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What to bring home from the States?

Shanghai Expat Forum Index » City Living Forums » Questions and Answers

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hilary.riddle

Newbie

Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 7

Status: Offline

Posted: Aug 21, 2007 - 05:21 AM
Post subject: What to bring home from the States?

Hi, I've post "What to give" last week and found your suggestions were very helpful and informative. Thank you!

I am a Shanghainese girl and will be on a biz trip to Las Vegas and California in November.
I'm wondering what is worthy of bringing back to China to my relatives and friends. I don't have many ideas, please kindly give me some suggestions:
1. Cosmetics
The reason is though I can buy every brand in China, I understand the material is different if it is made in China. The other reason is that here the tax is high for cosmetics . However would there be any problem to pass the custom? If so can i mail back to China?
2. What kind of market can I find good for looking these little presents?

I know i would find many interesting things when i am there, but I want to be proactive to that so i won't lose directions...

Renovator

Raver

Joined: Apr 18, 2007
Posts: 485
Location: Century Park & MA,USA
Status: Offline

Posted: Aug 21, 2007 - 06:10 AM

The four most popular items I am always asked to bring to China on my monthly trips are Cosmetics, Perfume, Alcohol and Cigarettes. I am strongly opposed to smoking so don't bring back Cigarettes, but for cosmetics you should be easily able to find in las Vegas. The small 5 pack travel perfumes (for men and women) available in duty free shops have been a great hit and I always keep a few of these in China ready to give away. They are in the $38 range (don't have exact price as I get discount on duty free purchases). I believe that Chinese residents are limited to 200 cigarettes and 1 bottle of alcohol (you can confirm exact amounts at Pudong airport). I also purchase any alcohol through duty free as that is the least hassle.

I have tried giving US specialty products such as Maple sugar candy or syrup available in our region and US specialty items have not been popular in China. Las Vegas will have a lot of American Indian silver and silver/turquoise jewelery which is not expensive and may be well accepted by some of your friends and family.

Enjoy your trip to Vegas!!!

Magnolia
Board Biatch

Joined: June 01, 2004
Posts: 31083

Posted: Aug 21, 2007 - 08:10 AM

Duty-free shopping (like those five packs of perfumes mentioned above) should do the trick. Don't worry about customs.

Alcohol can get heavy (that walk from the plane to where you get a cart gets l.o.n.g.).

If you want to shop while in Vegas, perhaps some Vegas-inspired gifts, which can be found anywhere (although if it is touristy-type things, then I seriously suggest the Walgreens near the MGM Grand... not glamorous AT ALL, but a decent selection).

If looking for non-touristy items, then any of the shops will do the trick.

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mswp

Rocker

Joined: Mar 06, 2005
Posts: 725

Status: Offline

Posted: Aug 21, 2007 - 08:12 AM

Lots of my Chinese friends are watching prices, and keeping a balance sheet of what I spend, and what they spend, so I tend to look for inexpensive items.

Vitamins, American Ginseng and nuts (especially pistachios), and if it's someone I want to give a "made in America" product, then I get either a small box of handmade chocolates, or honey, with a label that shows where it was produced. I've also given little sets of soap and lotion from The Body Shop which were well received.

freeman2007

Reacher

Joined: July 07, 2007
Posts: 342
Location: connecticut
Status: Offline

Posted: Aug 21, 2007 - 08:22 AM

in las vegs why do not you bring them back some casino chips hahahahha chinese people are obsessed by gambling

or go to the hotel le paris and get something there from france hahahahahah

may be some las vegas wine???????

they also have las vegas cigars ahahahaha

if you go california get a picture of yourself on front of the hollywood sign ahhahahah

get some california wine

cosmetics/perfumes/go to body shop and buy all sorts of soaps and fragances

so many things to bring

heve a good shopping

Magnolia
Board Biatch

Joined: June 01, 2004
Posts: 31083

Posted: Aug 21, 2007 - 08:23 AM

mswp wrote:

Vitamins, American Ginseng and nuts (especially pistachios), and if it's someone I want to give a "made in America" product, then I get either a small box of handmade chocolates, or honey, with a label that shows where it was produced. I've also given little sets of soap and lotion from The Body Shop which were well received.

Excellent suggestions!

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freeman2007

Reacher

Joined: July 07, 2007
Posts: 342
Location: connecticut
Status: Offline

Posted: Aug 21, 2007 - 08:25 AM

also chinese people like nuts a lot get them some macadamia nuts i have not seen any in china yet or very seldom they might like it a little taste of hawaii it is america

Juan_Tamad

Board Royalty

Joined: Jan 29, 2007
Posts: 6267
Location: Smoky Mountain
Status: Offline

Posted: Aug 21, 2007 - 08:32 AM

Las Vegas knick knacks/souvenirs would be great but they would probabaly be made in China.

If you will take the road from Las Vegas to LA or San Diego, there are lots of discount/overun shops midway. You can surely pick up some stuff here. Again the problem is most of the stuff might be made in China.