If you travel as a tourist and sell merchandise during your travels and are questioned by the local police, you will be in trouble!! As a tourist, you can not engage in commerce, you need a visa for that. As posted by someone else earlier, stay home and save for your trip!

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


Josser, that is the funniest thing I have ever read on this forum, how can we forget that thread!

Ignoring the other aspects of the issue, an American laptop would only interest other Americans due to the keyboard configuration and other features that are specific to the U.S. Each country has its own special requirements and desires, and the computer industry answers these needs differently in each European country.

Steaks which are more than 1/8th inch thick!

As a Brit I can tell you it used to be Levis 501. My friends were always asking me for these. Can't think of anything else.

Ok just read the above posts and would NOT take American chocolate when the European chocolate melts in your mouth :-) They might throw it back at you.

These days I'm trying to think of anything that would be in "high demand" in Europe that no one hasn't already had the sense to import. Europe is not some poor cousin. Essentially anything for which there is a demand is now available. You may find a few quirky desires by individuals (the often mentioned maple syrup comes to mind), but the idea that Europeans would have a desire for some kind of electronics equipment -- or laptops -- that they can't readily buy on their own seems very outdated.

emmalee,

The comment about chocolates (and stockings) was a...um...historical reference and totally tongue in cheek. Guessing you're under 30.

Dukey: I think the operative word is tornédos.

How about bringing some genetically altered food or hormone enhanced beef?

In our larder is a bottle of Canadian No2 Amber maple syrup. It is Waitrose own brand, an indication that they sell quite a lot of it, and I have seen different colours (strengths?) on the shelves of our small local store.

Seems like its not worth bringing your own. You cannot bring it in carry-on, since it is a liquid, and a broken bottle would make a real mess of the rest of your luggage.

Some consumer electronic products are released in the U.S. before they are available in Europe, but you can get into voltage and consumer protection issues. U.S. DVDs may be unplayable in Europe because Hollywood likes it that way.

Okay already - UNCLE - forget I asked - I said it was a 'crazy' idea - But, at least the question did give you all a little chuckle - I'll save my suitcase room for souveniers!
Thanks for your comments - some of them were pretty good - Peace -

funny that most of the terse responses are from american europhiles just out to teach the 'ignorant' that creature comforts are, indeed, available in europe. aside from this sophomoric and obvious point, there are real demands for american purchased goods. the reasons are two-fold:

-faster availability of certain items
-cheaper price

when a colleague is off to america for business or pleasure, there never fails to be a few things here and there that are requested for the traveller to pick up for those back at home. in the past there have been requests for such things as certain digital cameras, ipods and related accessories, computer peripherals like wireless networking gear with a spec not yet sold in europe at the time, memory sticks, etc, etc. so yes, a lot of people bring things over to sell in europe.

the 'early adapters' here who always need to be the first with every new electronic are constantly moaning about this or that that is out in america but not here.

where goods can easily be purchased tax free in the US (over the internet, certain states, etc) we are burdened with VAT at about 20%...and with the exchange rate as it is things like digital cameras purchased in america seem ridiculously cheap. many electronics are dual currency and easily used over here with just an adapter.

BUT, i don't think it is a wise idea to try to re-sell american bought things in europe. few people will buy goods even close to full price from an untrusted source. ebay would enable you to get the best prices due to the widest possible market and it is conceivable that you could make some money selling high demand goods on ebay bought at a lower price in america. but you would need to do a lot of research, be over here long enough to establish yourself on ebay and take some risk. as others have pointed out, you cannot just import loads of goods into europe....especially in original packaging which makes it clear that it is not yours for your use on the trip.

in summary, don't bother to try to do this. but, it's clear that, whilst their lesson-of-the-day is well intentioned, europhiles from afar have little concept of what is in demand by europeans nor do they appreciate the often significant cost differential that americans enjoy.

TO Walkinaround - thank you for your thoughtful and informative post - it was appreciated!

However, it should also be pointed out that the U.S. is not the primary source of the latest products. Most people I know get technical things through their friends or relations in Asia, or when they make a trip to Asia themselves. This also eliminates all voltage concerns as well the sort of electrical socket that may be needed for some products -- continental Europe and most of Asia use the same sockets and voltage.

Playstation from Japan, Batteries from China, Quality electronics from Hong Kong! Most Computer components here cost less than in the USA. The export/import store downtown gets them from Hong Kong too. (If you're in Munich and need to buy some electronics, post here!) Cotton products are cheaper in the US. However, the US doesn't produce "anything" (=goods) anymore. There are no more American products except food! It doesn't make sense to ship Asian goods the the US first only to ship them to Europe later.

Some of these desirable items are more personal, and there is a two-way traffic.

We have family in Los Angeles, and we are asked to take them sherbert fountains, sherbert lemons, Hula Hoops (a type of snack) and PG Tips tea bags.

In return, we like to have big bags of flaked almonds from Trader Joes to add to our muesli, and jars of dried beef.

We have never asked for American cheese.

logos999, I was in Germany last week. While waiting in line for tickets to the Green Vault, I got to talking with the German fellow in front of me, who admired my camera lens. He was eagerly looking forward to his trip to North America where he planned to buy new digital slr camera/lenses, as he said they were much cheaper than in Germany.

I have a friend (really, I do!) who makes a succesful sideline out of his trips to the land of the mad hair.

He brings back vintage Gibson guitars and other guitars of similar quality (Martins, Rickenbackers etc) which he buys in dollars what he can sell for in pounds ie double your money.

He also imports vintage British sports cars like Jags and jensens. These he makes a very healthy profit on, but there's loads of paperwork.

So it is possible - if you know what you're doing in specialist markets.

But if I was looking for something that I could definately sell at a higher price in Europe than in America - then the answer has to be cocaine. Don't let the minor hassles at customs put you off - a couple of ounces should cover the cost of your trip!

>as he said they were much cheaper than in Germany.
Well he was wrong and didn't know where to buy OR was trying to avoid 19% VAT (if he wasn't a Pro)

>>>>>
There are no more American products except food! It doesn't make sense to ship Asian goods the the US first only to ship them to Europe later.
>>>>>

not sure why this is turning into a discussion over where things are made. we all know that asia makes the vast majority of electronics...that should be a obvious to all. where things are made vs. where they are sold has very little to do with how much they cost.

electronics cheaper in germany than in the US??? that's a new one. that doesn't sound right to me so i did a totally random quick check on amazon.de, amazon.co.uk and amazon.com

canon g7 camera:

US - €347
DE - €419
UK - €429

a quick look at ipods yields similar results.

i fully understand that there are infinite ways to compare prices but it goes against conventional logic of today that germany is cheaper for electronics as compared to the US.

small correction on my previous post...it's 'early adopters', not 'adapters'...of course.