Has anyone brought a USA item(s) to sell in Europe - if so what would be a desirable item - what American products are in demand by Europeans? A crazy thought is to buy a laptop to take and sell before we leave - any thoughts? thx-

Where would you sell it? If somebody would try to sell me a laptop on the street I would be 100% certain that it is stolen.

Yep...and I don't understand the premise behing this question. Is the purpose of travel to try to make a buck--or travel?

if you need to sell things to afford the trip - best stay home and save up . . . . .

There are lots of people selling "goods" on the streets already. Get a little table or put a towel on the ground. lol

You're kidding, right?

Maybe you should bring chocolate bars for the kids and stockings for the ladies.

And you will find that computer products cost the same (or even less in Germany) than in the US. You're not trying to smuggle something in and then sell it, do you? ;-). No even having a local keyboard...

Come to think of it, get some fake Sony memory sticks from China, those sell well on Ebay.de. Just avoid being cought

If you could bring me a fresh maple bar, I might buy it.

If you check carefully this board, seem to be unavailble (while in high demand) in Europe :
Aspirin
Stockings
Bubble gum
Ice
Peanut butter
and above all .... TOILET PAPER !!!!

Isn't it illegal to take items thru customs for re-sale? Or is it just that you must declare duty on them?

>Maybe you should bring chocolate bars for the kids and stockings for the ladies.

Don't forget cigarettes.

Hi Suze,

Both.

You need an import license, and you must pay duty.

Portdane~ Assuming this is a serious question, not joking around... I don't think people do it because it is a crazy idea.

Ira~ Thanks for the answer. I was pretty sure that was the case.

I'm still laughing at chocolate bars and stockings. Thanks StCirq

Selling the laptop is a terrific idea, if you like losing 50% or more on your business deals! I know WWII just ended, but Europe has made a SLIGHT recovery. There's very little you can find here that you can't find there; quite the opposite, in fact.

And since when are laptops "USA products"? Both the machines (every brand I'm aware of) and all of their components are made in Asia. And they're more expensive here than in Europe.

Bring orange American cheese and tinned tomatoes for tourists who want to make Texan delicacies for their Scottish B and B landladies.

Assuming it is a serious question - a friend of ours has a side-business that is very successful. She goes around to garage sales in the US and buys up the costume jewelry. She exports it to France where she sells it to her contact who, in turn, sells it at a stall in one of the markets. Our friend makes enough money to finance two trips a year, all in, to France. Apparently there is quite an inflated market for this sort of item.
You might consider visiting the markets and see if there is such a niche that you could supply.

A foreigner exercising a commercial activity in France must have a carte de commerçant étranger. Doing business without it is subject to a fine of €3750 and up to six months in prison.