America Is a Shopping Country
Shopping in America is a genuine activity — not just a necessity. Outlet malls are destinations. Target is somehow fun. And many things really are cheaper than in the UK, especially electronics, clothing, and outdoor gear.
This guide tells you what's actually worth buying, where to find the best deals, and how to navigate American retail as a British visitor.
What's Genuinely Cheaper
Electronics
- Apple products — iPhones, MacBooks, iPads, AirPods. Typically 15-30% cheaper than UK prices (before VAT is added at the till). An iPhone that costs £1,199 in the UK might be $999 (£790) in the US + state tax.
- Camera gear — Lenses, bodies, accessories. B&H Photo in NYC is the legendary destination. Also available via Amazon USA.
- Headphones — Sony, Bose, Apple. Broadly 10-20% cheaper.
- Gaming — PS5, Xbox, Switch games and accessories. Cheaper across the board.
Clothing & Shoes
- Levi's — £30-50 for jeans that cost £80-100 in the UK. Buy at outlet stores for even better deals.
- Nike / New Balance / Converse — Factory stores sell shoes at 30-50% off UK retail.
- Patagonia / North Face / Columbia — Outdoor gear is significantly cheaper, especially at outlets.
- Ralph Lauren — Outlet stores sell polo shirts for $30-40 (£24-32) vs £85+ in the UK.
- American brands (J.Crew, Brooks Brothers, Abercrombie, Banana Republic) — Often 30-50% cheaper than importing to the UK.
Outdoor & Sports Gear
- REI (outdoor superstore) — Camping gear, hiking boots, packs, clothing. Sales are legendary.
- Bass Pro Shops / Cabela's — Fishing, camping, hunting, outdoor gear. The stores themselves are experiences (Bass Pro has aquariums and restaurants).
- Running shoes — Asics, Brooks, New Balance. Often £20-30 cheaper than equivalent UK models.
Beauty & Cosmetics
- Sephora — The cosmetics superstore. Brands unavailable or expensive in the UK are standard here.
- Bath & Body Works — American obsession. Candles, lotions, body mists. Very cheap, very gift-friendly.
- CVS / Walgreens — American pharmacies sell beauty, vitamins, snacks, and impulse-purchase everything at reasonable prices.
Where to Shop
Outlet Malls
American outlet malls are shopping destinations, not dumpy discount warehouses. The best ones:
- Woodbury Common Premium Outlets (1 hr north of NYC) — 250+ stores including Gucci, Prada, Coach, Nike, Levi's. Easily the best outlet experience on the East Coast.
- Desert Hills Premium Outlets (near Palm Springs, CA) — 180+ stores. Perfect addition to a California road trip.
- Sawgrass Mills (Fort Lauderdale, FL) — Enormous. 300+ stores.
- Las Vegas Premium Outlets — North and South locations. A Vegas non-gambling activity.
Budget a full day for an outlet trip. Discounts of 30-70% off retail are standard.
Costco
Membership warehouse store. American institution. Absurdly large quantities of everything at wholesale prices. The rotisserie chicken ($4.99, huge) is legendary. Great for road trip supplies, snacks, and samples (Saturday mornings = free lunch from sample stations).
Target
Target is America's "nice Walmart." Clean, well-designed stores selling clothing, home goods, electronics, groceries, beauty products, and their own excellent design-forward house brands. British visitors consistently love Target. It's Tesco meets John Lewis meets Primark.
Walmart
The world's largest retailer. Groceries, household goods, camping supplies, pharmacy, electronics — everything under one roof at lowest prices. Useful for practical purchases (phone chargers, sunscreen, snacks). Don't expect ambiance.
Amazon USA
If you have an Amazon account, you can order items to your US hotel for delivery. Amazon USA carries different products at different prices than Amazon UK. Particularly useful for:
- Travel gear to your hotel on arrival — phone mounts, adapters, portable chargers
- Road trip supplies — cooler bags, reusable water bottles, snack packages
- Last-minute needs — Prime same-day or next-day delivery works in most US cities
Items purchased on Amazon USA and shipped to a US address include US state sales tax (0-10% depending on state). No UK VAT. For electronics and gear, this often means meaningful savings.
Tax & Duty-Free
US Sales Tax
Tax is NOT included in the sticker price. Rates vary by state:
- 0% tax: Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Delaware, Alaska
- Low tax: Colorado (2.9%), Wyoming (4%)
- Medium: California (7.25%), New York (4% state + city surcharge)
- High: Tennessee (9.75%), Louisiana (9.55%)
Shopping in Oregon (no sales tax) saves 7-10% on every purchase compared to California or New York.
UK Duty-Free Allowance
When returning to the UK, you can bring back:
- £390 of goods duty-free (for goods above this, you pay UK duty + VAT)
- 200 cigarettes or 250g tobacco
- 1 litre of spirits or 2 litres of wine
- Wearing new clothing through customs is... traditional. Not technically legal if above your allowance. Very common practice.
Shopping Tips for Brits
- Check the exchange rate daily. A "great deal" in dollars might not be a deal in pounds at the current exchange rate. Use your phone's calculator.
- Outlet stores have "made-for-outlet" products. Not all outlet products were ever sold at full retail price. Quality varies. Inspect before buying.
- No VAT refund scheme for tourists. Unlike the EU, the US has no tax-free shopping programme for international visitors. What you pay is what you pay.
- Size differences:
- UK men's shoe size = US size + 0.5 (UK 9 = US 9.5)
- UK women's shoe size = US size - 2 (UK 5 = US 7)
- UK clothing sizes are generally 4 sizes smaller (UK 12 = US 8)
- Use a fee-free card (Starling, Monzo, Revolut) for all shopping. No foreign transaction fees = instant savings of 2.5-3%.