Things Sold Only in America...?

[Kioshi]

Here's the scoop, i will most likely be visiting my host family overseas and its common courtesy to give gifts from where you live/are from.

Whats sold 'only' in America, that you can't in other countries?

It can be any price range....I would just like to get an idea and see whats out there....for me to get for my host family...

Thank You,

[CtrlAltDefeat]

err.. Scions? lol hotdogs? American footballs? Chevy trucks, with gun rack option? lol

[SeaYa]

Try getting something only made in your local area. You can get wine anywhere, but are there any local wineries that do not export their product? Or souvenirs from a nearby national park?

Even though you can buy them online, as far as MADE in the US, what about a collectors set of mint US coins/bills...pretty sure we haven't outsourced that yet. Good luck!

[Ichimaru]

Dominos oreo pizza jaja

[zachryboles]

http://www.prsguitars.com/

one of the coolest gifts american made that you can give

[Slick]

Meh, I kinda like the gun rack equipped chevy lol

[zachryboles]

Originally Posted by Slick

Meh, I kinda like the gun rack equipped chevy lol

all i can say is.... you would give that to a foreigner... lol id like to see the look on that persons face as the general lee rolls up with a g-rack

[tomato]

When I go out of the country, I usually take with me small stuff people can identify with as being representative of here, even if they're not manufactured in the US.

San Francisco souvenirs are always a big hit (there is a good shop on Grant for good quality souvenir T-shirts at a good price), little cable cars, stuff like that. There are many actually, but this one has good quality stuff at a fair price.

You're gonna want light stuff because they weigh everything nowadays, so when you stuff your suitcase, keep that in mind.

Ghirardelli chocolate should make it through custom just fine and should please just about anybody. Some people like stuff with the US flag on it (I once bought pens with the us flag on it, and they were fighting over them, if you can believe that).

Others prefer goofy stuff (you should find funny stuff in the Haight District, San Francisco) but make sure whatever you get is legal in your destination country and OK to transport w. the airline (You'd be surprised how the rules can be tight when you travel and bring stuff abroad, for example, it's illegal to import vegetables, plants or certain food stuff into California and there are weights limits on alcohol and tobacco per person).

California wine is great, but it's heavy and you can only take so much with you (I think it's either 1 or 2 litters). But it's a great idea.

[tomato]

Also:

peanut butter (typically US)
cd's or MP3's of local Bay Area bands (iTunes does not sell the same music depending on what country you live in) or maybe country music (big demand abroad for that, believe it or not)
small ketchup bottles (you can find at Cost Plus)
Fake (chocolate) US mint coins?
American made tobacco products?


It helps if you know the ages and interests of the members of the host family otherwise, try to think more generic, hope that helps.

[tomato]

How could I forget!!

- Native American crafts (that's still made in the US as far as I know).
Can be expensive, though, so be prepared.

I have a catalog of Navajo made stuff at home somewhere. Great art and stuff.
There are some reputable sellers on ebay who sell stuff out of Arizona (silver jewelry, etc)

[tomato]

how about this?

http://www.amazon.com/Barack-Obama-B.../dp/B001J9LKIW

OK, j/k but Americana usually is a big hit abroad.

Also be sure to check out local museum stores for unique stuff, the SFMOMA airport store for instance, is great for unique stuff and I'm sure they have an online version - here it is:

http://sfmoma.stores.yahoo.net/

[tomato]

How about this one as a piece of history?

http://www.amazon.com/Barack-Shepard...ref=pd_sim_t_5

might be a successful gift or a controversial one.

how well do you know the host family, Kioshi?

[zachryboles]

wow tomato........... wow

[Black Yaris]

What country are you going too? When we went to Germany my friends there wanted products with Floride in them (Gum, floss and toothpaste), since their water is not florinated there.
they also requested oatmeal cookies

we have found that just about anything you buy on a regular basis is good

there are many things that we enjoyed from Germany that we can not get here, so we mail each other things everyonce in a while

[sex]

Are you going to Japan? Bring a huge cooler of Haagen Dazs.

[tomato]

How about an original iPad (they release pretty soon) invented (???) by people right here in Cupertino

Some Levi's jeans (born right here in San Francisco at the turn of the century)

a Timbuk2 messenger bag!!

http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/home

you know they still have a factory right here in SF (although they 've outsourced some of the manufacture out to Asia). You can visit it, too.

[tomato]

Jelly Beans (factory is right here in Vallejo, you can order straight from there and visit the factory, too)

http://www.amazon.com/Jelly-Belly-As.../dp/B000IKCOKQ

[tomato]

yeah, it would really help if we knew:

where you're going (that's the most important because we don't want cultural mistakes)
an age range for the members of the family
conservative or not?
religious? (some gifts like booze and tobacco products may be a no-no)


Gifts do not have to be expensive. Remember, Obama gave the Queen of England an iPod as a diplomatic gift when clearly he could have bought something far more expensive.

How about an original iPhone (not made here, but invented here?). Wait, that's stupid, they may not be able to use it with the carriers over there. How about an iPod touch instead? I don't know what else screams "california" more than an Apple product ;) (<------------- oooooooooooooooooh, I might get my @ss kicked for that one )