop online and avail of the dirt cheap inter US postage rates. Many of the reputable stores do not post internationally and are VERY cheap. Order out of state to avoid taxes.

If any do not arrive in time as the hotel to forward them onto your house, but if you order well in advance there should be no probs.

You will save plenty of your precious holiday time for sightseeing, rather than running around shops comparing prices.

FrankGrimes

OP - this thread above on Shure headphones might be worth a look. I've never been able to find in-ear headphones that I find comfortable, so might not risk it at that price, but worth a look.

I'm heading over to Seattle for 2 weeks on work soon so reckon I'll look into the price of noise cancelling headphones - they're big mofos, but the Bose I tested in the airport were seriously effective at cutting out noise, so might be useful for the plane. Not sure I want to spend that amount of cash though.

dingding

If you are looking for a GPS, the TOMTOM GO 910 is widely available overthere and is a good price compared to Ireland.

Has Ireland maps so no probs there.

Also as it has US maps you can use it anytime you hire a car overthere.

cupthehand

banchang wrote:

Buy a laptop

I bought one for my son, a fantastic widescreen HP. Worked out with the weak dollar at Eur700. 2MB RAM, entertainment laptop with all the bells & whistles. Badabing.:)

For all electronics shop only at
http://www.bestbuy.com/

- see the store locator. I have compared them all & these are the cheapest & best

What about JR's for electronics, their selection is incredible

http://www.jr.com/

storka

I've heard that you can get really cheap Nike etc runners in Chinatown! How real/unreal are they!!?

hshortt

storka wrote:

I've heard that you can get really cheap Nike etc runners in Chinatown! How real/unreal are they!!?

Completely fake, go to either Jersey Gardens or Woodbury Common and get a geniune pair in the Nike Outlets. Or try the Shoe Outlet for great bargins too

Cheerio

hshortt

Want to get a gadget and be somewhat different? Look at the Microsoft Zune media player. Great following, more features than an iPod and NOT available here.

Cheerio

amby666

3 items in the Sunday Business Post might be of interest.

Strong euro means tech bargains for travellers
http://www.sbpost.ie/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqt=TECHNOLOGY-qqqm=nav-qqqid=25576-qqqx=1.asp

How to pay when away
http://www.sbpost.ie/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqt=MONEY-qqqm=nav-qqqid=25583-qqqx=1.asp

Beware of holiday bank charges
http://www.sbpost.ie/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqt=MONEY-qqqm=nav-qqqid=25584-qqqx=1.asp

The print version also gives some example prices for ipods, cameras etc.

bored_newbie

I'd like to get a digital camera while I'm over there. Where's the best place to get one in New York?

neacy69

bored_newbie wrote:

I'd like to get a digital camera while I'm over there. Where's the best place to get one in New York?

I found JR's to be very good and you can bargain with them quite a bit. Huge selection of goods and very well priced and its easy to find...http://www.jr.com/

clevtrev

bored_newbie wrote:

I'd like to get a digital camera while I'm over there. Where's the best place to get one in New York?

B&H photo are the best I've found if you are looking for good prices as well as a shop that can provide a bit of camera knowledge (I needed it!) got a good deal on a nikon D40 - huge and busy shop run by Jews so not open on Saturdays or Friday evenings - located on 9th avenue cant remember the street

mickger

Grawns wrote:

Crest Whitestrips Dental Whitening System - Not available in Ireland ( as far as I know)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/B000067E30/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_top/104-2529105-8363953?ie=UTF8&n=3760901&s=hpc#customerReviews


Am off to the states in November and these are supposed to be the business. can't be bothered paying a fortune for gleaming gnashers. You should be able to pick them up in any drugstore.

Thanks for the heads up on this Just back from Philadelphia got this product and its amazing I'm loving my new gleaming white teeth lol

hshortt

clevtrev wrote:

B&H photo are the best I've found if you are looking for good prices as well as a shop that can provide a bit of camera knowledge (I needed it!) got a good deal on a nikon D40 - huge and busy shop run by Jews so not open on Saturdays or Friday evenings - located on 9th avenue cant remember the street

34th Street This is a second vote for B&H, massive shop, excellent service. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ Straight past Macy's and on till you see the shop.

Cheerio
Howard

2funki4wheelz

There's a cheaper (and in our experience quieter) bus to Woodbury Common and you still get the voucher book - it was $25 instead of $40 when I was there and leaves from Penn Station, you book it online/phone and there was leaflets for it in Penn Station.

I found Old Navy and Aeropostale excellent value for casual clothes

Jonathan

Just take care when buying electical goods, many do not supply Worldwide warrantys. A US warranty over here is about as usful as an underwater hairdryer.

Stephen

I cannot recommend B&H photo enough. They are excellent. A B&H summer catalogue arrived in my letterbox on Friday
Beware of their opening hours - they close on ALL Jewish holidays and sabbaths - i.e. friday afternoon till sunday morning.
Shopping there is something of an experience though, but for any photography related equipment they are very hard to beat. Even the hong kong based ebay sellers would find it hard to beat them.

Grawns

Am soooooooooo jealous. November can't come quick enough.

cupthehand

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055092585

dade

TmB wrote:

If going to Macys, go to the visitor center and say you're a visitor from outside the country! They'll give you a discount voucher (20-25% I think) towards all your purchases.

Enjoy! (I'm jealous!)

just back from Florida, it's an 11% discount and valid for 30 days all you need is your passport or drivers license.

in some of the outlets DKNY jeans $50 a pair, CK T-shirts $13 a go, 501's $29.99, Nike from $50 same with skeechers and the rest in payless NYC may be a little bit more expensive but you never know. . have told a friend in FL she should stock up and sell them to teh Irish on Ebay she'd make a killing.
Also Books are some what cheaper but also possible availibl earlier than here.
Nost sure about video games I think they may be regionalized like DVDs.

like was said loose teh reciepts and tags from everything customs loves the irish traveller coming back with heavy cases.

nuada

Hersheys Chocolate
http://www.hersheys.com/discover/timessquare.asp

OnLooker

2funki4wheelz wrote:

There's a cheaper (and in our experience quieter) bus to Woodbury Common and you still get the voucher book - it was $25 instead of $40 when I was there and leaves from Penn Station, you book it online/phone and there was leaflets for it in Penn Station.

I found Old Navy and Aeropostale excellent value for casual clothes

What is the website address for booking this??

Thanks

CountryWise

Abercrombie T-Shirts and Hoodies are a steal for the quality of them, only problem is the stereotype being associated with that gear, still i love the clothes

majiktripp

OnLooker wrote:

What is the website address for booking this??

Thanks

Tis Here! https://www.coachusa.com/newyorksightseeing/booking.asp?action=ProductBooking&productId=1062&=1

dingdong1234567

rgiller wrote:

Woodbury Commons is a lot better than Jersey Gardens. Plus in Woodbury, showing your bus ticket to the guys at the information centre gets you a book of vouchers to spend in all the shops.

If you can get to a Walmart, there's one in White Plains just north of Manhattan, the electronics are ridiculous

I concur, woodbury common is the muts nuts in terms of bargains. Nike/addidas 3 for 2 and the like. leatherman tools for the 1/3 of the price here. Get the bus to Woodbury common from the port anthority bus terminal, takes about hour and a half to get there. But the savings will make you puke it that good.!!:eek:

rubadub

jmccrohan wrote:

Just take care when buying electical goods, many do not supply Worldwide warrantys. A US warranty over here is about as usful as an underwater hairdryer.

or as useful as a US 110V hairdryer in Ireland