Shopping

Shopping in America is generally considered by Aussies to have a lot of differences that are very favourable. However, there are some differences you should be aware of that will make your shopping experiences less frustrating by being forewarned. See the following points for more information on Shopping differences.

• Most stores in America stay open later than in Australia, especially those in malls and shopping centers. You can expect that they will be open until 8 - 10pm in general, although the privately-owned stores may operate differently. Some big chain stores like Target, Walmart, and K-Mart may be open 24/7. Often you may find that while stores do close later, they may also open later. Sometimes stores in malls don't open until 10am or so, and noon on Sundays.
• There are many items in America that are much cheaper than in Australia. Items such as CDs, DVDs, clothing, shoes, electrical goods, cars, furniture, electronics, magazine subscriptions, car insurance, and others. Food on the other hand is similar to Australian prices, and in many cases more expensive.
• You will be required to pay sales-tax on most items you buy, although which items and how much sales-tax is heavily dependent on which state you live in. In general you won't pay sales-tax on items such as food or petrol (gas), or services. Most other items will have sales-tax added to the displayed tag-price, so if an item has a $25 tag price, you will be charged the tag-price plus whatever sales-tax is required in your state.
• When buying clothes and shoes, you'll notice that the sizing is different. While it's probably best to try clothing on at first until you get used to the sizing, you can use the following as a guide:
• Shoes - Some conversion websites say that shoes are 1 1/2 sizes bigger than your Australian size. However, most Aussies in America say that shoes are only a half size bigger.
• Dresses, shirts, tops, panties, etc - 2 sizes smaller than your Australian size. So if your clothing size is 12 in Australia, it will be 10 in America.
• Bras are the same as in Australia, because sizing is based on inches - such as 32, 34, etc.
• Men's shirts are the same because their sizing is based on inches - such as 38, 40, etc.
• Jeans and pants - the same as dresses etc - 2 sizes smaller than your Australian size. Jeans also come in leg-length sizes; short, regular, and long. It's common to see jean sizes such as "10-Short".
• The most common form of payment in America is by credit card, although checks (cheques) are also popular and accepted.
• There does not seem to be an American equivalent of the Australian "newsagency". You can buy newspapers in vending machines, supermarkets and grocery stores, drugstores, or have them delivered.
• Privately-owned butcher and baker shops are few and far between in America. You will be mainly reliant on supermarkets for these items, although the supermarket butchers are usually happy to cut something "different" for you.

Reader Feedback on this Topic

• The shoe sizing mentions a 1 1/2 size difference.....when it was discussed on the message board it was 1/2 size difference and in many of the larger shoes chain stores in Aussie where the shoe size is displayed it also has the American equivalent at 1/2 a size difference too. Maybe that's why many people have not noticed a real change in shoes cause it is so small a difference. - Cassie
• Just thought I would point out that not all states have sales tax. We have no sales tax at all here in Delaware. - Louise
• Well actually, you do pay sales tax on petrol...it's just included in the price. Most food items are tax-free, generally the same ones that are GST-free in Australia, but some are not and it just depends.- Vicky
• When I was living in Australia, I bought several pairs of shoes and it seemed the size numbers were actually quite similar to those in America. My American size is 6 and a half. In Australia, it was a size 6. - Vicky
• You might also want to mention that you can do EFTPOS (with your bankcard) in America as well, but it's called paying by "debit". - Vicky
  Americans use cash to pay for many things. Not just credit cards or checks. More and more, we are cutting up our credit cards and using cash or checks. If you use a check, you may have to show a driver's license or some type of photo identification. - Carol

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