Whether are you traveling from the USA back to India and you want to buy gifts for your family and friends, or you want to shop from the USA online to take advantage of the best deals online, this blog post is exactly for you. We have prepared a list of product categories that are worth buying in the USA.
If you fall under the first category, keep in mind that the space in your suitcase is limited, so some of the below-mentioned categories may not be a good fit for you.
Those of you that are sitting in the comfort of your home browsing the US online stores, we also explain how to get international shipping from the USA to India.
Our blog post is very comprehensive because we want to provide you with tips and inspiration that you can take advantage of at any time. Thus, feel free to use our quick navigation below.
Table of Contents
- Why Shop In The USA In The First Place?
- Before You Start Shopping From the USA to India…
- 1. Board Games
- 2. Apple Products
- 3. Beddings
- 4. High-quality Bath Towels
- 5. Nike Sneakers & Other Products
- 6. Michael Kors Products
- 7. Kirkland Minoxidil
- 8. Nutrition Supplements
- 9. Branded Perfumes
- 10. Laptops
- 11. Branded Watches
- 12. Vitamins
- 13. Levi’s Jeans & T-Shirts
- 14. Unlocked Phones
- 15. Men’s Belts
- 16. Funko Pop US-Exclusive Figures
- 17. Beauty Products
- 18. US Beauty Subscriptions
- 19. Men’s Dress Shoes
- 20. Scented Candles
- Shipping From the USA To India With Planet Express
- Shopping From the USA To India FAQ
- Summary
Why Shop In The USA In The First Place?
Shopping in the USA may seem like a no brainer if you don’t have the proper information. But, there are 2 main reasons why Indians shop from US stores.
- The product offer in the USA is much wider than in India.
- Prices for some products are much lower in the USA compared to India*.
*Even if you include shipping costs and eventual import fees.
Before You Start Shopping From the USA to India…
There are a few things to remember before you start shopping that will help you from spending more money than you want to spend. Here are a few of them:
- Set a budget and your expectations – this is probably the best advice we can give you. When setting it you can avoid spending a fortune.
- Make a list of products you want to buy – so you won’t buy things you don’t need.
- Use discounts and cashback portals – if you shop online, you can take advantage of countless websites that offer cashback and discounts from your online purchase.
- Double-check the historical price of the product – some products may seem cheap and are marketed as ‘discounted’ but then you find out that the historical price was lower than the actual. Be aware!
- Timing is very important – for example, in Summer, Apple launches Back To School campaigns where you get headphones or other benefits when buying a new MacBook.
1. Board Games
Technology is a great thing but sometimes, it is better to turn it off. To compensate for the time you are online, you can buy the best board games for adults & family from the USA. We believe that playing with your kids or partner and spending some time together will make you much happier than your online presence.
2. Apple Products
Apple products are the cheapest in the US. Most of the shoppers from India like buying used or refurbished iPhones and MacBooks. Of course, you can also buy brand new apple products from their official website. Read more info on how to shop from Apple.com.
One thing to remember though – Americans use different power plugs than Indians. Make sure to buy some universal plug adapter so you can charge your Apple devices.
3. Beddings
Your sleep quality depends on a lot of factors – beddings included. Whether you want to buy new beddings to improve your sleep quality, or to beautify your household – there are plenty of US stores offering original, cheap, or luxurious beddings. Just remember, beddings can be bulky so it may be better to order them online and ship them to India.
4. High-quality Bath Towels
Do you know that feeling when you wipe yourself with a soft towel after a shower? If not, you should change that! There are plenty of US stores offering high-quality towels for low prices. The selection is wide – stores offer towels made from Egypt cotton, with low/high weight per square meter, small/big, minimalistic, towels with patterns or single color.
5. Nike Sneakers & Other Products
The US is Nike’s primary market according to Statista. There is no wonder that Nike launches limited editions that are available only in the US. If you love sneakers and you don’t mind spending extra money for very limited products, you should consider buying your next Nike from the USA.
6. Michael Kors Products
Michael Kors is one of the most well-known brands from the USA. In online stores like 6pm, Macy’s, Bloomingdales, Target, or even at the official Michael Kors website, you can buy MK products much cheaper than in India. Make sure you check our Michael Kors guide before you start shopping.
7. Kirkland Minoxidil
Kirkland Minoxidil is by many considered as one of the best hair growth treatments available. It is popular not only in the USA, but also in Brazil, India, or the UK. You can get the 6 months treatment from the US Costco online store for around $15. To get more info on how Kirland Minoxidil works, how effective it is, and how you can buy it, visit our post dedicated to this treatment.
8. Nutrition Supplements
You don’t have to be a professional athlete to take advantage of nutrition supplements. Some people use supplements for making quick snacks, or breakfasts like protein slurry, flake porridge, etc. If you don’t have time to cook, similar supplements can help you replenish your energy. There are plenty of US stores offering a large selection of high-quality supplements.
9. Branded Perfumes
The USA is home for luxurious brands like Chanel, Versace, Victoria’s Secret, Chloé, Calvin Klein, and many more. Sephora is a place to shop for these brands. At Planet Express, we can help you ship limited quantities (a few bottles) of perfumes from the USA to India.
Note: The shipping of perfumes is usually very limited due to the nature of perfumes that are considered as dangerous. We recommend sending perfumes together with clothes and other products.
