What's cheaper in the US than Ireland?

LittleBrick

Travelling to NYC next week, and I will never stop looking for a bargain. What items specifically are cheaper in the US than in Ireland, and what should I be keeping an eye out for? Particularly considering the exchange rate is poor (1

Padre_Pio

Levis, electronics, Amazon/online is generally cheaper if you can get delivered to your hotel.

Plenty more outlet stores for clothes etc, but they make specifically for outlet so the quality is worse than the main stores.

Only

Paracetamol (US equivalent Acetaminophen) - you can get bottles of 600 for a LOT less than the equivalent here.

Same with ibuoprofen..... The generic brands in the US are as good as the likes of Advil so no need to buy the most expensive option either.

You can also get anti-inflamitory tablets OTC such as Naproxen (similar to Difene here) and also Melatonin OTC.

These are my go-to stock ups when I travel to the US

Padre_Pio

You can look up the US prices of what you need online. Don't forget to factor in sales tax though.

odyssey06

Bring a half empty suitcase so you have room \ weight on the way back for your purchases.

jonerkinsella

Guns and ammunition. Life in general.

Yeehaw.

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120409842#Comment_120409842

The quality of the clothes is fine, I got several years of regular wearing clothes I bought last time, they just won't impress people who buy the really expensive version of the brand.

Padre_Pio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120410304#Comment_120410304

Life is definitely cheap in the US.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120410391#Comment_120410391

Yep, if you like brands the outlets are fantastic. Just bear in mind that you're not getting the genuine article and the savings are not what you think. Buttons, zips, and stitching are all lower quality on the outlet items, which is perfectly fine and they wear well.

Some outlet stores give you discounts off other ones, so a receipt from Calvin Klein gives you 10% off Tommy Hilfiger, who gives you 10% off from Polo etc.

Last time I went to the US I had a shopping list from my team mates of things to get. One got the tablet for his wife sent to my hotel because it was nearly half of what it was here.

Electronics can be dirt cheap compared to here. To be honest, this thread would be shorter if we just listed whats cheaper to buy in Ireland. Off the top of my head, the presidential election is cheaper here - but you get what you pa for.

Interesting101

In NYC you won't find any decent clothes cheaper than over here but it probably depends on what you wear in general . I was in NYC outlets recently and prices were crazy for just plain regular stuff like Nike ....I ended up buying nothing only a couple of shirts in Macy's and TJMax .

I'd head to those before outlets but similar to here you'll need to through the racks.

Electronics probably a bit cheaper but savings depends on the quality your looking for.....You'd have a better chance getting a 4k machine over there for maybe 3k as opposed to 3.5k here but if your just looking at a 200 quid tablet the savings versus peace of mind / postage if return needed might not be worth the hastle .

Just take a look at Best Buy online and see if there is anything you really want 😁

Headphone are one I usually pickup though.

AngryLips

I wouldn't recommend getting electronics over there unless it's small items or accessories. 1. the price difference is exaggerated and 2. the USA wifi spectrum is restricted versus Europe - in my experience with a laptop at least - wifi on it was noticeably worse compared to similar items here.

What is much cheaper and also stronger over the counter are teeth whitening strips. We're talking a saving of around €300

fdevine

Went to Staten Island Outlets back in November. Levis & Guess were the only two shops we bought much in. Levis had some good reductions on tshirts and tops but in limited sizes. Jeans were buy on get one half price so worked out around $55 a pair. Guess outlet was better range and value than the Kildare Village one here. Macy's and Marshalls for clothing would be next best bets.

Apart from the above the bargains were few and far between so don't go with the expectation of filling a case with cheap anything.

Shop called Five Below on 5th Avenue for toys, games & kids oriented stuff. Massive sweet shop (It's Sugar) on 42nd street with huge range.

shalom

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120409871#Comment_120409871

I get a rash from these. I gave away all the bottles I bought

bliger

Have a look at their bargain alerts section

drogon.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120409871#Comment_120409871

Would customs not have issues bring that much medication into the country. I know it is paracetamol's, but still.

suave.4u

cars are very cheap in US when compared to here, just saying...

Akula

Have done it 20+ times and never had an issue.

ozmo

I went looking for Electronics in NY a while back - With the exchange rate and tax added - I didn't see a huge difference in what you can get here online - maybe if you order from Amazon and get delivered to hotel.

Dollar Pizza take away slices is a big thing over there - but ending this year I believe :) the dollar stores are fun to browse also for unusual things - there were some decent indoor markets that open at the weekends - they spanned several blocks.

Anything touristy - like visiting Empire State has gone up massively in price in past couple years that will eat into any savings made on buying stuff.

Steer clear of the dodgy electronics shops all over NY - the ones with no prices on anything - they give you a price and as you leave shop drop the price - and that will be without tax - not a nice buying experience - and still not worth it.

a clanger

With the exchange rate you do have to search out the bargains. Pharmacy items as mentioned above but overall the I find the US no longer a 'cheap' destination for eating out or shopping. For example last trip a new O'neill wetsuit and Nike Airforce 1's were requested. The wetsuit (identical) I sourced in Ireland at almost 25% cheaper and the trainers were €15 cheaper delivered in Ireland. I you have a specific item in mind don't assume the US is cheaper. I usually find Amazon has loads of stuff I didn't know I needed and getting that delivered calms my shopping urges

Padre_Pio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120414533#Comment_120414533

Runners are very expensive. There's a status symbol around them in the US, which doesn't exist here.

