You are here: Home > Living

Online shopping: US brands just got cheaper!

Virginia Graham
Friday, November 6, 2009
Getty Images
Getty Images
With the exchange rate on the Australian dollar moving as high as US$0.93 this week, if you have a penchant for US designers such as Marc Jacobs or Ralph Lauren, now is as good a time as any to check out all the online sites. But why stop there? Virginia Graham looks as why it's worth it to shop online.

The Australian dollar has strengthened against most European currencies as well, so any designer that you like, you could possibly compare their sites, too. The European economies have not been doing well, so their retail sales are very good at the moment. Remember there are online-only specials that could be great for you.

I was looking for baby presents on eBay, when suddenly it occurred to me that I could potentially buy the same items new in the sales from the US sites (including shipping) for about the same price they'd cost me second-hand on eBay, and sure enough it was true. So why not do your own research for your favourite products and see if it's true for you, too?

Christmas is not that far away, and if you're looking for something special, rather than wait for the sales here, why not let the sales come to you? If you like Gucci, Armani, Christian Louboutin and True Religion, you can shop for them all online. For women's fashion, I often get my ideas from sites such as www.netaporter.com, and then go direct to US department store sites such as www.bloomingdales.com or www.macys.com to see what sales they have in their designers sections.

The other great thing about sites such as Macy's is they have a feedback section for their garments. That way, you may have a bit more information about the clothes than you normally would shopping online.

Obviously online shopping is not just limited to clothes. Just about anything you can think of is available. Just make sure that they ship to Australia, that you are buying from a reputable source and you know their returns policy.

I love www.amazon.com for books, and www.strawberrynet.com for cosmetics. Do you have any online shopping tips? Has anything become cheaper for you now that our exchange rate has strengthened?

Your say: Do you shop online? Will you give it a go now if you can save money? What are your favourite online shopping sites? Share with us below...

By Virginia Graham from www.modelmortgages.com.au

SHARE:
MESSENGER
FACEBOOK
MORE
Blog on Spaces
Add to delicious
Add to Digg
Share on MySpace
?
Share, bookmark, and save your favourite ninemsn articles and features.  Learn more.
User comments
Just wondering how the author buys stuff online from Bloomingdales or Macys as they do not ship internationally? Amazon is brilliant - one of my favourites!
Anyone looking for discount perfume at a reasonable price should try FragranceNet.com. They ship overseas and offer discounts regularly and let you know when sales and specials are on. They also tell you perfumes that are similar to the type of perfume you like so you can try other fragrances that may appeal to you because you like a particular fragrance. I recently decided to try some fragrances suggested because I liked two particular fragrances and I was absolutely thrilled with the fragrances suggested. I had thought of these two fragrances as my signature scents but now I feel like I can create a bit of mystery by mixing it up a little with several new fragrances to use from time to time. It is easy to get set in one's ways with a signature fragrance. The customer reviews are also helpful as some of them are very descriptive about the fragrances involved. I can highly recommend FragranceNet.com. They even give you a 10% discount for joining their email list.
I am amazed at the cost of M.A.C. cosmetics in Australia. I am in the USA at the moment and picked up some M.A.C. cosmetics. I checked online just for interest to see what I would pay for the items at home. The special lipstick bag of cosmetics I bought for US$36.00 plus tax cost A$80.00 at home in Australia. It contained 3 items - a lipstick liner pencil, a lipgloss and a lipstick in a cute zipper bag. I was shocked at the markup!!! The prices were outrageous over the whole range of products that I purchased. when I compared them to the USA. How is it justified? I wish I could order from M.A.C. here in the USA but I don't think they ship overseas. You have to order from your own country online. It stinks! You can go online and check it for yurself. Just compare the cost of lipsticks and eyeshadows in Australia compared to the USA and any special promotions like the lipstick bags and other specials out at the moment are over double the price at home in Australia. Why?

Write a comment
Email: *
Your email will not be shared with any third parties or published with your comment.
Nickname: *
Location: *

Subject:
*
Comment:
*
Maximum characters 1000

Comment guidelines
Avoid using:
  • Personal attacks
  • Irrelevant comments
  • HTML tags
  • Personal information
  • Offensive language
  • Text in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS
See full comment guidelines
Comment guidelines X
Thank you for sharing your opinions with other users of NineMSN. People will find your comments more helpful if you include relevant information and avoid some common pitfalls.
Please note: All reviews and comments submitted are subject to moderation, NineMSN reserves the right to alter and / or remove any content that does not comply with usage guidelines.
What to include in your comment:
  • A title that briefly summarizes the opinion expressed in the comment.
  • Additional comments adding more detail.
  • Comparisons to other similar products, if this is relevant.
  • To create a new paragraph, press the Enter key twice.
What not to include:
  • Information that will quickly go out of date.
  • Comments on other comments or commenters.
  • Language that other users may find offensive.
  • comments of one sentence or less. Provide information to support your opinion.
  • Personal information like your email address or telephone number.
  • HTML coding. Tags like <b> or <i> will not be recognized.

Also in this section

Recipe Search

Tip: Try "lamb & potato" or "Low GI"
advertisement
Features
Pictures
Video
Say good riddance to fat: Manage the IN vs OUTMagazines feature new fad diets every week. Low fat, no carbs, South Beach Diet, cabbage soup diet, high fat, Atkins … are you confused? Fed up with all the hype and the fact you are still trying to lose weight? Read on. Robin Hood for divorced womenYou hear the same old story trumped out a lot, the woman who was happily married to a well off man in a wealthy suburb, has three young children then all of a sudden, he moves out. The no-diet weight loss strategy that actually worksThe no-diet weight loss strategy that actually works. Strength training for women; the secret to an amazing body at any ageStrength training does not make you 'big'. To get big muscles you need to train a lot, very hard and with very heavy weights and you also need testosterone. This is hard enough for men and extremely difficult for women... Overcoming the weight loss plateauHere’s something you won’t read about all that often: weight loss is not a linear process. In other words, you’re unlikely to lose a predictable 1 or 2 kilograms per week until you get down to where you want to be.
ww |

inspire me

Barbecued soy and ginger lamb with...

Barbecued soy and ginger lamb with coriander potatoesThe barbecue is the perfect way to cook a butterflied leg of lamb. Have your...More >

Char-grilled t-bones with potato pancakes

Char-grilled t-bones with potato pancakesLet the crisp potato pancakes soak up some of the zesty chilli and ginger...More >

Recipes in your inbox

Recipes in your inboxWe send you the latest recipes from the weekly straight to your inbox.
Sign up now >
ww |

topics

Handy hints(740)/ Expert advice(533)/ natural health(427)/ diet(265)/ Gardening(190)/ Books(179)/ Craft(165)/ Cleaning tips(149)/ Kids(121)/ Health(101)/ Beauty(95)