10. PCs, Laptops
If there is something that our Indian customers love to buy from the USA, it is electronics including laptops and PCs. We have prepared a selection of the best online stores for buying a laptop. Forget Amazon, Best Buy, or Walmart, there are better alternatives!
11. Men’s Watches
Let’s try a simple quiz. Which one of these watch brands doesn’t come from the US?
- Nixons
- Timex
- Throne
- Martenero
- Autodromo
We tried to outsmart you. Every one of the above-mentioned brands comes from the USA! If you were not fooled, good job. The point is that you can buy all these watch brands from the US.
Read: Where To Buy Men’s Watches Under $100
12. Vitamins
Balanced nutrition is one of the keys to a healthy and happy life. If your nutrition does not contain enough vitamins, think about a consultation with your nutrition specialist and change of your diet eventually. Of course, it is always better to add more fruit, vegetables, and other foods containing vitamins, but if you consider taking vitamin supplements, feel free to check the top stores where to buy them.
13. Levi’s Jeans & T-Shirts
We remember times when everybody wanted to wear a pair of Levi’s jeans. Nowadays, Levi’s is not just about jeans. They also offer T-shirts, shorts, and other accessories. And what is the best thing about buying Levi’s products from the USA? The price! Shop Levi’s jeans for prices starting at around $35.
14. Unlocked Phones
Unlocked phones category is very similar to laptops. An unlocked iPhone from the USA you can get for much lower prices than in India. Especially, if you decide to go for refurbished phones. Check out our selection of best stores where to buy unlocked phones.
Be careful when buying your next phone from the USA. There are 2 things you have to keep in mind:
1. Don’t buy so-called pre-paid phones that are tied with carriers like AT&T, Verizon, etc.
2. Remember, US electrical plugs are slightly different from plugs in India so you have to buy a reduction.
15. Men’s Belts
Every man should own 3 things – high-quality shoes, watches, and a belt. And if you match the color of these 3 things, you will be 10 times more attractive to women, trust us. So, make sure you take a look at our selection of men’s belt stores that are worth your attention.
16. Funko Pop Figures
Funko Pop collectors know that the US stores like Amazon, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, etc., sell exclusive Funko Pop figures that you won’t get anywhere else. The problem for international collectors is that most of these stores don’t ship outside of the USA. Using Planet Express package forwarding service, you can shop from the US stores and ship Funko Pops to India on a few clicks! Imagine how much more valuable your collection would be, once it will contain US exclusive Pops!
17. Beauty Products
We have talked about Sephora already, but there are dozens of more US cosmetics brands. Try Glossier, Colourpop, Kylie Cosmetics, Urban Decay, MAC Cosmetics, and others. We have a list of beauty stores on our blog too. And if you want to get new beauty products regularly, you should also read our next tip.
18. US Beauty Subscriptions
Yes, you guessed it – subscription boxes are very popular among Americans. The principle is simple – you pay a monthly fee, for example for the BoxyCharm beauty box, and you receive new beauty products every month. The problem is, most of these subscription boxes are delivered across the US or Canada only. Planet Express solves this issue. We can forward your subscription from the USA to India (here is how).
19. Men’s Dress Shoes
Allen Edmonds, Clarks, Frye, Rancourt & Co, Undandy… These brands produce men’s dress shoes according to the highest standards in the industry. Yes, these shoes won’t be cheap but with proper care they will last! Before you get your new pair, be careful about the size so you don’t have to return them.
And by the way, you may take advantage of our additional photos service. A few of our customers already received a package containing 2 left shoes!
20. Scented Candles
Yankee Candle and Homesick are probably the 2 most well known US brands that produce scented candles. Our customers love them! Those from Yankee Candle smell incredible. They offer more not only the smell of flowers but also the smell of ‘a night under the stars’, and other almost 300 smells.
Homesick candles are very similar but they smell as ‘memories’ and ‘cities’. We are not kidding! Give them a try or read more about them in our blog post.
Shipping From the USA To India With Planet Express
Some of the above-mentioned online stores may not offer international shipping from the USA to India. But don’t worry, we will quickly explain to you how you can get international shipping from the USA even from these stores. The trick is to use a package forwarding company like Planet Express.
- We will provide you with a US address (in California or Oregon). You can order products to these addresses.
- Once we receive your orders in our warehouse, you will get a notification email from us.
- You complete the customs declaration form online and select the shipping method from the USA to India.
Shopping From the USA To India FAQ
There are dozens of product categories you can shop from the USA to India. Here are just a few of them:
1. Board Games
2. Apple Products
3. Beddings
4. High-quality Towels
5. Nike Sneakers
Feel free to read our blog post to see all 20 product categories.
The shipping costs depend mainly on the size & weight of your package, the delivery address, and the selected shipping method.
Our cheapest shipping to India starts at around $10 per package for slow delivery methods.
Feel free to calculate the price of the shipping from the USA to India with our postage calculator.
The delivery time depends mainly on the delivery method you choose. With our fastest delivery methods (DHL Worldwide Express and FedEx International Priority) you can get a package from the USA to India within 7 business days.
Our slower and cheaper methods (USPS Priority, Planet Express Express, etc.) take 10 to 30 business days. You can get the estimated delivery time and price using our postage calculator.
Summary
We hope our blog post inspired you and helped you to choose products to buy from the USA to India. Feel free to share additional tips with us and we add them to this blog post. Also, we would like to hear from you what products you are going to buy? Let us know.