7 essential information for shopping in New York

We can’t deny: most of the people who come to New York take the opportunity for shopping. If you are planning to spend some money in New York, it’s good to take a look on these essential tips.

1.There is not always a “cheap” option– let’s start with an example: IPhone. Apple’s smartphone is desired by many people, but don’t make a mistake: the price fixed. If we are talking about the last launched, you will not find it for a cheaper price than advertised on the Apple website – even on Black Friday. Most of these smartphones have a fixed price. So, when we talk about electronics, just trust stores like Best Buy, B&H and Apple. You can find electronics in the first two stores with discount when items are “refurbished” or “open box”. Another common question is: where to buy Chanel or Louis Vuitton with cheaper prices? Answer: brands such as Chanel and Louis Vuitton do not work with discount stores. The price is the one, period. What you can do is look at the luxury thrift stores – I have already spoken of thrift stores in New York here and here. And please do not think of buying  in Chinatown – they are fakes. .

2. Taxes – I have spoken about this subject in a specific post on the blog – you can click here to check – but it’s always good to remember. The price of a product on the label is never the final price because the taxes only appear at the checkout. In New York, the taxes are 8.875% (state taxes and city taxes). So when you go shopping, remember that every item you purchase will have an increase of 8,875%. This percentage makes a difference when we talk about iPhone, for example. Good news: there is no taxes on clothing or shoes whose price are less than $ 110. Taxes are calculated per item. That is, if you buy $ 700 in clothing and footwear and any cost more than $ 110, your purchase will not have any taxes. If among the items there is any piece whose price exceeds $ 110, only that item will suffer incidence of tax. I think it’s clear, right?

3. Voltage – here in the USA, the voltage of electronics and appliances is 115-120 volts. Then, the voltage of the products sold here also follows this same voltage. Speaking about smartphone, computer and other electronics that are dual-voltage, there is no problem in buying these items for use in your country. But if you are buying another electronic device, remember to check the voltage, since we know that some places are different. Of course, you can use a converter – but I am particularly afraid to use a converter, especially if we are talking about products that reach high temperatures.

4. Sizes– when you buy clothes and shoes, do not forget that the size chart is different. Some clothes have the letters system – XS, S, M, L – there are other size – as the numbers – where 2 is the smallest size and 14 is larger. It is also worth remembering that here in the US there is a different convention for sizes of denum- like 28-32 – where the first number refers to the waist and the second to the length. They are all brands that use this convention, but it is good to know that it exists. In the case of men’s dress shirts, numbering goes from 14.5 to 18.5. Lingerie here also has a different convention: with letters and numbers. The shoes here are also different. My advice is that you research on the internet before – there are several sizes charts and they can change as the brand. Obviously, it is necessary to try, but knowing your size is easier to choose. Oh, and remember that sizes may vary.

5. Amazon locker – a good strategy for purchasing – both to save money by finding better prices and not to spend time in stores – is to use the internet. Amazon is a great option for multiple items – you can find everything there, from electronics to books, from cosmetics to clothes. Many hotels don’t receive orders s or charge for such service. But Amazon has a very good service for such cases, Amazon Locker. They are points of receipt of orders – and the service is completely free. You select an Amazon Locker location and pick up your package at a time that’s convenient for you. Once your package is delivered to the Amazon Locker, you’ll receive an e-mail notification with a unique pickup code that includes the address and opening times for your selected Locker location. When you arrive to collect your package, enter your pickup code or scan the barcode using the barcode scanner and follow the instructions on the screen. All packages delivered to Amazon Locker locations must be picked up within three business days. Check out more details here.

6. Returns – one of the things I love here in the US is the return policy. When you buy a product – whether physical or online stores – you are entitled to return it within 30 days. You can either make an exchange or ask for your money back. No matter you have opened the box, in the case of a sealed product, provided it is in the same condition it was purchased. Clothes also need to be with labels. But anyway, I think nice to know that information not to take advantage in a wrong way, but to know your rights if you do not like a product you purchased. All websites have an area that explains the policy of exchanges and returns.

7. Discount coupons – the discount coupons are also very popular here! It’s a good way to get a better price at that store or website that you enjoy. Do you want to find coupons for your trip? Retail Me Not app is great – gives to search for stores and brands. You can also check the website.  Speaking of coupons, it is important to check the details of each one and to pay attention to expiration date. Coupons have short-term expiration, then the ideal is to search for them a few days before the trip.