AIBU to ask you what you would ask from the States?

[Newforestdonkey]

My husband is off to NY for work for 4 weeks, and I thought that the least he could do was to bring back some things for me and the children (young) but I don’t know what! Please tell me what you’d like to get!
(The children have enough clothes, I really don’t think I should tell him to get those…though I really like Carter’s)

Thank you!

A massive bag of peanut butter M&Ms.

Oh and that triple antibiotic cream you can buy over the counter, it’s very good.

Swedish fish are chewy sweets, kind of like haribo! They're delicious! I tried to add a Google link but I can't get it to work.

Definitely get some bite cream on your walgreens list too- waaaay stronger than the stuff we get here!

Melatonin and bath body works car air freshener clip thing with the lovely smelly inserts that go inside it 😍

Bacitracin is the antibiotic ointment I’d get if I were in a CVS/Duane Reade (New Jersey girl here, haven’t been home in years, heavy sigh).

What else?

-Bumper packs of acetaminophen (the generic name for the brand name Tylenol, which is paracetamol here)
-Bumper packs of ibuprofen
-Bumper packs of melatonin
-Bumper packs of Cheez-its (my absolute all time favourite snack) - are you sensing a theme here with “bumper packs”? You don’t see them much in anything in the U.K.
-Cashmere sweaters from Bloomingdales
-I’d need a whole extra suitcase to bring the haul I could get at Williams Sonoma, and if you could get past customs it would totally be worth the luggage charge
-if you need clothes and can get to New Jersey definitely get them there as clothes in NJ are not subject to sales tax but they are in NY (8.5% last time I was there, which is steep!)
-my mother once gave me a Clorox bleach “pen” as well as a “pen” with spot remover for coloured clothes that were really useful and I’d definitely look for in a CVS/Duane Reade/Target
-have never tried Crest white strips (for teeth) but I’d sure be keen to do so

I’m sure I’ll think of more!

Oh yes, definitely Swedish fish! When we were kids in the 70s my parents used to take us sometimes to Sears where they had a candy counter and my parents always bought us Swedish fish (much better than Haribos IMO) and they had caramel peanut turtles. Happy times.

Bags and bags of jolly ranchers.

I think melatonin and kids melatonin are the single most useful thing sold in the USA.
The m&m are fun, as are the wider range of twizzlers ( I believe you can get basic ones in the UK)

Right, he’ll need a couple of empty luggages really, especially with all the bumper packs…

Why is ibuprofen such a hot commodity? Do you need a prescription in the UK?

Oh yes, a Tide pen for getting stains out of your clothes!

Different flavours and types of Oreos! Extra triple stuffed etc. Birthday cake flavour. Lots not available here. And Everything Bagel topping. In the spice sections. It’s a delicious mix of sesame seeds; dried garlic; onion etc - all the things on everything bagels but you can put it on anything. I love it and put it on everything. Eggs; rice dishes etc. Very light and inexpensive too!

Nothing for me.

Went to NYC, underwhelmed.

Same with the west coast.

I won’t be going back.

I would go with all the pharmaceutical and food items.

Don't really find the US to be a mega bargain anymore for clothing etc., unless there is something very specific that you want.

Bath and body works for Christmas gifts (and you!)
My sister always posts me cupcake kit. They seem to taste different to our cake ready mixes, the dc love to make them

No, but it only comes in blister packs and you can only buy 2 16-tablet packs per time. It’s cheap enough but if you get through it quickly (with menopausal me and a DD having frequent low-level headaches that’s us) it’s a little inconvenient to have to buy it almost every time I go out.

Graham crackers if you have no dietary restrictions. And Sierra mist.

@Mommybunny

No, but it only comes in blister packs and you can only buy 2 16-tablet packs per time. It’s cheap enough but if you get through it quickly (with menopausal me and a DD having frequent low-level headaches that’s us) it’s a little inconvenient to have to buy it almost every time I go out.

Sorry, that was a reply to @Zfactorstar.

A visit to Harbor Freight and a huge shopping list from Rio Grande but that might just be me...

He'd be seriously overweight on the luggage limits though.

@Bokky

Antibiotic cream - an absolute godsend. It's on my shopping list for when we go next summer.

You can buy this via Ebay (shipped from the states). Probably high shipping costs though.

Tide pen was what I meant for spot removal @MrsSchadenfreude, thanks!

Large chocolate covered pretzels

Peppermint bark from Williams. Sonoma. It is amazing. Comes out for Xmas only. They also do lovely hot chocolates

As an American living in the UK I can confirm that it's all about the OTC medicine. Yes you can get great clothes deals but not easy for someone else to do for you.

What I ask for from visitors:

Mucinex -- the most amazing cold/flu medicine ever. Literally wakes you from the dead.
Giant honking bottles of Tylenol PM (paracetamol+sleep med) and ibuprofen and allergy meds
Melotonin
Ouchless plasters
Neosporin (antibiotic cream)
Triaminic cough and cold syrups for kids

Otherwise is he going to do anything touristy? The museum shops there are amazing.