RE bringing pills into Ireland, it's restricted AFAIK. That said, no one is checking. Same way that no one checks if you bring 5 litres of vodka and 1000 cigarettes into the country. Just don't be an idiot and carry them through in a clear plastic bag.

Here's the line " Subject to other requirements, certain exemptions may apply for the importation of a medicinal product by a person for his/her own personal use under certain circumstances and not being by mail order."

https://www.revenue.ie/en/customs/documents/prohibitions-restrictions.pdf

ozmo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120414715#Comment_120414715

Good while you are there I suppose - Aspirin etc. is also of course available more locally in Belfast for 40p or less a box in eg. Boots. (Not the huge quantities USA package up together - but you are allowed buy max of Asprin and max of Ibuprofen per purchase if needed).

...Ghost...

Food....or at least the portions are bigger for what you buy here. A kids meal is GIANT

Kerry25x

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120413807#Comment_120413807

You've bought bottles of 600 20+ times? You must go through a lot of paracetamol.

tinytobe

Apple products tended to be cheaper in the US. Levi's jeans as well.

However electronics isn't often the same in terms of technical specs than in Europe. Clothes also don't always have the same quality.

I think today the difference in prices isn't as strong as it used to be.

Back in the 90ies you could have flown to the US with an empty suitcase and returned to Europe, - just having to dodge customs but they often turned a bind eye.

Movie Maestro

If you've got time, head out to Jersey Gardens Outlet (get a bus from the main bus station, takes around 60mins). When you arrive go straight to the concierge desk and buy a coupon book(around €10) - you save a fortune on already reduced stuff such as Levi's, Nike, Under Armour etc.

Only

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120412821#Comment_120412821

Ive never had an issue. They are not controlled and they are for personal use. I dont bring suitcases full, just enough to do us for a while.

Only

We also like ROSS outlets - similar to TJMaxx but we find cheaper - you have to be prepared to search through though.

minimary

Hydrogen peroxide, very cheap and easily available in most US pharmacies/dollar stores. Great for stain removal and minor cuts.

Very highly controlled and expensive in Ireland

Padre_Pio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120416127#Comment_120416127

It's expensive, but you can order it by the litre in pharmacies and on Amazon.

poitinstill

MAC make up was considerable cheaper a when i was asked to get some but that was a few years back.

samo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120415786#Comment_120415786

Second this for ROSS. Was in Miami for work recently and spent about 2 hours rooting in ROSS, great value in T-shirts (8 dollars) and sportswear but runners were weirdly expensive.

CVS for melatonin, tylenol PM etc too.

otherwise found Ireland vastly cheaper.

Hoboo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120416127#Comment_120416127

Hydrogen peroxide SHOULD NEVER BE USED ON CUTS.

shanec1928

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120415405#Comment_120415405

bring your suit case too!

sweetie

Any potential savings have been wiped out with the poor exchange rate. My trip to San Fran last summer I bought very little, just some nice stuff in Macy's and some cheap stuff in old navy. Food and drink are expensive enough too. I collect vinyl and there's some great deals in target and walmart on special variants.

Fat_Fingers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120418485#Comment_120418485

i was in the States in December, down south. Same experience, even with only 8% sales tax everything was on par with Ireland due to the poor exchange rate.

davork

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120415405#Comment_120415405

We were over last week, and rugrat #1 spent a lot of time in Jersey Gardens (I was the chauffeur) we also went to Menlo Park Mall, which while its not an outlet mall, had other things they were interested in....

davork

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120411284#Comment_120411284

Honestly, in a few decades of pond hopping, I've never found a problem with the WiFi differences... most devices get over it when you tell them you are in a different locale (multiple chromebooks, Thinkpads, macbooks, ipads and iphones)

davork

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120418328#Comment_120418328

You can tell the tourists at Jersey Gardens, they all have suitcases following them, okay gross over simplification but...

youngblood

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120418296#Comment_120418296

Is Melatonin over the counter? ie no prescription needed?

rob316

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120513901#Comment_120513901

Yep, about 10 dollars for a bottle of 100 tablets buy as much as you want. It's dirt cheap

Clothes used to be great value but the exchange rate is poor now. My brother brought me over a load of stuff from Tommy outlet in Toronto recently, it was really cheap but a couple of bits fitted strange compared to the Irish stuff I have bought.

walterking

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120513901#Comment_120513901

Its regarded as a food supplement / health supplement in the USA and available everywhere including supermarkets

It is a grey marker pharma product here and UK (and possibly rest of EU) in that you can get it on prescription but not reimbursable and about €1+ for a 2mg tablet.

I buy them from amazon and get them shipped to my sister who brings them over on her regular trips back here.

Avoid the very cheap stuff and go for reputable brands.

This study does have some interesting info https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5263069/

Padre_Pio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120418296#Comment_120418296

Runners are a big trend in the US now.

You can buy them plastic wrapped to seal in the freshness.

Seriously, look it up

corks finest

'Life was my first reaction aswell 👍